Best time to visit Dresden
The best time to visit Dresden is June–July, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Dresden, Saxony, Germany
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2.4 °C / 36 °F | -2 °C / 28 °F | 72 mm / 2.8 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 4.2 °C / 40 °F | -1.4 °C / 29 °F | 52 mm / 2 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 8.4 °C / 47 °F | 0.9 °C / 34 °F | 53 mm / 2.1 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 4.4 °C / 40 °F | 48 mm / 1.9 in | good month |
| May | 17.6 °C / 64 °F | 8.1 °C / 47 °F | 69 mm / 2.7 in | good month |
| June | 21.9 °C / 71 °F | 12.1 °C / 54 °F | 80 mm / 3.2 in | best month |
| July | 23.7 °C / 75 °F | 13.9 °C / 57 °F | 90 mm / 3.6 in | best month |
| August | 23.1 °C / 74 °F | 13.5 °C / 56 °F | 99 mm / 3.9 in | good month |
| September | 18.7 °C / 66 °F | 10.2 °C / 50 °F | 72 mm / 2.8 in | good month |
| October | 13.1 °C / 56 °F | 6.5 °C / 44 °F | 63 mm / 2.5 in | neither best nor good |
| November | 7.4 °C / 45 °F | 2.7 °C / 37 °F | 56 mm / 2.2 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 4 °C / 39 °F | 0 °C / 32 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: good
- OOctober: neither
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- June–July
- Good
- April–May, August–September
Dresden's outdoor season peaks in June and July, warm, sunny and the driest stretch of the year; April, May, August and September are comfortably good despite cooler air, more rain or a dip in sunshine; October through March are too cold, dark and damp for enjoyable walking.
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 73%, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, relative humidity 69%, average daily low 4.4 °C / 40 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 10.7 °C / 51 °F, average daily high 13.6 °C / 56 °F, wet days 10.2 days, precipitation 48 mm / 1.9 in.
Watch out for: Good Friday silent holiday.
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.7 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, average daily high 17.6 °C / 64 °F, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, average daily low 8.1 °C / 47 °F, relative humidity 70%.
Against: wet days 11.9 days, precipitation 69 mm / 2.7 in.
Also on: Ascension Day / Vatertag drinking, Dixieland Festival, Labour Day parades.
Watch out for: Pentecost travel rush.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.3 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 21.9 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, days with heavy rain 2.1 days, average daily low 12.1 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 71%.
Against: wet days 12.7 days, precipitation 80 mm / 3.2 in.
Also on: Bunte Republik Neustadt (BRN).
Watch out for: BRN accommodation crunch, Pentecost travel rush, Summer school holidays.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.2 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 23.7 °C / 75 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, average daily low 13.9 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Against: wet days 12.7 days, precipitation 90 mm / 3.6 in.
Watch out for: Summer school holidays.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.8 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 23.1 °C / 74 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 74%, average daily low 13.5 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 72%.
Against: wet days 12.8 days, precipitation 99 mm / 3.9 in, days with heavy rain 3.1 days.
Also on: Canaletto Dresden Stadtfest.
Watch out for: Summer school holidays.
September · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.7 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 68%, days with heavy rain 2 days, average daily low 10.2 °C / 50 °F.
Against: wet days 10.8 days, precipitation 72 mm / 2.8 in, relative humidity 78%.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Skigebiet Oberwiesenthal, 87 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | -1.7 °C | 0.1 °C | 4.6 °C | 10.7 °C | 15.7 °C | 21.3 °C | 23.2 °C | 22.8 °C | 17.4 °C | 10.8 °C | 4.2 °C | 0.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.4 days | 1.1 days | 0.7 days | 0.8 days | 1.7 days | 2.1 days | 2.5 days | 3.1 days | 2 days | 1.6 days | 1.1 days | 1.1 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 9 pm | 6 am | 5 pm | 4 pm | 7 pm | 4 pm | 3 pm | 2 pm | 1 pm | 9 am | 2 pm | 9 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 3.6 h | 5.4 h | 7.6 h | 10.1 h | 11 h | 12.1 h | 12.1 h | 10.7 h | 8.6 h | 6.1 h | 4.2 h | 3.3 h |
| Relative humidity | 85% | 81% | 74% | 69% | 70% | 71% | 69% | 72% | 78% | 83% | 86% | 86% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 6 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 10.8 µg/m³ | 12.1 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | 10.1 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 8.4 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 9.7 µg/m³ | 16.4 µg/m³ | 18.9 µg/m³ | 16.3 µg/m³ | 15.9 µg/m³ | 18.3 µg/m³ | 16.1 µg/m³ | 14.7 µg/m³ | 12.2 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 12.9 µg/m³ | 10.9 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- 13 February bombing memorial processions and ceremonies
11–15 February
- Dixieland Festival
8–14 May
- Labour Day parades
1 May
- Ascension Day / Vatertag drinking
May, dates vary from year to year
- Bunte Republik Neustadt (BRN)
June
- Canaletto Dresden Stadtfest
20–22 August, dates vary from year to year
- Striezelmarkt Christmas market
24 November–24 December
- New Year's Eve fireworks
31 December
Worth knowing before you go
- 13 February demonstrations and security presence
11–15 February
- Good Friday silent holiday
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Pentecost travel rush
May and June, dates vary from year to year
- BRN accommodation crunch
June
- Summer school holidays
June, July and August
- Striezelmarkt crowds and traffic
24 November–24 December
- Christmas Eve early shop closing
24 December
- New Year's Eve shop closing
31 December
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Dresden Elbe Valley
5 km away