Leipzig, in eastern Germany, has a temperate oceanic climate with four distinct seasons. Winters are cold and can be snowy, while summers are warm and pleasant. Rainfall is moderate and fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with the most sunshine and outdoor-friendly weather from late spring to early autumn.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Leipzig experiences a temperate oceanic climate with semicontinental influences, resulting in noticeable seasonal changes. Winters (December–February) are cold, with average highs of 2–4°C and lows around -1 to -3°C. Snow and frost are common, but severe cold is rare. Winter days are short, with only 1–2 hours of sunshine and about 8 hours of daylight. Winds can be brisk, adding to the chill, and humidity is high. Spring (March–May) brings gradually rising temperatures, from 8°C in March to 19°C in May, and longer days with increasing sunshine. Rainfall remains moderate, and occasional late snow is possible in March and April.
Summers (June–August) are warm and comfortable, with average highs of 22–25°C and lows of 13–15°C. July is the warmest and sunniest month, with up to 7–8 hours of sunshine daily and long daylight hours (over 16 hours in June). Rainfall is moderate, peaking in June and July (around 70–80 mm/month), often as afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Autumn (September–November) is mild to cool, with highs dropping from 20°C in September to 8°C in November. Rain and wind increase, and colourful foliage is common. Annual precipitation averages 595–700 mm, and Leipzig enjoys about 1,700–1,800 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are generally light to moderate, but can be brisk during storms, especially in winter and spring.
| Average climate data for Leipzig, Germany | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 2 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 14 | 8 | 5 | 25 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -2 | -2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 7 | 3 | 0 | -2 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 20 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 24 | 22 | 30 | 30 | 26 | 23 | 19 | 23 | 258 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 9 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 125 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 31 | 21 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 30 | 108 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 21 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 88 | 84 | 78 | 71 | 75 | 74 | 68 | 66 | 73 | 78 | 83 | 84 | 77 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 16 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 13 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 60 | 58 | 53 | 40 | 42 | 40 | 36 | 33 | 38 | 47 | 53 | 61 | 47 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Leipzig is from May to September, when temperatures are mild to warm (18–25°C), days are long and sunny, and the city is vibrant with festivals and outdoor events. Late spring and early autumn are especially pleasant for sightseeing, with comfortable weather and fewer crowds.
The least favourable time to visit Leipzig is from November to February, when days are short, temperatures are cold (2–4°C), and rain, snow, and wind are frequent. While the city is festive during the holidays, outdoor activities are limited and some attractions may have reduced hours.
Leipzig’s annual average temperature is about 9–10°C. January is the coldest month (highs 2–3°C, lows -1 to -3°C), while July and August are the warmest (highs 24–25°C, lows 13–15°C).
Leipzig receives about 595–700 mm of precipitation annually. Rain falls year-round, with June and July being wettest. Snow is common in winter but rarely heavy or long-lasting.
Leipzig enjoys about 1,700–1,800 hours of sunshine per year. The sunniest months are July and August (up to 7–8 hours/day), while December and January are the least sunny (1–2 hours/day).
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) are best for outdoor activities, with mild to warm temperatures, long days, and more sunshine. Summer is ideal for festivals and exploring the city’s parks.
Leipzig itself is not a winter sports destination, but nearby hills and the Ore Mountains offer skiing and snowboarding from December to March, when snow cover is more reliable.
Swimming outdoors is most comfortable in July and August, when air temperatures reach 24–25°C. Even then, the water in lakes and pools can be cool, so beach activities are limited.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and sun protection for summer, and insulated, waterproof clothing for winter. An umbrella and windproof jacket are useful year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (24.9 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (2.4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 14 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (15.1 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-2.1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 6.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (30.4 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (9.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 258 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (13.3 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (7.6 days). Over the whole year there are 125.1 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (31.2 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 108.1 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (7 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are July and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 20.8 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (87.6 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (66 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 76.8 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (16.5 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (10.5 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 13 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (61.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (33 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 46.7 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 16 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 10 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 2.9 h). Over the whole year there are 6.5 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 5). The month with the lowest average UV index is November (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.2.
