Ningbo has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. The best times to visit are spring (April–May) and autumn (October–November), when temperatures are mild, humidity is manageable, and the hairy crab season in autumn coincides with the city's food culture at its peak. Summer is hot and very humid, with temperatures regularly exceeding 35°C in July and August, and typhoons occasionally disrupting ferry services to the islands.
Winter is cold and can be grey, but the city functions normally and the museums and historic sites are uncrowded. The Chinese New Year holiday period (January–February) empties the city as residents return to home provinces and fills it again briefly with domestic tourism. The major Buddhist festival days at Mount Putuo affect ferry availability and island accommodation but do not significantly impact Ningbo itself.