Hello Again:

I have posted several times in the past 2 weeks gathering info on tentative plans for spending later half of December over Christmas in Bavaria, family vacation. I have checked average temps this time of year, highs being 35F. Yikes! We were looking at this time frame for several reasons: No conflicting family schedules, lower air fares, pretty pics of Christmas in Germany, etc. I know the Christmas Markets are very popular with tourists but... I'm getting cold feet and wonder if we would end up spending a majority of our time in the hotel room just trying to stay warm. Yes, being from Florida I am a bit shy of 35F highs for the day. If you have traveled to Bavaria in December please let me know how you honestly felt about your time there. Did you really get to enjoy walking around and exploring the towns and taking in the sights? or did you wish perhaps you had planned your visit for the spring or summer?
Really would like to read your thoughts,

Thanks,
Tiller

There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing! . The wrong (or insufficient) winter clothing can certainly ruin a vacation, but that's what research is about! Take a good wool coat, full length, leather gloves, good hat, scarf, warm socks, and waterproof boots and you can go forever!

That said, I prefer to do sighseeing in better weather, I love the sunshine. However, a week of beautiful snow capped mountain scenery and fresh air is definitely a wonderful way to spend time, more so been so different to what you are used to. Since you are unsure, I would not commit for two full weeks, but I definitely would give it a go for at least one.

I love Bavaria at any time of year, but I can honestly say it really is wonderful in December. With you being from Florida,I would think it would be a good place if you wanted a Christmasy atmosphere. Dress in layers,and if you get cold,stop at the markets for some warm gluhwein.

The cold weather is why the Germans make such great booze. Anti-freeze like that allows you to endure any weather. Try Moscow in February if you wanna see cold!

Hi Tiller,

I grew up in Saudi Arabia and attended high school in Florida, so I also have a fear of being cold. Yet I absolutely love snowy destinations and can attest that you CAN dress for them.

I spent a month in Mittenwald Dec 06-Jan 07 and had a blast! I went on two-hour long hikes several times a week and also spent time in Innsbruck just walking around. Yes, it's fun and easy to do!

I think the key is to dress in layers, as others here said, and the first layer should be long underwear like silk or Cuddl Duds. Then layer a medium-weight sweater, then a polar vest or a wool cardigan, and then finally a winter coat. Don't forget the hat, gloves, & scarf, which will help keep you warmer still. You can peel off layers as you warm up from the sun or your walking -- be sure to keep from sweating or you really will be cold.

Hope this helps. Definitely go for it!

s

I have spent a week in Dec. in Germany the last two years and am going again this year. As Viajero said, a winter coat (and other warm clothes) are a must. Two years ago it was snowy, beautiful and cold. Last year no snow and not as cold. Last year my clothing was overkill. But I stayed out most of the days and often after dinner each evening. I love it. The atmosphere is magical. Would you be there before Christmas, because the markets are over then.

I would definitely recommend Munich. The market is wonderful and the people are so friendly. There is music in the square and lots of good food and gluwine. There is also an outdoor skating rink that is fun and great fun to watch. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. CJ

Couple years ago I was in Cologne for a few days in December. I didn't find it any colder than NY. and had a great time. Walked everywhere and the christmas markets are wonderful.

I love Germany in December, but I must admit I love Germany any time of the year and I prefer traveling when it is cooler.

Viajero2 is right -- bring the proper clothing and don't be afraid of a little snow or rain. Don't skip the scarf. It works wonders. Be sure the boots are waterproof and warm. I also suggest silk long underwear, for everyone. They are the perfect base layer. They don't require your clothes to be a larger size. They don't take up much room in the suitcase, can be washed by hand each night and dried overnight. And, most importantly they'll keep you warm.

The Bavarians don't let the weather stop them from enjoying life. You'll see all ages out walking, cross country skiing, or eating ice cream at an outdoor cafe wrapped in a loden coat. If it's cold and sunny you may find them just sitting outside chatting and soaking up the sunshine.

The Alps are gorgeous that time of year. Some trails at lower elevations are open for walkers. The towns will be decorated for Christmas. Lots of lights and traditional decorations, very different from what you see in the US.

Visit the Christmas Markets and enjoy the glühwein, wurst, lebkuchen and other treats, including the special Christmas cookies. If you really can't stand the cold, there is no shortage of pubs/restaurants to warm up in with a beer by the fire. But be prepared, even with the warmth, you'll sometimes see a window cracked open to bring in the fresh air.

You'll also find the churches can be cold and damp. They're not the place to visit if you need to get warm. Dress appropriately if you plan to attend a Christmas service, which I highly suggest you do.

With the right clothes and the right attitude, you'll have a great time.

Happy travels.

If you are really lucky, then yo may be rewarded with snow which makes all the cold weather extra worth it. We've travelled through Bavaria in December 3 times and had a great time. Plenty of Gluhwein to warm you up. The cold weather actually packs a little excitement and energy as well.

A lot of Bavaria is mountainous - and in winter is cold and has a lot of snow - just as would Toronto or Montreal. And it's not much different than NYC or Boston.

And those temps aren't arctic - you can certainly enjoy your vacation if you just dress properly. That means a warm winter coat, hat, gloves, scarf, waterproof shoes or booties, a sturdy umbrella, a couple of warm sweaters and other shirts, turtelnecks etc for layering.

(Not sure why you're surprised at the temps there given how far north it is.)

Hey,

It's not so much that I'm really surprised that it could get that cold in Bavaria; rather I was hoping that the average high of 35F in December was wrong. Was hoping for 45F average high with the balance of frigid weather to come in January! With highs in the 30's I am picturing alot of dashing about to get back inside. I am making notes on the silk long underwear, weatherproof shoes.

Tiller

Last December a co-worker visited Germany over Christmas. He is originally from Connecticut but has been in central FL for about 8 years. He had no difficulty with the cold or weather, but he's young and was in Germany, for the very first time, and by himself. He celebrated Christmas Mass in Nürnberg, visited the Market and went skiing in Mittenwald (probably crossed paths with Swandav2000 and didn't know it).

The weather can be kind of dreary at that time of year but not necessarily so. Get your clothing lined-up and enjoy yourself. Once you visit, you'll only be convinced of the need to return when the weather's nicer, like the end of May. Don't know about your FL school district, but ours ends the year the last week of May, plenty of time to beat the crowds and heat.

Now, if you can just find a way to beat the exchange rate...WOW! Maybe purchase Euro now to hedge against further de-valuation.

MvK

Hi Tiller, I've been living in Stuttgart for the past two years so have "weathered" two winters in southern Germany. The first year we took a trip down the Romantic Road the week before Christmas and had a lovely time. Yes, it can be chilly but as everyone has said, as long as you are prepared, you shouldn't have any problems enjoying the sight-seeing. There are plenty of opportunities to warm up by visiting indoor attractions and of course stopping for Gluhwein! It is true that the coldest weather usually doesn't arrive until January-February. If you are lucky you will see some snow, and it is SO beautiful. The only downside about traveling in the winter is that the days are so short - it will get dark around 5 pm. Also you'll want to be sure you rent a car with snow tires if you are planning to drive. Have fun!

We lived in Germany for 6 years and enjoyed offseason - including winter - travel. The worst case might be rainy if you are not prepared for it. 40 degrees and wet is worse than 30 degrees and sunny in my opinion. A hooded jacket, an umbrella (can easily be bought there) and shoes that can repel water are important to me.

We enjoyed Germany in winter with lots of cafe stops and heated wine.

Regards, Gary

Tiller -

35 degrees isn't frigid. Zero is frigid - with windchills of minus 10 or more. We get those almost every year in New York. In Germany, Jan and Feb can easily be colder than that in the mountains.

I think your thermometer for temperate zones is off due to living in a semi-tropical zone.

We spent several days in Bavaria in mid-February 2005 and we really enjoyed our visit. Yes it was cold, but we just wore layers and stopped at a cafe for hot coffee, hot chocolate, or hot tea a couple times each day. I do recommend getting an umbrella with a wind-flap, as the winds were so strong that they blew out light travel umbrellas inside out (and snapped them). We found that it might snow for a couple hours, then stop for the rest of the day. The weather didn't prevent us from any of the activities we planned, and we were impressed at how clean of snow the roads were kept. I wish Denver, our hometown, was half as quick with snow removal!

Hello Tiller, I arrived in Germany last year on the 26th of December, it was snowing and I left on the 31st and it was sill snowing and very cold, still we went out to restaruants and also to places where you can buy those hot wines to keep you warm I forgot what they are called. The area was around Heilbronn and Stuttgart it was beautiful.

I was in Copenhagen and Stockholm right after Christmas a couple of years ago. They were having VERY cold weather and a LOT of snow. The snow wasn't that common. The highs during the day were between a "warm" 35 degrees F, to a "blistering" 20 degrees F. I was quite comfortable.

I had three silk underwear tops and one day I wore them all with a knit long sleeve top, a cardigan sweater and my long black meduim weight coat. The long coat helped keep my legs warm. I wore knit pants with tights underneath. I had insulated boots that I wore with light socks. I had lined Isotoner gloves and always wore a scarf. The scarf kept my neck and ears warm and kept the cold air out of my coat. Scarves are worn all over in the winter and are NOT JUST a fashion accessory. I hat would have helped but I just can't deal with "hat hair" so I passed on the hat evern though I had one with me. My brother wore a knit hat and it really helped keep him warm.

I found I was quite comfortable walking around. If you aren't dressed for it you can be miserable for sure.