Month guide · Cologne · Germany
Cologne in August
What August is really like in Cologne: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: File:Cologne (Köln) Rhine River view.jpg : Neuwieser derivative work: Georgfotoart, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
August is one of the best months to visit Cologne. Expect average highs of 24°C (75°F), lows of 14°C (57°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 14.5 hours of daylight. Warm and lively; one of the world's biggest video-game fairs fills hotels for a week.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 24°C (75°F) / 14°C (57°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 14.5 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in Cologne: days average 24°C (75°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 14°C (57°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with July (24°C (75°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 06:20
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 20:54
- Daylight
- About 14.5 hours
Summer (June–August). Warm days, riverbank evenings, Pride and big fairs; the busiest time outside carnival and Christmas.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 4 for crowds (the peak is February at 4) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in February). Book accommodation early: August is one of the pricier months.
Events in August
- Gamescom video-game fair at Koelnmesse (usually August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Gallery · Cathedral
Museum Ludwig
Next to the cathedral, Museum Ludwig is one of Europe's leading modern-art museums, with a large Picasso collection, Russian avant-garde works, German Expressionists and one of the most important Pop Art collections outside the United States, including Warhol and Lichtenstein.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Gallery · Old Town
Wallraf-Richartz Museum
Do not skip the medieval Cologne School rooms, which are unique to the city.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Rheinauhafen
Chocolate Museum
On a peninsula in the Rheinauhafen, this museum covers the history of cocoa and chocolate, from Mesoamerica to modern production, with a working mini factory, a tropical glasshouse and a chocolate fountain where staff hand out samples.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Food
Museum · Cathedral
Kolumba
Pick up the room guide at the entrance; the absence of labels is deliberate.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
What to pack
For highs near 24°C, lows near 14°C and 10 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Cologne?
One of the best months to visit Cologne, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are May–July, September and December. Compare every month.
Cologne in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Cologne?
It is one of the best months to visit Cologne. Warm and lively; one of the world's biggest video-game fairs fills hotels for a week.
+How warm is Cologne in August?
Average highs are around 24°C (75°F) and lows around 14°C (57°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cologne in August?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.