Weather
November is fall in Belgium, with generally cool temperatures, short days, and quite a bit of rain (the wettest month of the year next to October). Belgium's climate varies between the coastal, inland, and highland areas; though having a coastline, Belgium isn't as cold as some other parts of Northern Europe.
Coastal Flanders (the Flemish-speaking northern region of Belgium) tends to be the mildest region, with a maritime climate that tempers extremes of cold or heat. The capital city of Brussels is inland, so it has more of a continental climate with colder winters and comparatively cold temperatures in November. Brussels sees an average high temperature of 48°F (9°C) this month and a low of 46°F (5°C).
Crowds & Costs
November is low season for travel to Belgium. While the attractive historic cities see visitors year-round, this is more of a steady stream than a rush, and hotels reduce their rates. To get the best deals, try to book city breaks midweek rather than around the weekends.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Where to Go
With wet, gray weather this month, it's an ideal time of year to visit the cities, which have a host of indoor cultural attractions to enjoy, as well as architecture and parks to admire when there's a break in the weather. As Belgium is quite a small country, you can easily fit a couple of cities into a short stay, and three or four if you have plenty of time.
Brussels is especially attractive to art and culture enthusiasts, with some of the best institutions in the country that showcase Belgium's long artistic traditions. Shelter from grim weather in the six museums of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium: the Oldmasters Museum, the Magritte Museum, the Fin-de-Siècle Museum, the Modern Museum, the Antoine Wiertz Museum, and the Constantin Meunier Museum.
Bruges is another of Belgium's beautiful cities, and November is a good time to visit as it won't be full of tourists (as it can be in peak summer months). If the weather's fine, you can take a canal boat tour or walking tour, checking out the beautiful architecture along the way (the 13th-century Church of Our Lady is a highlight). To shelter indoors for a while, check out the opulent interior of the 12th-century Basilica of the Holy Blood and learn about Flemish art at the Groeningemuseum.
What to Do
If you want to get out into the countryside and don't mind the risk of getting a bit wet, a great activity in November is visiting some of Belgium's 3,000-plus castles. Early in the month, the fall colors still linger in parts of the country, providing a lovely backdrop for some already beautiful castles and palaces.
Think if you've seen one European castle, then you've seen them all? Not at all in Belgium, as the castles are very diverse. Highlights include 15th-century turreted Vêves Castle in the Ardennes, Gaasbeek Castle in Flanders (also a museum), the sturdy 12th-century Gravensteen Castle in Ghent, and the Renaissance Groot-Bijgaarden near Brussels, which you can't go inside but can still admire from the gardens.
Belgium is justifiably famous for its food and drink, and November is an excellent time to take a food-focused tour. It hardly matters what the weather's doing outside when you're cozied up in a gastropub with some moules-frites and Belgian beer. Take a tour of a Belgian brewery (there are many!), enjoy a hands-on chocolate-making workshop, and pick up a hot, freshly made Belgian waffle from a street stall. These foodie attractions are available throughout the country.
Events in November
Armistice Day. Observed across Belgium on November 11, Armistice Day is a solemn day of remembrance of World War I and the many Belgians and others who died in this war. It's a public holiday so expect some closures.
More Helpful Information
Belgium in October
Belgium in December
Best Time of Year to Visit Belgium
How Many Days to Spend in Belgium