Best months for Germany?

Varies tremendously by region and year to year. May is usually pleasant in most of the country, not overly warm or cold. The only thing you won't find open in May are usually some of the restaurants that serve hikers and skiers in the high Alps. That's about it. My only caveat is that a few years ago, much of NW Europe was unseasonably cold into June. But it could just as easily be unseasonably warm.

September is usually slightly drier (on average, this is, of course, no guarantee that it won't rain at some point) and warmer.

Even though Germany is further north than Ohio, they have a milder climate than we do. It also really depends on the year. We went in late May early June in 2013 and it rained and was chilly. (Think more like April in Ohio) When I went in college (1995) I was begging my parents to send me jeans when I was in Heidelberg (they told me to buy them) and was glad that I had shorts when I went to Berlin (June/July). Layers and a jacket would be good.

When we were there in May/June, there were few holidays and shops were closed on those days. The only time it bothered us was our second to last day when we wanted to shop and things were closed. http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/germany/2016 As long as you plan ahead you should be ok. Things are also very quiet on Sundays. But if you are in a touristy area, you shouldn't have a problem.

Enjoy planning!!!

I think May/June and September are both good times to go so it's just a personal choice. My preference would be September but only because I have found over the years that almost anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere is pretty nice in September so it's my preferred month for travel. The weather is more settled and less chance of rain than in Spring and I love the 'feel' of autumn and I love the harvest festivals at that time of year. No matter when you go there is always a chance of cool rainy weather but there's also a chance of warm sunny weather - just the luck of the draw.

My experiences are like Nancy's: September has more stable weather.
I just checked, and most of my Germany trips were in September. The occasional rainy day, but generally sunny and dry. No guarantee, of course!
Both May and September are »shoulder seasons«, somewhere between the peak seasons of July and August, and the real off season. In both months almost everything will be open for business.

I was in southern Germany and Austria in May several years ago, and there was still snow in the mountains. Although I didn't spend time at a high enough elevation to be affected by it, the train did go through the mountains with fresh snow on the elevations just above me. I think my favorite month in Germany is October. According to weather records, it's the lowest rainfall month, particularly in Bavaria.

Another thing to consider, several public holidays are in May - Ascension Day (May 5 in 2015) and Whit weekend (May 14-16), a major 3-day weekend. Places are closed and transportation runs on a reduced schedule. I was in Dresden on Whit Sunday, and it was overcrowded with visitors.

One advantage May has over September is lots more daylight, it gets dark quite late. Also, the flowers are blooming everywhere and in some resort areas you still get preseason hotel prices. The drawback is that May abounds with religious holidays in addition to May 1, which is Labor Day. In 2916 the 5th of May is Ascension Day, May 15 and 16 is Pentecost and May 26 is also a holiday, primarily celebrated in catholic areas of Germany.

I like September. Weather's good, and festivals abound.

It's really personal preference. I love May because it's still asparagus season :-) Germans go all crazy over this very seasonal vegetable, especially the white variety.

Another vote for May and asparagus. One year on a road trip from Paris to Frankfurt/Oder I had asparagus every day for 5 days. Restaurants even had special "spargal" menus.

Which seasonal crop to choose from? Spring strawberries and asparagus or late summer cherries and black berries? Both options are amazing in Germany. I've never eaten better strawberries anywhere.

Asparagus?
Never have I considered vegetables when choosing a travel season. But with two pro-asparagus votes from that oft-frozen country to the north, perhaps there's something to that strategy.

Here is another vote for May and asparagus season. I actually enjoy both September and May as good months for visiting Germany, but I love to be in Germany during Spargel season. I have had good weather during both months. It is nice how late it gets dark during May.

True, outside of Sept, the next best time to be in Germany if you don't want to be caught in a peak summer heat wave is from mid-May to mid June, which is also Spargelsaison. It's good to be over there during Spargelsaison, at least in Berlin.

Hi,

I would choose September. Our favorite month to be in Austria and Germany and the Alps in general is actually October, but we have been once in September. I wouldn't plan a trip around a vegetable. BUT, if we're talking asparagus season, strawberry season, etc., then I vote for December... Glühwein season :)

"Asparagus? Never have I considered vegetables when choosing a travel season"

Well, not really. But how many people put great food or even a cooking class at the top of their priority when travelling to France or Italy? This is just to show you that you can do this for Germany, too ;-)

I had never "considered" vegetables, but in both Italy and Germany, the spring asparagus season is a HUGE deal at restaurants. Since I don't like asparagus, I had to avoid the special sparigi menus in Italy and the special spargl menus in Germany. But someone who likes asparagus would be in heaven.

I agree that the April strawberries are wonderful.

This is really funny because if you had asked me about where to go that they make a big deal of the spring asparagus, I would have said France. That's where I first encountered asparagus as a big thing on the menus everywhere I went in Normandy and Paris. I never would have thought about Germany and Italy. But then, I've never been either of those places in the spring, always in summer or autumn.

But I still wouldn't choose a month to travel because of one popular food item and I still prefer traveling in autumn, either Sept or Oct, as the best weather months which is more important to me.

If you like wine and fireworks, I would highly suggest September. We spent an amazing week on the Rhine and Mosel last September, visiting a couple of wine festivals and seeing the spectacular Rhine in Flames fireworks display in St. Goar. Here's a link -- you can see the fireworks from a riverboat or sip new wine on the riverbank among a crowd of merry makers (which is what we did). Really fun. In 2016 the fireworks in St. Goar will be on Saturday Sept. 17. There are other fireworks displays along the Rhine as well, throughout the fall.

I've found that when I travel to Germany end of May or June the weather can fluctuate between cooler and warm (even muggy on one trip). This means you have to pack clothing for 2 climates. My favorite time to travel is over Easter break, March to April The weather is still cooler but not horrible. I know I won't be wearing shorts and sandals so it's much easier to pack. I also love Germany during December with all the Christmas markets and decorations.

Spargelzeit!

Here's a vote for Germany in September as August-September is pfifferlinge season and many dishes are made with these fresh, wild mushrooms in creamy sauces! Delicious.

I love how so many of these posts revolve around FOOD! Not what I expected, but very, very entertaining! I love May and the flowers and by golly, the asparagus! But, I also love the Fall months. Just not sure I can wait for an entire year to go. Thanks for all of the advice. Not sure it narrowed it down, lol, but gave some thoughtful advice!

Linda

I would suggest starting in Germany in May, the Franken Wine Region (northern Bavaria) with Spargel (yes white asparagus, but strawberries too) is great at this time. Things are blooming and growing here then. Move towards the south into Tirol (Austrian Alps) in June, usually the third week in June starts the high season in Tirol/Sud Tirol. The spring wildflowers are great mid-June. Enzion and Troll flowers blooming in the Alps with may may more. Some restaurants, lifts and Hütte do not open in the mountains until high season. Do some home work and check websites. Germany and Austria weather May-June and September can be fickle, great for a week or two then cold and cloudy. You just have to take your chances, be prepared and make the best of it. Move along if you can, sometimes 50 miles makes a difference in the weather or on top of the mountains is beautiful blue skies while in the valley is fog. Live webcams can be your friend…

We planned our time as mchpp suggests. We traveled north to south, in May to June, Germany to Austria. The reduced prices for early May lodging were a nice surprise and lower compared to late May-June or September.

Even if you're not religious or Catholic I think you may find visiting the churches and hearing services in the German language intriguing. We walked in a May Day procession and we were invited to the church social that followed for the parish.

As usual dress in layers. Our weather was mostly 60-70's and a couple of very cold 40' rainy days. Also on the holidays we hiked, had leisurely long dinners, took walks and did postcards and the like. A vacation day within a vacation is a healthy thing.