Month guide · Cologne · Germany
Cologne in May
What May is really like in Cologne: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Cologne. Expect average highs of 19°C (66°F), lows of 9°C (48°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 15.5 hours of daylight. Warm and green, with beer gardens and riverbanks busy on sunny evenings.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 19°C (66°F) / 9°C (48°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 15.5 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Cologne: days average 19°C (66°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 9°C (48°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with April (15°C (59°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 22°C (72°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:42
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:14
- Daylight
- About 15.5 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, May 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 May
May has no major recurring festival in Cologne, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Rheinauhafen
Chocolate Museum
Go on a weekday morning; weekends and rainy afternoons bring long queues.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Food
Museum · Cathedral
Kolumba
The archdiocese's art museum is a building by Peter Zumthor that rises over the ruins of the Gothic church of St.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Innenstadt
EL-DE Haus (NS Documentation Centre)
Allow time for the basement cells, which are the most powerful part of the visit.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · Old Town
Farina Fragrance Museum and 4711 House
Eau de Cologne was created here: the Farina house opposite the City Hall has made it since 1709 and offers guided tours of its fragrance museum.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Shopping
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 19°C, lows near 9°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Cologne?
One of the best months to visit Cologne. The other best months are June–September and December. Compare every month.
Cologne in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Cologne?
It is one of the best months to visit Cologne. Warm and green, with beer gardens and riverbanks busy on sunny evenings.
+How warm is Cologne in May?
Average highs are around 19°C (66°F) and lows around 9°C (48°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cologne in May?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.