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Germany Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Germany in January.

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Berlin Cologne Winterberg Munich

Planning a journey to Germany this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Germany in January

January in Germany generally has temperatures that range from very cold to cold, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. January falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

The average highest temperatures fluctuate between very cold in Oberstdorf at 0°C (32°F) to cold in Kevelaer at 7°C (45°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 1°C (34°F) in Kevelaer and -8°C (18°F) in Oberstdorf. On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Germany. So be prepared and make sure to pack winter cloths.

To explore the conditions in Germany in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Artern with an average of 48 mm (1.9 in) to high snow/rainfall in Gummersbach with 131 mm (5.2 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more restricted in many locations in January. Berlin sees roughly 57 hours of sunlight. Our weather planner can help you find destinations with more sunshine if needed.

Explore Germany by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Germany — and find the best time to visit. (based on Berlin)

January4°C (39°F) February6°C (43°F) March10°C (50°F) April16°C (61°F) May20°C (68°F) June23°C (73°F) This monthJuly26°C (79°F) August26°C (79°F) September21°C (70°F) October15°C (59°F) November9°C (48°F) December5°C (41°F)
Best Time to Visit Germany →

Best Places to Visit in Germany in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Germany.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Germany

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Germany?

Temperature range in Germany (January)

Precipitation variation in Germany (January)

Berlin

In January Berlin generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
0°C (32°F)
-1°C (30°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
47 hours
57 hours
72 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
53 mm (2.1 in)
56 mm (2.2 in)
47 mm (1.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
15 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Berlin →

Cologne

In January Cologne generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C (43°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
45 hours
55 hours
80 hours
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
82 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Cologne →

Binz

In January Binz generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly rainfall
74 mm (2.9 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
59 mm (2.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
16 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Binz →

Munich

In January Munich generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 4°C (39°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
60 hours
80 hours
100 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
76 mm (3 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
67 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Munich →

Hamburg

In January Hamburg generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
0°C (32°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
38 hours
45 hours
67 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
71 mm (2.8 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
16 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Hamburg →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Germany.

In our records: Germany January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Germany in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest January night in Germany dropped to -27°C (-17°F) in Bad Füssing on January 7, 1985.
  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Germany was -19°C (-2°F) in Dresden on January 13, 1987.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Germany in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Berlin 4°C (39°F) -1°C (30°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Cologne 6°C (43°F) 1°C (34°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Winterberg 3°C (37°F) -2°C (28°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Munich 4°C (39°F) -2°C (28°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Hamburg 5°C (41°F) 0°C (32°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Frankfurt 5°C (41°F) -1°C (30°F) 61 mm (2.4 in)

Germany weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Germany in January?

In January, Germany generally has poor weather conditions. Berlin sees daytime temperatures near 4°C (39°F), with nights cooling to roughly -1°C (30°F).

What is the average temperature in Germany in January?

Berlin averages a daytime maximum of 4°C (39°F) in January, with overnight lows close to -1°C (30°F).

Does Germany get a lot of snow/rain in January?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Germany during January, with Berlin averaging close to 56 mm (2.2 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit Germany?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Germany due to the typically poor weather in Berlin.

On average, the best time to visit Germany is in May, June, July, August and September with generally perfect weather in Berlin. In contrast, January, February, March, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Germany.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Germany? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Germany.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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