Best Time to Visit Germany

Late spring and early autumn

For most trips, May to June and September are the sweet spots. Days are mild, and you can sit outside at a beer garden without melting. Berlin's parks and canal banks are at their best then, and Hamburg's harbour is pleasant for a walk along the Elbe.

September is the one month that works for every city on our list. If you can only go once and want to keep your options open, pick it.

Summer: warm, but not the same everywhere

July is the hottest month in all four cities. Berlin feels it most at 26°C, and Cologne comes close at 25°C. Hamburg and Munich are cooler at 23°C. Hot, sticky afternoons are most likely in Berlin, where swimming in a lake like the Wannsee is a good way to cope.

Rain is a bigger worry in Munich. August is its wettest month, with 157 mm, nearly double what falls on Berlin in its wettest month. Summer storms can roll in over the Alps, so keep a flexible plan if you want a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. Elsewhere, July is the wet month. Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne all get the heaviest rain then, though it usually comes in showers.

School holidays run through the summer, and they differ by state. German families travel, so coastal spots and popular rail routes get busy. Hotels in the cities are often calmer in August, when locals are away.

Events, holidays and crowds

Oktoberfest in Munich starts in mid-September and runs into early October. It's a great time to visit if you love crowds and lederhosen. If you don't, avoid Munich then, because rooms fill up and cost more.

Christmas markets run from late November to Christmas Eve. Cologne's, in front of the cathedral, is one of the best known. Expect cold, dark afternoons, but warm mulled wine (Glühwein) helps.

Cologne's Carnival peaks in February, with parades and costumes. Shops and sights close on national holidays like Easter Monday and 3 October, German Unity Day, so check opening hours.

Winter is low season for sightseeing, apart from the Christmas markets. Prices fall, museums are quiet, and Berlin's galleries are easy to enjoy. Summer and the Oktoberfest weeks are the high season.