Good Time to Visit

Weather

The weather in Germany is temperate throughout the country with warm summers (May- September) and cold winters (November-March). Winters are mild but stormy in the north-west; elsewhere, the climate is continental (more temperate in the east). The east and south have lower winter temperatures, with considerable snowfall; average winter temperature in the north is 2°C, and in the south it is -3°C. In the summer, average temperatures in the north are 16°C, and slightly higher in the south. The average annual rainfall on the plains is 60-70 cm, increasing in parts of the Alps to 200 cm.

For a more detailed look at the German weather, see Climate in Germany.

Festivals

Germany's rich musical heritage is showcased in a number of prominent festivals, such as the Thuringian Bach Festival in March or the Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth in July. Jazz festivals in Stuttgart (April) and Berlin (November) are lively and popular. Autumn highlights include the famous Oktoberfest, Munich's annual beer bash. Christmas fairs occur in Munich, Nuremberg, Ltibeck, Berlin, Munster and Heidelberg, among other places.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Germany: