The big festivals are over, and the whole world is waiting for one thing to happen: the arrival of the New Year. People are scrambling to find presents for loved ones, some are catching up on unfinished business, and some are planning for the Christmas holidays.
If you are already free from the daily grind, why not put yourself in the festive mood with an exciting trip? Go to Hamburg. In December, a lively atmosphere rages here, in which all worries dissolve away. You enter into the New Year full of nothing but sparkling, bubbly champagne and the magical fairy tale of the surrounding city. And they say that how you celebrate New Year's Eve is how you spend it.
Holidays in Hamburg in December: pros and cons
It's impossible to find negative reviews of holidays in Hamburg in December. After all, the city provides entertainment to suit all tastes amidst a festive atmosphere:
- Hamburg is beautiful on its own, but it's simply magical in the twinkling of New Year's Eve illumination.
- Christmas markets all over the city beckon with the scent of cinnamon, cloves and vanilla pastries.
- At the end of the month, there's a frenzy of sales and incredible bargains.
Hamburg looks spectacular in December, but there are essential things to consider if you want a trip to Hamburg to go off without a hitch:
- It's relatively cool outside, but it rains a lot, and an occasional nasty, damp wind blows in from the sea. Dress warmly and leave small children at home.
- Although December does bring higher prices in Hamburg, lots of people arrive, so do book hotels and tickets well in advance.
- Once you're in a sale, be sober about your purchases so you won't end up with unnecessary items.
Hamburg weather in December
The weather in December and January suits tourists without young children. December is the windiest month of the year, and unpredictable rainfall and temperatures just above freezing are not the most favourable months for travelling with children under 10-12.
The temperature regime is unstable throughout the month, jumping around 6 degrees.
The weather in Hamburg in mid-December is not much different from the beginning of the month — the same damp, windy and fluctuating temperatures. The only difference may be that besides just rain, snow is also added to the type of precipitation. While the temperature at the beginning of December may be as low as +8°C, in the case of rainfall, it can drop to +2°C the very next day.
The weather in Hamburg at the end of December can also bring other unpleasant surprises characteristic of coastal cities — so-called icy rains when precipitation falls in small pieces of ice. It feels prickly, cold and unpleasant, but it looks beautiful as if someone has scattered the city with tiny shards of broken glass.
Temperature and precipitation
While Hamburg's mild climate benefits the autumn months, the early winter months do not benefit from it as much. Because the thermometer never gets above freezing during the day, the air is full of moisture, and the sea breeze sneaks in unpleasantly under your jacket. You should always drink a warm drink and wear tight, windproof clothing to keep warm.
Temperatures in Hamburg hover around zero in December, dropping to -2°C at night and rising to an average of +4-5°C during the day. Because of this, some frosty mornings envelop the city abruptly and just as instantly disappear.
Air temperature in Hamburg in December
The average daytime temperature in December is +4-5°C. At the beginning of the month, the thermometer may reach a maximum of +8°C; in mid-December, this figure is increasingly kept within +5°C, and by the end, it drops to +2°C. The average night-time temperature in December is +2°C to 3°C. It is also higher at the beginning of the month and drops to -3°C by early January. On rare occasions, it may even jump to -5°C. Precipitation has a significant impact on temperature differences. There is 30% more rain in December than in November, but slightly less than in January.
Amount of precipitation
On average, Hamburg gets around 52 mm of rainfall in December. It is not much for a coastal city in winter, but it sometimes spoils the fun on walks on Christmas Eve when you want to enjoy the Christmas illuminations.
There are five rainy days per month. And you never know if those days will fall on a trip.
Hamburg has plenty of exciting things to do to brighten your December trip. The weather forecaster's preliminary forecasts are a guide. Combined with winds averaging up to 6 metres per second in December, it is best to leave the weather for more suitable days. If you are travelling with small children, for whom it is essential to avoid getting wet, a small umbrella is always worth carrying. However, it is best to visit museums and cafés when it's raining.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
There are a few sunny days in December — about four. They account for just 16% of the month, while cloudy weather accounts for 22% and overcast for as many as 63%. The sea has cooled to 6°C, so the sun is cloaked in clouds and clouds. December is a winter month, which makes Hamburg payback for the prolonged warmth of autumn. That's probably why hot mulled wine is the most popular purchase at the Christmas market these days.
Tour Holidays
As early as the beginning of December, Hamburg's streets are dotted with various Christmas markets. While all the tourists flock to see them, it's time to hit the museums. There are plenty of museums in Hamburg, and some of them are entirely free.
- If you're travelling with children, visit the Falkenstein Dolls' Museum to find toys from the last centuries. But remember that the museum is open to children no younger than 4.
- The Hamburg Dungeon Museum has a frightening atmosphere, so it will be interesting for schoolchildren who like to tickle their nerves in the scary rooms.
- The Spice Museum will surprise your little companions with information about what these tasty additives are made of.
- The Miniature Wunderland showcases a small railway and a model of Hamburg with its beautiful buildings and sights.
- At the Panopticum Wax Museum, you'll find famous people and scandalous personalities.
- The San Diego Cap Museum is a cargo ship with a museum inside, where children can learn about the ship's decorations and the seafarers' lives from the inside out. The boat still takes tourists on occasional rides, but at this time of year, it's not advisable to take such a trip — you can't see anything through the porthole, and an icy wind blows outside.
And that's just a drop in the bucket of places to spend time with the kids if it rains or snows in mid-December. Enjoying the city's architecture, namely the Town Hall, the Chilehouse, the shopkeepers' houses and the churches of St Michael, St Jakob, Peter, Catherine and Nicholas, is best enjoyed in late December, when everything is ablaze with Christmas illumination.
Holidays, events and festivals
Hamburg's festivities in December belong to the Christmas spirit. Colourful and cheerful fairs are held everywhere in the city. They start setting up as early as the end of November. The local markets put on a show and not a sale.
There are jugglers, acrobats, and magicians. There's also a Christmas Eve parade with a hundred Father Christmases, reindeer, elves, gnomes and other festive characters. This catastrophe is backed up by plenty of street food, hot chocolate and mulled wine.
The aromas of the local pastries make you dizzy, and the spit-roasted piglets salivate with the scents of roast meat. Here you can eat a hearty meal without taking your eyes off the main attraction. The festive extravaganza culminates in a massive party on New Year's Eve on the city streets. There's a stage in the middle of the city, with famous artists and singers performing. A glorious firework display completes the show.
Shopping
The Hanseatic quarter of Kontohäuser is a shopaholic's paradise. It's home to some of Europe's oldest trading houses. Hamburg is a port city, so any foreign goods deposited in local shops also come without a surcharge for onward shipment within Europe.
The most famous shopping centre in Hamburg is Hanse-Viertel, although there are many other shops and centres in the city.
Be patient and take advantage of the opportunity to buy good products at a reasonable price. And that's a good thing because there is a sales boom immediately after Christmas. Every day the discounts increase, causing hysteria among locals and tourists alike. Even shopaholics from nearby cities flock to the event. But also, the best-selling items and sizes disappear from the shelves.
Cost of vacation
Prices in Hamburg reach their peak in December. The city tries to capitalise on tourists and offers all sorts of attractions to suit all tastes and budgets. The closer it gets to New Year's Eve, the more expensive the trip.
Airfares
Compared to November, flight prices in December rise by almost 5-10%, but compared to October, by as much as 45%! The rush subsides slightly in January, and airfares become cheaper — by 5-15%. Early bookings or flights on Sundays and Mondays, when the flow of travellers reduces due to the onset of weekdays and prices fall by 3-5%, can also help to save money.
Package Tours
Christmas and New Year's holidays attract tourists worldwide, so tour operators offer tours 15-30% more expensive than in the typical months. If you have a hotel and flight booked in advance, it's much cheaper to travel alone.
Food
Local establishments are packed during the holidays, so it's best to book a table in advance for the festive season. Christmas fairs can solve the problem of snacks. You can get a good, hearty meal at these fairs for a relatively low price. A dinner for two will cost about 30 euros compared to 60-80 euros in a restaurant.
Tips for holidays with children
The weather is not ideal even for cold-prone adults, so don't bring children under 10-12 with you. It's better to let them grow up, get stronger and then they can participate in the local festivities along with their parents. And while they're still young, enjoy a trip alone or with good friends. Hamburg will surely excite you so much that you'll be sure to return with your grown-up children. In the meantime, go ahead and explore!
