Germany is the seventh largest country in Europe, and one of the most visited countries in it. It stretches from the Alps in the south to the Baltic Sea and the North Sea in the north, and borders many other countries. Among these are Poland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands and more. The rich history of this country, which was and is such a significant factor in the history of the world in general and Europe in particular, is what attracts the most tourists who visit it every year. The rich culture, architecture that combines old and new and a view of the country that twice in a century tried to destabilize the existing world, and that has since been trying to restore its image.
Despite its size, the fact that Germany is in the heart of the continent makes its weather relatively stable. The summer is hot, the winter is not too harsh and the tourist season lasts throughout the year. Of course there are differences between the different regions, but the differences between them are not as great as in other European countries.
Weather conditions in the different regions
In the division of Germany into geographical regions, we can find four main regions. Each of these regions has a typical weather, and a corresponding travel season.
The northern coastal strip of Germany
The strip borders the North Sea in the western part, and the Baltic Sea in the eastern part. The weather in both parts of the coast is similar, although the North Sea coast suffers more from strong winds, than its brother to the Baltic Sea coast. The German-Danish border separates the two coastal strips, where you will find the important city of Hamburg. In general, the northern coast of Germany is characterized by cold, humid and windy weather. In the winter months, the temperatures here can drop significantly, and at their peak it can stay below zero even during the day itself. However, the summer months are characterized by very pleasant temperatures, although this is also the rainiest season.
In terms of bathing options in the sea, keep in mind that both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea are extremely cold days. Even in the height of summer, the days reach a temperature of about 18 degrees Celsius (for comparison, the Mediterranean Sea reaches about 30 degrees in summer).
West Germany
This is an area characterized by extremely mild weather, which varies slightly along the western border, on the axis from north to south. The north of Germany’s southern border is characterized by particularly pleasant weather in the summer and cold in the winter (although not too cold), but the proximity to the ocean makes it humid and windy at times. You will find many famous cities here, including Dortmund, Dusseldorf and more. In this area, the maximum temperature in the summer reaches 23 degrees Celsius, while in the winter months it hovers around zero degrees. In the southern part of the western border the temperatures are slightly warmer, since here Germany borders with France. On top of that, the distance of this area from the sea makes it less rainy, and therefore more convenient for trips in the summer months.
Northeast Germany
The area that used to be East Germany is characterized by somewhat Eastern European weather. In the winter months, temperatures can drop to several degrees below zero, and winter tends to be harsher in general than in more southern parts of the country. However, even here the distance of this land from the sea makes it less rainy, with Hamburg (in the north) receiving on average about 50% more precipitation than Berlin (in the east).
South Germany
The southernmost parts of Germany (including Bavaria and the Alps) boast of being high above sea level, which greatly lowers the degrees in them. Cities like Munich are hundreds of meters above sea level, so the winter there can be harsher than in other cities. In addition, the proximity to the mountains leads to a wealth of precipitation in this part of the country, a fact that also needs to be taken into account.
When should you go where?
Due to the fact that the weather changes in different parts of this great country, as well as due to the different length of day in the north compared to the south, the region of the country you choose to travel to when you arrive in Germany is of great importance. In general, the trip in Germany is recommended between mid-May and September, when talking about the weather. These are the months when the temperatures in the country are overwhelmingly higher, allowing you to walk comfortably during the day and wear a light coat in the evenings. However, it’s important to remember that this is also the rainier season, so it’s important to have an umbrella handy.
More specifically, the winter months are your time to visit the southwestern tip of Germany (the Black Forest region), as well as the alpine parts of the country if you’re into skiing. Even in Berlin and the rest of East Germany you will find an impressive scene during the winter, with an emphasis on the Christmas and New Year’s area.
The spring months are the suitable months for traveling both in the southwest of Germany (in the vineyard area) and along the entire western border of the country. This is the time when the temperatures rise here, and you can get by with warm clothes too. In addition, the precipitation here is not so much during the spring as in the summer months.
The summer should be used to travel in the far north of Germany, along the coast. Other months can be relatively harsh for a trip to the region, so the more comfortable temperatures of June to August can suit tourists, certainly in a family group. However, it is important to remember that most of the precipitation comes during this period, so you should check the forecast in advance.
Travel seasons in Germany
In all of Europe, overall, the peak of the tourist season comes in the summer months (June to August). In Germany, the tourist season starts in mid-late May, and ends around mid-September. The reasons for this are entirely logical. The weather is warmer, the days are longer (significantly) and vacations from educational institutions allow whole families to go on trips around the continent, and in Germany in particular. Even the heavy rainfall that characterizes large areas of Germany in these months does not deter the travelers who arrive in droves. There are specific areas where the tourist load is felt even more than elsewhere, such as the Black Forest in the southwest of the country, which is a favorite vacation destination for families from all over the world.
In any case, due to the very large number of tourists visiting Germany during these months, the costs of a trip to the country at this time can be very high. The prices of flights, hotels and guesthouses, as well as the prices of attractions, all increase significantly during the peak of the tourist season. Therefore, if for you (like many others) this is the only time of the year when you can travel in Germany, the recommendation is to plan the trip well in advance and book hotels and flights as early as possible. In any case, you will pay more for a vacation in July – August, so it is better to reduce the high cost as much as possible.
If you have the opportunity, the best seasons to visit are probably autumn (mid-September to late November) and spring (March to mid-May). In these months, the days are long enough to allow leisurely trips, the number of tourists is not as huge as in the summer, and the weather is relatively friendly and less rainy. In addition, the decrease in the number of tourists allows you to find worthwhile deals on hotels and flights, deals that will be very difficult for you to find in the summer months.
