Month guide · Cologne · Germany
Cologne in April
What April is really like in Cologne: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Elke Wetzig ( Elya ), CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
April is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 5°C (41°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 13.8 hours of daylight. Mild days and blossom along the Rhine; a good time for city walks and day trips.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 13.8 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in April
April is the 6th-warmest month in Cologne: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 5°C (41°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 30 days. Compared with March (11°C (52°F)), April is warmer; by May highs climb to around 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 06:37
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 20:27
- Daylight
- About 13.8 hours
Spring (March–May). Mild, changeable weather and blossom along the river, with carnival in some years.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 3 for crowds (the peak is February at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in February). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in April
April has no major recurring festival in Cologne, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in April
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Neighbourhood · Belgian Quarter
Belgian Quarter
A grid of handsome 19th-century streets named after Belgian cities, full of independent boutiques, record shops, cafés and bars.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
Museum · Innenstadt
Schnütgen Museum
Combine it with the neighbouring Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum of world cultures in the same complex.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Cathedral
Cathedral south tower climb
A narrow spiral staircase of 533 steps climbs the south tower to a viewing platform about 100 metres up, passing the belfry with the huge St.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Active
- Photo spot
Landmark · Cathedral
Hohenzollern Bridge
Cross at dusk and sit on the Rheinboulevard steps in Deutz to watch the cathedral light up.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Couples
- Views
- After dark
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 5°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Cologne?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, May–September and December are better overall. Compare every month.
Cologne in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Cologne?
It is a shoulder-season month. Mild days and blossom along the Rhine; a good time for city walks and day trips.
+How warm is Cologne in April?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 5°C (41°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cologne in April?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.