Germany
Cologne in December
🧥 WinterCold and some showers.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why December scores 7.7What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort50%6.3
- !Cold (7°C highs / 1°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 2°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~69 mm rain)
- !Grey, overcast skies (~82% cloud cover on average)
- Air quality20%8.8
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~12 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards20%10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline10%7.5
- ·Increased caution
| Dec | Jul | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 7.7 Very good | 9.3 Excellent |
| Season | 🧥 Winter | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 7° / 1° | 25° / 13° |
| Rain | 69 mm | 87 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 2° | dew pt 13° |
| PM2.5 | 12 µg/m³ | 7 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Cologne weather-station normals. Rainfall: Cologne weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsDecember 2026
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Christmas Day 25–27 Dec · 3 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Nature calendarBlossoms, leaves & seasons in Cologne
- Snowy daysIn DecemberTypical datesSnow likely Dec–Feb (most in Jan: ~4 days)
Average number of days with snowfall at Cologne.
Source: Cologne weather-station normals (national weather service, via Wikipedia climate table)
Explore CologneEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA city on the Rhine in western Germany known for its giant Gothic cathedral, Carnival, Kölsch beer and art museums.
Christmas marketsDate variesUsually late November to 23 December
Several large markets with stalls, mulled wine and lights.
Why go: Weekends are very busy.
Where: Cathedral square, Old Town and other squares
Coming up later
CarnivalDate variesUsually February or early March, from Weiberfastnacht to Rosenmontag; date moves with Easter
Street parties, costumes and the big Rosenmontag parade.
Why go: Hotels book up early; expect closures on the main days.
Where: Citywide
GamescomDate variesUsually August
One of the world's largest video game fairs.
Why go: Hotels are expensive during the fair.
Where: Koelnmesse
Start of Carnival seasonEvery year11 November every year, at 11:11
The official opening of the Carnival season with costumed crowds.
Why go: The Old Town is extremely crowded.
Where: Heumarkt and the Old Town
Cologne Cathedral
A huge Gothic cathedral and UNESCO World Heritage Site next to the main station.
💡 You can climb over 500 steps to the top of the south tower.
Hohenzollern Bridge
A railway bridge over the Rhine covered with love locks.
Museum Ludwig
A modern art museum with Pop Art and a large Picasso collection.
Chocolate Museum
A museum about chocolate on a peninsula in the Rhine.
Old Town and Rhine promenade
Rebuilt old streets, squares and riverside walks.
Rhine river cruise
Short boat trips along the river.
Kölsch
Light local beer served in small glasses that are refilled until you cover your glass.
💡 Traditional brewhouses (Brauhäuser) in the Old Town
Halve Hahn
Despite the name, a rye roll with Gouda cheese, mustard and onions.
Himmel un Ääd
Mashed potato and apple with black pudding and onions.
Rheinischer Sauerbraten
Marinated pot roast, traditionally with raisins.
Reibekuchen
Potato pancakes with apple sauce.
Eau de Cologne
The original Cologne fragrance, made here since the 18th century.
💡 Perfume shops in the centre
Kölsch glasses
Tall narrow Stange glasses.
💡 Souvenir shops
Carnival items
Costumes and accessories for Cologne Carnival.
💡 Carnival shops