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Best Time to Visit the Allgäu: Month by Month – and Our Recommendation
For us, the best time to visit the Allgäu is early autumn, from the beginning of September to mid-October: settled weather, clear views into the distance, the Viehscheid and far fewer crowds than in summer. July and August are ideal for swimming in the Alpsee, January and February for skiing. Yet every month here has its own character. Further down we take you through the whole year so you can find the month that suits your holiday.
If you are free to choose, we almost always recommend autumn. We live here ourselves and every year we see again how beautiful the Allgäu is between early September and mid-October.
Summer in the Allgäu is wonderful and, accordingly, busy. In autumn things calm down. You get a table at the inn without waiting, often have the viewpoint all to yourself, and the roads through the valley are pleasantly quiet. That calm simply does you good.
The light makes the difference
What delights us about autumn every single year is the light. The sun sits lower, casts long shadows and bathes the mountainsides in the evening in that warm, almost orange glow you never see like this in high summer. Then there are the colours: the larch forests around the Nagelfluhkette turn golden, red and brown beeches glow in between, and if you stand by one of the mountain lakes on a clear morning, this whole play of colour is mirrored in the water. Mornings like that stay with you for a long time.
Weather you can rely on
The weather is another argument for autumn. The so-called Altweibersommer – the Indian summer – often brings days-long spells of settled fine weather to the Allgäu: mild, dry and with views you can only dream of in the hazy summer. That is ideal for hiking: pleasant temperatures, rarely any thunderstorms and clear visibility far into the Alps. We actually prefer a mountain hike in September to one in July, because you reach the top feeling more relaxed. You will find holiday apartments to suit your walks on our page about hiking holidays in the Allgäu.
A quiet, almost romantic time
And then autumn in the Allgäu has something romantic about it. The cooler evenings, the rustling leaves, a glass of wine on the balcony while the mountains glow outside in the dusk – for us this is the cosiest time of the year, especially for couples who simply want to unwind.
Fittingly, this is also when the Viehscheid takes place – the traditional cattle drive, when the cows are brought down from the alpine pastures to the valley, decorated with flowers. As a guest in autumn you can experience this tradition up close – you will find the dates further down in the frequently asked questions.
Cheaper and more flexible travel
On a practical note: because autumn falls outside both the summer and winter school holidays, our holiday apartments are usually cheaper and easier to get at this time than in high summer. Even at short notice you can often still find something suitable – without weeks of planning ahead.
If you have only ever known the Allgäu in summer or winter, it is time for autumn. We look forward to welcoming you – and we bet it won't be just the once?
When to visit the Allgäu: the whole year at a glance
Not everyone can choose when to travel. So here is what awaits you in the other months – just as we would tell our friends.
December to February: skiing, cross-country trails and Christmas markets
The ski areas around the Nebelhorn, Fellhorn and Ofterschwang-Gunzesried are open, the cross-country trails are groomed, and in December the Christmas markets in Immenstadt and Sonthofen have a charm of their own. For skiing you are in exactly the right place: you can reach the slopes in twenty to thirty minutes, and January and February bring the most reliable snow up there. Immenstadt and Sonthofen themselves lie at around 730 to 740 metres, so the valley is not always white in winter. The weeks around Christmas and the carnival half-term holidays are the most popular – it is best to book early for these. Everything about pistes, cross-country trails and apartments for winter is on our page about ski holidays in the Allgäu.
March and April: peace and rushing waterfalls
In spring the Allgäu is in transition. The ski season is winding down, the higher hiking trails are still wet or lie under old snow, and the landscape needs a few weeks to turn green. In return you have the region almost to yourself, travel at prices that are rarely this low, and thanks to the snowmelt the gorges and waterfalls carry more water than at any other time of year. Ideal if you are looking for peace and quiet. For your first Allgäu holiday, though, we would rather recommend early summer or autumn.
May and June: alpine meadows in bloom and long days
After autumn, this is our second favourite tip. Everything is fresh and green, the mountain meadows are in flower, towards the end of June the alpine roses bloom at higher altitudes, and the days are the longest of the year – so you simply fit more holiday into a day. The mountain railways are running again, the paths are clear, and the big crowds only arrive with the summer holidays. Prices are well below high summer. The weather is a little more changeable than in September, and in May the Großer Alpsee is still rather chilly for swimming.
July and August: summer by the lake
For a lakeside holiday, high summer is the best time. The Großer Alpsee is then warm enough for swimming, sailing and stand-up paddleboarding, all the mountain railways are running, and in the evenings people sit outside until late. With children this is the easiest time, because there is always something to do by the water. As it is school holiday time across Germany, it is busy everywhere, and this is our high season. If you would like to come in summer, it is best to book early, because there is rarely anything left at short notice.
November: time to take a breath
November is the quietest month in the Allgäu. The leaves have fallen, it is often grey, some mountain railways pause for their annual maintenance, and the winter season has not yet started. If you are looking for peace, want to read, visit a thermal spa and simply enjoy the mountains from the window, you get all that now at the lowest prices of the year. For hiking and active holidays, other months are better suited.
Where to stay in any season
If you want to swim in summer and ski in winter, Immenstadt is a good base: the Großer Alpsee, the local mountain Mittag and the railway station are close together, and you can reach the ski areas to the south in no time. A holiday apartment in Immenstadt is therefore a good starting point whatever the season. If you would rather stay right by the big mountains, you will find our apartments in Sonthofen and Oberstdorf.
Frequently asked questions about when to visit the Allgäu
How warm is the Allgäu in summer?
In July and August, daytime temperatures in the valley around Immenstadt and Kempten average around 23 °C, cooling to about 12 °C at night. With a good seven hours of sunshine a day, July is the sunniest month. In the mountains it is correspondingly cooler (averages from the German Weather Service, 1991–2020).
How many rainy days does the Allgäu have?
Depending on the month, there is at least one millimetre of rain on around 11 to 16 days. June and July bring the most rainy days, often as short summer thunderstorms; January, February, October and November have the fewest. A rainy day in the Allgäu rarely means rain all day – there are usually some lovely hours in between.
Is an autumn holiday in the Allgäu really worth it?
Yes, absolutely. Autumn is quieter than summer, the views are clear, the forests glow, and prices are noticeably lower. Many guests who have been here once in autumn come back precisely for that.
Which is better – September or October?
Both have their appeal. September is often still mild and settled, ideal for long days of hiking. October is when it turns truly golden – the forests are in full colour, but the evenings are already noticeably cooler.
What is the weather like in the Allgäu in autumn?
Usually pleasingly good. The Indian summer (Altweibersommer) often brings days of settled high-pressure weather with mild temperatures and little rain – more reliable than many a day in August.
Can you still go hiking in autumn?
Yes, easily well into October, and at medium altitudes often even longer. On clear autumn days the views are actually better than in the hazy summer. After the first cold snap there may be snow at the highest altitudes, so it is worth checking the weather forecast before your walk.
When is the Viehscheid in the Allgäu?
In September: in 2027, depending on the village, between 11 and around 25 September. Bad Hindelang and Pfronten celebrate on 11 September, Oberstdorf probably on 13 September and Immenstadt on 18 September, with other places such as Gunzesried and Oberstaufen following. You will find all the dates in our article on the Viehscheid in the Allgäu.
Is there also a smaller, less crowded Viehscheid?
Yes. Besides the big Viehscheid events in Bad Hindelang, Oberstdorf and Immenstadt, there are smaller cattle drives, for example in Obermaiselstein or Bolsterlang, where things are much more relaxed. The dates are listed in our Viehscheid overview.
Which month is the cheapest for a holiday in the Allgäu?
The cheapest are November as well as March and April, the quietest weeks of the year. May and June offer particularly good value for what you get. The most expensive are the summer holidays and the weeks around Christmas.
Is the Allgäu worth visiting in October?
Yes, alongside September, October is our clear recommendation: golden forests, clear views and hardly any crowds. At medium altitudes you can hike without any problems. The evenings are already cool, and towards the end of the month the first snow may fall at higher altitudes.
When can you ski in the Allgäu – and is there snow in the valley?
Depending on snow conditions, the ski areas are open from around mid-December to early April, most reliably in January and February. Immenstadt and Sonthofen lie at around 730 to 740 metres, so the valley is not always white, while up on the slopes conditions are excellent.
When can you swim in the Großer Alpsee?
The Großer Alpsee is usually pleasantly warm from late June to early September. In May it is still rather chilly. July and August are ideal for a swimming holiday – it is best to book early, as this is the most popular time.
When is the Allgäu at its quietest?
In November and in early spring, i.e. March and April. You then have the hiking trails and viewpoints almost to yourself. Bear in mind that some mountain railways may be closed for maintenance and the weather can be changeable.
Now you know when you would like to come? Then see straight away which of our holiday apartments is available for your dates – book directly online with no commission.
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