Season guide · Frankfurt · Germany
Frankfurt in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dontworry, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The Römerberg Christmas market in December, then cold, quiet weeks good for museums. Expect highs up to 6°C (43°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 30 rainy days across December–February. December is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -1°C (30°F) to 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 30
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C (39°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 10 | 8.5 h | 2/5 |
| February | 6°C (43°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 9 | 10 h | 2/5 |
| December | 5°C (41°F) | 0°C (32°F) | 11 | 8.1 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 5°C (41°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 30 of the year's roughly 114 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: Carnival parades in Frankfurt and nearby Mainz (February or early March)
- December: Frankfurt Christmas Market (usually until about 22 December)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks over the Main
Good choices for winter
Museum · Innenstadt
Jewish Museum Frankfurt
Visit the Museum Judengasse and the adjacent Börneplatz memorial wall on the same day.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · Altstadt
Schirn Kunsthalle
Between the cathedral and the Römerberg, the Schirn has no permanent collection but hosts major temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art, from retrospectives to themed shows.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Sachsenhausen
Städel Museum
Start with the old masters upstairs, then finish in the underground galleries, which are usually quieter.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Museum · Innenstadt
Goethe House and German Romantic Museum
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was born in 1749 in this townhouse on the Großer Hirschgraben, rebuilt after the war with its original furniture, paintings and the puppet theatre he played with as a child.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Art
Garden · Westend
Palmengarten
On a cold or wet day, spend most of your time in the tropical glasshouses.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Würzburg (About 1 hour 10 minutes by ICE) — The UNESCO-listed Würzburg Residence has Tiepolo's ceiling fresco above its grand staircase, and the Old Main Bridge, lined with statues, is where locals drink Franconian wine at sunset.
- Marburg (About 1 hour by train) — A hilly university town with half-timbered houses climbing to a landgrave's castle and the early Gothic St.
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 Frankfurt?
Yes: December is among the best months. The Römerberg Christmas market in December, then cold, quiet weeks good for museums.
+What is the weather like in Frankfurt in winter?
Highs of up to 6°C (43°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 30 rainy days over the season.