Brussels
Capital of Belgium
Brussels is the capital of Belgium and has a population of about 195,000. It attracts visitors with landmarks ranging from the Grand-Place and the Atomium to the Royal Palace of Brussels and the NATO headquarters.
What to see
The city features several sites designated by UNESCO, including the Grand-Place, Hôtel Tassel, and Stoclet Palace. For architecture and history, visitors can view the Brussels Town Hall, the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, the Palace of Justice, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Royal sites include the Royal Palace of Brussels, the Palace of Laeken, and the Church of Our Lady of Laeken. Museums such as the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium are also available. The city is known for its statues, specifically Manneken Pis and Jeanneke Pis, as well as the Cinquantenaire complex.
When to go
The warmest months are July and August, with daily highs of 22 °C and lows of 14 °C. June and May offer milder weather, with highs between 18 °C and 20 °C. The city experiences consistent rainfall throughout the year, with monthly precipitation ranging from 51 mm in April to 80 mm in December. Winters are cold, with January and December seeing highs of 6 °C and lows of 1 °C to 2 °C.
Getting there
Brussels Airport is located in Zaventem, 11 km from the city.
Top sights in Brussels
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 22 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 6 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 6 |
| Average low, °C | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 2 |
| Rainfall, mm | 76 | 61 | 70 | 51 | 68 | 76 | 74 | 77 | 69 | 76 | 76 | 80 |
| Rainy days | 15 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Brussels (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Art & History Museum
- Autoworld
- BELvue Museum
- Black Tower
- Botanical Garden of Brussels
- Brussels Cemetery
- Brussels Stock Exchange
- Brussels' Comic Book Route
- Brussels-North railway station
- Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon
- Church of Our Lady of the Chapel
- Church of St. Catherine, Brussels
- Church of St. James on Coudenberg
- Church of St. Nicholas, Brussels
- Congress Column
- Egmont Palace
- Erasmus House
- European Commission
- European Parliament
- Fin-de-Siècle Museum
- Halle Gate
- Het Zinneke
- Heysel Plateau
- Horta Museum
- House of European History
- Hôtel Solvay
- Hôtel van Eetvelde
- L'Innovation department store fire
- La Monnaie
- Magritte Museum
- Mini-Europe
- Mont des Arts
- Museum of Natural Sciences
- Musical Instruments Museum, Brussels
- Oldmasters Museum
- Palace of Coudenberg
- Palace of the Nation
- Parlamentarium
- Pentagon
- Place des Martyrs, Brussels