Travel to Germany/Switzerland in late November

Hi Lynne, We've only been to Switzerland once, in mid October. Bavaria, we've been to many times (9 trips in all) in either Sept. or Oct., but last year we went the last week of November (Thanksgiving week). We stayed in the Berchtesgaden area (we include this almost every trip) and loved it! Berchtesgaden is only 20 or so min. from Salzburg. The Christmas/Advent markets in Salzburg and other towns in Austria had started and it was simply wonderful. What a "magical" time to be in Europe! We've never experienced anything like the Christmas markets we visited in Salzburg (they have many different markets) and the surrounding area. We aslo went to markets in St. Gilgen, Innsbruck (again, they have a few in the old town), Hall in Tirol and Rattenberg. Can't wait to do it again! http://www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html http://www.salzburg.info/en/art_culture/advent_new_years_eve/advent_christmas_markets/salzburg_christkindlmarkt.htm http://www.austria.info/au/people-and-traditions/christmas-markets-in-innsbruck-1158728.html Our favorite places to stay are: Berchtesgaden area: http://www.mayringerlehen.de http://www.friedwiese.de/enska/isl.htm By Innsbruck: http://www.badl.at/en/home/ Paul

If you are going later in Nov. it may very well be snowy. It was last year. Nice and atmospheric for the Christmas Markets that start the 4 weeks before Christmas. Fog can often set in during November, and the days are shorter of course, but predicting the weather is never easy.

Keep a city-heavy itinerary and you should be fine. Late fall is usually gray and hazy, with periodic rain. And between late October and March or April, the ground never completely dries out. I would make cities and towns the focus of your trip at this time of year, and save the countryside for a time of year when you can actually see it. And the towns in the Lauterbrunnen pretty much shut down in November. I haven't been there in November, but I have in the other shoulder season, in April. Not worth the trip at those times, almost everything is closed and the fog and clouds hide the mountain views most of the time.

Thanks everyone! This was exactly the kind of input I was looking for. I have always wanted to do the Christmas markets and I loved the Berchtesgaden area when I was there once to tour the Eagle's Nest. So doing Christmas markets in the Salzburg area and other cities might be the best way to go this year!

Hi Lynne, While we were leary of travling in late Nov. last year, we wound up having a great time. Just be prepared for some cold weather.