Kaliningrad has a relatively mild Baltic climate compared to most of Russia — winters are damp and grey rather than bitterly cold, and summers can be genuinely warm. The best time to visit is May through September, when the city's parks are in full leaf and the Baltic beaches at Svetlogorsk and Zelenogradsk to the northwest are accessible. July and August are warm, with temperatures often reaching the mid-20s Celsius.
Winter (December through February) is cold and overcast, with occasional snow. The historical sights are open year-round and are less crowded in winter. Spring (March-April) can be beautiful when the lime trees that line many streets come into bloom. The amber festival, when storms wash amber onto the beaches, is most dramatic in autumn and early winter.