Things to Do in Belgium in November

November Weather in Belgium

11°C (52°F) High Temp

4°C (39°F) Low Temp

78mm (3.1 inches) Rainfall

85% Humidity

Is November Right for You?

Advantages

Christmas market season begins mid-November - Brussels' Winter Waffles market opens November 23rd with heated seating areas and 60+ vendors selling hot chocolate for €3-5
Museum weather is perfect - major attractions like Royal Museums of Fine Arts stay open until 8pm on Thursdays in November with 40% fewer crowds than summer
Beer season peaks - November marks the release of winter abbey ales and seasonal brews, with brewery tours running indoors at consistent 15°C (59°F)
Hotel rates drop 30-50% compared to summer - luxury properties in Brussels city center available for €120-180/night versus €250+ in peak season

Considerations

Limited daylight - sun sets at 4:47pm by month's end, giving only 8 hours of usable sightseeing time versus 16 hours in summer
Constant dampness - 18 rainy days means you'll carry an umbrella daily and indoor shoes get soggy from wet cobblestones
Many outdoor terraces close - the famous café culture moves entirely indoors, reducing people-watching opportunities by 70%

Best Activities in November

Christmas Market Tours in Brussels and Bruges

November launches Belgium's spectacular Christmas market season. Brussels' Grand Place transforms into a winter wonderland starting November 23rd, while Bruges' medieval squares glow with 200+ wooden chalets. The crisp weather (4-11°C/39-52°F) is perfect for sipping vin chaud and browsing handcrafts. Crowds are 60% lighter than December, meaning shorter lines and better photo opportunities.

Booking Tip: Book walking tours 7-10 days ahead for €25-35 per person. Look for tours that include multiple cities and indoor warming stops. Evening tours (4-7pm) capture the best lighting as markets illuminate early due to short daylight hours.

Belgian Brewery and Chocolate House Experiences

November weather drives everyone indoors, making it prime time for heated brewery cellars and chocolate workshops. Traditional breweries maintain perfect 13-15°C (55-59°F) temperatures year-round. This is peak season for winter ale releases - Chimay, Rochefort, and Westmalle debut seasonal brews. Chocolate houses offer hot drinking chocolate workshops perfect for the 85% humidity.

Booking Tip: Combination brewery-chocolate tours cost €45-75 and book up quickly in November due to limited indoor capacity. Reserve 2 weeks ahead through certified operators who provide transportation between venues. Look for tours including tastings of minimum 6 beers and 8 chocolate varieties.

Medieval Castle and Manor House Tours

Belgium's 300+ castles are perfectly atmospheric in November's misty conditions. Indoor heating makes exploring Gravensteen Castle in Ghent or Château de Beloeil comfortable while exterior fog creates mystical photo opportunities. Tourist numbers drop 70% from summer, allowing intimate access to normally crowded chambers and courtyards.

Booking Tip: Castle combination passes cost €35-50 for 3-4 properties and valid for 7 days. Book online to skip ticket lines during the 8 hours of daylight. Many castles offer special November candlelit evening tours (5-8pm) for €20-30 extra - these sell out fast.

Art Museum Marathon Days

November's dreary weather makes it ideal for Belgium's world-class indoor art collections. Royal Museums of Fine Arts extends Thursday hours to 8pm in winter, while Groeninge Museum in Bruges offers heated audio tour devices. The consistent indoor temperature (18-20°C/64-68°F) and minimal crowds let you study Flemish masters without jostling tourists.

Booking Tip: Museum passes for Brussels (€20) or Flanders (€35) provide 3-5 day access to 15+ venues. Book online for skip-the-line entry. Target Thursday late hours and rainy afternoons when outdoor attractions empty out completely.

Traditional Belgian Café and Brasserie Crawls

Cold November weather drives locals into their beloved brown cafés and heated brasseries. This is when you experience authentic Belgian café culture - locals nursing Trappist beers by radiators, playing cards, and eating stoofvlees. The 4:47pm sunset means cafés fill by 5pm with after-work crowds, creating genuine local atmosphere impossible to find in summer tourist seasons.

Booking Tip: Food and café walking tours cost €40-65 for 3-4 hour experiences including 6-8 tastings. Book with local guides who know which establishments have best heating systems. Evening tours (5-9pm) capture peak local social hours when authentic café culture comes alive.

Thermal Spa and Wellness Retreats in Ardennes

November's cold, damp conditions make Belgium's thermal spas in Spa and Chaudfontaine irresistible. The contrast between 4°C (39°F) outdoor temperatures and 38°C (100°F) thermal pools creates perfect relaxation conditions. Ardennes forests show bare winter beauty while indoor facilities provide heated pools, saunas, and thermal baths using natural hot springs.

Booking Tip: Day spa packages range €45-85 and include thermal pools, saunas, and relaxation areas. Book midweek for 20% discounts and fewer crowds. Many spas offer November packages combining treatments with local hotel stays. Transportation from Brussels takes 90 minutes (120km/75 miles) - look for spa shuttle services.

November Events & Festivals

Late November

Brussels Christmas Market Opening

Grand Place transforms into Belgium's most spectacular Christmas market starting November 23rd. Over 200 wooden chalets, light shows projected on Gothic guild houses, and a 20m (66ft) Christmas tree. The opening weekend features special ceremonies, extended hours, and inaugural tastings of seasonal treats.

November 11th

Saint Martin's Day Celebrations

November 11th marks traditional Saint Martin festivities across Flanders. Children carry paper lanterns through streets singing traditional songs, while restaurants serve special Saint Martin goose dinners. Ghent and Bruges host the largest celebrations with lantern processions starting at 6pm.

Mid to Late November

Ghent Light Festival Preparations

While the main festival occurs in early February, November sees installation and testing of light artworks throughout Ghent's historic center. Visitors can glimpse works-in-progress and attend free technical presentations about the upcoming festival installations.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Waterproof boots with good grip - Belgian cobblestones become slippery death traps when wet, especially in Brussels' Grand Place and Bruges' Markt Square

Compact umbrella AND waterproof jacket - November brings 18 rainy days with unpredictable timing, from light drizzle to sudden downpours

Warm base layers (merino wool or synthetic) - indoor heating varies wildly between historic buildings, from overheated 25°C (77°F) museums to drafty 12°C (54°F) churches

Waterproof day bag or pack cover - protecting electronics, maps, and documents during frequent rain is essential for sightseeing

Warm hat and gloves - temperatures feel colder due to 85% humidity and wind tunnels created by narrow medieval streets

Quick-dry pants (avoid jeans) - denim stays wet for hours in November's dampness, synthetic materials dry within 1-2 hours

Portable phone charger - short daylight hours mean heavy camera and GPS usage during limited sightseeing window of 8am-5pm

Warm socks (wool or synthetic) - feet get cold and wet from puddles, heated indoor spaces require breathable materials to prevent overheating

Light fleece or sweater - perfect middle layer for 4-11°C (39-52°F) range, easy to add/remove when moving between heated indoor venues

Hand warmers - invaluable for outdoor Christmas market browsing and photography when temperatures drop to 4°C (39°F) in evening

Insider Knowledge

Museum hopping strategy - buy combination tickets on first rainy morning, then use them throughout your stay when weather turns bad. Thursday evening museum hours (until 8pm) are local secrets with 80% fewer tourists.

Café radiator seats are premium real estate - locals arrive by 5pm to claim spots near heating. If you see an empty chair by a radiator, grab it immediately and order food to hold the table.

Christmas markets start soft-opening November 20-22 for testing - vendors offer free samples and better prices before official opening crowds arrive. Local workers get first access to test food stalls.

Train delays increase 40% in November due to wet leaves on tracks - always book flexible tickets and add 30 minutes buffer time between cities. Locals use train delay apps and know alternative bus routes.

Avoid These Mistakes

Wearing cotton clothing - it absorbs moisture and stays damp all day in 85% humidity, making you cold and uncomfortable while walking between attractions

Planning outdoor sightseeing after 4:30pm - November sunset at 4:47pm means effective sightseeing ends by 4:30pm, leaving only indoor evening activities

Skipping restaurant reservations - cold weather drives everyone indoors for meals, making popular brasseries and restaurants fully booked by 6pm even on weeknights