Are you traveling to Germany in April? This is a great month to visit and is traditionally filled with Easter holidays, spring festivals, and celebrations of the arts. You should also expect a flood of travelers around the Easter holidays. Accommodation and transportation can be more expensive and crowded than usual.
As for the weather, it’s hotter than just a month ago, but Germans have a saying about April:
April, April, du weißt nicht was der will (April, April does not know what he wants)
Visitors can expect rain, sun, or hail, sometimes all within an hour. Pack for each scenario.
Find out what annual events and festivals are happening in Germany in April.
Spring fair in Frankfurt
Frankfurt’s annual spring festival, or Dippemess , is one of the largest folk festivals in the Rhine region.
The fair dates back to the 14th century, when it was a medieval pottery market. Their ceramic bowls and pots (called ” dibbes ” in the Frankfurt dialect) are known and responsible for the name of the festival. Today, the spring fair is also popular for rides, roller coasters, and fireworks.
If you miss it during this season, this festival returns in the fall. Other spring festivals take place in Munich, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, and many other southern cities.
When: April 12 – May 5, 2019
Where: Fairgrounds in Ratsweg, Frankfurt
Asparagus Festival
Germans are obsessed with spargel (white asparagus). It is on every menu, in every grocery store, and devotees plan trips to the farms where it is grown. Join the happy hordes to eat the “king of vegetables” at its source.
The states of Baden-Württemberg and Lower Saxony are two of the most important asparagus growing regions. Every booth says they grow the best Spargel , but the only way to know for sure is by touring them all.
When: April – June 24
Where: Spargel is found everywhere in Germany with farms open for visits in Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony and Beelitz
Bauhaus walks in Weimar
The city of Weimar is the birthplace of the Bauhaus movement, which revolutionized architectural and aesthetic concepts in the 20th century. To experience this transformative style, take part in guided art walks, following in the footsteps of famous Bauhaus artists such as Walter Gropius, Wassily Kandinsky, Paul Klee, and Lyonel Feininger.
The project, originally created by students, is now led by future architects, civil engineers, academics, and cultural artists. No registration is required. The Bauhaus Walk is in German with walks in English on request. The short walk of 1.5 hours costs 6 euros, with the long walk of 2.5 hours 9 euros.
When: from April to October: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm; From November to March: Friday and Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Bauhaus Atelier in the courtyard of the main building of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Geschwister-Scholl-Straße 6a, 99423 Weimar – Meeting point for the Bauhaus Walk.
Bonn cherry blossom festival
Bonn’s cheerful trees have earned it a place on the list of “The 10 most beautiful tree tunnels in the world”. Heerstrasse in the Nordstadt neighborhood is known as “Cherry Blossom Avenue”. The long branches of the trees are filled with flowers, creating a tunnel-like canopy.
Submit your best photo in the Cherry Blossom photo contest and attend the city’s Kirschblütenfest. This festival celebrates the flowers among the trees with fruit wine, local cuisine, and live performances.
When: Blooms for about 2 weeks in April-May
Where: Bonn
Ballet weeks in Munich
Opera found a home in Munich in 1653 and the love story continues. Every spring the Bavarian State Ballet puts on its “Ballet Weeks”.
This extraordinary dance festival includes modern and classical dance, which are performed by the Bavarian State Ballet, as well as international guest groups.
When: April 11-18, 2019
Where: Bavarian State Opera, Munich
Art colony
The oldest art fair in the world started in 1967 in Cologne and is still going strong.
Art Cologne boasts 200 leading galleries from around the world, showcasing modern and contemporary art in all mediums, from paintings to sculpture, from installations to photographs. Around 60,000 visitors attend each year.
When: April 12-14, 2019
Where: Cologne Exhibition Center and various Cologne museums
Easter in Germany
Easter is one of the most popular holidays in Germany. It is celebrated over a long weekend that includes Good Friday and Easter Monday (public holidays) with school vacations during the two weeks surrounding that weekend.
In almost any city, you will see spring flowers on display and traditional ostereierbaum (Easter trees). The eggs are still hand-blown and delicately decorated according to the traditional method. And chocolates are everywhere, including the Kinder Surprise ( Kinder Überraschung ), born in Italy and adored by the Germans.
When: April 19 – April 22, 2019 holidays
Where: everywhere in Germany
Walpurgis night
Walpurgisnacht is the time of the witches. According to German folk tradition, this is the night when witches fly to Mount Brocken in the Harz Mountains to celebrate a celebration in anticipation of spring. However, you don’t need to be a witch to celebrate.
Today many people light bonfires and dance in the light of the flames. In cities like Berlin, this is another excuse to party and rebel with special club openings, night parades and demonstrations.
When: April 30
Where: most places in Germany
