Season guide · Munich · Germany
Munich in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Arnaud 25, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Cold, sometimes snowy days, Christmas markets, carnival and easy access to Alpine ski areas. Expect highs up to 5°C (41°F) and lows around -3°C (27°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
- -3°C (27°F) to 5°C (41°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 30
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C (37°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 10 | 8.8 h | 2/5 |
| February | 5°C (41°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 9 | 10.1 h | 2/5 |
| December | 4°C (39°F) | -2°C (28°F) | 11 | 8.4 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 4°C (39°F) against a yearly 14°C (57°F), and 30 of the year's roughly 130 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.
- January: Fasching carnival season (January to February)
- February: Fasching street celebrations at the Viktualienmarkt (usually Shrove Tuesday)
- December: Christkindlmarkt on Marienplatz (late November to 24 December)
- December: Tollwood winter festival on the Theresienwiese (usually December)
Good choices for winter
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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
Gallery · Maxvorstadt
Pinakothek der Moderne
Start with the design collection in the basement, especially if you are visiting with teenagers.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Day trips in winter
- Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze (About 1.5 hours by train) — Germany's highest mountain, at 2,962 metres, is reached by cogwheel railway and cable car from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, an Alpine resort with painted houses and hiking trails such as the Partnach Gorge.
- Chiemsee and Herrenchiemsee (About 1 hour by train, plus ferry) — Bavaria's largest lake holds Herreninsel, with Ludwig II's unfinished Versailles-inspired Herrenchiemsee Palace, and Fraueninsel, a small island with a Benedictine convent and fishing village.
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 Munich?
Yes: December is among the best months. Cold, sometimes snowy days, Christmas markets, carnival and easy access to Alpine ski areas.
+What is the weather like in Munich in winter?
Highs of up to 5°C (41°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F), with about 30 rainy days over the season.