Best time to visit Groningen
The best time to visit Groningen is April–September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
°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 | 5.3 °C / 42 °F | 1.4 °C / 35 °F | 65 mm / 2.6 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 6.2 °C / 43 °F | 1.5 °C / 35 °F | 55 mm / 2.1 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 9.2 °C / 49 °F | 2.6 °C / 37 °F | 49 mm / 1.9 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 5.1 °C / 41 °F | 48 mm / 1.9 in | best month |
| May | 16.7 °C / 62 °F | 8.6 °C / 47 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | best month |
| June | 19.6 °C / 67 °F | 11.8 °C / 53 °F | 76 mm / 3 in | best month |
| July | 21.6 °C / 71 °F | 13.9 °C / 57 °F | 91 mm / 3.6 in | best month |
| August | 21.5 °C / 71 °F | 13.5 °C / 56 °F | 86 mm / 3.4 in | best month |
| September | 18.6 °C / 65 °F | 11.3 °C / 52 °F | 63 mm / 2.5 in | best month |
| October | 14.2 °C / 58 °F | 8.5 °C / 47 °F | 71 mm / 2.8 in | good month |
| November | 9.3 °C / 49 °F | 5 °C / 41 °F | 62 mm / 2.4 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 6.5 °C / 44 °F | 2.8 °C / 37 °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: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–September
- Good
- October
April through September are best for exploring Groningen, with warm, sunny, largely dry days throughout; October is a good, mellower shoulder month, while November through March are too cold, dark and damp for comfortable walking.
Why these months
April · best
In its favour: precipitation 48 mm / 1.9 in, share of daylight that is sunny 78%, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily high 13.2 °C / 56 °F, wet days 10.4 days, average daily low 5.1 °C / 41 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: feels like (high) 10 °C / 50 °F.
Also on: Bloemenjaarmarkt flower market, Koningsdag (King's Day).
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 14.5 °C / 58 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, average daily high 16.7 °C / 62 °F, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F, wet days 12.1 days, relative humidity 75%.
Also on: Bevrijdingsfestival (Liberation Festival).
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 18.8 °C / 66 °F, average daily high 19.6 °C / 67 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, precipitation 76 mm / 3 in, days with heavy rain 2.4 days, average daily low 11.8 °C / 53 °F, wet days 11.5 days.
Against: relative humidity 78%.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.2 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 21.6 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, average daily low 13.9 °C / 57 °F.
Against: wet days 14.6 days, precipitation 91 mm / 3.6 in, relative humidity 78%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.9 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 21.5 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 77%, precipitation 86 mm / 3.4 in, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, average daily low 13.5 °C / 56 °F.
Against: wet days 14.4 days, relative humidity 80%.
Also on: Groningens Ontzet / Bommen Berend, Noorderzon Festival, Paradigm Festival.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.1 °C / 63 °F, average daily high 18.6 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 70%, precipitation 63 mm / 2.5 in, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, average daily low 11.3 °C / 52 °F, wet days 11.3 days.
Against: relative humidity 82%.
Also on: Jonge Harten theatre festival, Noorderlicht photography festival.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 58%, precipitation 71 mm / 2.8 in, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily high 14.2 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 8.5 °C / 47 °F.
Against: sunshine per day 6.2 h, feels like (high) 11.7 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 86%, wet days 13.1 days.
Also on: Jonge Harten theatre festival, Noorderlicht photography festival.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Wintersportgebiet Wurmberg, 319 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) | 0.9 °C | 1.8 °C | 5.1 °C | 10 °C | 14.5 °C | 18.8 °C | 21.2 °C | 20.9 °C | 17.1 °C | 11.7 °C | 6 °C | 2.5 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.2 days | 1.3 days | 0.8 days | 0.8 days | 1.4 days | 2.4 days | 2.7 days | 2.2 days | 1.7 days | 1.6 days | 1.2 days | 1.3 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 4 pm | 9 pm | 3 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 3 pm | 3 pm | 5 pm | 8 am | 9 pm | 9 am |
| Sunshine per day | 3.6 h | 5 h | 7.9 h | 10.9 h | 12 h | 12.3 h | 12.3 h | 11.3 h | 8.9 h | 6.2 h | 4.2 h | 2.9 h |
| Relative humidity | 88% | 85% | 80% | 76% | 75% | 78% | 78% | 80% | 82% | 86% | 88% | 89% |
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 | 6.5 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ | 10.3 µg/m³ | 9.7 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 7.1 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 10.1 µg/m³ | 14 µg/m³ | 15.8 µg/m³ | 14.9 µg/m³ | 16 µg/m³ | 17.1 µg/m³ | 16.5 µg/m³ | 14.5 µg/m³ | 13.6 µg/m³ | 10.4 µg/m³ | 10.6 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
- Eurosonic-Noorderslag
January
- Christmas lights at Dot
January and December
- Bloemenjaarmarkt flower market
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Koningsdag (King's Day)
25–26 April
- Bevrijdingsfestival (Liberation Festival)
5 May
- Groningens Ontzet / Bommen Berend
28 August
- Paradigm Festival
August
- Noorderzon Festival
August
- Noorderlicht photography festival
September and October
- Jonge Harten theatre festival
September, October and November
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Colonies of Benevolence
23 km away