January in Cologne Cathedral: expect compromises
Hardest · 3.7/10At 3°C (37°F) this is proper winter weather in January: layer up and split the day between outdoor highlights and indoor stops.
Budget for roughly 78 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.2 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 3.7/10 on the same scale — 11th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 for the best month here.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cologne Cathedral — 5.1 points higher on the same scale.
February in Cologne Cathedral: expect compromises
Hardest · 4.5/10Expect 6°C (42°F) in February. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 77 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.7 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 4.5/10 on the same scale — 9th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 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 packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cologne Cathedral — 4.3 points higher on the same scale.
March in Cologne Cathedral — middling scores, decent value
Trade-offs · 5.8/10March averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 66 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 5 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 11.5 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.8/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Figure on mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? August scores 3 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
April in Cologne Cathedral — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.7/10Expect 9°C (48°F) in April. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 72 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 12 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 13.6 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 6.7/10 on the same scale — 6th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for 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, August is materially better in Cologne Cathedral — 2.1 points higher on the same scale.
May holds up well in Cologne Cathedral — 4th best month
Good · 8.2/10May averages 15°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 83 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 21 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.3 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.2/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for mid-season pricing, with crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
June ranks 3rd of 12 for Cologne Cathedral — one of the best windows
Best window · 8.5/10Temperatures hover around 18°C (65°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 86 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 26 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 16.3 hours of daylight to work around it.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Cologne Cathedral at 8.5/10 (3rd of 12), just behind August at 8.8/10.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
July is one of the strongest months in Cologne Cathedral (2nd)
Best window · 8.7/10At 20°C (67°F) this is comfortable city weather in July, with sightseeing easiest before lunch and after the afternoon peak.
Budget for roughly 79 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 23 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 15.9 hours of daylight to work around it.
On our climate-comfort scale this is one of the strongest months of the year for Cologne Cathedral at 8.7/10 (2nd of 12), just behind August at 8.8/10.
Budget for peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
August in Cologne Cathedral tops the year's climate scores
Best window · 8.8/10August averages 21°C (69°F) — pleasant for mornings and evenings on foot in the city, with a midday break when the sun is strongest.
Rainfall runs 64 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 19 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 14.3 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Cologne Cathedral at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Figure on peak pricing, with this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, a hat and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
September in Cologne Cathedral: strong conditions, 5th of 12
Good · 7.5/10September averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
Rainfall runs 83 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 9 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 12.4 hours of daylight.
It scores 7.5/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 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 packable rain layer.
October in Cologne Cathedral: mixed conditions, plan around the weather
Trade-offs · 5.9/10Temperatures hover around 13°C (55°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 81 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 10.4 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 5.9/10 on the same scale — 7th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 for the best month here.
Budget for mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cologne Cathedral — 2.9 points higher on the same scale.
November in Cologne Cathedral — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.3/10Expect 7°C (44°F) in November. A good month for city streets, viewpoints and long meals; leave swimming for another season.
Budget for roughly 88 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 8.6 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 4.3/10 on the same scale — 10th of 12 months, versus 8.8/10 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 packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Cologne Cathedral — 4.5 points higher on the same scale.
December in Cologne Cathedral — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.6/10December averages 4°C (38°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 88 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get almost no days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 7.7 hours of daylight.
It scores 3.6/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.
Plan for low-season pricing, with crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
Flexible dates? August scores 5.2 points higher here — enough to change the trip.
