Month guide · Cologne · Germany
Cologne in November
What November 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
November is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 9°C (48°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 8.8 hours of daylight. Grey and damp, but carnival season officially opens on 11 November and Christmas markets open late in the month.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 9°C (48°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 8.8 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in November
November is the 9th-warmest month in Cologne: days average 9°C (48°F) against a yearly average high of 15°C (59°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 30 days. Compared with October (15°C (59°F)), November is cooler; by December highs drop to around 6°C (43°F).
- Sunrise (15 November)
- About 07:49
- Sunset (15 November)
- About 16:46
- Daylight
- About 8.8 hours
Autumn (September–November). Settled September, autumn colour, then the carnival season opening on 11 November and the first Christmas markets.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, November 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 November
- Carnival season opening at 11:11 on 11 November
- Christmas markets open (usually late November)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in November
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Neighbourhood · Belgian Quarter
Belgian Quarter
Come in the late afternoon to shop, then stay for drinks around Brüsseler Platz.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
Religious site · Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral
Begun in 1248 and finished only in 1880, the Gothic cathedral has twin spires of about 157 metres and one of the largest church façades in the world.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · Cathedral
Museum Ludwig
Start with the Pop Art galleries, then look for the Picasso rooms.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Gallery · Old Town
Wallraf-Richartz Museum
The city's oldest museum covers European painting from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century, with the gold-ground altarpieces of the medieval Cologne School, Rubens and Rembrandt, and a strong collection of Impressionists and Post-Impressionists.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
What to pack
For highs near 9°C, lows near 4°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is November a good time to visit Cologne?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September and December are better overall. Compare every month.
Cologne in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is November a good time to visit Cologne?
It is a shoulder-season month. Grey and damp, but carnival season officially opens on 11 November and Christmas markets open late in the month.
+How warm is Cologne in November?
Average highs are around 9°C (48°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Cologne in November?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.