Best time to visit Hamburg
The best time to visit Hamburg is April–June and September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Hamburg, Hamburg, 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 | 4 °C / 39 °F | 0.3 °C / 33 °F | 67 mm / 2.6 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 5.3 °C / 42 °F | 0.4 °C / 33 °F | 53 mm / 2.1 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 8.8 °C / 48 °F | 1.7 °C / 35 °F | 49 mm / 1.9 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 13.7 °C / 57 °F | 4.7 °C / 40 °F | 47 mm / 1.8 in | best month |
| May | 17.9 °C / 64 °F | 8.4 °C / 47 °F | 67 mm / 2.6 in | best month |
| June | 21.4 °C / 71 °F | 12 °C / 54 °F | 73 mm / 2.9 in | best month |
| July | 23 °C / 73 °F | 13.9 °C / 57 °F | 84 mm / 3.3 in | good month |
| August | 22.6 °C / 73 °F | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 78 mm / 3.1 in | good month |
| September | 19.1 °C / 66 °F | 11 °C / 52 °F | 55 mm / 2.2 in | best month |
| October | 13.9 °C / 57 °F | 7.8 °C / 46 °F | 65 mm / 2.5 in | good month |
| November | 8.4 °C / 47 °F | 4.2 °C / 40 °F | 57 mm / 2.2 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 5.4 °C / 42 °F | 1.8 °C / 35 °F | 65 mm / 2.6 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: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–June, September
- Good
- July–August, October
Hamburg is best for exploring in April-June and again in September, when it's mild to warm, its brightest and comparatively dry; July and August turn warmest but wettest, with rain concentrated in the afternoons, while November through March are cold, dark and damp.
Why these months
April · best
In its favour: precipitation 47 mm / 1.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 75%, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, average daily high 13.7 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 72%.
Against: wet days 10.2 days, average daily low 4.7 °C / 40 °F, share of rain falling in the daytime 48%, feels like (high) 10.6 °C / 51 °F.
Also on: Hamburger Dom fair, Haspa Marathon Hamburg, Night of Museums.
Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.7 °C / 60 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 70%, average daily high 17.9 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 67 mm / 2.6 in, days with heavy rain 1.8 days, average daily low 8.4 °C / 47 °F, relative humidity 71%.
Against: wet days 11.8 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 46%.
Also on: Ascension Day (Vatertag), Hafengeburtstag (Harbour Birthday), Kirschblütenfest (Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival), Labour Day parades, Wasserlichtkonzerte (Water Light Concerts).
Watch out for: Pentecost travel.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 20.4 °C / 69 °F, average daily high 21.4 °C / 71 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, days with heavy rain 1.9 days, average daily low 12 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 72%.
Against: wet days 11.8 days, precipitation 73 mm / 2.9 in.
Also on: Schanzenfest, Schlagermove Parade, Wasserlichtkonzerte (Water Light Concerts).
Watch out for: Elbe currents drowning risk, Pentecost travel, Schanzenfest evening unrest, Summer school holidays.
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.5 °C / 73 °F, average daily high 23 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 71%, average daily low 13.9 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: wet days 14.2 days, precipitation 84 mm / 3.3 in, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%.
Also on: Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon, Hamburger Dom fair, Schanzenfest, Schlagermove Parade, Wasserlichtkonzerte (Water Light Concerts).
Watch out for: Elbe currents drowning risk, Schanzenfest evening unrest, Summer school holidays.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 22 °C / 72 °F, average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, days with heavy rain 1.6 days, average daily low 13.6 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 76%.
Against: wet days 13.6 days, precipitation 78 mm / 3.1 in, share of rain falling in the daytime 47%.
Also on: Hamburg Pride, Schanzenfest, Schlagermove Parade, Vattenfall Cyclassics, Wasserlichtkonzerte (Water Light Concerts), Wutzrock Festival.
Watch out for: Elbe currents drowning risk, Schanzenfest evening unrest.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.6 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 19.1 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 55 mm / 2.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 67%, days with heavy rain 1.4 days, average daily low 11 °C / 52 °F.
Against: wet days 10 days, share of rain falling in the daytime 42%, relative humidity 79%.
Also on: Wasserlichtkonzerte (Water Light Concerts).
October · good
In its favour: precipitation 65 mm / 2.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 53%, days with heavy rain 1.5 days, average daily high 13.9 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 7.8 °C / 46 °F.
Against: relative humidity 85%, wet days 12.4 days, sunshine per day 5.6 h, share of rain falling in the daytime 42%, feels like (high) 11.6 °C / 53 °F.
Watch out for: German Unity Day closures, Reformation Day closures.
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, 204 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 °C | 1.2 °C | 5 °C | 10.6 °C | 15.7 °C | 20.4 °C | 22.5 °C | 22 °C | 17.6 °C | 11.6 °C | 5.3 °C | 1.7 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 1.3 days | 1.2 days | 0.8 days | 0.9 days | 1.8 days | 1.9 days | 2.2 days | 1.6 days | 1.4 days | 1.5 days | 1.2 days | 1.4 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 6 pm | 11 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 6 pm | 3 pm | 4 pm | 2 pm | 9 am | 12 pm |
| Sunshine per day | 2.8 h | 4.7 h | 7.2 h | 10.5 h | 11.2 h | 12 h | 11.6 h | 10.7 h | 8.5 h | 5.6 h | 3.4 h | 2.2 h |
| Relative humidity | 88% | 84% | 79% | 72% | 71% | 72% | 74% | 76% | 79% | 85% | 89% | 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 | 7.6 µg/m³ | 11.6 µg/m³ | 12.6 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 9.9 µg/m³ | 12.4 µg/m³ | 10.8 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 9.9 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 12.4 µg/m³ | 20.1 µg/m³ | 20.5 µg/m³ | 18.2 µg/m³ | 15.7 µg/m³ | 19.6 µg/m³ | 17.6 µg/m³ | 16.8 µg/m³ | 15.3 µg/m³ | 13.5 µg/m³ | 14.2 µg/m³ | 15.2 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
- New Year's Eve fireworks
31 December–1 January
- Night of Museums
April
- Hamburger Dom fair
April, July and November
- Haspa Marathon Hamburg
April
- Wasserlichtkonzerte (Water Light Concerts)
1 May–30 September
- Hafengeburtstag (Harbour Birthday)
1–10 May
- Kirschblütenfest (Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival)
19 May
- Labour Day parades
1 May
- Ascension Day (Vatertag)
May, dates vary from year to year
- Schanzenfest
June, July and August
- Schlagermove Parade
June, July and August
- Hamburg Wasser World Triathlon
July
- Hamburg Pride
August
- Wutzrock Festival
24–31 August
- Vattenfall Cyclassics
August
Worth knowing before you go
- New Year's Day closures
1 January
- Good Friday closures
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Easter closures
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Pentecost travel
May and June, dates vary from year to year
- Schanzenfest evening unrest
June, July and August
- Elbe currents drowning risk
June, July and August
- Summer school holidays
15 June–31 July
- German Unity Day closures
3 October
- Reformation Day closures
31 October
- Christmas closures
24–26 December
- New Year's Eve store closures
31 December
World Heritage sites nearby
UNESCO World Heritage sites within 25 km, nearest first.
- Speicherstadt and Kontorhaus District with Chilehaus
Less than 1 km away