Brussels holidays from Ireland: the honest verdict

Weather Upgrade · right now

−5°C

Dublin 18° CloudBrussels 13° Cloud

Colder than home. Bring the good coat.

Worth the bother?

2/10 Would ya bother?

“Barely better than home. Save your money.”

1°C warmer than Ireland’s usual 14°C
Short hop: 1h 40m direct

How we work this out

Worth the bother is worked out from the same facts every time: how much warmer, drier and sunnier it usually is there than in Ireland that month, how long the flight is, how good the place is, whether something’s on and, when we have enough fares for the route, whether the month is unusually dear or cheap. We use the usual weather for the month so one freak day can’t swing it. When you tell us what you’re after (snow, Christmas markets, walking and so on), the weather part asks how well the usual weather fits that, not just how warm it is. Nobody can pay to change a score, and plenty of places score low on purpose.

The Bottom Line

Who should go: Best for city-break fans.
How long: A long weekend does it. 1h 40m each way from Dublin.
Worth the money?: Fair enough, if you catch a decent fare.
Would we go?: Not this month. Try another.

The honest verdict

Is Brussels worth it?

“Chips, chocolate, waffles and 300 beers. Diet starts Monday.”

Seven dots means go. One dot means stay home and put the heating on.

The Mammy TestPASS, WITH CONDITIONS“The Grand-Place is gorgeous”

Sun: 3/10 · Grey and drizzly, like home
Value: 6/10 · Beer is good value
Crowds: 7/10 · Busy in the centre only
Irish pub within 50m: 9/10 · Belgian beer bars are heaven

Getting to Brussels from Ireland

Dublin → Brussels1h 40m · RyanairReturns from €38
Cork → Brussels1h 45m · Ryanair

Some links earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. It goes straight on sun cream.

What Brussels is actually like

The capital of Belgium and the EU is a bit of a jumble, but its Grand-Place is one of the most beautiful squares in Europe, the beer is world class and you are never far from chips or chocolate. Bruges and Ghent are an hour away by train, which makes it a great base.

Who Brussels suits

Beer lovers
Foodies
People who want to see Bruges and Ghent on the same trip

Best time to go to Brussels from Ireland

Any time works for a city break, since the weather is as Irish as it gets. December for the Christmas market and light show. Spring and summer for terraces.

Where to stay in Brussels

Grand-Place area: Central and walkable, but busy. See hotels in Grand-Place area (opens in a new tab)
Saint-Géry and Dansaert: Trendy bars and shops. See hotels in Saint-Géry and Dansaert (opens in a new tab)
Ixelles: Local, lively and full of restaurants. See hotels in Ixelles (opens in a new tab)

Compare hotels and apartments in Brussels (opens in a new tab)

Hotel prices in Brussels

Pick your dates on the map for live prices. Click a hotel to see it on Booking.com, Expedia or Vrbo.

Hotel prices show here once you allow cookies from our hotel partner.

See hotels in Brussels (opens in a new tab)

See hotels

What nobody tells you about Brussels

Some flights land at Charleroi, about an hour from Brussels by bus. Check the airport before you book.
Bruges and Ghent are each about an hour by train. Go on a weekday to dodge the crowds.
Belgian beers are strong. Pace yourself.

Brussels weather by month

Month	Avg high	vs Ireland	Sun a day	Rainy days
January	6°C	-2°	2h	12
February	7°C	-2°	3h	10
March	11°C	0°	4h	11
April	15°C	+2°	6h	10
May	19°C	+3°	7h	10
June	21°C	+3°	7h	9
July	23°C	+3°	7h	9
August	23°C	+4°	7h	9
September	19°C	+2°	5h	9
October	15°C	+1°	4h	10
November	10°C	0°	2h	12
December	6°C	-2°	1h	12

Long-term averages, rounded. "vs Ireland" compares with a typical Dublin high. Rainy days have at least 1mm of rain.

What's on in Brussels

DecemberWinter Wonders: the Christmas market and light show around the Grand-Place.
AugustThe Flower Carpet covers the Grand-Place for a few days in mid-August, every second year (2028 next).

Dates move from year to year. Check before you book.

Questions people actually ask

Which Irish airports fly direct to Brussels?

Direct flights go from Dublin (1h 40m), Cork (1h 45m).

Is Brussels warm in October?

Average daily highs are around 15°C in October, compared with about 14°C in Ireland. Pleasant, but pack a jumper for the evenings.

When is the best time to visit Brussels?

For warm sun without frying, go in June, July and August.

Is Brussels worth it?

We give it 5 out of 7 blue dots. Chips, chocolate, waffles and 300 beers. Diet starts Monday.

Checked October 2026

Wish you were here?

The Sun Alert

One email when it's grim at home and somewhere direct is sunny and sound. No spam, one-click unsubscribe. Mammy's honour.