Planning a Trip to Cologne? Here's the Weather
See what weather to expect in Cologne, Germany and plan your trip with confidence. Monthly averages from real historical weather data.
Cologne's Rhine-valley climate is mild rather than dramatic: January highs sit around 6°C with lows near 1°C, and rain arrives in every month, with July the wettest at 90mm and even April seeing 58mm. The cathedral, the Romanesque churches and the art museums keep a wet day productive, and the Christmas markets around the Dom run in December highs near 7°C.
Written by Leo Vicente, founder & engineer who loves to travel
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16°C
Avg. high
8°C
Avg. low
905mm
Yearly rainfall
5
Best months
Travel Window Score · 7.5/10
Cologne's best travel month is June — around 12 rain days and daytime highs near 24°C, on a 10-year historical average (climatology tier).
Climatology · 10-YR AVG · How we forecast →
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Start PlanningMonthly Temperature & Rainfall
6°
1°
88mm
Jan
8°
2°
70mm
Feb
11°
3°
72mm
Mar
15°
5°
58mm
Apr
19°
9°
67mm
May
24°
14°
80mm
Jun
24°
15°
90mm
Jul
25°
15°
67mm
Aug
21°
12°
80mm
Sep
16°
9°
73mm
Oct
10°
5°
76mm
Nov
7°
3°
84mm
Dec
What Weather to Expect in Cologne
Cologne typically has the most favorable weather for travel during May, June, July, August, September, with comfortable temperatures and relatively low rainfall — ideal conditions for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Best Time to Visit Cologne
May through September give the best conditions for the Rhine promenade, the cathedral towers and the beer halls of the old town, with highs from 19°C up to 25°C in August; rain does not switch off in this window, so plan indoor fallbacks.
The best time to visit Cologne is May through September, when daytime highs average around 23°C and rainfall stays low at roughly 77mm per month. These months offer the most comfortable conditions for sightseeing, outdoor activities, and exploring the city at a relaxed pace. May is typically the driest of these months, with only around 67mm of precipitation.
Cologne Weather by Season
Spring
Spring (March–May) brings cool weather to Cologne, with highs averaging 15°C and lows around 6°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 197mm total with roughly 12 rainy days per month.
Summer
Summer (June–August) brings warm weather to Cologne, with highs averaging 24°C and lows around 15°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 237mm total with roughly 12 rainy days per month.
Autumn
Autumn (September–November) brings mild weather to Cologne, with highs averaging 16°C and lows around 9°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 229mm total with roughly 13 rainy days per month.
Winter
Winter (December–February) brings cold weather to Cologne, with highs averaging 7°C and lows around 2°C. The season is moderately wet, accumulating around 242mm total with roughly 15 rainy days per month.
Christmas market dates 2026
Hafen-Weihnachtsmarkt
Nikolausdorf auf dem Rudolfplatz
Weihnachtsmarkt am Kölner Dom
Nov 16 – Dec 23
Closed on Nov 22
Closed on Totensonntag. Hours: Sun-Wed 11-21, Thu-Fri 11-22, Sat 10-22
Weihnachtsmarkt am Neumarkt
Weihnachtsmarkt am Chlodwigplatz
Heinzels Wintermärchen (Weihnachtsmarkt in der Altstadt)
Cologne weather in December: 7°C / 3°C, 16 days with precipitation
Things to do in Cologne
Handpicked activities you can book now, matched to typical weather in Cologne.
Itineraries Featuring Cologne
Climate data is a 10-year historical average (2016–2025), averaged across a wide area rather than a single weather station. Temperatures in Celsius. How we forecast →