Germany is a popular tourist destination with over 30 million visitors every year. However, while there is no truly bad time to visit Germany, there are certain periods that are considered the worst times due to weather, crowds, expenses, and event availability. If your goal is to avoid the peak tourist seasons, here is an overview of the worst times to visit Germany.
December
December is considered one of the worst months for visiting Germany for several reasons:
Holiday Crowds and Expenses
As Germany’s Christmas markets open up in late November and run through December, cities across Germany get exceptionally crowded and hotel prices surge. Unless you book 6-8 months in advance, lodging and dining expenses go through the roof. Major destinations like Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Hamburg and Frankfurt become packed with tourists. Smaller towns with Christmas markets also see dramatic spikes in visitors.
Weather
While Germany looks magical covered in twinkling lights and a dusting of snow during December, winter weather can put a damper on outdoor sightseeing activities. While the Christmas markets continue despite cold temperatures, walking between attractions in the freezing rain and snow is not for everyone. Historically, Germany sees an average high of only 3°C and average lows drop below freezing during December.
Limited Hours for Attractions & Restaurants
Many museums, historical sites and other indoor attractions operate under more limited hours and some restaurants take winter holidays during parts of December. So while the Christmas vibes are strong, actual activities you can participate in each day may be fewer than other months.
So unless joining the festive holiday atmosphere with the crowds is a must for you, December is generally considered the peak of the low season for visiting Germany.
January
Like December, January sees primarily chilly winter weather and the holiday crowds of Christmas have usually departed. Here’s an overview of why January joins December as an inopportune stretch for visiting Germany:
Weather Remains Unpleasant
While southern Germany sees slightly milder weather in cities like Munich, much of northern and central Germany struggle to get above 0°C throughout January. Icy sidewalks, perpetual grey skies, freezing temperatures and flurries of snow make outdoor sightseeing less than optimal for many travelers. Visiting indoor attractions and museums is certainly more appealing.
Post-Holiday Closures
Some areas of Germany essentially shut down during early January in the period between Christmas and New Year’s celebrations and the few days following New Year’s when Germany observes Three King’s Day on January 6th. You’ll find restaurants, stores and various tourist sites often closed for an entire week or two to give workers and owners their own holiday break after the busy December period.
Cheaper Airfare But Minimal Savings Otherwise
One small benefit of January is you can find relatively affordable airfare compared to summer or holidays. However, hotels do not offer significantly lower prices compared to December or other periods on average. And shorter business hours can limit the activities, dining and shopping components of your trip.
Unless you are looking for an off-season getaway focused on museums, concerts or local community events, January joins December as one of the least ideal times for visiting Germany.
Late August to Mid-September
While summer remains busy with tourists across Germany, late August running into mid-September tends to be the peak of the worst crowds mixed with heat:
The Return of School Holidays
Most German states stagger 1-2 week school breaks between June and September. But the clusters of states that schedule back-to-school breaks in late August and early September means tons of German families all hit popular domestic vacation destinations at the same time. Like many Europeans, Germans highly value their lengthy summer vacations.
Ongoing Heat Waves
Traditionally, Germany reaches some of its hottest sustained temperatures of the year between late July and mid-September. Average highs ranging from 25°C to upwards of 30°C are quite common through early September, which can make sightseeing quite steamy and uncomfortable, especially for long stretches indoors at museums and historic buildings without central air conditioning.
Busy Oktoberfest Launch
While Munich’s iconic Oktoberfest doesn’t technically begin until the second half of September, hotel rates in Munich surge dramatically beginning in late August. Locals often take late summer breaks before schools open, while tourists flood in hoping to catch some pre-Oktoberfest events and excitement building in the city. If Oktoberfest is not on your agenda, late August in Munich adds extra crowds.
If heat, sweat and pushing through dense crowds dampens your vacation dreams, aim to avoid Germany between late August and mid-September.
Major German Holiday Weekends
In addition to late summer and the winter holidays being crowded, popular German national holidays also attract tons of extra visitors and closures:
German Unity Day (October 3rd)
Marking the anniversary of Germany’s 1990 reunification, German Unity Day on October 3rd sees many Germans taking a long weekend or week off work to travel and celebrate. Major cities and tourist destinations see upticks in visitors looking to join the festivities.
Labor Day / May Day (May 1st)
International Workers Day on May 1st is a hugely popular public holiday across Germany with celebrations, marches, gatherings and parties. Cities are crowded and many businesses as well as certain tourist sites are closed.
Day of German Unity (October 3rd)
What was originally intended to be a somber day of repentance for the Nazi regime after WWII, Volkstrauertag the Sunday before November 27th now focuses on remembering all German war dead and victims of violence. Most stores remain open but certain tourist attractions may have limited hours.
Unless you want to specifically partake in these national holiday events and atmosphere, try to avoid travel to Germany during these peak closure and crowd dates on the German calendar.
In Summary
While there’s no truly terrible period to explore Germany, aiming to dodge the late summer crowds, winter chill and inflated expenses of the Christmas market season serves most travelers well.
By mapping your trip around school breaks, national holidays and major German festivals, you’ll find more open attractions, available lodging offers and fewer fellow tourists competing for space in the beer halls. And you’ll be able to amble peacefully around those picturesque Christmas markets and soak up the atmospheric German towns under cozy blankets of snow during more optimal seasons instead.