Lüneburg is a year-round destination, but the months from May to September are most pleasant — warm enough for outdoor seating along the Stintmarkt waterfront and comfortable for walking the Altstadt. Summer weekends bring day-trippers from Hamburg, so if you prefer quieter streets, visit midweek.
August is peak season for the Lüneburger Heide, the wide heathland about 30 kilometres south, when the heather flowers purple. If you plan to combine the city with a visit to the heath, aim for late August or early September.
Winter in Lüneburg is cold but not harsh, and the city has a small Christmas market in December that is far more manageable than the sprawling ones in Hamburg or Hannover.