Hamburg in January: a seasonal travel plan
Hamburg, Germany. In january, the average daytime high is 4.0 °C and the night-time low is -0.3 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Choose a month
Selected month: January
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Hamburg
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 4.0 °C
- Nighttime low
- -0.3 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 75.0 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 15.3
- Daylight
- 8.1 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 4.2 | -0.0 | 5.7 |
| Days 11–20 | 3.7 | -0.5 | 4.8 |
| From day 21 | 4.2 | -0.5 | 4.8 |
What this month is like
Hamburg, Germany. In january, the average daytime high is 4.0 °C and the night-time low is -0.3 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 15.3 wet days on average, with about 75.0 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Average daylight is 8.1 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 5.2 °C, January — 4.0 °C, next month — 6.0 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 16.0, 15.3 and 12.7.
Things to do
Hamburg grew on the Elbe as a port city, and water shapes how it looks: the brick warehouses of Speicherstadt, cranes, ferries and the sandy beach at Övelgönne. The districts differ sharply in mood, and the station to the waterfront is a half-hour walk.
Speicherstadt
The brick warehouses of Speicherstadt stand on canals and bridges, and the route through them leads towards HafenCity. Look into Miniatur Wunderland or the maritime museum, then ride up to the Elbphilharmonie viewing platform.
Ferry on the Elbe
City ferries leave Landungsbrücken and run along the shore, giving a view of docks, cranes and shipyards from the water. Get off at Övelgönne, walk the sandy river beach and return on the same route.
Kunsthalle and the park
The Kunsthalle holds German Romantics and modern work, and Planten un Blomen with its botanical garden lies close by. Take a break on the grass afterwards, where summer concerts fill the stage beside the pond.
Where to stay
Centre and Neustadt
The centre around the station and Neustadt works well for a first stay: shops, museums and the U-Bahn are close. Streets are commercial and busy, yet Speicherstadt and the Alster are within walking distance.
Sternschanze
Sternschanze runs on cafes, bars and small shops, and people come for an evening without polish. Nights are loud, flats in old buildings are plain, and the S-Bahn reaches the centre in ten minutes.
Ottensen
Ottensen in Altona draws families for quiet streets, a market, cafes and a park on the doorstep. The Elbe and the beach at Övelgönne are a walk away, though the main museums need a train ride.
Getting to and around Hamburg
The S1 runs from Helmut Schmidt airport to the main station in about twenty-five minutes. Inside the city the S-Bahn and U-Bahn are quickest, linking the centre, Altona and Sternschanze without changes. HADAG ferries cross the Elbe and serve the shore, while the centre and waterfront are easy on foot.
Three days in Hamburg
Centre and harbour
Walk from the Rathaus through the centre to Speicherstadt, then across the bridges into HafenCity past the new blocks. End the day on the Elbphilharmonie plaza with the port, docks and cranes below.
Landungsbrücken and St. Pauli
Board a ferry at Landungsbrücken and walk to Övelgönne along the shore, watching the docks. In the evening return to St. Pauli, where the streets around the Reeperbahn stay awake late.
Sternschanze and Ottensen
Have breakfast in a cafe in Sternschanze, browse the Saturday market and ride on to Ottensen. Wander its quiet shopping streets and finish the day beside the water with the docks in sight.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.0 | -0.3 | 75.0 | 15.3 | 8.1 |
| February | 6.0 | -0.1 | 65.7 | 12.7 | 9.8 |
| March | 9.4 | 1.1 | 53.5 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| April | 13.3 | 3.3 | 47.6 | 10.8 | 14.0 |
| May | 17.9 | 7.8 | 57.9 | 11.6 | 15.9 |
| June | 21.9 | 11.9 | 73.7 | 12.9 | 16.9 |
| July | 22.5 | 13.2 | 84.1 | 15.3 | 16.5 |
| August | 23.2 | 13.6 | 57.6 | 13.1 | 14.8 |
| September | 19.8 | 10.7 | 58.5 | 11.3 | 12.7 |
| October | 14.6 | 7.4 | 71.8 | 14.6 | 10.6 |
| November | 8.2 | 3.2 | 63.0 | 14.4 | 8.7 |
| December | 5.2 | 1.3 | 75.8 | 16.0 | 7.6 |
Frequently asked questions
Hamburg: what is the temperature in January?
The average daytime high is 4.0 °C and the night-time low is -0.3 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and indoor activities for mornings and evenings.
How many days with precipitation are there in January?
On average, there are 15.3 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 75.0 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in January?
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 4.2 °C; 11–20 — 3.7 °C; 21 to month-end — 4.2 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in January?
The average is 8.1 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Hamburg worth visiting in January?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 4.0 °C and nights around -0.3 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in Hamburg on a wet day in January?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Hamburg in January?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 8.1 hours.