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Netherlands

Groningen

City break

Groningen at a glance

Best time
May – Sep
Warmest month
Aug · 21°
Sunshine a year
1,680 h
Rain a year
786 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+1 / UTC+2
Elevation
16 m

Climate in Groningen

Groningen has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while January is the coolest at 5 °C. With around 1,680 hours of sunshine a year, Groningen is moderately sunny; May is the sunniest month with 7.0 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

41

Holiday weather in October

Fair

Best time to visit: May – September

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 9°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 13°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 14°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 12°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 10°

07:5818:40

Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.

Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.

Light for photos in October

Golden hour
Morning 07:37–08:46 · evening 17:53–19:02
Blue hour
Morning 07:23–07:37 · evening 19:02–19:15

Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.

What is the weather like in Groningen in October?

In October, Groningen is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Groningen.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 42 min07:58 – 18:40
UV index
2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
23 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
71 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Snow days
0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
Time zone
UTC+2Europe/Amsterdam

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 50 %58 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %10 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 30 %34 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.

What to pack in October

  • A jumper for the evenings
  • Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Groningen

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,680 hours
Sunniest month
May · 7.0 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 1.8 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.6 hDaylight 10.7 hShare of daylight 34 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.6 of 10.7 hours of daylight in Groningen, 34 % of the day.

Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 11 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Sun protection

UV index in Groningen

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October
2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.

The sun is strongest in June (UV 7).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
about 80 min
Fair skin
about 100 min
Light brown skin
over 2 h
Olive skin
over 2 h

Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Rain

Rain in Groningen: rainy days and rainfall

A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
786 mm on 150 days
Wettest month
Jul · 90 mm
Driest month
Mar · 48 mm
OctoberRainy days 13Rainfall 69 mm

In October, Groningen has about 13 rainy days with 69 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Groningen

How breezy and how cloudy Groningen is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.

Wind

Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.

Year average
22 km/h · moderate breeze
Windiest month
Feb · 25 km/h
Calmest month
Aug · 19 km/h
OctoberWind 23 km/hBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Groningen typically peaks at 23 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average
69 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Apr · 61 %
Cloudiest month
Dec · 78 %
OctoberCloud cover 71 %Sunshine 3.6 h

In October, cloud covers on average 71 % of the sky over Groningen: mostly cloudy, with about 3.6 hours of sunshine a day.

Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Groningen

How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.

  • Cold 0–8°
  • Cool 8–15°

CoolOctober: nights around 9°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in January (1°), the warmest in August (14°). Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 14°Night 9°
DayNight
MonthScoreDayNightSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan115°1°2.0 h1361
FebruaryFeb156°1°3.0 h1154
MarchMar249°2°4.5 h1148
AprilApr5013°5°6.3 h1150
MayMay6616°9°7.0 h1364
JuneJun7419°12°6.6 h1276
JulyJul6921°14°6.8 h1590
AugustAug6921°14°6.3 h1485
SeptemberSep7118°12°5.0 h1265
OctoberOct4114°9°3.6 h1369
NovemberNov159°5°2.1 h1360
DecemberDec116°2°1.8 h1364

Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences

53.22° N, 6.57° E · 16 m · Europe/Amsterdam

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Groningen

The best time to visit Groningen is from May to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in September. Rain is most frequent from May to August and from October to January; the wettest month is July with 90 mm.

Groningen through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Groningen in spring

Mar – May

47

Fair

  • 9–16 °C by day
  • 6 h of sun a day
  • 35 rainy days in all

Groningen in summer

Jun – Aug

71

Good

  • 19–21 °C by day
  • 7 h of sun a day
  • 41 rainy days in all

Groningen in autumn

Sep – Nov

42

Fair

  • 9–18 °C by day
  • 4 h of sun a day
  • 38 rainy days in all

Groningen in winter

Dec – Feb

12

Poor

  • 5–6 °C by day
  • 2 h of sun a day
  • 36 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Groningen for you.

Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: July – August

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Compare two months in Groningen

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs.

June has the better holiday weather in Groningen: score 74 against 41. In June, days are 5 °C warmer than in October. June has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in June.

October vs. June, Groningen
MonthOctoberJune
Weather score4174better
Day high14°19°
Night low9°12°
Sunshine3.6 h6.6 hbetter
Rainy days1312better
Rainfall69 mm76 mm

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Which month for what?

Beach & swimming

No sea nearby

Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry

Sightseeing & hiking

Sep

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

May – Aug, Oct – Jan

12 or more rainy days

Groningen month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

11January5° · 2 h

In January, Groningen is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 61 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in January
15February6° · 3 h

In February, Groningen is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 1 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 54 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in February
24March9° · 5 h

In March, Groningen is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 48 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in March
50April13° · 6 h

In April, Groningen is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 50 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in April
66May16° · 7 h

In May, Groningen is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in May
74June19° · 7 h

In June, Groningen is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 76 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in June
69July21° · 7 h

In July, Groningen is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 90 mm. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in July
69August21° · 6 h

In August, Groningen is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 85 mm. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in August
71September18° · 5 h

In September, Groningen is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in September
41October14° · 4 h

In October, Groningen is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in October
15November9° · 2 h

In November, Groningen is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in November
11December6° · 2 h

In December, Groningen is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 64 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Groningen.

Groningen in December
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Groningen compared

Put Groningen side by side with another destination.

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Groningen vs. Schiermonnikoog

In October the holiday weather in Groningen and Schiermonnikoog is about equally good (score 41 vs. 44). During the day it is about as warm in Schiermonnikoog as in Groningen.

Groningen vs. Schiermonnikoog, in October
in OctoberGroningenSchiermonnikoog
Holiday score4144
Daytime high14°14°
Sea–14°
Sunshine4 h4 h
Rainy days1313
Best timeMay – SepAug

Through the year

OctoberGroningen 14°Schiermonnikoog 14°
GroningenSchiermonnikoog
Go to Schiermonnikoog
Ranking

Netherlands in October: the best places

In October, Groningen ranks 20 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.

  1. Eindhoven15°50
  2. 2Tilburg15°49
  3. 3's-Hertogenbosch15°48
  4. 4Dordrecht15°48
  5. 5Venlo15°48
  6. 6Deventer14°47
  7. 7Amersfoort15°47
  8. 8Arnhem15°47
  9. 20GroningenThis page14°41
All destinations: Netherlands

Planning a trip to Groningen

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Groningen in the school holidays

How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.

Groningen has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 69) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 11).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    42

    Fair

    • 12 °C by day
    • 5.8 h of sun a day
    • 11 rainy days a month
  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    68

    Good

    • 17 °C by day
    • 6.9 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    69

    GoodBest holidays

    • 21 °C by day
    • 6.5 h of sun a day
    • 14 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • October half-term

    Oct

    41

    Fair

    • 14 °C by day
    • 3.6 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    11

    Poor

    • 5 °C by day
    • 1.9 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
about 1 h 5 min
Distance
510 km
Time zone
UTC+2
Jet lag
Hardly any (under 3 h)

Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.

Frequently asked questions about Groningen

When is the best time to visit Groningen?

The best time to visit Groningen is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

What is the warmest month in Groningen?

August is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 14 °C. January is the coolest month at 5 °C.

When does it rain most in Groningen?

Rain is most frequent from May to August and from October to January; the wettest month is July with 90 mm. The driest month is March with 48 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Groningen get?

Groningen gets around 1,680 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 7.0 hours a day; in December there are 1.8 hours a day.

What time zone is Groningen in?

Groningen uses the time zone Europe/Amsterdam: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.

How long is the flight from London to Groningen?

A nonstop flight from London to Groningen takes about 1 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 510 km.

Which school holidays are best for Groningen?

Groningen has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 69) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 11). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 42, May half-term 68, Summer holidays 69, October half-term 41, Christmas holidays 11.

Near Groningen

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Places with a climate like Groningen

Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Groningen's – good alternatives.

  1. 91% similar44DelftNetherlands15°Best time: May – Sep
  2. 90% similar42AmstelveenNetherlands14°Best time: May – Sep
  3. 89% similar43AachenGermany14°Best time: May – Sep
  4. 89% similar45RotterdamNetherlands15°Best time: May – Sep