North Rhine-Westphalia · Germany
Cologne in May
In May, Cologne averages a daytime high of 19 °C and a night-time low of 9 °C, with about 66 mm of rain over the month. By the measure used here it is one of the most comfortable months to visit; they run May, June and September.
- Average high
- 19 °C
- Average low
- 9 °C
- Rain in the month
- 66 mm
- Daylight on 15 May
- 15 h 30 min
- Comfortable month
- Yes
- Places to stay
- 87
When to go
How May compares with the rest of the year in Cologne
May is the 5th warmest month in Cologne by average daytime high; across the year the highs run from 5 °C to 24 °C and the lows from 0 °C to 14 °C. By day, May is 4 °C warmer than April, and June is 3 °C warmer than May.
May brings 66 mm of rain, less than the monthly average of 70 mm (840 mm a year); it is the 8th wettest month.
On 15 May the sun is up for about 15 h 30 min, against 8 h at the shortest and 16 h 30 min at the longest point of the year (calculated from the latitude, sunrise to sunset).
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5 °C | 0 °C | 70 mm | |
| February | 7 °C | 0 °C | 61 mm | |
| March | 11 °C | 3 °C | 56 mm | |
| April | 15 °C | 5 °C | 49 mm | |
| May | 19 °C | 9 °C | 66 mm | Yes |
| June | 22 °C | 12 °C | 76 mm | Yes |
| July | 24 °C | 14 °C | 90 mm | |
| August | 24 °C | 14 °C | 85 mm | |
| September | 20 °C | 11 °C | 71 mm | Yes |
| October | 15 °C | 7 °C | 63 mm | |
| November | 9 °C | 4 °C | 71 mm | |
| December | 5 °C | 1 °C | 83 mm |
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
When to go
Is May a good time to visit Cologne?
Yes, by the measure used here: in May the average high of 19 °C is between 18 °C and 29 °C and the 66 mm of rain is under 80 mm. The comfortable months in Cologne are May, June and September.
The measure is about weather for a city stay only; it says nothing about events, school holidays or prices.
Public holidays in Germany in May
Nationwide public holidays; shops and offices may close on these dates.
When to go
Destinations near Cologne that are comfortable in May
Within 300 km, nearest first, by the same measure.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Cologne
This guide lists 87 places to stay in Cologne: 13 chain properties with their details and own websites, and 74 hotels recorded in Wikidata. By straight-line distance from the centre: under 1 km, 38; 1–3 km, 31; 3–10 km, 10; 10 km or more, 2.
Sources: climate from CRU TS v4.10 (Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia; Open Database License), 1991–2020 averages; day length calculated from the latitude; public holidays from the OpenHolidays API (ODbL); places to stay from each operator's own public pages and Wikidata. How this guide is made.