Climate guide for Antwerp, Belgium

Best Time to Visit
Antwerp

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
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About Antwerp

May-September is the sweet spot: visit the MAS rooftop, walk the Scheldt, and explore fashion museums. River walks stay pleasant through mild Low Countries summers.

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Travel Tips

Cathedral Tower Slots
Climb Cathedral of Our Lady’s tower early for harbour views. The Rubens House is calmer midweek mornings.
Trams from Central Station
Antwerp-Central is a short tram or walk to the old centre. Trams and buses cover the Left Bank and diamond district efficiently.
Museum Pass Options
MAS and major museums sell individual tickets; city passes help if stacking several. Fashion and diamond districts are free to window-shop.
Port Wind & Cafe Tips
Scheldt winds cut through even mild days near the docks. Rounding up in cafes is appreciated; service is usually included.

Things to do in Antwerp

Antwerp, Belgium. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Antwerp: the short answer

The best time to visit Antwerp is August, followed by June, July. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: August averages 20°C with 57 mm of rain and about 27 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are December, January. If budget matters more than perfect weather, November is the strongest of the low-rate months at 5.2/10.

Across the year Antwerp swings from 4°C in January to 20°C in August, a 15-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 57 mm in August to 101 mm in May. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Antwerp is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 4.7 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: August (20°C). Coolest: January (4°C). Driest: August (57 mm). Wettest: May (101 mm).

Antwerp month by month

January in Antwerp — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5/10

January averages 4°C (40°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 77 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 10 sunny days and 8.5 hours of daylight.

It scores 5/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Antwerp — 4.1 points higher on the same scale.

February in Antwerp — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.8/10

February averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 71 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 11 sunny days and 10 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.8/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Antwerp — 3.3 points higher on the same scale.

March in Antwerp — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.9/10

March averages 8°C (46°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 79 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 20 sunny days and 11.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.9/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Antwerp — 2.2 points higher on the same scale.

April in Antwerp — reliably good (4th best month)

Good · 8/10

April averages 10°C (50°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 64 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 23 sunny days and 13.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 8/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

May in Antwerp — reliably good (5th best month)

Good · 8/10

May averages 15°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

At 101 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 28 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 8/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

June in Antwerp — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.8/10

June averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 76 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 16.5 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Antwerp at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

July in Antwerp — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.8/10

July averages 19°C (66°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 71 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 16 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Antwerp at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

August in Antwerp — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.1/10

August averages 20°C (67°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 57 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 14.5 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Antwerp at 9.1/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.

September in Antwerp — reliably good (6th best month)

Good · 8/10

September averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 98 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 sunny days and 12.6 hours of daylight.

It scores 8/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

October in Antwerp — reliably good (7th best month)

Good · 7.4/10

October averages 13°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 81 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 19 sunny days and 10.7 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.4/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Antwerp — 1.7 points higher on the same scale.

November in Antwerp — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.2/10

November averages 8°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 100 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 10 sunny days and 8.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.2/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Antwerp — 3.9 points higher on the same scale.

December in Antwerp — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.4/10

December averages 5°C (42°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 84 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 3 sunny days and 8 hours of daylight.

It scores 4.4/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Antwerp — 4.7 points higher on the same scale.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Antwerp, Belgium?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Antwerp are August, June, July. August is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.1/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Antwerp year-round?
Antwerp has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 4°C in January to 20°C in August, with Ideal Weather scores between 4.4 and 9.1 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Antwerp?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Antwerp are December (4.4/10), January (5.0/10), November (5.2/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Antwerp?
May is the wettest month in Antwerp, averaging about 101 mm of rainfall. August is the driest, at roughly 57 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Antwerp?
May sees the most sun in Antwerp, with about 28 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Antwerp a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Antwerp is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (August, June, July) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Antwerp calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Antwerp: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

Explore by month

Curated in Antwerp

Tickets & experiences