Month guide · Berlin · Germany
Berlin in January
What January is really like in Berlin: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ansgar Koreng, CC BY 3.0 de
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -2°C (28°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 8.2 hours of daylight. Cold, dark and grey with occasional snow; museums and clubs are the main draw, and hotel prices are low.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -2°C (28°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 8.2 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Berlin: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about -2°C (28°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with December (4°C (39°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 5°C (41°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:09
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:21
- Daylight
- About 8.2 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold and dark, but Christmas markets, the Berlinale in February and low hotel rates outside the holidays.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in May). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- International Green Week — food and agriculture fair (usually January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Historic site · Mitte
Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Walk into the centre of the field, then visit the free Information Centre beneath it; do not climb or jump on the slabs.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Museum · Mitte
Museum Island
Five museums share this UNESCO-listed island in the Spree: the Altes Museum with Greek and Roman antiquities, the Alte Nationalgalerie with 19th-century painting including Caspar David Friedrich, the Bode Museum with sculpture and coins, and the Neues Museum, all linked by the James Simon Gallery visitor centre by David Chipperfield.
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Museum · Museum Island
Neues Museum
Book a time slot and see Nefertiti early; photography is not allowed in her domed room.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Religious site · Museum Island
Berlin Cathedral
The neo-Baroque Berliner Dom, completed in 1905, has a richly decorated interior, a huge Sauer organ and a crypt with nearly a hundred Hohenzollern coffins.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Views
- History
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -2°C and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Berlin?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Berlin in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Berlin?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold, dark and grey with occasional snow; museums and clubs are the main draw, and hotel prices are low.
+How warm is Berlin in January?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Berlin in January?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.