I apologize in advance for the extrememly long post below .. but I am really up in the air about train vs. car.

I know there is no way to know what the weather will be like at this time of year as it is unpredictable but can anyone give me a 'general' idea of what it's been like the past few years?

My sister and I are deciding whether to rent a car for our trip, take the train, or do both for our Christmas Market trip.

Our itinerary has changed a few times in the past few weeks but I think we have it straightened out (at least I hope):

11/25: Arrive Frankfurt and go to Freiburg - Sleep Freiburg

11/26: Colmar and Strasbourg X-mas Markets - Sleep Freiburg

11/27: Freiburg Christmas Market - Sleep Freiburg

11/28: Depart Freiburg

11/29: Dresden Christmas Market

11/30: - Sleep Nuremberg

12/1: Nuremberg Christmas Market - Sleep Nuremberg

12/2: Depart from Frankfurt

**We'd like to fit Seiffen and possibly another town in the Erzgebirge region, possibly Freiberg or Schneeberg depending on whether or not we have a car or go by train (days 11/28-11/30).** I guess, depending on car or train, we are up in the air on where to stay for two nights (11/28 and 11/29) as well.

I've read that the towns is the Erzgebirge are more easily accessible by car ... if not, trains and buses are involved and with only 2/3 days in this area I'd hate to waste time on changing trains and buses.

As you most know the trip from Freiburg to Dresden is a haul by train or car (6/7 hours) in normal conditions (no rain, ice, snow, freezing temperatues).

I've thought about renting a car (automatic) but I think from Frankfurt to Freiburg and then Colmar and Strasbourg are easier by train. Nuremberg to Frankfurt train ... and we won't need a car in Nuremberg. My problem arises with getting from Freiburg to Dresden and Seiffen, and then those 2/3 days in that area.

I was thinking of taking a train for the 1st 1/3 of our trip, then renting a car in Freiburg and driving to Dresen and Seiffen for the 2nd 1/2 of the trip and then returning the car in Nuremberg and taking a train back to Frankfurt for our flight home. I wanted to find out about the weather before driving around Germany.

My husband and I just returned from Germany in August and we drove ... it was easy to get around .. but I'm just unsure of weather conditions at the end of November.

Sorry again for it being so long.

Thanks!

Topping for myself

I don;t know why you're so worried about the weather. In Germany in November you're unlikely to run into any blizzards - just chilly rain - and don;t see how that would affect the choice of car or train that much.

If car is easier/more convenient - as it seems to be - why would you consider train?

The problem won't be the weather in general, but the rain, short days with some kind of twilight during the whole day.

nytraveler, I wasn't sure if Bavaria or Eastern Germany was more likely, due to the mountains, to get snow/freezing rain earlier. I realize there is always a chance of something crazy happening but I thought someone who lives in that area could give me a run down of what the weather has been like for the past few years.

The weather does impact my decision as to whether I get a car or not. I don't want a 6 hour drive on a normal day to turn into a 8/9 hour drive due to bad weather. We aren't going to be there long so I'd hate to waste a 'full' day in the car worrying about roads. Again, just looking for a general idea. My husband and I drove for 17 days in August and didn't have a problem, but I have not been to Germany in the winter months.

As far as train vs. car ... a train is easier in Nuremberg and the Freiburg area and it seems, after doing some research, a car is easier in the Erzgebirge region.

Thank you logos! I don't mind driving in rain. I just wasn't sure if Germany had sleet, freezing rain in late November (especially in the mountains) as I have never been to Europe in the winter months.

There is about a 40/60% chance of snow in Munich during that time, however you can be sure the roads will be frozen a few days at least.

The sleet/freezing rain won't only be in the mountains, but in the plains too. The further south from Nürnberg you go, the more likely. But it could also be a moderate November this year...

Why not simply going by train to Leipzig or Dresden and rent the car there? It is a long trip in any case, but at least you don't need to think of poor visibility, wet roads etc. for most of it's length.

katzen,

don't worry about the weather. Like others said before, it could be rain, snow or maybe even sunny. But no extreme weather which might affect your itinerary. There is quite a good chance of snow in the Erzgebirge, though. Road conditions will be fine, though.

The itinerary seems a bit tight IMO. Maybe you are trying to cover too much ground. The distance between Freiburg and Dresden is LONG - you'll lose a full day for the driving. What about taking the night train? See www.citynightline.de ! And then rent a car for the drive from Dresden through the Erzgebirge.

I.

Thanks Ingo, I replied on my other thread before I read your post here. I do agree .. the trip is very long from Freiburg to Dresden .. but darn I really wanted to see a 'new for me' area of Germany. An overnight train is a possibility. Thanks again!