Berlin in winter – is it worth going? Weather in December, January and February, reviews, air temperature, how to dress, prices 2025/2026 in hotels and on excursions. What you can do and see in Berlin in winter: for Christmas and New Year, where to go with your child, later or earlier – says Eurotraveler.
Winter is not a reason to become despondent, focus on work or deal with purely everyday issues. On the contrary, it is great time to travel.
Even if they are short, in any case they greatly diversify the usual everyday life and put an (almost) insurmountable barrier to depression!
There are no problems with choosing a direction – you just have to remember the place where you dreamed of visiting, but “it still didn’t work out.” And the costs are unlikely to be astronomical – if you go on a trip not on New Year’s Eve.
The Germans, for example, enjoy traveling to Berlin in winter – both to celebrate Christmas and at other, less festive times. What about the Germans? Residents of Poland and the Netherlands, Austria and the Czech Republic do exactly the same thing.
And not only them: citizens of Russia still visit the capital of Germany
Both those living in Western Europe and those who got there by hook or by crook!
How good is Berlin in winter, what does the weather and the municipality offer – after all, this is its task to entertain citizens and visitors? How to dress, what to take with you, how much money do you have to spend?
We found out everything!
Weather in Berlin in winter
Much softer than the same in Moscow, not to mention St. Petersburg. In some ways she reminiscent of Kaliningrad – only a little more generous with heat and not so humid.
Frosts do occur, and there is also a considerable chance of encountering extremely slippery sidewalks. But all this happens in episodes!
In most cases, winter in Berlin is not cold enough to cause serious problems for tourists. Those of them, of course, who are ready to see both snow and ice. AND dress appropriately!
Before we move on to a detailed review of each of the winter months, here are the answers to the most pressing questions:
What you need to know
- What is winter like in Berlin in general? It is moderately cold, with positive temperatures prevailing in the range of +2-5 °C, frosty days are rare. At the same time, in the mornings and evenings you should always be prepared for icing and slippery sidewalks
- How cloudy and humid is it in winter in Berlin? The probability of a cloudy day ranges from 80-90% depending on the month. And the humidity is also high – she prefers range above 80%
- What to do in winter in Berlin? First of all, walk a lot. When the weather permits, visit Christmas markets. At the end of January – beginning of February you can go shopping during the traditional sale
Well, now – in detail!
December
Average air temperatures in the starting month of winter in Berlin prefer to live in positive territory. And both during the day and at night.
Demotions down to -4-8 °C occurbut do not last too long – maximum 5-7 days. The rest of the time, daytime air temperatures fluctuate within a wide range from -1-0 degrees Celsius to even +10-14 °C.
And predict exactly what part of the month you should expect almost spring warmth – literally impossible
There is also a chance – a very significant one, by the way – that the Berlin weather will give such a gift right before Catholic Christmas. Often on New Year’s Eve, and then in January, street thermometers in the capital city of Germany do not show values below +5 °C.
Need I say that inquisitive travelers will only be happy about such a prospect? Allowing them to make the most of their time. And in 3-4 days you can see all the interesting places in Berlin?!
The December precipitation norm for Berlin is 35 mm, and most of it falls in in the form of rain or sleet. Cloudy weather prevails, and even partially clear days are in the minority.
But this
not scary – festive atmospherereigning in Berlin throughout the last month of the year, fairy fir trees twinkling with lights, bright city illumination – completely compensates for the total lack of sunny days.
And the abundance Christmas markets flooded with light It is in the dark that the mass of enthusiastic or at least good-natured people on the streets will force you to write inspired, warm reviews about the trip.
In particular, you can read that: “Berlin in summer is no better than Berlin in winter.” Especially if you take into account the fairs, warm mulled wine and hot sausages, as well as “all this New Year’s fuss” – irecommend.ru/moe-volshebnoe-zimnee-puteshestvie-v-berlin.
The longest day in Berlin in December (1st) lasts 8 hours. And the shortest – December 21 – only 7 hours and 40 minutes.
January
Slightly dusted with snow and at times constrained by a light frost – this is how Berlin often appears to travelers in the middle of winter. The average air temperature drops slightly, but still clearly prefers positive values.
However, you can only notice this if you constantly watch the weather forecast. Because it feels like it’s on the street very cold and damp.
I want to wrap myself up even when the weather forecasters promise that it will be +5 °C – apparently, high humidity is to blame for everything
If you believe long-term statistics, precipitation also becomes a little more persistent in comparison with December (as is probably already clear, it takes the form of more than just rain), its average rate increases to 35-40 mm per month. Surprisingly There are more and more clear days.
So, if you come to Berlin in January, then in theory you should be no less satisfiedthan if they did it before Christmas. Because, although the holiday excitement practically fades away after January 6-7, the weather becomes a little sunnier.
And the duration of daylight hours by January 31 grows up to 9 o’clock!
There are fewer tourists after the end of the New Year holidays. But at the end of the month they flood the city again – on the last Monday of January in Berlin grand sales are starting. Timed…to coincide with the end of the winter season (Winter-Schlussverkauf).
And the further from their beginning, the greater the discounts; someone does not hesitate to talk about even 70%! That’s why it makes sense to plan a trip to Berlin for
February
The month is short and at this latitude it seems even a little like spring. The weather also hints at this feature. If in January the thermometers huddle towards zero and at times, as if in an ice hole, dive into negative territory, then in February Berlin during the day constantly experiences air temperatures of up to +5, +7, +9.
Sometimes it reaches +15 degrees Celsius!
Even at night it’s very frosts are rarely recorded. And is it worth paying attention to them – just -2-3 °C?!
In February the number of sunny hours increases, and with them the number of clear days, the probability of precipitation and humidity decreases.
In short, it’s time to explore the city, drink coffee and eat delicious doner kebabs right on the street.
Prepare for spring, which seems to be coming here right before our eyes. Be glad that I was able to discover this colorful, soulful, energizing a place like Berlin at the end of winter…
Film fans should remember that every February the Berlinale is held in the German capital. The event is not as pretentious as the Cannes Film Festival, but also significant for cinema.
In 2026 Berlinale will take place in the palace of the same name on Potsdamer Platz from February 12 to 22 – berlinale.de/en/home.html.
How to dress
That is, you can handle it, of course, but you will only have to move between taxis, hotels, restaurants, museums!
And it’s simply impossible to see the real Berlin – you need to walk around this city for a long time. Well, admire its panoramas from above!
So if you are going to visit Berlin in winter, – dress properly.
- Or warm: in a down jacket and earflaps (in this form, however, you can easily sweat)
- Or, more practically, wear multi-layered clothing, some of which can be easily removed or put back on in case of a sudden change in weather
At the same time, especially attention need to pay attention to shoes. And not just on whether there is fur inside and how impressive the sole is, but on how prone this sole is to slip.
Because yes, in the winter months, Berlin’s sidewalks can be a little tough on your feet. And they strive to knock over an unlucky tourist or city dweller, and then kick him for whatever reason.
It’s also good if it’s on the fifth point, and not on the knee, elbow, head…
Prices 2025/2026
Fortunately, they still fall short of their “colleagues” in Paris and Rome, Barcelona and Venice. With each new year, the distance, however, gets shorter.
But for now, taking a pleasure trip to the German capital during the winter months will cost you reasonable money
At the same time, you don’t have to settle on the outskirts – you can also stay in central Mitte. In a good hotel, by the way!
For our part, we recommend Motel One Berlin-Hackescher Markt. An excellent hotel on Alexanderplatz, which will be appreciated by tourists who do not want to waste money. A room for two in December (not on holidays!) will cost 100-120 €.
The hotel is dislocated close to many attractions: Museum Island and Berlin Cathedral, GDR Museum.
On the outskirts of Mitte is the Leonardo Royal Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz. You can get to the famous central square of the German capital in a couple of minutes (2 tram stops).
The reviews rightly praise the hotel. And yes – you can stay there for ~100 € per night for two people not on New Year’s dates.
Things to do
If you come to visit Berlin in the first 5 weeks of winter, then all your attention will obviously be focused on the holiday paraphernalia.
It is impossible to abstract yourself from Christmas here. And why? After all, the atmosphere of celebration and hope for a bright future is precisely what often keeps people afloat.
So it’s almost certain that you’ll be there for a long time wander the streets and squareslook at goods at Christmas markets, visit shops, cafes and restaurants. As if diving into a different reality, where there is no place for worries.
Starting at the end of January, the approach may become a little more businesslike – who wouldn’t want to? buy yourself a fashionable (stylish, high-quality) item at a price significantly lower than usual? Also during this period I want discover new places and learn interesting facts – you will almost certainly pay attention to, if not all, then the main attractions of Berlin.
You’ll visit museums, walk around the Reichstag, climb the Ferneseeturm, maybe – visit Potsdam and Sanssouci. Perhaps you can take the risk of making a longer trip!
Is winter a good, that is, generally exceptional, time to go and see Munich?
Get to Cologne, for example, or visit Hamburg?
After all, the majority, the same ones who go on tourist trips in the summer, are busy with pressing matters during this period. And if he thinks about traveling, it’s only on weekends!
© Eurotraveler
