Germany in december

Suzann, I would wear my lined goretex jacket, take a warm sweater (cashmere turtleneck), definitely a fleece pullover to layer over the sweater or my LL Bean long sleeved teeshirts, maybe silk long johns (might not need), a warm scarf and gloves and warm socks and a hat. It may not be very cold yet but if it's damp and miserable you'd want to bundle up. Maybe you'll get lucky and have nice weather but it'll get dark and colder real early in the day.

During Christmas week many places will be closed. But if your trip is in the earlier part of December that would be different. At least majour museums will have normal opening hours. I don't know what other sights you're thinking of - Germany is fairly large. I know most of the castles along the Rhine will have limited opening hours during the winter, often only open on weekends. If you know WHICH sites you'd like to visit you can check ahead of time what their opening hours will be.

Forgot about the clothing. Even if the temperature hovers above 0 C it will feel really cold as it can be very humid. In many parts of Germany you may not see the sun behind the clouds for several weeks in a row during December. My husband is used to cold Calgary winters but he has never ever felt as cold as when we spent one December in Germany, mostly north of Frankfurt. It only "warmed" up for him when we went into the Alps, where the thermometer showed much lower temps but the sky was blue and everywhere was snow in sight.

I wear my winter jacket and yes, if I intend to spend most of the day outside visiting Christmas markets and such then I add long underwear as well.

If it's cold when you go, make sure to try the Gluehwein. I was jealous reading your post, because the holiday season is my favorite to be in Germany.

Most major cities will have a Christmas market, and it's good for people watching and eating cheaply. If you're over in the Frankfurt/Heidelberg area, check into the Christmas Market at Bad Wimpfen. Went there once, and enjoyed it a lot more than some of the markets in bigger cities.

You might also have a market in mind, or be able to find some good info on this board. And of course, there's the big one in Nuremberg if you're planning on Bavaria.

Hey neighbor - I can't make any recommendations for where to go, but I just wanted to address your "what to pack" question. We were in Amsterdam, Bruges & Paris, arriving the day after Christmas this last year. It was beautiful, but very cold - to me anyway. I brought clothes to layer and was fairly successful in keeping my upper body warm. I wore tights under my pants (usually jeans) and warm socks with my Uggs, but my legs and feet were usually cold. I also brought fleece lined leather gloves. My fingers froze. I ended up buying gloves in Paris with thinsulate lining. That really helped my hands. I have since seen glove and sock liners on the Winter Silks website, which I think would really help, along with silk thermal shirts and pants. Don't forget a warm scarf and either a hood on your jacket or a hat that covers your ears.

We spent the first week of Advent in Germany last year and are returning for a rerun this year. The rain combined with the cold was the biggest issue to us. It is hard to be warm if you are wet. Someone already mentioned Goretex and fleece; something similar is what kept us comfortable. We lived in Germany for 6 years and I always thought that Goretex was made for German winters. Now there are cheaper alternatives that work as well.

We stuck to cities for the Christmas Markets and found that normal tourist sights were open in these towns as well.

Regards, Gary

"Frankfurt sits at 50 degrees north, which means short winter days. For example, on Dec. 15, 2009, the sun rises at 08:18 and sets at 16:23. That's only 8 hours of daylight. Not to mention the low sun angle." Which also means that you can't expect to spend nearly as much time exploring the countryside... especially in Germany, where nightime illumination is much more sparse than in the US. This should not hinder your sight-seeing in urban areas, however.

Another factor to consider with low angle of sunlight and short days. In these conditions, recovering from jetlag takes much longer. Try not to front-load your trip with too much activity.

To add to what Tom said. It's more likely to be overcast so sun up at 8:30 doesn't really mean you turn your lights off until 9 or 9:30. Your lights are likely to go back on at 16:00 (4pm).

For clothes. It can get really cold. I'm still a big believer in layers. For December in Germany, I would add a layer of silk long underwear to my normal pack list. I'd also bring a knit cap (ski cap for me, my wife prefers a ski-style head band to keep her ears warm but not mess up her hair) and knit gloves (the tiny, stretchy one-size fits all are what my wife brings; mine are just wool). For intermediate layers, a 200-300 weight fleece and/or a 100% washable wool sweater are perfect (I picked up a great washable wool sweater at LL Bean). I still take only an unlined Goretex and layer underneath for warmth.

I was in Germany the first two weeks of Dec., 2008. In preparation, I checked online each day in the week or two preceding my trip, so that i could get an idea of what the weather might be like. You can look @ the Weather Channel - there is an international section; or check Wetter 123.de if you understand at least a little German. Cloudy days seemed to be the norm, and light snow was often predicted in many areas. In the two weeks I was there, we did not have any snow, except in the hilly areas. There were no sunny days in the entire trip, but the only rain we had was during the last 4 hours of the entire vacation! Average temps were about 30 degrees, though in the south/Alps it was colder. I packed a couple knit turtleneck shirts that i could layer with a fleece vest, one pullover sweater, and a pair of dark sneakers for days when the weather was OK. I also took a pair of lightweight hiking boots (water resistant, & with a decent tread}, in case i had to walk in slush or snow. I brought jeans, a pair of cords, and a pair of knit pants that were comfy in the plane and warm on a cooler days. BIG TIP: wear pantyhose under your pants on cold days - it's a simple trick to keep warm, and it works! I brought gloves, a scarf, and a hat as well, and that's about it, except for an extra pair or two of socks in case of wet feet. Germany at this time of year is just a magical place - you will love it ..... the holiday time is not nearly as commercialized as here, not quite as frantic. The decorations are beautiful, and often a bit simpler. Most places are open, just some with less hrs. There are Christmas markets in the centers of nearly every town - festive, very traditional, and always have hot food - wursts, crepes, etc. If it is damp and cold outside and you get chilled, just buy yourself a steaming hot cup of Gluhwein - it will take away the chill, believe me ! As for Bad Wimpfen: ssshhhh !!! we want to keep this wonderful place to ourselves...

We were in Germany & Switzerland last December (14-26) and most markets were open until Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was a very nice time, kind of felt like a leap back to the 1950s.

It was coldish but during our time there wasn't any windy days so that helped. It snowed during our night in Fussen which certainly made the castle look more "magical". Definitely take gloves, hat, winter jacket and waterproof shoes.

Agreed, if there is a light dusting of snow, it does make it seem more magical.

My impression of Germany was that December was OK temperature-wise, although cloudy often. February was the dreariest month to me. But then again, isn't that the case with February a lot of places?

Use the limited daylight hours to take in an early dinner, and then hit the streets of whatever town or city you're in to walk it off. Just keep in mind if you want to pop into a store, a lot of them will be closed by 8pm. (Unless that's changed) Or, just head back to the Christmas market at night when it's all lit up. The little booths with all the lights on them, that's a holiday experience.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I appreciate all of your clothing suggestions and feel as if I will be better prepared. I can not wait to go and experience all the festivities (and try the Gluhwein).

Just to correct a misconception. Most Christmas Markets will NOT be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas day as they usually close a day or two beforehand so that all the vendors will have their stands closed down and they can be back with their families in time for Christmas. Only a very few large cities will have their markets open after the 22nd or 23rd. Best to check beforehand.

December can be cold and wet and dreary and then it may have some days of sunshine.

I was in Germany on business during the first week of December 2007. I was driving with some extra time on my hands. Driving through small towns with all markets / decorations was something I'll never forget. I plan to return again with wife and plenty of time to experience the German Christmas markets. Being from the midwest the cold never bothered me, incidentally there are plenty of stores to shop if your clothing is not sufficient.

I went this past Christmas on a special guided 'Christkindlmarkt Tour' of Germany and Austria. It was my second time going, as I absolutely LOVED it. It is truly the most magical time of the year, especially in towns like Rothenburg, Bamberg, Nuernberg, and Salzburg. Towns and even small villages go all out with decorating for the holidays. Yes, it's cold and gray and sometimes rainy but it's never bothered me. There's so much to experience at the Christmas markets. You will thoroughly enjoy your time there.