Season guide · Hamburg · Germany
Hamburg in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cold and dark with drizzle, brightened in December by Christmas markets; low prices in January and February. Expect highs up to 5°C (41°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 34 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -1°C (30°F) to 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 34
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C (39°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 12 | 8 h | 2/5 |
| February | 5°C (41°F) | -1°C (30°F) | 10 | 9.7 h | 2/5 |
| December | 5°C (41°F) | 0°C (32°F) | 12 | 7.5 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 5°C (41°F) against a yearly 14°C (57°F), and 34 of the year's roughly 133 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.
- December: Christmas market at the Rathausmarkt (usually late November to 23 December)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks over the harbour and Alster
Good choices for winter
Museum · Veddel
BallinStadt Emigration Museum
If you are searching for ancestors, bring names and approximate dates for the research terminals.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Museum · HafenCity and Speicherstadt
Miniatur Wunderland
The world's largest model railway fills two floors of a Speicherstadt warehouse with miniature landscapes from Hamburg and the Alps to Scandinavia, Italy and South America, including an airport where model planes take off.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Kids
- Rainy day
Religious site · Neustadt
St. Michael's Church (Michel)
Combine it with the Krameramtsstuben, a courtyard of 17th-century almshouses just around the corner.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Architecture · Altstadt
Hamburg City Hall
Completed in 1897, the neo-Renaissance Rathaus has more than 600 rooms and still houses the city-state's parliament and senate.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · St. Georg
Hamburger Kunsthalle
Head straight to the Caspar David Friedrich room before it fills.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Schwerin (About 1 hour by train) — Schwerin Castle, a fairy-tale palace on an island in the lake, is the seat of the state parliament and surrounded by gardens; the small old town is easy to explore on foot.
- Stade and the Altes Land (About 1 hour by S-Bahn) — The Altes Land is Northern Europe's largest fruit-growing region, with half-timbered farmhouses among orchards that blossom in late April and May.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Hamburg?
It is a trade-off: Cold and dark with drizzle, brightened in December by Christmas markets; low prices in January and February. The best months overall are May–September.
+What is the weather like in Hamburg in winter?
Highs of up to 5°C (41°F) and lows around -1°C (30°F), with about 34 rainy days over the season.