When is the best time to visit Germany?
Germany rewards visitors year-round, but late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) are the sweet spots. You get mild weather, long daylight and fewer crowds than peak summer. Your ideal month really depends on whether you want beer tents, Christmas markets or hiking trails.
Spring (March to May)
Spring is fresh and green. Temperatures climb from around 8 C in March to a pleasant 18 C by May. Orchards bloom along the Rhine, and city parks fill up.
- Fewer tourists and lower hotel prices than summer
- Occasional rain, so pack a light waterproof
- Walpurgisnacht (30 April) lights up the Harz mountains
Summer (June to August)
This is peak season. Days are long, beer gardens buzz and the Baltic and North Sea coasts come alive. Expect 22 to 28 C, with occasional heatwaves above 30 C.
- Busiest and priciest period, especially July and August school holidays
- Great for Berlin, the Black Forest and lakeside towns
- Book accommodation well ahead
Autumn (September to November)
Shoulder season at its best. September is warm and golden; by November it turns crisp and grey.
- Oktoberfest in Munich runs mid-September to early October, drawing six million visitors
- Wine festivals across the Rhine and Mosel valleys
- Lower prices once Oktoberfest ends
Winter (December to February)
Cold, often snowy in the south and the Alps, with temperatures around 0 to 4 C.
- Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) in Nuremberg, Dresden and Cologne open late November
- Skiing in Bavaria, around Garmisch-Partenkirchen and the Zugspitze
- Short days but magical, low-season city breaks in January and February
Festivals worth planning around
- Karneval / Fasching (February) in Cologne and the Rhineland
- Oktoberfest (September to October), Munich
- Christmas markets (late November to December) nationwide
- Cannstatter Volksfest (autumn) in Stuttgart
Quick recommendation
Want sunshine and festivals without the worst crowds? Aim for June or September. Chasing Christmas markets and snow? Come in December.
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