Weather in Cologne in January
January in Cologne is a coat month. Treat it as cities, food and short walks, not as a terrace holiday.
In Germany, this is how Cologne actually wears January, not how a country centroid would. January is the cold side of the year in Cologne. Pack for that, not for a leftover summer photo.
Pack for Cologne in January, not for a brochure that was photographed in another season.
- Average temp
- 4°C
2–6°C
- Rainfall
- 64 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 1.8 h
hours per day
- Wind
- 13 km/h
What to expect
Daytime
You want a proper coat in Cologne in January, not a festival jacket. Wind makes the same afternoon feel sharper than the map suggests.
Outdoor time is the middle of the day. Finish plans before the light goes. Evenings are for indoors.
Rain
January is a wetter month in Cologne. Showers are part of the deal, not a spoiled surprise.
Waterproof shoes matter more than a rain plan for a beach, especially if a beach is not why you came. Build indoor hours into the afternoon.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Rain jacket
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Cologne
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Cologne
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Cologne
TemperatureRainfall
Similar weather in January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Cologne
Climate averages for Cologne, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Cologne is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
July is the hottest month, with an average around 20°C.
August is the wettest month, with about 81 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
