places to visit in the fall/winter

I second the German Christmas festivals. Also think about Oktoberfest (in September in Munich)... I just posted a request for info as I've been to Munich before but never during Oktoberfest, and am planning to attend in 2010. Fall & Winter are, IMHO, the best time to travel to Europe :-) Everything is less crowded and you don't have to worry about old hotels without AC.

Jeremy, what are the best places to see in North America in fall or winter? Like in Europe, it depends on what you want? Warm water, beaches and sun? Then go to the South? Snow, skiing, mountains? Rather the North... The more precise you can pose your question the better quality an answer you can get on here...

October is great in Germany because it's wine season. A lot of small towns in the wine regions have wine festivals going on.

Loved Paris in the winter - weather was great for walking and there were very few tourists. Spent a long weekend in Amsterdam on February - also nice. I prefer to travel off season and find the cooler weather much nicer for wandering a city.

If you don't mind the cold weather and probable rain, Europe in the winter has definite advantages. Since there are less tourists, museums and other attractions tend to be less crowded. Also, you will usually find hotels a little cheaper, with few problems getting a booking. Additionally, there will be significantly more entertainment available, such as opera, symphony, theater, etc., than there is during the summer.

The only exception is right around Christmas and New Years. These holidays can be pretty busy and hotels fully booked in major cities.

I would say Switzerland and the Bernese Oberland during October when the colors of the trees stand out against the green of the pines. I was just there w/ my husband and had a great hiking trip. Check out www.myswitzerland.com for some ideas. During the winter you can't go wrong with Germany and Nuremburg/Nurnberg for the Christmas Markt.