Packing advice for our Christmas Market trip

You are packing heavier than we do under similar situations. With the long underwear, we find that our exterior clothing does not get as "dirty" as it would in the summer time when we are sweating more. Second, my wife has ditched her long, heavy, coat as not needed. With the long underwear, lined pants, etc., the lower half never gets cold. The long, bulky coat was a pain to deal with when not wearing it or inside. She now uses a waist length, light weight jacket over either a heavy or medium weight fleece vest as needed. More flexible. Of course, a good stocking cap, scarf, and gloves are critical. We have reduced the number of outfit changes to three from four or five for summer travel. We don't have as many changes in the winter. One pair of a good, water-proof, shoe with good wool socks. Just assume you will be walking in snow everyday. Tennis shoes are out.

IMHO you’ve forgotten lightweight turtlenecks.

When I travel in the UK in Fall and December I’m grateful for my SmartWool ones. Also wear SmartWool socks.

I also love the puffer vest I got on Amazon. 2 interior pockets are perfect to carry iPhone, travel wallet and eye glass case. There are 2 exterior pockets for keys and Kleenex packets.

Forgot to mention the puffer vest rolls up and fits into it’s own bag.

I'm no fashion plate when I travel, but these are the "fashion notes" I took in 2022 at Frankfurt area Christmas Markets, where I noticed the gals wearing "leggings with warm boots, knit headbands to keep your ears warm, hair in a ponytail."

Saw it everywhere!

These are my notes about my own clothes: "I'm very glad I brought my good ski gloves: the cheap gloves are no match. Thank heavens for leggings and millions of layers. I could use my warmer ski hat. The cute color coordinated one is just barely sufficient." (ya' think? LOL) I also noted that I should bring my warmest scarf on future trips.

The temps that trip were in the low 30's to low 40's. My notes say that "the tiny bit of precipitation is cold raindrops instead of light snow, which might be preferable." It became a thick slush near the curbs. And I was very glad to have 2 pairs of boots so that one pair could dry out (inside or out) while I wore the other pair.

Please keep in mind that these comments are from a now-California girl who grew up in Ohio and Colorado but is no longer used to the cold. You can bet I'm bringing the warm ski gear this trip!

From Idaho, I'm sure you'll be much better prepared, Jean!

Vienna weather isn't any different than where I live, so ..... I do spend half the day outside, its a pedestrian city so you sort of have to. Tge cold here just isn't that bad. If the temperature drops below 45F which between 9am and 10pm which isnt often before mid January, I wear light long-john's, tops and bottoms and a medium weight sweater or even just a shirt. My coat is a midweight down jacket. I have something heavier, but never need it. The key to me staying warm is a scarf and cap.

My feet always get cold indoors in the winter, and I don’t like wearing dirty boots or shoes indoors. So maybe a warm pair of slipper socks? Or lightweight foldup slippers? I never travel without something warm for my feet indoors.

Also, those chemical hot packs for inside mittens and under socks can make a huge difference on a cold wet day. Speaking of, I much prefer mittens to gloves, my hands stay much warmer.

You know the Europeans will all be wearing scarves around their necks under their coats…and I find they do make a difference. You can get one here if you decide you need it.

Have a great trip!

Jean when I used to live in and visit Budapest (and the rest of Mitteleuropa), I found silk long sock liners essential to keeping my feet (not warm but at least tolerable). And I am not a person who normally minds the cold.

So that is my recommendation - silk sock liners !

We have found the knit hats bought in Europe are warmer than what you find in the US. It will make a good souvenir for yourself too! You also definitely need a scarf.
Foot warmers have been our best cold weather find. You peel off a strip and stick them to the bottom of your socks, put on your waterproofed shoes or boots and you don’t have cold feet all day! Look for them in a sports shop that sells ski stuff or look online. We don’t bother with the hand warmers anymore but always take the foot warmers.

I've been tracking the temps for my trip. The forecast doesn't go out far enough for my dates in Vienna, but perhaps for yours:
https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Innere+Stadt+Vienna+1010+Austria?canonicalCityId=b515bedae6e6b9027834ce93fdff4138

Vienna daytime highs for the 10-14 day view are mid and high 30's, perhaps touching 40F.

I am leaving in a few weeks for Germany and I was wondering if anyone has any esperience wearing flannel lined blue jeans. I was planning on packing because they are warm,

What do you wear for a day outside at home? That’s what you’ll want. Personally, I would find an alternate to the tennis shoes. They will not be warm enough and IF they get wet, you will be miserable. A sturdy shoe, comfortable for walking with good, warm socks might be preferable.
Definitely need a warm scarf that can be placed over your head in addition to your hat. Vienna can have some severely cold winds off the surrounding plains. Love the hand warmer addition-they can be life savers. A girlfriend found she liked the warmers that are placed on the small of your back. We had a rather bitter cold Christmas in London and she appreciated them.
Did I see the word “suitcase”? No Cotopaxi this trip? There must be some serious shopping planned! Have a wonderful, wonderful trip.
We just returned from Bologna with a weekend in Venice where they were beginning to hang the different sestiere lights over the canals. Now I want to go there for a Christmas!

When we went in 2011 temperatures were right around freezing. I’ve taken the Panorama Sound of Music tour 3 times and enjoyed it. Note that tour buses can’t go many pkaces in Salzburg’s old town so many of the movie sites you will need to see on foot. Rewatching the movie before you go helps to identify them.

Also consider doing the Salt Mine tour to Hallein. Check to see if there is still a combo ticket that includes train, bus, and entry

SJS just made me look. You are from Idaho. It might be warmer in Vienna. https://weatherspark.com/compare/y/81358~2142/Comparison-of-the-Average-Weather-in-Vienna-and-Boise

I live in Vienna. I think this might be too many layers. It’s cold here but it’s not the arctic. I went to three markets on Sunday and wore jeans, running shoes a sweatshirt and a jacket. No gloves, no hat. I was fine. But that’s just me.

Wow, thank you for all of the replies so quickly! I really appreciate each one!

I’ve been watching temperatures, and the farthest for the 10-day one for Vienna is 29-35, coming off of three days of rain. And Salzburg is 17-34 with a few previous days of snow. My daughter has an autoimmune disorder that affects her feeling cold, so I want to ensure she’s toasty in the evenings. We both won’t want to call it a night very early, enjoying the atmosphere of it all.

I’m comparing this to our community Christmas Lighting event in Coeur d’Alene the day after Thanksgiving where there’s a big parade down main street after dinner with Christmas carol singing on the grounds of the resort and the tree lighting. It’s definitely warm sweater, longer winter coat, scarf, gloves and hat for that event.

Yes, the Cotopaxi is staying home during this trip because I want to bring a backpack as my personal item - for shopping treasures! The Cotopaxi will be traveling again to Spain in three months.

Do what you think is best for your situation, but also be aware that the daily low is just prior to sunrise and is gone rather quickly.

I think those hand & feet warmers would be great for my daughter. I’ll tell her to bring some.

I just did a test run with my dog, walking her for 30 minutes. It’s 46 degrees now with a slight breeze. I wore my warm longer coat with a lightweight blouse underneath and leggings. No hat or gloves and wool socks w/ tennis shoes. Everything felt fine walking and just a little cooler when my dog stopped to check out smells along the walk. So maybe I consider a pair of leggings instead of the second pair of pants, depending on the forecast in twelve days.

Jean,
You sound ready to go!
On our 2019 Xmas markets trip, I did bring leggings, as it was much easier to slip the rain pants over leggings, (instead of jeans.) Rain pants not only keep you dry, but supply a lot of warmth when the weather is dry.
We brought a package of hand warmers , and we used them inside our gloves. I printed out info to prove to TSA that hand warmers were legal in carryons.
This may have been mentioned, but wool and /or cashmere for scarfs, gloves, and socks. Also, silk or wool base layers, if you can wear wool against your skin.
I agree that regular tennis shoes may get wet. I usually use a waterproof spray. Currently, I'm favoring athletic shoes with a slight platform, (such as Sorel), which raise me above the cold ground . Sierra Trading has a great price on some Sorrels right now.
I'm excited for you, and look forward to your trip updates. Pls keep us posted as you travel.
Have a magical time!

We’re leaving soon for our market trip, including Vienna. I’m bringing two hats and scarfs, since that’s all you see in pictures besides your coat. Scarves are critical. I’m only bringing two thermal tops, since they handwash & dry overnight. I’m bringing T shirts, since I run warm and the shops are kept very warm. I layer a light sweater (32Degrees) over, then my coat.

I’m bringing two pairs of waterproof hiking shoes (one low, one boot) with good tread. You are almost guaranteed to experience wet cobblestones, which are slippery.

A few other things that were super helpful on our last market trip:

1. a wallet with coins purse to wear on a lanyard around my neck. Made it super easy to pull out some coins for a wc, or a credit card.

2. a wrist strap for my phone. Made it easier to just loop my phone on my wrist when putting on/taking off gloves. You’ll take about a million pictures, so your phone is out constantly.

3. A portable phone charger. Using maps, taking pictures and cold weather all drains your battery. I have this one: https://a.co/d/7MWkTcS

   1. bring a packable tote bag. On the flight home, carry on your souvenirs, pack your dirty clothes in the tote and check the tote.

What a helpful thread! We're leaving for a Christmas Market cruise in about 2 weeks & was just working on my packing tonight. Thanks for all the great ideas!

We did a January Rhine river cruise Amsterdam-Basel followed by several days in Lucerne. Were very comfy wearing stretch jeans over mid-weight merino leggings, and a merino top under a Columbia fleece vest under a North Face puffer jacket under a (1-size-up) North Face rain shell (puffers don't like a soaking). Never took off any of thr layers though..:when it's cloudy and windy it feels much colder than the stated temp. And standing or slow walking feels colder than going at a brisk pace. Also wore a sock hat with the rainshell hood over it and a gaiter around the neck pulled up over the mouth, and a pair of wool fingerless gloves (I'm a serious photog). Gore-tex Mephisto hiking boots with Thorlo walking socks and polypro liners. Originally from Michigan so no stranger to winter 😉

Are the soles of your boots good for slippery surfaces? Two years ago I packed a pair of ice grippers from Costco. They stretch on over the soles and helped keep me upright on slippery cobblestones! I took along a Ziplock bag to slip them into when going indoors. Your daughter might like a pair of fleece lined pants; when packing I rolled mine tightly (lengthwise) and secured them with hair ties. Rain pants over leggings or other pants help cut the cold and wind, too. A good pair of phone-sensitive gloves and a hat are musts.

Perhaps an umbrella if it rains? On the Accuweather website for Vienna, the nights are very cold, but the day time temps 7 degrees C and sunny. I love the Uniqlo puffer vests for winter and wear them under a coat (usually Uniqlo as well) they are so light (they do a thermal tech range as well) and pack down into a small bag. But, if you feel the cold, a warmer coat will be needed for night and Salzburg. The vests are good when entering shops or restaurants where wearing a coat is too hot, but a shirt not warm enough. I stuff everything to my puffy vest (money, credit card in Stashbanz) and find I don’t need to bother with a crossbody bag. You will definitely needed a scarf (not silk). The tennis shoes are fine, if not raining and you can wear warm socks with them. Have a great trip with your daughter

And standing or slow walking feels colder than going at a brisk pace

And being put for hours at a time instead of just for a quick walk also makes quite a difference.

Definitely make sure the boots are not slippery. I would skip the tennis shoes and just have the one pair. I took a down coat that was mid thigh and that worked well for our trip. Super lightweight and not too bulky. I did not take any bubble wrap, but rather just put breakables into thin plastic bags and then wrapped in clothes.

The SOM tour that we did was so good! That trip was myself, our daughter and our son's fiancé. We had the best time! There is a great little cooking school in Salzburg called Edelweiss and we made strudel and cookies. We did this after the SOM tour, and it was a perfect day for us.

I have a drawer full of knit scarves, but I prefer a neck gaiter.

Have a great time! I have been following a FB page for a few years now trying to decide what markets I want to visit. There are so many!

Mnannie, there’s so many markets to choose, even the priority within a city’s choices of markets. In the end, I chose cities based on some of my favorites- Salzburg & Vienna, and one market I really wanted to see - Strasbourg, and then just chose cities to be a direct train between what’s close to a 2-hour or less ride. That filled in Munich & Stuttgart. Then flying home from Paris made sense.

If my daughter wasn’t with me (her first time in all three countries), I would have probably branched into some smaller cities. We’re so excited that it’s coming up soon! She’s a great traveler & a lot of fun!

As for all the rain gear. Tgey sell umbrellas if it rain and winter is the dry season.

Jean, when you did your test run with your dog, it appears that it was during daylight hours. I know that for me, the temperature can be the same during the night as the day but without the sun, it will feel much cooler so you might take that into consideration. Of course, I live in Tucson and consider it to be cold at 60 degrees, lol.

I am hoping to go on a Christmas Market tour next year, so will bookmark this topic. I hope you and your daughter have a wonderful trip!

Reading the replies, there’s variations in what people consider “cold”! : ). I grew up in Iowa with lots of blizzards, windchill and rarely a snow day called to close school. And in those “olden days” girls had to wear dresses, plus we walked home for lunch. I started out tough - LOL! Then after college, my husband & I basked in warm Oregon and later near Seattle. Now in northern Idaho, it’s back to Iowa conditions without the intensity of those Iowa winds. But, I’m older, so I like to be warmer now.

So I guess I’m somewhere each day between lightweight leggings & no coat up to warm pants, long coat, waterproof boots, gloves, etc.! Definitely not bringing a dress! ; )

never packed for a European trip during Winter

Part of the problem is that there is no "European" weather. I picked up that you were going to Vienna and Salzburg but otherwise no idea. If you are going to Estonia too, then you might get cold. If you were coming here, you might be a little over packed ... depending on your comfort zone.

In December I go out every day, walking and riding trams for hours in Jeans, a medium weight sweater and a lightweight synthetic down jacket .. plus, scarf and cap for the bald head. Looking around I am sort of the average dressed. The heaviest dressed are always the tourists. Occasionally we have a hard cold snap and the long johns go on and I have a heavier coat if I am going to be out for long. But that is the extent of it and I grew up in South Texas. Oh, still plenty of women in dresses here in the winter. The nice thing about a down jacket is you can stick it in one of those compression bags and it takes up about as much room in the luggage as a pair of pants.

Rain gear? This is the dry season and most cities have sidewalks, so an umbrella is enough for me and with the sidewalks I don’t have to worry about waterproof shoes. Your hotel room probably does have a hair dryer if they do get damp. I didn’t wear rain gear in Texas, not sure why I would on holiday. If it rains its cafe time. But I do carry a couple of disposable rain ponchos with me when I travel. They weigh two ounce and fit in my back pocket. In the 10 years that i have carried tgem, never used them.

I did my first trial packing this morning for the trip, and my 2-wheel carry on suitcase is at 14.6 pounds. My personal item is the 14 oz. LL Bean 20L Stowaway Pack which is empty except for my 5 oz. old LeSportsac crossbody small purse I will wear under my coat in Europe. The weight is always a big factor for me because I don’t want to injure a shoulder, etc.

My daughter ordered the hand & feet warmers last night. Thank you!

Space for Christmas souvenirs:
The replacement space of the bubblewrap currently in my suitcase. It’s 6” diameter x 12”. The empty backpack contents, other than the little purse. A cute scarf could be a fun souvenir from Austria, and I’d like a couple of market mugs, plus three Austrian, German & French Santas for my small collection. I selected a small wood block painting of San Nicola from an artist in Bari, Italy in May, and it makes me happy to see it with the other Santas I set out last week.

I hate mentioning this because I don’t want to throw stuff away in Europe. But just to be transparent, I decided to select my older tennis shoes in case my daughter has something very special and runs out of room in her bag. This will probably be a once-time trip Christmas trip for us.

Jean, did you see the other thread that Costco has the Merino wool shirts in? I have not been to ours so don't know if they are in stock here or not but can go by if you want me to since I live closer, lol!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/merino-wool-shirts-at-costco

Pam

Pam, thanks for sharing for others who are reading this, too. Unfortunately, I am sensitive to wool - especially on my torso, so I couldn’t wear a wool shirt. I am okay with some wool socks while others are too itchy.

Can you pick up my Thanksgiving items at Costco, Pam? LOL! Just joking. My family likes my homemade pumpkin pie (extra spices) and rolls (secret ingredient I substituted in Dan’s grandmother’s recipe - Half & Half makes them rich & creamy tasting).

"Can you pick up my Thanksgiving items at Costco,"

Har-de-har-har......!!!! We make brother Roger do the Costco run but he goes in with the list and doesn't look left or right to see if there is anything new.

I didn't remember you were sensitive to wool as well.

Jean, I can't wear wool shirts either. What I can do though is wear a wool shirt over a thin undershirt like Cuddle Duds or Uniqlo. Maybe that could work for you?

I can’t use a wool blanket over sheets. I’m happy just layering with the 32 Degree type to not feel uncomfortable while traveling. In fact, I bring one during warmer trips & can use one with a scarf as a dinner blouse.

So that is my recommendation - silk sock liners !

This turned out to be a great recommendation for my Mom. She commented today that her feet are always cold. I thought of your silk sock liners and suggested she try a thin sock layered under her regular socks. It has made a huge difference. So thank you, Kim!!

Hi everyone, just giving an update after a week here at the Christmas Markets. We were very glad for the warm layers, hats, & gloves in Vienna & at night in Salzburg. By the time we arrived at Munich, the weather forecast was warmer, and we didn’t need hats or more than a 32 Degree layer as a top under my coat. Yesterday at Stuttgart it was warmer. Afternoon was just a couple of layers for a top & skipped the coat for an hour.

I’ll definitely bring the 32 Degree layers again. I’ve been wearing one as my shirt everyday, and they dry after sink-washing in a couple of hours max. plus take less room than shirts or sweaters.

We brought toe warmers & hand warmers. My daughter was very glad for the hand warmers our first four days before the weather warmed. We never used the toe warmers.

The remainder of our trip looks like warmer days and almost completely dry.

And save lots of room in your bag for those cute Christmas Market mugs! : ).