Best time to visit · Cologne · Germany
The best time to visit Cologne
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
The best time to visit Cologne is May to September, when the Rhine promenade, beer gardens and summer events are in full swing. Late November and December are popular for Christmas markets, and carnival week in February or March is a unique experience if you enjoy crowds. Check the trade-fair calendar, as big fairs raise hotel prices.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–September and December
- Shoulder season
- February, April and October–November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 24°C (75°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 5°C (41°F))
- Rainiest month
- January (~11 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January
Seasons
Cologne has a mild climate with cool, damp winters that rarely stay below freezing and warm summers with occasional hot spells. Rain is spread throughout the year.
March–May
Spring
Mild, changeable weather and blossom along the river, with carnival in some years.
June–August
Summer
Warm days, riverbank evenings, Pride and big fairs; the busiest time outside carnival and Christmas.
September–November
Autumn
Settled September, autumn colour, then the carnival season opening on 11 November and the first Christmas markets.
December–February
Winter
Christmas markets in December, quiet January, and street carnival in February or early March.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5°C | 0°C | 11 | 8.4 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 7°C | 0°C | 9 | 9.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| March | 11°C | 2°C | 10 | 11.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 15°C | 5°C | 9 | 13.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 19°C | 9°C | 10 | 15.5 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 22°C | 12°C | 10 | 16.5 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 24°C | 14°C | 10 | 16.1 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 24°C | 14°C | 10 | 14.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 20°C | 11°C | 9 | 12.5 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 15°C | 7°C | 10 | 10.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 9°C | 4°C | 11 | 8.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 6°C | 1°C | 11 | 7.9 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| February | Street carnival from Weiberfastnacht to the Rose Monday parade (February or early March) |
| March | Street carnival in years when Easter falls late (early March) |
| July | ColognePride and Christopher Street Day parade (usually early July) |
| August | Gamescom video-game fair at Koelnmesse (usually August) |
| October | Cologne Marathon (usually early October) |
| November | Carnival season opening at 11:11 on 11 November; Christmas markets open (usually late November) |
| December | Christmas markets at the cathedral, Alter Markt, Neumarkt and the harbour (usually until 23 December); New Year's Eve fireworks over the Rhine |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January, and the sights are quietest in January.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Cologne?
The best time to visit Cologne is May to September, when the Rhine promenade, beer gardens and summer events are in full swing. Late November and December are popular for Christmas markets, and carnival week in February or March is a unique experience if you enjoy crowds. Check the trade-fair calendar, as big fairs raise hotel prices.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Cologne?
Usually in January. Cold and grey but quiet; carnival societies hold sessions and balls ahead of the street carnival.
+What is the rainiest month in Cologne?
January, with about 11 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Cologne get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 24°C (75°F) and lows of 14°C (57°F).