Season guide · Cologne · Germany
Cologne in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Raimond Spekking, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Christmas markets in December, quiet January, and street carnival in February or early March. Expect highs up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F), with about 31 rainy days across December–February. December is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 0°C (32°F) to 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 31
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5°C (41°F) | 0°C (32°F) | 11 | 8.4 h | 2/5 |
| February | 7°C (45°F) | 0°C (32°F) | 9 | 9.9 h | 4/5 |
| December | 6°C (43°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 11 | 7.9 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 6°C (43°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 31 of the year's roughly 120 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Street carnival from Weiberfastnacht to the Rose Monday parade (February or early March)
- December: Christmas markets at the cathedral, Alter Markt, Neumarkt and the harbour (usually until 23 December)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks over the Rhine
Good choices for winter
Museum · Old Town
Farina Fragrance Museum and 4711 House
Book a guided tour at Farina, then time your walk to the 4711 house to hear the carillon.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Museum · Innenstadt
Schnütgen Museum
Medieval sculptures, ivories, stained glass and goldsmiths' work fill the Romanesque church of St.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Religious site · Cathedral
Cologne Cathedral
Visit early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the busiest hours, and dress respectfully as services take place daily.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
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
Day trips in winter
- Düsseldorf (About 25 minutes by train) — Cologne's rival on the Rhine has the Altstadt's brewpubs serving darker Altbier, the Königsallee shopping boulevard and the MedienHafen's Gehry buildings.
- Königswinter and the Drachenfels (About 1 hour by train or tram) — A rack railway, one of the oldest in Germany, climbs the Drachenfels in the Siebengebirge hills to a castle ruin with views up and down the Rhine; the neo-Gothic Drachenburg Castle sits halfway up.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Cologne?
Yes: December is among the best months. Christmas markets in December, quiet January, and street carnival in February or early March.
+What is the weather like in Cologne in winter?
Highs of up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around 0°C (32°F), with about 31 rainy days over the season.