Cologne (Koln) weather in November

November in Cologne: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a good time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Cologne🇩🇪 Germany · Central Europe · City60
  1. 48Jan
  2. 58Feb
  3. 67Mar
  4. 78Apr
  5. 84May
  6. 93Jun
  7. 90Jul
  8. 89Aug
  9. 85Sep
  10. 71Oct
  11. 60Nov
  12. 52Dec

#9 of 12 months in Cologne · #1081 of 1413 destinations to visit in November · comfort 60/100 (tier C)

Days
11°C
Nights
4°C
Wet days
12
Sun
4.3 h
Humidity
85%
Daylight
9 h
Cologne, Germany
Photo: Alina Chernii · Pexels

Traveller notes on Cologne in November

Other months in Cologne

Regulars describe this month as genuinely two-sided: nice sunny days around 18-20C with a chilly evening are typical, but a very hot day near 30C or a cold, rainy one are both realistic possibilities within the same trip. Our row backs the moderate average that sits between those extremes, 21.5C over 10.5C nights, with 65.4mm of rain across 9.2 days. The practical read from regulars is to pack for the full range rather than assume the average will hold on any given day - a light jacket for the evening chill, but also something for an unusually warm afternoon. The record: humidity 74 percent, 8.8 hours of sun, a 15.4 kph wind and AQI 48.
EighteenToThirtyDependingOnTheDay · September · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Regulars make an unusually direct claim about this month: on any given August day Cologne can be miserably hot and muggy or simply warm and lovely, and the average temperature will not tell you which - a German summer runs anywhere from 30C and above to cool and wet, with a raised chance of thunderstorms and heavy rain. Our row sits at 25.4C over 13.6C with 77mm across 10.6 days, which is the middle of a range rather than a forecast. The local remedies are the air-conditioned museums and, in the evening, the beer gardens. The record: humidity 70 percent, 10.3 hours of sun inside 14.5 of daylight, and AQI 53.
AveragesDoNotPredictIt · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Cologne-forum threads on July weather won't commit to a single forecast: on any given day it can be miserably hot and muggy or just warm and lovely, with no reliable way to predict which from the averages alone - heat waves past 35C are possible, and the more typical pattern is an intense afternoon thunderstorm clearing to a genuinely nice evening. Crowds get a more confident answer: July is peak season with the year's highest hotel rates, but on a regular day the city itself doesn't feel overcrowded - the real crush is reserved for special events like Carnival or Christopher Street Day. Posters recommend booking central rooms two to three months out regardless. The record: 25.3C days feeling like 24C, 13.5C nights, 83mm of rain across nearly ten days and 11.3 hours of sun.
AltstadtJulyRegular · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Cologne forum threads describe January as cold and often overcast, with posters citing temperatures dropping as low as -7C during colder spells and howling wind adding real discomfort. A recurring theme: the city can go through prolonged grey stretches with barely any sun for a week or more, alternating with periods of clearer skies that tend to bring cold easterly winds from Russia and Scandinavia, versus milder, wetter southwesterly air off the Atlantic. The standard packing advice was a proper thick winter coat, scarf, gloves and thicker socks, with posters consistently framing the city as fully enjoyable in January so long as visitors come prepared rather than underdressed.
RheinuferRegular · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Cologne climate normals — November

Daytime high11°C / 51°F🧥 cold
Nighttime low4°C / 39°F
Feels like (high)8°C / 46°F
Rainfall74 mm / 2.9 in🌦 some rain
Rainy days12 days
Humidity85%💦 very humid
Dew point5°C / 40°F
Sunshine4.3 h/day
Daylight9 h
Wind18 km/h / 11 mph
Snowfall0.9 cm / 0.4 in
Air quality (US AQI)38🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Cologne in November

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Peak crowdsCarnival opens on 11 November, Christmas markets, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

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Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Cologne's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Fair weatherCologne's weather peaks June–August.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Cologne in November

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Festival

    Carnival opens on 11 November

    11 NovCrowded

    The carnival session opens at 11.11 on the eleventh of November in the Alter Markt and the Zuelpicher Strasse, a full drinking day in the middle of an otherwise quiet month. Source ↗

  • Festival

    Christmas markets

    16 Nov – 23 DecChristmas & New YearCrowded

    Seven markets within walking distance of each other, the one under the cathedral the busiest in the country. A boat and a small train link them, which is quicker than the pavements. Source ↗

What's on around the world in November →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Cologne — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Cologne?

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Cologne in November — FAQ

Is November a good time to visit Cologne?
November in Cologne: cold, a little rain, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Cologne on SeasonMap's comfort score (60/100).
What is the weather like in Cologne in November?
In November, Cologne averages a daily high of 10.6°C and a low of 4.1°C, with about 73.9 mm of rain over roughly 12 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Cologne in November?
Cologne has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 38 in November.

Within 300 km: Luxembourg's Winterlights markets around 20 Nov – 5 Jan, and Utrecht's Le Guess Who? on 5–8 Nov.