Best time to visit · Frankfurt · Germany
The best time to visit Frankfurt
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mylius, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Frankfurt is May to September, when riverbanks, beer gardens and festivals are at their best, or December for the Christmas market. Check the trade-fair calendar before booking: during big fairs such as the Book Fair in October, hotel prices can double or triple.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–September and December
- Shoulder season
- April and October–November
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 26°C (79°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 4°C (39°F))
- Rainiest month
- December (~11 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January
Seasons
Frankfurt has a mild continental-influenced climate: cool winters around freezing with little snow, warm and sometimes hot summers, and moderate rainfall spread across the year. It is one of the warmer cities in Germany.
March–May
Spring
Mild, changeable weather, the spring funfair and the return of fresh herbs for green sauce.
June–August
Summer
Warm to hot days, riverbank festivals and evenings in tavern gardens; occasional thunderstorms.
September–November
Autumn
Pleasant September, new apple wine and autumn colour, but trade fairs push up hotel prices.
December–February
Winter
The Römerberg Christmas market in December, then cold, quiet weeks good for museums.
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 | 4°C | -1°C | 10 | 8.5 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 6°C | -1°C | 9 | 10 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| March | 11°C | 2°C | 10 | 11.7 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 16°C | 4°C | 8 | 13.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 20°C | 9°C | 10 | 15.4 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 23°C | 12°C | 10 | 16.4 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| July | 26°C | 14°C | 10 | 16 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| August | 25°C | 14°C | 9 | 14.5 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| September | 21°C | 10°C | 8 | 12.5 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 15°C | 7°C | 9 | 10.6 h | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| November | 9°C | 3°C | 10 | 8.9 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 5°C | 0°C | 11 | 8.1 h | 4/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| February | Carnival parades in Frankfurt and nearby Mainz (February or early March) |
| March | Spring Dippemess funfair (usually March to April) |
| April | Spring Dippemess funfair (usually until April) |
| May | Grüne Soße Festival (usually May to June) |
| June | Ironman triathlon in and around Frankfurt (usually late June or early July) |
| August | Mainfest on the Römerberg and riverbank (usually early August); Museumsuferfest — museums, music and food along the river (usually last weekend of August) |
| September | Autumn Dippemess funfair (usually September) |
| October | Frankfurt Book Fair (usually mid-October); Frankfurt Marathon (usually last Sunday of October) |
| November | Frankfurt Christmas Market opens (usually late November) |
| December | Frankfurt Christmas Market (usually until about 22 December); New Year's Eve fireworks over the Main |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January, and the sights are quietest in January–March.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; 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 Frankfurt?
The best time to visit Frankfurt is May to September, when riverbanks, beer gardens and festivals are at their best, or December for the Christmas market. Check the trade-fair calendar before booking: during big fairs such as the Book Fair in October, hotel prices can double or triple.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Frankfurt?
Usually in January. Cold and grey but quiet; a good time for museums, with low hotel prices outside trade-fair dates.
+What is the rainiest month in Frankfurt?
December, with about 11 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Frankfurt get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 26°C (79°F) and lows of 14°C (57°F).