January in Hangzhou — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.4/10Expect 6°C (42°F) in January. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 76 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 18 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.4 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 6.4/10 on the same scale — 6th of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in Hangzhou — 2.2 points higher on the same scale.
February in Hangzhou — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.1/10Expect 6°C (43°F) in February. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
124 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 13 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 5.1/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in Hangzhou — 3.5 points higher on the same scale.
March in Hangzhou — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.9/10March averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Monthly rainfall reaches 120 mm — wet for this destination — but about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 6.9/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? October scores 1.7 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
April in Hangzhou: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 6.3/10Temperatures hover around 17°C (63°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
161 mm of rain signals a properly wet month, with only about 16 days with 6+ hours of sunshine to count on — build indoor options into the schedule.
That is 6.3/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in Hangzhou — 2.3 points higher on the same scale.
May holds up well in Hangzhou — 4th best month
Good · 7.2/10May averages 21°C (70°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Monthly rainfall reaches 126 mm — wet for this destination — but about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 7.2/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
June in Hangzhou: expect compromises
Hardest · 4.3/10At 25°C (78°F) this is comfortable city weather in June, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
Expect monsoon-level rainfall at 320 mm: only about 17 days with 6+ hours of sunshine across the month, and stretches of heavy rain are normal.
That is 4.3/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in Hangzhou — 4.3 points higher on the same scale.
July in Hangzhou: expect compromises
Hardest · 4.1/10Days in July average 30°C (87°F) and humidity near 75% — front-load outdoor plans before the heat builds and treat the middle of the day as indoor time.
127 mm of rain makes this a wet month here, though with about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine there is still bright weather between the fronts.
That is 4.1/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for low-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, October is materially better in Hangzhou — 4.5 points higher on the same scale.
August in Hangzhou — off-season conditions
Hardest · 3.6/10August averages 30°C (86°F) and humidity near 72%, so the practical pattern is early mornings, a long midday break, and evenings back outside.
Monthly rainfall reaches 163 mm — wet for this destination — but about 29 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 3.6/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack the lightest breathable clothing you own, a hat, and more water than feels necessary, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? October scores 5 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
September in Hangzhou — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.8/10September averages 25°C (78°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Monthly rainfall reaches 121 mm — wet for this destination — but about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine still break through, so keep one indoor fallback in the plan.
It scores 5.8/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
Flexible dates? October scores 2.8 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
October: the best month of the year in Hangzhou
Best window · 8.6/10Temperatures hover around 19°C (66°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 58 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.4 hours of daylight to work around it.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Hangzhou at 8.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Budget for peak pricing, and crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
November holds up well in Hangzhou — 2nd best month
Good · 8.1/10Temperatures hover around 14°C (58°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 69 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.6 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 8.1/10 on the same scale — 2nd of 12 months, versus 8.6/10 for the best month here.
Budget for peak pricing, and crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
December holds up well in Hangzhou — 3rd best month
Good · 7.7/10December averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Expect 38 mm of rain — occasional showers rather than washed-out days — alongside about 20 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.2 daylight hours.
It scores 7.7/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.6/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for peak pricing, with crowds are moderate. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in.
