When is the best time to visit Germany?

Quick answer by priority

• Best weather: June to early September; Munich averages about 23 to 25°C (73 to 77°F) highs.

• Fewest crowds: January to March, outside Carnival week in the Rhineland and trade fairs in Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich.

• Cheapest: January and February, and November before the markets open.

• Festivals: Christmas markets from late November, Carnival in February, Oktoberfest from 18 September to 3 October 2027.

• Avoid: Munich during Oktoberfest unless you are going to it, and city breaks during big trade fairs, when hotel prices spike.

Germany month by month

Figures are typical averages for Munich (1991 to 2020 normals). Berlin is drier and a degree or so warmer in summer; the Rhine and Main valleys around Frankfurt and Heidelberg are among the mildest parts of the country.

• January and February: about 4 to 6°C (39 to 42°F) highs and lows just below freezing. Grey, cheap, good for museums and the Alps for skiing.

• March: about 10°C (50°F). Still cold; Easter (28 March 2027) opens the season for castles and river boats.

• April: about 15°C (59°F). Asparagus season (Spargelzeit) starts, and the spring festivals run in Munich and Stuttgart.

• May: about 19°C (66°F), but the wettest stretch begins, with around 107 mm of rain in Munich. Beer gardens open fully; several public holidays (Ascension, Whit Monday) create long weekends.

• June: about 23°C (73°F), the longest days, and the start of Rhine and Moselle cruising season at full strength.

• July and August: about 25°C (77°F) highs, around 15°C (59°F) lows, with showers or thunderstorms on many afternoons. School holidays are staggered by state, so domestic crowds spread out. This is when we were there.

• September: about 20°C (68°F). Wine festivals in the Rhine, Mosel and Franconia around Würzburg; Oktoberfest begins on 18 September 2027.

• October: about 15°C (59°F). Autumn colour in the Black Forest and Bavaria; some castles and boats switch to winter hours from November.

• November: about 8°C (46°F), dark by 16:30. Quiet and cheap until the markets open late in the month.

• December: about 5°C (41°F). Christmas markets until 22 to 24 December; almost everything closes on 25 and 26 December.

Region by region

Bavaria and the Alps (Munich, the Romantic Road, Garmisch). Summer for hiking and lakes, December to March for skiing, and December for the markets. Mountain cable cars and the castles stay open in winter, but some alpine passes and huts close. See our Munich guide, how many days in Munich and day trips from Munich.

Franconia and the Rhine-Main (Würzburg, Frankfurt, Heidelberg). Spring and September are ideal, when the vineyards are green or being harvested. Our Würzburg and Romantic Road guide and the Heidelberg guide cover this stretch.

Berlin and the north (Berlin, Bremen, Hamburg). Summer is the best season, with outdoor bars, lakes and long evenings. Winters are grey and windy, and the North Sea coast is a summer-only beach destination. See our Bremen guide.

Festivals and holidays in 2027

• Carnival (Karneval, Fasching): Rosenmontag falls on 8 February 2027, with the biggest parades in Cologne, Düsseldorf and Mainz.

• Easter: Good Friday 26 March to Easter Monday 29 March 2027; shops close on the public holidays.

• Oktoberfest, Munich: 18 September to 3 October 2027, per the city's official site.

• German Unity Day: 3 October, a national holiday.

• Christmas markets: most open in the last week of November and run to 22 or 23 December. 2027 dates are not out yet; our 2026 German Christmas market dates show the pattern and the Totensonntag rule.

Prices and crowds

The biggest price spikes in Germany are not seasonal but event-driven: Oktoberfest in Munich, trade fairs (Messe) in Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, Düsseldorf and Berlin, and Advent weekends in market towns. Check the city's trade fair calendar before booking a city break, because a fair can double hotel prices midweek.

Summer is busy but rarely overwhelming outside Neuschwanstein, Rothenburg and Heidelberg's old town at midday. Shoulder sweet spots are late May and June (outside the holiday weekends) and September before Oktoberfest. For getting around cheaply in any season, read our Deutschlandticket guide.

When not to go, honestly

January to March is cold, dark and grey across the country. If you are not skiing or museum-hopping, it is the least rewarding time, though it is cheap. Oktoberfest fortnight is a bad time for a general Munich trip because of prices and crowds. Between Christmas and New Year the markets are gone and many attractions run reduced hours.

Summer's downside is rain: May to August are the wettest months in Munich, usually as afternoon storms rather than all-day rain, so pack a light jacket. Before you go, see Germany eSIM for tourists, tipping in Germany and where to stay in Munich.

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