With New Year's Eve in full swing and the festivities winding down, it's time to take a trip to Hamburg. The city leisurely removes the illuminations from the streets after the first week of the New Year, while residents and tourists spend time at the big sales.
The weather outside is above freezing and slightly damp. There are occasional fleeting snowflakes in the sky and a fresh, salty breeze from the sea. The scent of cloves and cinnamon lingers in the streets as people lazily sip warm mulled wine and hot chocolate in the cafes.
Holidays in Hamburg in January: pros and cons
Reviews of the January holidays in Hamburg can't be bad. They're as sweet as berry jelly and as spicy as Christmas punch. Hamburg in January is a good break from the hustle and bustle:
- On the first of January, the city is still noisy because of festivities, and you can join the merry crowds.
- In the first week of January, the city is lit up with festive lights, and you can enjoy the fairytale magic of the festivities that have taken place.
- After Christmas, the post-Christmas shopping frenzy begins, but the shopping frenzy tapers off.
- From the second half of the month, the end of the Christmas celebrations and holidays will wash most tourists off the streets — it's time to enjoy the quiet.
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To make the trip more enjoyable, follow a few basic rules:
- Book your hotel in advance, as hotels with a reasonable price-quality ratio are already booked out during the festive period.
- January is not the most pleasant month for walking, so you should dress warmer and have an umbrella.
- Children under the age of 10 should stay at home. If you're used to winter walks in January, it's a good idea to take a trip in January.
Hamburg weather in January
January and February are Hamburg's worst months, so be prepared for heavenly surprises in the form of rain and snow. If the weather at the beginning of the month is brightened by Christmas tree lights and unbridled festivities, by mid-January, Hamburg's temperatures will start to bore you with their constant flactuations.
It is also the coldest month of the year and the second windiest month after December.
When the temperature is low, the sea wind is not a pleasant experience for the unprepared tourist. In the city, the gusts are not as strong behind the houses as they are out in the open. You can avoid the dubious pleasure of walking in the winter sea wind by not walking along the harbour promenade. The weather in Hamburg at the end of January is almost indistinguishable from the rest of the month, quietly turning the calendar to February.
Temperature and precipitation
Hamburg is located in a part of the continent with a fairly mild climate. Sudden changes in weather and low temperatures are virtually nonexistent here. Such occurrences are classified as abnormal phenomena.
Temperatures in Hamburg are relatively stable in January, with an amplitude of no more than 5°C.
The nasty winds that bring cyclones and rain from the sea set the city apart from the rest of Germany. But if you spend the bad weather days under the roof of a cosy café with a cup of hot chocolate in your hand, or in one of the museums for which Hamburg is so famous, any rain or snow will pass unnoticed.ts your word choice carefully and finds a perfect alternative. You'll become more vivid and engaging in your writing without overthinking it.
Air temperature in Hamburg in January
The average temperature in Hamburg in January is around +2°C, which is unsurprising as +2°C is the most popular thermometer mark of the month. It occupies the thermometer for most days in January.
Meanwhile, night-time temperatures drop to 0°C. Night temperatures are more variable and can be in the plus zone at the beginning of January and -1 to 2°C closer to February. However, Hamburg cannot be described as a cold city, as the winter temperatures are not too low. January is the coldest month in the city.
Amount of precipitation
January is hardly a slushy month in Hamburg. Still, it can sometimes drizzle, snow or even freeze rain when frozen raindrops fall to the ground with a rustling sound.
On average, 47 mm of precipitation falls each month. There are four rainy days a month. Sometimes rain is replaced by snow when it falls at night. Suppose you don't have anyone to leave young children with when you travel. In that case, we recommend taking a small travel umbrella with you so that your baby or toddler is not caught unawares by the unpleasant surprise of the sky and has time to run for cover.
Sunny, cloudy and overcast days
January in Hamburg has an average of about five days of sunshine. Statistically, the month is 16% sunny, 25% cloudy and 59% overcast. It means that your photos will often capture the sleepy and sad atmosphere of the city, so you need to decorate them with your smile.
January is the sunniest month in Hamburg after December, with an average of only 2.8 hours of sunshine daily. Therefore, It is a good month for a festive aftertaste or a nostalgic sadness.
Tour Holidays
At the beginning of January, Hamburg's streets are still illuminated. You should take in the local sights — the Town Hall, the Chielehaus, the merchants' houses and the churches of St Michael, St Jacob, St Peter, St Catherine and St Nicholas.
If you're travelling with children, you can visit the Falkenstein Puppet Museum. Then move on to the museums. There are plenty of them, and some are even free.
The Hamburg Dungeon Museum will appeal to fans of scary movies. The Museum of Spices offers a dizzying array of aromas and informative cooking instructions. The Miniature Land Museum has a miniature railway and a city model with beautiful buildings and canals.
The Panopticum Wax Museum is home to famous people so successfully sculpted in wax that it's as if they're about to talk.
The Cap San Diego Museum will appeal to adults and children alike; where else can you visit a real ship and touch everything with your hands? This floating museum is a real cargo ship converted for visitors. But it still makes occasional boat trips. Although at the end of January, you'll likely find someone willing to walk in the cold winter wind.
Holidays, events and festivals
This month is the only time locals can take a break from the ongoing events. Hamburg's January festivities take over from the beginning of the month until Epiphany on the 6th.
Then you can relax and visit local places without the commotion of newcomers. Living in the epicentre of tourist life can also be exhausting.
If you get to Hamburg in early January, you can enjoy the creativity of the local decorators, who not only put up a beautiful Christmas tree but also various exciting elements of festive lighting around the city. In some places, you'll see Santa Clauses hanging from rooftops with sacks full of presents. Or reindeer skilfully made from garlands and lights.
The 6th is Epiphany, a Christian holiday celebrated mainly by German Protestants. On this day, people gather at midnight for a family meal, and the night before, children dressed in white go from house to house to bless their hosts. In return, they receive candy and sweets.
The hosts draw a cross over their door with chalk and write the year and the letters "C, M, B" — a sign of blessing for the house in the coming year. The letters C, M, and B come from the traditional names for the wise men: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, whose arrival at Mary and Joseph's home is celebrated on the Epiphany.
Shopping
Hamburg is a concentration of shopping centres and shops with famous brands. Many people flock here during the sales period. January is when the discounts peak, so take advantage of the opportunity to buy reasonably priced things. The only downside is that some styles are only available in one size. However, with the number of shopping centres in Hamburg, you'll still be able to find a bargain.
Cost of vacation
Prices in Hamburg fall in January as the holidays fade. The city has capitalised on the tourists and goes into hibernation mode until the next event. The further away New Year's Eve is, the cheaper the prices get.
Airfares
At the beginning of the month, airfares are still very high, as in December. Towards the end of the month, airfares start to fall gradually, from 5% to 30%. You can make additional savings by booking early or flying on Sundays and Mondays when prices drop by 3-5% due to the unpopularity of these days.
Package Tours
The Christmas and New Year holidays attract tourists worldwide, so tour operators offer tours at 15-30% higher prices than in typical months. From the second half of January, standard tour prices apply, and the unpopularity of the season even allows you to buy a tour with a 10-15% discount.
Food
A cheap lunch in a fast-food restaurant costs around €10-15 per person; a visit to McDonald's costs €15. Compared with Munich, for example, lunch for one person would be 3-4 euros more expensive. Dinner for two with alcohol in Hamburg costs around 60-80 euros. If you're lucky enough to find a street food stall, you can get a cheap and tasty meal without risking your health — the city is very strict about hygiene.
Tips for holidays with children
January is not a bad time to travel, but the weather conditions will dictate the conditions. Travelling with young children should be postponed to a warmer time of year or left at home with grandma. If you go without the children, ensure you have warm, comfortable clothes and waterproof shoes or an extra pair of boots for wet weather. Then you'll have a great holiday.
