Will Munich be hot and crowded by tourists during summer? Or is summer the low season of Munich and barely worth visitng? Read on to find out if the summer months are the best or worst months for planning a trip to Munich.
June in Munich: Ideal Weather for Sightseeing
June is a very good month for a trip to Munich. During June, you will have daylight from about 5 am to 10 pm which gives you the opportunity not only to do sightseeing and daytrips but you can also enjoy an evening in the beer garden or see the sunset in a rooftop bar. The weather is usually quite stable and temperatures are fine and perfect for sightseeing and outside activities like visiting a beer-garden. Sometimes, June also brings hot summer temperatures and heat waves up to 30°C/86°F for a couple of days. The chance of (severe) thunderstorms rises with the temperatures.
End of May or beginning June is also the rollout for the tourism-high-season in Munich starting with Pentecost/Whitsunday. Most Europeans do have a two weeks break around Pentecost, so you will find quite a lot of tourists (usually Germans and Europeans) in Munich.
My recommendation: June is an ideal month to do sightseeing in the city. It’s often warm, but usually not too hot. The city is not packed with tourists yet and if you decide to explore the city in depth you can really feel like a local. In my opinion, June is the best month to visit Munich.
July in Munich: Peak Summer Season
July is the month in Munich where you see a big boost in tourism. Tourists everywhere. Especially after July 4th, you will encounter lot’s of guests from the USA, but also China, Russia and Arabic countries. In July the city feels fuller and fuller. Especially towards the end of July this feeling intensifies, as all European countries, but also the USA, are on holiday. Munich is a popular destination, as day trips to the Alps or Austria can also be made from here.
The weather in July is mostly stable and there are only few rainy days. In Munich July is actually the real summer month. Everything is open, you can enjoy the beer gardens and cafés, go hiking, go sightseeing by bike or just spend the day at one of the lakes.
My recommendation: A warm, sunny day in July offers countless possibilities. I would start the day with a nice Bavarian breakfast and then do a sightseeing tour on foot through the city. Afterwards I would get a coffee or a refreshing beverage and watch the surfers at the Eisbach creek. In the evening I would go to a beer garden and enjoy the atmosphere.
August in Munich: Transition to Fall
You’d think August would be the real summer month. In Munich this is unfortunately only true to a limited extent. The first part of the month is as warm as July and it feels like summer. From August 15th (Assumption Day, a national holiday in Bavaria), however, one often has the feeling that fall is already in the preparations. In the morning you will open the window and breathe in cool, fresh air. In the evening, it quickly gets cooler again, even if it was a nice, sunny and warm day. Also the number of rainy days rises in comparison to July.
Nevertheless August is a month in which still a large number of tourists from all over the world visit Munich. Therefore the city still feels very full. You can experience the same things as in July, e.g. going to the beer garden, day trips or sightseeing.
My recommendation: August is an ideal month for excursions to the Bavarian lakes or the Alps like the Zugspitze region. Especially from mid August on, you can often enjoy a great view from the alpine peaks. If you always wanted to hike in the Alps, you should do it now. The weather is mostly stable, and the probability of thunderstorms decreases compared to the previous month.
Also the number of tourists in the city decreases, albeit slowly.
My recommendation for summer in Munich
Or is it already mid August? Maybe you should also read my article if visitng Munich in fall is a good idea.
FAQ: Munich in summer
Usually it’s warm rather than extreme, but heat waves happen (2 days to one week). Plan sightseeing in the morning and keep afternoons flexible for parks, museums, or a lake. Late afternoons are perfect for beer gardens.
Ususally all hotels do, many older buildings (and smaller places) may not. If A/C matters to you, filter specifically for it when booking.
Public transport usually has AC. Huge restaurants have AC, but especially traditional restaurants do not have AC. Germans also prefer to sit outside on a terrace rather than inside of restaurants.
Not bad—just busier and more “holiday-heavy.” If you book early and plan a couple of lake/Alps days, August can be excellent.
Summer showers and thunderstorms are common. Bring light rain gear and keep one indoor option (museum, palace, spa) as a backup. Or why not visit the world’s largest Spa in the World, the Therme Erding – Especially the Sauna Areas are way less crowded than during colder seasons.
Yes—swimming in lakes near Munich is one of the best summer experiences. Tegernsee, Starnberg, and Ammersee are popular choices. For more local experiences try the smaller bathing lakes in the northern and western suburbs like Langwieder See, Karlsfelder See, Lußsee or Hollerner See.
- Choose June if you want the best balance of weather + sightseeing comfort.
- Choose July if you want peak summer atmosphere and don’t mind crowds.
- Choose August if you’re excited about lakes, mountains, and long evenings.
Regardless of which month you choose to visit Munich in summer, here’s what you should pack:
- Light layers – temperatures can vary throughout the day
- Comfortable walking shoes – you’ll be exploring a lot on foot
- Sunscreen and sunglasses – UV protection is important
- Light rain jacket or umbrella – summer showers are common
- Day backpack – for carrying water, snacks, and essentials
- Reusable water bottle – stay hydrated while sightseeing
- (Optional) Swimwear – for lake visits or hotel pools
- Hat or cap – sun protection during outdoor activities
- Sweater – for cooler evenings, especially in beer gardens