Frankfurt am Main vs Köln (Cologne): which is sunnier?
🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇩🇪 Germany · 137 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Frankfurt am Main and Köln (Cologne) are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 1,516 vs 1,545 hours a year. Frankfurt am Main has the higher Sunshine Score in 4 of 12 months; the other 8 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Frankfurt am Main | Köln (Cologne) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,516 | 1,545 |
| Sunniest month | September (79/100) | September (77/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 2/100 | 2/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 76/100 | 74/100 |
| Rain / year | 670 mm | 791 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 5 (moderate) | 5 (moderate) |
Frankfurt am Main vs Köln (Cologne) month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frankfurt am Main | Köln (Cologne) | Frankfurt am Main | Köln (Cologne) | Frankfurt am Main | Köln (Cologne) | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 4° | 4° | 57 | 74 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 5° | 6° | 45 | 62 |
| March | 13 | 13 | 10° | 10° | 47 | 59 |
| April | 53 | 46 | 16° | 15° | 41 | 44 |
| May | 74 | 69 | 20° | 19° | 71 | 64 |
| June | 76 | 75 | 25° | 23° | 59 | 68 |
| July | 75 | 74 | 27° | 25° | 66 | 75 |
| August | 76 | 73 | 27° | 25° | 64 | 79 |
| September | 79 | 77 | 22° | 21° | 46 | 57 |
| October | 52 | 44 | 16° | 15° | 54 | 61 |
| November | 6 | 6 | 9° | 9° | 56 | 71 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 4° | 5° | 64 | 77 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr Frankfurt am Main · May Frankfurt am Main · Jun even · Jul even · Aug Frankfurt am Main · Sep even · Oct Frankfurt am Main · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Frankfurt am Main averages 2/100, Köln (Cologne) 2/100. Daytime highs are similar (6°C vs 6°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Frankfurt am Main (average score 47/100 vs 43). Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 15°C).
- June–August: too close to call — Frankfurt am Main averages 76/100, Köln (Cologne) 74/100. Frankfurt am Main is the warmer, around 26°C daytime highs vs 24°C.
- September–October: Frankfurt am Main (average score 66/100 vs 61). Daytime highs are similar (19°C vs 18°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Frankfurt am Main weather by month · Köln (Cologne) weather by month · Best time to visit Germany.
More comparisons: Frankfurt am Main vs Karlsruhe · Frankfurt am Main vs Saarbrücken · Köln (Cologne) vs Düsseldorf · Köln (Cologne) vs Dortmund · Köln (Cologne) vs Luxembourg · all head-to-heads