When is the best time to visit Germany?

Visiting Germany in March - April

Temperatures can still be cold in March and even into April. The weather is unpredictable, and this is the height of the rainy season. However, you’ll find fewer crowds and good value at hotels. Germany’s two-week Easter school break can make spots like the Black Forest, Cologne and Bavaria crowded.

Events & Festivals

• Cologne’s Carnival celebration is a two-week festival with costumes, street parties and concerts, culminating with the Rose Monday parade on Shrove Monday.
• Saint Walpurga’s feast day is celebrated with bonfires and revelry across the country. The festivities in Heidelberg are particularly enthusiastic.

Visiting Germany in May - June

Days are comfortable and nights are slightly cool, the cherry blossoms are in full flower and Berlin’s festivals kick off, making this the best time to visit.

Events & Festivals

• Hafengeburtstag is Hamburg’s weekend-long festival which dates back more than 350 years.

Visiting Germany in July - August

The weather is warm and sunny, and this is a great time to visit if you want to hike, despite occasional rain. However, schools are on break, increasing crowds. Also, river cruise ships stop in ports along the Rhine and Danube, making them very busy.

Visiting Germany in September - October

Temperatures range from comfortably cool to slightly chilly during the autumn, with highs hovering around 19°C (67°F) in September and around 8°C (47°F) in October. Oktoberfest, which happens in late September and early October, draws huge crowds to Munich — book early if you want to attend. If you’re not intending to attend the festival, we suggest avoiding the area for this period.

Events & Festivals

• Dürkheim Wurstmarkt, the world’s biggest wine festival, overtakes the Rhine Valley.
• Munich draws vast crowds for its annual beer festival — Oktoberfest.
• Unity Day is on 3rd October and sees Berlin and other cities around the country commemorate the reunification of Germany with a festival and fireworks.

Visiting Germany in November - December

Many hotels shut down in November for renovations between the busy autumn season and the beginning of the Christmas market season, making availability much more limited. Winter brings cold but not frigid temperatures, as well as snow and sometimes rain. The cities and towns swing into the Christmas spirit with Christkindlmarkts, considered some of the best in all of Europe. Because of the markets, December can be a very busy time so plan ahead.

Events & Festivals

• Festive booths selling drinks, food and gifts pop up in cities and towns across the country.