Qingdao has a temperate coastal climate. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the best seasons — mild, dry, and much quieter than the summer peak. In July and August the city receives millions of Chinese tourists, beaches become impossibly crowded, and hotel prices triple.
The International Beer Festival, held in late July–August in Shibei district, draws vast crowds celebrating the Tsingtao brewing heritage with outdoor concerts, food, and industrial quantities of beer.
Winter is cold (occasional snow) but manageable, and the German concession district is beautiful with few visitors. The seafood is excellent year-round.