The best months to visit Ghent are May, June and September. June brings average highs of 22.5 °C with 11 rain days and 11.6 hours of sunshine a day, while September stays mild at 20.6 °C with just 10 rain days — comfortable weather without the peak-summer squeeze. July and August are warmest (up to 23.5 °C) but coincide with school holidays, so expect the busiest, most expensive weeks around Gravensteen and the old town. Winter is the quiet low season, cold and grey with as little as 3.1 hours of sunshine a day in December.
Best months MayJuneSeptember
Ghent month by month
Average highs and lows (°C), 2016–2025. Highlighted bars are the best months.
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun / day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.7 °C | 2 °C | 14 | 3.6 h |
| February | 8.8 °C | 2.7 °C | 12 | 5.2 h |
| March | 11.4 °C | 3.6 °C | 13 | 7.2 h |
| April | 14.6 °C | 5.6 °C | 11 | 9.9 h |
| May | 18.7 °C | 9.3 °C | 11 | 11 h |
| June | 22.5 °C | 13.3 °C | 11 | 11.6 h |
| July | 23.2 °C | 14.4 °C | 12 | 11.6 h |
| August | 23.5 °C | 14.8 °C | 12 | 10.7 h |
| September | 20.6 °C | 12.4 °C | 10 | 9.1 h |
| October | 16 °C | 9.7 °C | 13 | 6.1 h |
| November | 10.4 °C | 5.3 °C | 13 | 4.3 h |
| December | 7.9 °C | 3.4 °C | 14 | 3.1 h |
How the months are picked.A month qualifies when its average high sits in the comfortable 20–28 °C band (scored down towards 9 °C and 37 °C), rain days are few and sunshine hours are high — at least 78 % of the city's best-scoring month. July and August are then set aside as peak season (school-holiday crowds and prices) whenever at least three other months qualify; where summer is the only comfortable window they stay. Figures are ten-year averages (2016-01-01 to 2025-12-31) from ERA5 reanalysis data via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0) for the city centre coordinates.
When to go, and what to expect
Spring (Mar–May)
Ideal for sightseeing — May is one of the best months to come.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
June is superb; July and August are lively but crowded and pricey.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September rivals late spring — one of the best times to visit.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
For Christmas markets and cosy indoor Ghent, not for weather.
Notable events
- July
- Ghent Festival (Gentse Feesten)
- Winter, held every few years
- Ghent Light Festival (Lichtfestival)
- December
- Ghent Christmas Market & Winter Wonders
- October
- Ghent Film Festival
Frequently asked
Is Ghent too hot in August?
No — August highs average 23.5 °C, comfortably warm rather than sweltering. The bigger drawback is crowds, as it falls in the school-holiday peak with 12 rain days and 10.7 hours of sunshine a day.
What is the rainiest month in Ghent?
Rain days are highest in January and December, each with 14 rain days. Rain is spread fairly evenly year-round, but the best months of May, June and September see 11, 11 and 10 rain days respectively.
Is winter worth visiting Ghent?
Winter is cold and grey — highs of 6.7 °C in January and only 3.1 hours of sunshine a day in December — but it's the quietest season and lovely for Christmas markets and illuminated streets around Gravensteen.
Know when to go? Now decide where to stay — our Ghent area guide →
Areas of Ghent
Best time to visit near here
Sources
- Open-Meteo historical weather API — monthly climate normals, 2016–2025 (CC BY 4.0)
- ERA5 reanalysis (ECMWF / Copernicus) — the underlying temperature, precipitation and sunshine data
- ReasonStay methodology — how the best months are computed and checked
An independent guide to Ghent — honest, verified, no invented data. Climate figures: ERA5 via Open-Meteo, 2016–2025 averages; the best months are computed from them, not opinion.