What to do in Berlin in January: weather, 2027 events and ideas

January is Berlin's coldest and quietest month: the thermometer barely passes 2 °C in the afternoon and the sun is rare. In return, the tourists are gone, museums are peaceful and hotels are among the cheapest of the year. This guide gives you the weather to expect in January 2027, crowds and prices, dated events, what to pack and ideas for staying warm. The dates are those noted in October 2026; check them before you book.

January weather: cold, grey and short

The Teehaus in the Tiergarten under snow

Average in Berlin	January
Average high	about 2 °C
Average low	about -2 °C
Rainfall	about 55 mm

Source: German Weather Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst) climate averages for Berlin, consulted in October 2026. Snow falls some winters but melts quickly in the city; grey skies, damp and the east wind across the big squares are more common than dry deep cold. Daylight is short: the sun rises around 8:15am and sets around 4pm at the start of the month, around 4:50pm at the end. Do outdoor walks between 10am and 3pm and keep the afternoon for museums. For the whole season, see Berlin in winter.

Crowds and prices in January

Once the holidays are over, Berlin empties: queues at the Museum Island and the Humboldt Forum are short, and hotels and flights are at their lowest of the year, apart from the Grüne Woche. Our budget guide for a trip to Berlin details prices, and where to stay in Berlin helps you pick a neighbourhood near a heated metro station.

January 2027 events

1 January: the day after New Year

1 January is a public holiday: museums and shops are generally closed or open late, and the city sleeps after the New Year's Eve party at the Brandenburg Gate. It is all explained in New Year in Berlin. Most Christmas markets closed before the end of the year: see Berlin Christmas markets for the exceptions.

Grüne Woche: 15 to 24 January 2027

The Grüne Woche, the big international food, agriculture and gardening fair, runs from 15 to 24 January 2027 at Messe Berlin (Messedamm 22, near the Funkturm). You can taste specialities from dozens of countries, especially in the halls devoted to German regions. Entry is paid; weekends are very crowded, so come on a weekday.

CTM Festival: 22 to 31 January 2027

CTM, a festival of electronic and experimental music and art, holds its 28th edition from 22 to 31 January 2027, at venues including Berghain, Radialsystem and the Volksbühne. For clubs and concerts the rest of the year, see Berlin at night and concerts and shows in Berlin.

27 January: remembering the victims of Nazism

27 January, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, is Germany's day of remembrance for the victims of Nazism, with ceremonies in the Bundestag. It is not a public holiday. It is a good moment to visit the Jewish Museum Berlin or the Topography of Terror.

What to pack

A warm windproof coat, wool layers, a hat, scarf, gloves and waterproof shoes with non-slip soles: pavements can be icy. Indoors everything is very warm, so dress in layers you can remove easily. Cold drains phone batteries quickly: bring a small power bank.

Ideas to stay warm

Museums: the Neues Museum with Nefertiti, the Gemäldegalerie or the Neue Nationalgalerie. The Museumspass pays off if you visit several.
A concert at the Berlin Philharmonie: book weeks ahead.
Coffee and cake: winter is the season of Kaffee und Kuchen, see cafés and pastry shops in Berlin, or the food floors of KaDeWe.
The tropics in winter: Tropical Islands, about an hour by train to the south, is heated all year.
With children: the Natural History Museum and the German Museum of Technology, see Berlin with children.