Country guide

Germany

Berlin's nightlife and history, Bavaria's castles and beer gardens, and Christmas markets that own December.

Currency

EUR

Language

German

English

Widely spoken

Payment

Cards & cash mixed

Power

Type C / F

230 V, 50 Hz

Dialing

+49

Destinations

Germany

Baden-Baden

The Romans found the springs, nineteenth-century Europe built a resort on top of them, and Germany has kept it running ever since.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Berchtesgaden

A salt town wedged under limestone walls, with Germany's loveliest lake at one end and its darkest address at the other.

✓ best Apr, Oct

Germany

Berlin

The city where the twentieth century actually happened, rebuilt as Europe's least polished and most interesting capital.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Black Forest (Freiburg)

A working forest of clockmakers, spa towns and hillside farms, laced with more waymarked walking trail than almost anywhere in Europe.

✓ best Apr, Jun-Oct

Germany

Cologne

A Roman capital under a Gothic monster of a cathedral, with Germany's most sociable beer culture poured around it.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Dresden

A baroque capital that burned in a single night and was rebuilt from its own rubble, with sandstone gorge country forty minutes upriver.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Frankfurt

High finance and half-timbered gables in the same square kilometre, wrapped around Germany's only skyline.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Germany's highest mountain, its best-known ski town and two of its great gorges, all inside one valley.

✓ best Apr, Oct

Germany

Hamburg

A Hanseatic port of brick warehouses, canals and more bridges than Venice, with Germany's rowdiest nightlife strip attached to it.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Heidelberg

Germany's oldest university town, under the sandstone ruin that taught Europe to find ruins beautiful.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Lake Constance (Konstanz)

Three countries around one Alpine-fed lake: island gardens, medieval harbour towns and a waymarked ride that laps the entire shore.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Leipzig

The city where Bach wrote his cantatas and where, in 1989, Monday prayers turned into the marches that finished East Germany.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Munich

The one German city where a river wave, a chestnut-shaded beer garden and the Alps all fit inside the same afternoon.

✓ best Apr, Sep-Oct

Germany

Nuremberg

The Holy Roman Empire's unofficial capital, which the Nazis took for their stage set and the world then used as its courtroom.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Rothenburg ob der Tauber

The most complete medieval town in Germany, still inside its walls and still walkable along the top of them.

✓ best Apr-Oct

Germany

Rugen (Binz)

Germany's largest island: the chalk cliffs Caspar David Friedrich painted, white spa towns linked by a steam train, and a four-kilometre Nazi holiday block that never opened.

✓ best May-Sep

Germany

Sylt

Germany's most fashionable island: forty kilometres of North Sea sand, thatched Frisian villages and a red cliff, reached by train across the sea.

✓ best May-Sep

Germany

Trier

Germany's oldest city, where a black Roman gate, an emperor's throne hall and imperial baths all stand inside a small Moselle wine town.

✓ best Apr-Oct

The sweet-spot windows

Good weather, thinner crowds, better prices: the windows worth aiming for.

Where	When	Why it works	Watch out for
Germany	May-Jun, Sep	Warm, long days, or Oktoberfest (late Sep). Dec markets	Dec markets cold but magic

Climate zones, month by month

Germany has 18 distinct climate zones. The right month depends on where in the country you're going.

Baden-Baden Black Forest →

Jan

5°

0°

55mm

7d rain

Feb

8°

0°

56mm

7d rain

Mar

12°

3°

61mm

7d rain

Apr

17°

6°

49mm

5d rain

May

21°

10°

73mm

7d rain

Jun

25°

13°

75mm

8d rain

Jul

27°

15°

78mm

8d rain

Aug

27°

15°

60mm

8d rain

Sep

22°

11°

59mm

7d rain

Oct

16°

7°

72mm

9d rain

Nov

9°

3°

65mm

7d rain

Dec

6°

1°

67mm

10d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Jan

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Berchtesgaden Bavarian Alps →

Jan

3°

-4°

117mm

9d rain

Feb

6°

-3°

79mm

9d rain

Mar

10°

1°

77mm

9d rain

Apr

16°

4°

70mm

11d rain

May

19°

8°

161mm

15d rain

Jun

23°

13°

166mm

16d rain

Jul

24°

14°

179mm

17d rain

Aug

24°

14°

159mm

16d rain

Sep

20°

10°

145mm

11d rain

Oct

14°

6°

94mm

9d rain

Nov

9°

1°

72mm

8d rain

Dec

4°

-2°

90mm

10d rain

✓ Best Apr, Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Berlin →

Jan

4°

-1°

48mm

6d rain

Feb

5°

-1°

36mm

8d rain

Mar

9°

1°

41mm

4d rain

Apr

15°

5°

29mm

4d rain

May

20°

9°

52mm

5d rain

Jun

23°

13°

58mm

6d rain

Jul

25°

15°

72mm

6d rain

Aug

25°

15°

58mm

7d rain

Sep

20°

11°

47mm

4d rain

Oct

14°

7°

44mm

6d rain

Nov

8°

3°

42mm

4d rain

Dec

4°

0°

44mm

5d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct

Conditions Jan-Feb Cold · Mar Mild spring · Apr Pleasant · May-Aug Warm · Sep Oktoberfest · Oct Cool autumn · Nov Cold & grey · Dec Cold, markets

Cards tinted by verified verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Black Forest (Freiburg) →

Jan

6°

0°

49mm

11d rain

Feb

8°

0°

49mm

11d rain

Mar

12°

3°

54mm

10d rain

Apr

17°

6°

64mm

9d rain

May

21°

10°

103mm

12d rain

Jun

24°

13°

90mm

13d rain

Jul

27°

15°

92mm

12d rain

Aug

26°

15°

83mm

10d rain

Sep

21°

11°

77mm

10d rain

Oct

16°

7°

79mm

12d rain

Nov

10°

3°

66mm

12d rain

Dec

7°

1°

67mm

13d rain

✓ Best Apr, Jun-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Jan

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Cologne Rhineland →

Jan

6°

0°

62mm

8d rain

Feb

7°

0°

54mm

10d rain

Mar

11°

2°

55mm

7d rain

Apr

16°

5°

48mm

7d rain

May

20°

8°

62mm

9d rain

Jun

23°

11°

86mm

7d rain

Jul

25°

13°

87mm

9d rain

Aug

25°

13°

83mm

8d rain

Sep

20°

10°

67mm

7d rain

Oct

15°

7°

65mm

8d rain

Nov

10°

4°

64mm

9d rain

Dec

7°

1°

69mm

9d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Jan

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Dresden Saxony →

Jan

3°

-2°

42mm

6d rain

Feb

5°

-1°

33mm

8d rain

Mar

9°

1°

42mm

5d rain

Apr

14°

5°

36mm

4d rain

May

19°

9°

63mm

7d rain

Jun

22°

12°

63mm

9d rain

Jul

25°

14°

85mm

7d rain

Aug

24°

14°

80mm

9d rain

Sep

19°

10°

52mm

5d rain

Oct

14°

7°

50mm

7d rain

Nov

8°

2°

48mm

5d rain

Dec

4°

-1°

44mm

5d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Frankfurt →

Jan

5°

-1°

48mm

6d rain

Feb

7°

0°

44mm

7d rain

Mar

11°

1°

44mm

6d rain

Apr

17°

5°

36mm

6d rain

May

21°

9°

75mm

7d rain

Jun

24°

13°

70mm

8d rain

Jul

27°

14°

68mm

7d rain

Aug

25°

14°

73mm

8d rain

Sep

21°

10°

46mm

5d rain

Oct

15°

6°

47mm

7d rain

Nov

10°

3°

46mm

5d rain

Dec

6°

1°

63mm

8d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Garmisch-Partenkirchen Bavarian Alps →

Jan

3°

-6°

77mm

7d rain

Feb

6°

-5°

66mm

7d rain

Mar

10°

-2°

90mm

8d rain

Apr

15°

2°

87mm

10d rain

May

18°

6°

143mm

16d rain

Jun

22°

10°

180mm

14d rain

Jul

23°

11°

173mm

16d rain

Aug

23°

11°

192mm

14d rain

Sep

19°

8°

115mm

11d rain

Oct

15°

4°

91mm

10d rain

Nov

8°

-1°

81mm

8d rain

Dec

3°

-5°

78mm

9d rain

✓ Best Apr, Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Hamburg →

Jan

4°

0°

67mm

8d rain

Feb

5°

0°

55mm

10d rain

Mar

9°

1°

57mm

5d rain

Apr

14°

4°

39mm

6d rain

May

18°

8°

58mm

8d rain

Jun

21°

11°

74mm

6d rain

Jul

23°

13°

82mm

10d rain

Aug

23°

13°

78mm

8d rain

Sep

19°

10°

65mm

6d rain

Oct

14°

6°

63mm

9d rain

Nov

8°

3°

61mm

6d rain

Dec

5°

0°

73mm

9d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Heidelberg →

Jan

5°

-1°

42mm

6d rain

Feb

7°

0°

41mm

7d rain

Mar

12°

2°

42mm

6d rain

Apr

17°

5°

41mm

6d rain

May

21°

9°

68mm

6d rain

Jun

25°

13°

64mm

7d rain

Jul

27°

15°

71mm

7d rain

Aug

27°

14°

62mm

9d rain

Sep

22°

11°

50mm

6d rain

Oct

16°

7°

53mm

9d rain

Nov

9°

3°

53mm

6d rain

Dec

6°

0°

55mm

9d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Jan

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Lake Constance (Konstanz) →

Jan

4°

-1°

46mm

9d rain

Feb

6°

-1°

45mm

10d rain

Mar

11°

2°

51mm

10d rain

Apr

16°

5°

57mm

9d rain

May

20°

10°

89mm

14d rain

Jun

24°

13°

100mm

14d rain

Jul

26°

15°

96mm

14d rain

Aug

25°

15°

98mm

12d rain

Sep

20°

11°

69mm

11d rain

Oct

15°

7°

63mm

10d rain

Nov

8°

3°

58mm

11d rain

Dec

5°

0°

63mm

12d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Leipzig Saxony →

Jan

4°

-1°

44mm

5d rain

Feb

5°

-1°

34mm

8d rain

Mar

10°

1°

45mm

4d rain

Apr

15°

5°

35mm

4d rain

May

20°

9°

57mm

5d rain

Jun

23°

12°

60mm

7d rain

Jul

25°

14°

85mm

7d rain

Aug

25°

14°

65mm

8d rain

Sep

20°

10°

55mm

4d rain

Oct

14°

6°

44mm

6d rain

Nov

8°

3°

48mm

5d rain

Dec

5°

0°

45mm

6d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Munich Bavaria →

Jan

4°

-2°

52mm

6d rain

Feb

6°

-1°

46mm

7d rain

Mar

10°

2°

61mm

6d rain

Apr

15°

5°

56mm

9d rain

May

19°

9°

107mm

14d rain

Jun

23°

13°

121mm

14d rain

Jul

25°

15°

119mm

14d rain

Aug

25°

15°

117mm

14d rain

Sep

20°

10°

78mm

10d rain

Oct

15°

7°

67mm

8d rain

Nov

8°

2°

58mm

9d rain

Dec

5°

-1°

59mm

9d rain

✓ Best Apr, Sep-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Nuremberg Franconia →

Jan

4°

-2°

40mm

5d rain

Feb

5°

-2°

33mm

7d rain

Mar

10°

0°

39mm

5d rain

Apr

15°

4°

33mm

6d rain

May

20°

8°

61mm

7d rain

Jun

23°

11°

64mm

9d rain

Jul

25°

13°

77mm

7d rain

Aug

25°

13°

60mm

9d rain

Sep

20°

9°

49mm

7d rain

Oct

14°

5°

49mm

7d rain

Nov

8°

2°

47mm

6d rain

Dec

4°

-1°

49mm

7d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Rothenburg ob der Tauber Romantic Road →

Jan

4°

-1°

40mm

6d rain

Feb

6°

-1°

36mm

7d rain

Mar

10°

2°

40mm

5d rain

Apr

16°

5°

33mm

5d rain

May

20°

9°

57mm

7d rain

Jun

23°

12°

53mm

8d rain

Jul

26°

14°

66mm

8d rain

Aug

25°

14°

56mm

9d rain

Sep

20°

10°

47mm

6d rain

Oct

14°

6°

48mm

7d rain

Nov

8°

2°

46mm

5d rain

Dec

5°

0°

52mm

7d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Rugen (Binz) Baltic Coast →

Jan

3°

-1°

56mm

8d rain

Feb

3°

-1°

40mm

9d rain

Mar

7°

1°

42mm

5d rain

Apr

12°

4°

33mm

4d rain

May

17°

7°

47mm

4d rain

Jun

20°

11°

68mm

5d rain

Jul

22°

13°

74mm

8d rain

Aug

22°

14°

71mm

7d rain

Sep

18°

11°

53mm

5d rain

Oct

13°

7°

61mm

7d rain

Nov

8°

4°

57mm

7d rain

Dec

4°

0°

61mm

8d rain

✓ Best May-Sep · ✗ Avoid Dec-Mar

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Sylt North Sea →

Jan

4°

1°

50mm

14d rain

Feb

4°

1°

39mm

11d rain

Mar

7°

2°

38mm

9d rain

Apr

11°

5°

32mm

7d rain

May

15°

9°

36mm

8d rain

Jun

18°

12°

51mm

7d rain

Jul

20°

15°

59mm

11d rain

Aug

21°

15°

90mm

8d rain

Sep

18°

13°

78mm

8d rain

Oct

13°

9°

84mm

13d rain

Nov

8°

5°

73mm

12d rain

Dec

6°

2°

64mm

13d rain

✓ Best May-Sep · ✗ Avoid Dec-Mar

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions

Trier Moselle →

Jan

5°

0°

64mm

7d rain

Feb

6°

0°

53mm

7d rain

Mar

11°

2°

51mm

7d rain

Apr

16°

5°

44mm

5d rain

May

20°

9°

67mm

7d rain

Jun

23°

12°

66mm

7d rain

Jul

25°

14°

72mm

7d rain

Aug

25°

13°

62mm

8d rain

Sep

20°

10°

60mm

7d rain

Oct

15°

7°

65mm

9d rain

Nov

9°

3°

62mm

7d rain

Dec

5°

1°

78mm

8d rain

✓ Best Apr-Oct · ✗ Avoid Dec-Feb

Cards tinted by calculated verdict · big number = typical daily high, small = low · hover for conditions