Long-range planning here, but my wife, my sister, her husband and I are planning a trip to Germany in either the Spring or Fall of 2014 when they are retiring. We will want to visit Bavaria/Salzburg/Alps as well as some other "big-time" places (Dresden, Berlin, maybe Mosel) since this will be the first time in Germany for my brother-in-law. We have close friends in northern Germany where we will probably end our trip. The other places we will visit won't be determined until we see how long we want to stay. My question is "Which shoulder season is it better to visit Germany?" We travelled once in September and enjoyed it, but will the weather in Spring (probably mid-April ot early May) be as nice? Never having traveled in Germnay in the Spring, I'll defer to the experts. Thanks.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
Our preference is for Sept/Oct as the weather is generally dryer and little warmer. As you come out of Spring it tends to be rainier with more cool weather as the country side is warming up. But you do have the Spring flowers which are nice.
Posted by
NYC area
2980 posts
Hi, For Bavaria, Austria and the Alps in particular, I'd go in the fall. After 7 total trips in the fall (late Sept. and Oct.) and only one in late April/early May, I'd go with the fall every time. We've experienced very little rain during all our fall trips. I think we had more days of rain during our one spring trip. Also, most cable cars don't run in late Apr. and May, but most due run into Sept. and a few into mid to late Oct. Paul
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Late September and early October is statistically the driest times of the year in most of Germany, but take that with a grain of salt, because most of NW Europe has no real dry season. However, both of the times you have proposed are quite usually quite pleasant. One minor difference I can think of... the peaks of the Bavarian Alps are still snow capped in May. In early fall, all the snow is usually gone, or it has just begun to accumulate again.
Posted by
Stuttgart, Germany
3050 posts
I think September would be the best if you have the option. Spring can be quite cool and rainy. (So can June...and July...and even September! But statistically you're best off in early fall.)
Posted by
Sacramento, CA
45 posts
One highlight of our October trip to Germany were the beautiful hillsides of grapevines in the Rhine region. It was like mountains of gold. We had wonderful cool weather and no rain.