Best Time to Visit Hamburg

Spring and early summer: the sweet spot

Hamburg wakes up slowly. March is still grey and damp, but by April you can walk along the Alster, the lake in the middle of the city, without a heavy coat. It's mild, with a fair bit of sun.

May and June are the best months to come. Days are comfortable, evenings stay light, and the cafés around the Alster put tables outside. Rain still falls on about every second day, so keep a small umbrella handy. The Hamburg Harbour Birthday in May brings tall ships and tugboat displays to the Landungsbrücken piers. It's busy but fun. Travelling with kids? The boat parades are a good bet.

July and August: warm, but not dry

July is the warmest month and also the wettest, with rain on 16 days. Showers are usually short, so don't cancel your plans. August is a bit drier and still warm. Both months suit a harbour cruise, a walk through the Speicherstadt (the red-brick warehouse district) and a evening on the Elbe beaches at Övelgönne.

This is the main holiday season, and the city has more visitors. Hotels fill up most on big event weekends. If you hate crowds, aim for the end of August or early September instead.

September to December: cosy, then dark

September is a quiet favourite. It's still mild, the crowds thin out and the rain eases off. October is cooler and greyer, which suits museums like the Kunsthalle and the Miniatur Wunderland model railway. Those two are busy on wet days, so go early on a weekday if you can.

November is the first truly gloomy month, with only about two hours of sun a day. December is just as dark, but the Christmas markets make up for it. The one at Rathausmarkt, in front of the city hall, is the best known. Glühwein (hot spiced wine) is the thing to try. It's a lovely time if you like cold, cosy evenings.

January and February: for the quiet

These are the coldest months, with lows just below freezing and sun for under two hours a day. It's damp and grey. Crowds are small and rooms are easier to find. Come for the Elbphilharmonie concert hall, the theatres and hearty fish dishes, not for strolling outdoors.