It has a monsoon-influenced, four-season humid subtropical climate. Spring brings frequent rain and the highest humidity levels of the year.

Summer is comparatively sunny， hot and humid.

Autumn is somewhat dry.

Winter begins relatively dry but not sunny and becomes progressively damper and cloudier.

The city is connected to the national passenger rail network, with connections to other Chinese cities via Changde Railway Station in Wuling district. Train tickets can be purchased at the station, before departure or once on the train. A planned high-speed Chongqing-Changsha special passenger line will connect Changde with Chongqing, Changsha and other cities along the line at 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph) once completed.The Qianjiang-Zhangjiajie-Changde section has been approved and is expected to begin construction in 2014. The Changde-Changsha section has already begun construction.

Changde also has a public bike service begun in October 2012 with 30 rental stations throughout the city and a thousand bicycles. The system has continued to expand and plans at least a 120 rental stations and 3,200 bicycles by 2015. It is the second such system to be implemented in Hunan province after a similar bike rental program was begun in Zhuzhou in May 2011.Users sign up for the program with an annual or temporary subscription and must pay a ¥200 deposit. Riders can use the bikes for up to two hours for free and pay one yuan for each additional hour up to a maximum of fifteen yuan per day. Rental stations are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Liuye Lake is now a national AAA tourism area with facilities for local, national, and international sporting events such as the 8th Asian Rowing Championship. The lake is an important recreation area for the city.

Outside the city in Taoyuan county is the famous Taohuayuan (桃花源) or "Peach Blossom Spring" in English, named after the fable by Tao Yuanming. The area is famous for its plentiful peach blossoms and natural scenery.