The warmth of spring is slowly reaching the cities. The rays of the sun peep out uncertainly from behind the clouds. Notes appeared in the bird voices, telling that spring is coming. Indefatigable streams are running across the land. All nature wakes up and comes to life. How you want to join this exciting process of awakening!
The best way to cheer up and shake off the winter blues is to take a nice trip. A good choice is classic Europe, that is Cologne in Germany. We will tell you about Cologne in March in this article.
Holidays in Cologne in March: pros and cons
The few reviews of holidays in Cologne in March convince us once again that it is worth packing your bags and going on a wonderful and exciting trip. Cologne in March is a very pleasant place to visit, and one of the main advantages of a trip in the first month of spring is that it is very quiet:
- Lots of sunny days.
- This is one of the driest months of the year.
- Temperatures barely drop below freezing any more, even at night.
- Prices fall during the off-season.
- There are no crowds of tourists on the streets yet.
To make the trip go smoothly, consider that
- Buying a KolnCard will save you money on public transport and museum visits.
- The weather can offer more surprises in the form of cold weather.
- Cologne's museums, exhibitions and other cultural venues are closed on Mondays and on public holidays.
- Walking on the deck of the river tram is still not recommended for tourists with small children — it is not warm enough for that.
Weather in Cologne in March
March and April are the wettest months of the year in Cologne. Combined with the invigorating post-winter sun, it's the perfect time to get out and enjoy the city. At the beginning of March, the weather starts to warm up. The number of sunny days increases and the night frosts disappear.
The temperatures in Cologne in mid-March allow you to switch from a down jacket to a lighter one, making for pleasant walks through the streets. The same goes for shoes — light trainers are much better for long walks than heavy winter boots. Temperatures in Cologne at the end of March are around +12°C, which is good for the soul, especially when the sky is clear and the pavements are bathed in the mild spring sun.
Air temperature and precipitation
The temperature in Cologne in March is the classic definition of early spring. The sun is shining, birds are chirping in the parks, buds are beginning to swell on the branches and the air is filled with the scent of awakening nature.
Thanks to Cologne's mild climate, you won't see the stale and icy snow starting to melt in March.
Spring begins to take over as early as February, the warmest month of winter in Cologne, unlike here. In March, spring is already in full force, bringing new scenery to the eye. This city is a great choice for those who want to go out to meet spring.
Air temperature in Cologne in March
The average day temperature in Cologne in March is around +10°C, while the average night temperature is around +4°C. At the beginning of the month, the average daytime temperature is around +6°C and the average nighttime temperature is around -1°C, but by mid-March the situation changes slightly towards higher temperatures.
In the middle of the month, the thermometer already reaches around +9°C during the day and +1°C at night. At the end of March, the daytime temperatures are already +12°C and +3°C respectively.
This means that the temperature rises about twice as much during the month. This is mainly due to the city's location on the river and the lack of snow and ice, which tend to keep temperatures at their lowest.
Amount of precipitation
March is the third driest month of the year after April and February. The average rainfall for the month is 32mm. Don't worry about getting soaked in March, and leave your umbrellas, wellington boots and raincoats at home to make room for more interesting and useful items. You might want to spend the short hours of sunshine in interesting places in the city, such as a museum, a cosy café or an exhibition.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
The number of sunny days has increased significantly in March; there are usually around 12, accounting for 39% of the total. The same applies to cloudy weather, which also dominates Cologne in March with 39% of the month.
Cloudy weather accounts for 23%. Furthermore, it rains for about two days in March, which is quite low compared to most cities in Germany. This means you don't have to check the weather forecast for fear of getting drenched in a torrential downpour.
Tour Holidays
Cologne has many Romanesque churches, but the most popular attraction is Cologne Cathedral, which appears in almost every tourist photograph.
If you want to see the city's architectural masterpieces in early March, start with St Martin's Church, considered one of the most beautiful. As far as museums are concerned, apart from the classics, the three-storey Chocolate Museum is worth a visit.
The building itself resembles a ship, and your children will love it as much as the interior, full of delicious aromas. You can sample the delicacies and buy sweet gifts for yourself or your loved ones on the spot. You can get to the museum on a special 'Chocolate Express' which picks up passengers at Cologne Cathedral every half hour.
Another trademark of Cologne is the 'water of Cologne', which we know as cologne. To find out more about the creation of this world-famous perfume, we recommend a visit to the Cologne Museum. If you're planning a river cruise in mid-March, be prepared for a chilly breeze on the river. Dress as warmly as possible or sit in the tram rather than on the deck — especially with children.
At the end of March, a cable car linking the two banks of the Rhine opened. It offers beautiful views of the city that will delight adults and children alike.
Take the kids to the local zoo and Aqualand, an indoor water park. At the former they'll see a variety of animals, while at the latter they'll have fun on the slides and in the pools.
Holidays, events and festivals
March in Cologne is not a time for many festivities. All attention and efforts are focused on the upcoming Easter. Whether it falls in March, April or May this year, the preparations are already in full swing in March. The week before, Germans decorate their homes with Easter bunnies, fake painted eggs and other symbols.
On the eve of the feast, Cologne celebrates Palm Week.
Children in schools and kindergartens make bouquets from improvised palm fronds and paper pigeons. And then they give these handicrafts and branches from the bouquet to friends and relatives to help them have a good year and not get ill.
Cologne is officially closed on Good Friday (Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary). All shops are closed. Even those who didn't fast during Lent fast on this day. No one takes advantage of the extra day off to get things done or have fun with friends. Everyone treats the day with deep respect.
One of the children's favourite traditions is to hunt for eggs. On Easter Day, it's believed that rabbits will come to everyone's home and hide painted eggs, chocolates and other small gifts around the house. So in the morning, armed with baskets, children search the house for these surprises from long-awaited guests.
The local newspapers also advertise which parks the rabbits have been to this year. In the mornings, local children rush there in search of sweet treasures. So read the newspapers in Cologne and take your little ones trick-or-treating.
Cost of vacation
Prices in Cologne in March are much cheaper than in February, when the influx of tourists for the carnival drives up the price of almost everything. Airfares drop by 20-30%.
Hotels also sell their rooms at the usual prices for the unpopular event months of the year. This also affects the cost of tourist travel. The price of flights and accommodation has dropped by 15-20%. The only downside to Cologne is that food is quite expensive. It doesn't depend on the holidays and always costs a pretty penny.
It is worth trying to eat in cheap cafes or street food stalls during the day — the hygiene standards are high and therefore not dangerous. Dinner for two in a restaurant will set you back at least 70 euros.
Cologne is a great city for relaxing and having fun. Whether you come as a family, a couple or with friends, a trip here is an unforgettable experience. And even in March, Cologne is warm enough to take even the youngest tourists on a trip.
This is also a great city for a spring break. There are so many interesting and unusual museums in Cologne that children are sure to remember this trip. So pack warm clothes, comfortable shoes and a good mood and come in March.
