Bordered by two different seas in the north and mountains in the south, Germany has a temperate climate with four rather distinct seasons. Although not as warm as neighboring France, Germany experiences warm summers and has even had some heat waves over the last decade. Its winters are quite cold and even the lowland and coastal regions of the country usually get a decent amount of snow.
The capital, Berlin, has its best weather from early May until late September. Although it's not uncommon for temperatures to reach 30 °C (86 °F) or higher, Berlin is pleasantly warm rather than excruciatingly hot on most summer days (and if the temperatures do get too high for you, there are a number of lakes and public swimming pools for cooling off). June is the month that probably gets the largest number of visitors, but it is also the rainiest month of the year.
Winters in Berlin are usually cool and very cloudy, but rarely get extremely cold. On the whole, Berlin is a bit sunnier and gets a bit less rain than London, Amsterdam or Paris. Of course, if you don't mind the cold, plan to spend most of your time in Berlin seeing things indoors, or just love that autumn ambiance, visiting during the colder part of the year can actually be preferable as many things like accommodation and rental cars will be cheaper and the crowds of other tourists will be smaller (this applies to all of the other big German cities as well).
Located near the North Sea, Germany's second city, Hamburg, has a distinctly oceanic climate. Although the city is less than a four-hour drive from Berlin, Hamburg is usually at least a couple of degrees cooler during the summer months and its annual precipitation is noticeably higher. The increased humidity also means that when it gets cold in winter, it can feel very cold. Most travelers say that the best time to visit is between June and September.
Located in the south of the country, Munich lies at a considerably higher altitude than Hamburg or Berlin. Although its summers do get very warm, the heat is somewhat moderated by the surrounding mountains. Munich is at its rainiest from May to August. Winters in Munich are quite cold, but a lot drier than on the coast. If you don't mind the occasional rain shower, the city can be very nice to visit during the summer months — otherwise, September is probably the best time to visit.
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