Month guide · Munich · Germany
Munich in January
What January is really like in Munich: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Arnaud 25, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -3°C (27°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 8.8 hours of daylight. Cold, often grey, with snow some days; museums and taverns are cosy and quiet.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -3°C (27°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 8.8 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Munich: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about -3°C (27°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with December (4°C (39°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 5°C (41°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:59
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:47
- Daylight
- About 8.8 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, sometimes snowy days, Christmas markets, carnival and easy access to Alpine ski areas.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is September at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in September). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
- Fasching carnival season (January to February)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
.jpg){kind=link}
Palace · Altstadt
Munich Residenz
Buy the combined ticket for the Residenz Museum and the Treasury, and allow a full afternoon.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Art
Museum · Museumsinsel
Deutsches Museum
On an island in the Isar, this is one of the world's largest museums of science and technology, with aircraft, ships, mining tunnels, early computers and hands-on exhibits for children.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- History
Museum · Olympiapark
BMW Welt and BMW Museum
Visit BMW Welt for free, then decide whether the museum interests you; combine with the Olympiapark next door.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Gallery · Maxvorstadt
Alte Pinakothek
One of the world's great Old Masters galleries, with European paintings from the 14th to 18th centuries, including Albrecht Dürer's 1500 self-portrait, one of the largest Rubens collections anywhere, and works by Rembrandt, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -3°C and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Munich?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with a notable event on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–July, September and December are better overall. Compare every month.
Munich in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Munich?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold, often grey, with snow some days; museums and taverns are cosy and quiet.
+How warm is Munich in January?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Munich in January?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.