Anyone has winter experience in these cities? I am planning a Dec trip. Will these two cities be too cold to walk around? BTW I live in New England.

Unlikely IME

Have been Berlin twice in January and temps were well above freezing

that said Berlin can get colder than most of Western Europe but weather i think for you will be more than tolerable.

avg hi 37 avg low 28 in Berlin for Dec

prague 36 and 30

No problem whatsoever, particularly given your New England background. I've been in both Prague and Berlin in the winter and found both to be just fine. Note that it could be rainy, which can be considerably less pleasant that snow in my experience, so plan accordingly.

I've visited both in the depth of winter when it was well below freezing and had no problem at all. I strongly recommend a full length coat and long underwear, especially if the forecast is for bitter cold. It's amazing how fast you get cold to the bone when you sit down on a cold stone bench with nothing but pants. A lot of people I travel with pay attention to hat, coat, and gloves, but forget the lower part of the body and wimp out.

Being from NE you will be familiar with cold temps, but I find touring to be quite different from normal day to day life at home. When at home, a lot of my exposure to the cold is in short bits - from house-to-car then car-to-shop or car-to-work, or when exercising like running or skiing when you warm up your body from the inside.

When touring you can spend long stretches at a time outside. As long as you are properly dressed even the most bitter cold is tolerable. The best part about winter travel is much smaller crowds.

Prague may be slightly colder than Berlin but it's unlikely that either will be as cold as New England. And you may se a little snow but probably not.

Northern/central europe in winter is a shock only to people who live someplace without real seasons.

I was in Berlin last Christmas and I didn't think it was that cold at all. Berlin is not a windy city like Chicago or New York, so that helps tremendously.

In Berlin, you can also warm up by walking around with a paper cup of gluewein.

Thin

Guys,

Thanks for sharing your experience!

I am actually hoping to see a bit of snow...just imagining those light snow-covered castles. Rain, on the other hand, is soooo dreadful. Cold and wet shouldn't mix together.

It's either cold or mild. That it's been mild in the recent years does not guarantee that it wont be cold this year. Global warming? or maybe not. Who knows. I do remember days below -20C by the end of december not too long ago. Would that be too cold?

Maybe we've been lucky, but for the last three years, DH and I have been in Prague in January and the weather has been lovely. Cold certainly, but bright and sunny and wonderful for sightseeing.

Prague has a Christmas market in the Old Town Square which you should enjoy. The cosy bars are just made for warming up any chills after the sightseeing.

I think some cities are perfect to visit in winter and I'd never dream of going there any other time. Prague is definitely one fo these. Go and enojoy!

-20 centrigrade would be a little below zero farenheit. Cold certainly - but you get nights that cold every winter in New England (and usually New York too).

ter2000
"I think some cities are perfect to visit in winter and I'd never dream of going there any other time. Prague is definitely one fo these." I was smiling when I read this. Great comfort!

nytraveler
Gosh, -20C is cold! I hope walking around can actually make me feel warmer. I think if I have a hat, a pair of gloves, and a scarf...I should be ok.

That's usually a night-time low - and people don't stand around outside in it - but it's perfectly comfortable going from place to place if you have proper clothing. I would be amazed if it were that cold in either Berlin or Prague during the day - or more than rarely at night.

Those are more regular temps for St Pet.

We've been to Prague twice between Christmas and New Year. Each time it was around or just above freezing in the day, a few degrees below at night. Last visit we even had a blanket of snow one evening but most of it had gone the following day. It's a lovely time to visit, as long as you wrap up warmly and have comfortable and warm footwear to protect against the slippy uneven cobble stones. Warm up with mulled wine or hot mead from the Christmas markets - even pavement cafes were open, complete with outdoor heaters.

Some pictures from our last trip:

http://www.worldisround.com/articles/322640/index.html

nytraveler,

Thank God, it is night-time low. Perhaps temperature is not the problem at all. But definitely a major disadvantage of traveling in winter is that the days are short.

Maria_H,

Those photos are beautiful! Thanks for sharing.

Short days don't need to be a disadvantage in a city like Prague. We loved the late afternoon sunsets and seeing the city floodlit at night, it took on a whole new and magical atmosphere.

I found Prague to be prettier at night, actually, especially at this time of the year when the streets and building are lit and decorated.

But what do you think about the safety at night? I found some threads mentioning safety concerns. Am I worrying too much? Or just exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour...then I should be fine.

Exercise common sense. I felt very safe walking and using Prague's public transportation during daylight and evening (which starts in the early afternoon as far as I'm concerned, but then I'm from Atlanta). Being from New England you'll find it less jarring, I think.

Absolutely no menacing male attention of any sort. Wenceslas Square is on the seamy side (but they're interested in men, not women), and pickpockets are par for the course, but otherwise I found it perfectly nice.

Well I wouldn;t wander alone down dark alleys in the middle of the night. But at any reasonable hour (until midnight at least) you will find people on the streets in the central areas - coming from dinner, a bar or a musical event.

Just use the ordinary care you would in any large city.

I will be in Prague in December as well. I think one advantage this time of year is that I believe the Christmas Markets in Old Town Square will be open until 9 or 10 pm. This should mean lots of activity into the evening. I think we will feel safe.