Things to Do in Belgium in October
October weather, activities, events & insider tips
October Weather in Belgium
Is October Right for You?
Advantages
- Autumn foliage transforms the Ardennes forests into spectacular copper and gold landscapes, peaking mid-to-late October - the beech forests around Bouillon and Han-sur-Lesse are particularly stunning and far less crowded than summer
- Lower accommodation prices compared to summer high season, typically 25-35% cheaper in Brussels and Bruges, with better availability at boutique hotels that are otherwise booked months ahead
- October marks the start of mussel season's peak quality - mussels are plumper and sweeter after spawning season ends in September, and restaurants serve them with proper enthusiasm rather than tourist obligation
- Fewer tour groups clogging up Bruges and Ghent, meaning you can actually see the Van Eyck altarpiece at Sint-Baafskathedraal without being shoved, and canal-side cafés have available tables even on weekends
Considerations
- Daylight shrinks noticeably through the month - you'll have roughly 11 hours of daylight early October, dropping to 9.5 hours by month's end, which limits outdoor sightseeing time and makes those 5pm sunsets feel abrupt
- Rain isn't dramatic downpours but persistent drizzle that locals call 'motregen' - the kind that seeps through inadequate jackets and makes cobblestones slippery. You'll likely encounter this 16 days out of the month, though rarely all day
- Some smaller attractions in the Ardennes and coastal towns start reducing hours or closing weekdays after mid-October as they transition to winter schedules - always check current opening times before planning day trips
Best Activities in October
Ardennes Forest Hiking and Castle Exploration
October is genuinely the best month for hiking the Ardennes region. The beech and oak forests hit peak autumn color mid-month, temperatures are perfect for longer walks at 10-15°C (50-59°F), and the trails around Durbuy, Bouillon, and the Semois Valley are wonderfully empty compared to summer. The GR trails (long-distance footpaths) are well-marked, and you can combine forest walks with visits to medieval castles like Bouillon that look particularly atmospheric in autumn mist. The damp conditions actually make the forest floor more vibrant - mushrooms everywhere and that rich earthy smell.
Belgian Beer Culture Experiences
October weather practically demands spending time in cozy brown cafés, and this is when locals settle into their autumn beer-drinking rhythm. The beer itself is better in cooler months - Belgian ales are meant to be drunk at cellar temperature around 12-14°C (54-57°F), which October naturally provides. Trappist breweries like Orval and Rochefort are open for visits, and the beer festivals in smaller towns are more authentic than summer tourist events. The Kulminator in Antwerp, Moeder Lambic in Brussels, and 't Brugs Beertje in Bruges have knowledgeable staff who actually care about educating visitors rather than just pouring pintjes.
Art Museum Circuit in Major Cities
October's drizzly weather makes this ideal museum weather, and Belgium's art scene is absurdly underrated. The Groeningemuseum in Bruges has the world's best collection of Flemish Primitives, the KMSKA in Antwerp just reopened after massive renovations with their Rubens collection properly displayed, and Brussels' Magritte Museum is never crowded. October means you can actually stand in front of paintings without tour groups blocking your view. The museums are heated, well-lit, and offer proper cafés for warming up between galleries.
Chocolate and Praline Workshop Experiences
October's cooler temperatures are actually better for chocolate work - summer heat makes tempering chocolate difficult and shops get uncomfortably warm. This is when chocolatiers start producing their autumn and winter collections with darker, spicier flavors. Hands-on praline-making workshops let you work with real Belgian chocolate under guidance from actual chocolatiers, and you learn why Belgian chocolate technique differs from Swiss or French methods. The workshops are indoors, making them perfect rainy-day activities, and you leave with chocolates you made yourself.
North Sea Coast Walks and Seafood
The Belgian coast gets wonderfully moody in October - grey skies, wind-whipped beaches, and dramatic light that photographers love. The beach towns like De Panne, Nieuwpoort, and De Haan are quiet after summer crowds leave, and the coastal tram runs the entire 67 km (42 miles) coastline for easy exploration. October is prime season for North Sea grey shrimp, and the seafood restaurants in Oostduinkerke and Nieuwpoort serve them fresh. The wind can be fierce at 20-30 km/h (12-19 mph), but that's part of the appeal - proper bracing walks followed by hot shrimp croquettes.
Medieval Town Exploration by Bicycle
October weather is actually decent for cycling in Belgium - cool enough that you don't overheat, and the drizzle tends to be light rather than drenching. The countryside between towns is beautiful with autumn colors, and Belgium's cycling infrastructure is excellent with dedicated paths and bike-priority rules. Cycling between Bruges, Damme, and Ghent lets you see the Flemish countryside properly, and you can stop at village cafés that tour buses never reach. The flat terrain means even casual cyclists can cover 30-40 km (19-25 miles) comfortably.
October Events & Festivals
Ghent Film Festival
One of Europe's most respected film festivals, focusing on world cinema and soundtrack music. The festival takes over multiple cinemas across Ghent for 12 days, screening 130-plus features and shorts with a particular emphasis on music in film. It's accessible and unpretentious compared to Cannes or Berlin - you can actually get tickets, and filmmakers hang around the bars afterward. The festival coincides with Ghent's autumn atmosphere perfectly, and the city's student population ensures lively evening crowds.
Salon du Chocolat Brussels
Belgium's premier chocolate event bringing together 50-plus chocolatiers, pastry chefs, and cocoa producers for tastings, demonstrations, and workshops. This isn't a tourist gimmick - it's where Belgian chocolatiers showcase new techniques and seasonal collections. You can taste single-origin chocolates, watch tempering demonstrations, and buy directly from artisan producers who don't have retail shops. The fashion show made entirely of chocolate is genuinely impressive rather than silly.