Things to do in Germany during winter

Hey all,

So I'm travelling to Germany on December 26th for nearly a month. It's not exactly the ideal tourist season weather wise, but as far as budget goes it's much more convenient...

While I will be with either my German boyfriend or other friends for most of the time, on occasion I will be alone and could use some suggestions of things to do and see out of the cold. I'll be in many different cities including Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Munich, Nuremberg, Berlin, Hannover, etc. So any particular museums, clubs, sites, events, whatever that I should be aware of in or near any of those places? Or another city that you would suggest?

Major thanks in advance,

Rosie

Your profile:


Try being less un-German while you're here - drink beer, eat pork and support America.

A place I like to go if it´s a really harsh winter (which I suspect it will be this year...) is the Botanical Garden - I love to look at all those different plants, and the warm damp air helps you to thaw out nicely!!
Of course, you can also go ice skating and sledging and stuff just for the fun of it!

Great, now I'm having vietnam-esque flashbacks to last year's 4th of July with the republican relatives... I never thought post-traumatic stress disorder was possible at eighteen years old.

We ensure we vist all 11 or is it 13 of the wine farmers in our village, We never remember coming home from the Sekt producer. I have never known winters go so quickly.
If you dont eat or drink then hibernation is probablty the best thing you could do.

The Alps are gorgeous in winter, so that would be an obvious destination. Neuschwanstein, for example.

True. Things look totally different in winter when compared to summer. So, its worth it to visit some places, in both the seasons. On the flip side, you have limited time and things to do in winter. For ex: At Neuschwanstein (and applies to some other places too), many walking trails/paths are closed in winter and also the castle gates are closed at 4, in the eve.

The lake at Königsee is beautiful in winter and out-of-season there is a nice inexpensive hotel there. I stayed there once and the room overlooked a waterfall which was amazing with the snow.

ski!!!

chootki, your profile doesn't specify where in America you are from, exactly. But if you are from the frozen North, rest assured that German winters are milder than winters in much of the US. So although the gardens won't be anything to look at in winter, you can still get out for walks around the cities.

Although I wouldn't encourage you to ditch your politeness policy, remember it might not be returned unconditionally in Germany. Plenty of info on that elsewhere in the forum.

I'm actually from Washington state, so that's definitely good news. I'm sure at least it can't rain as much in Germany as it does here! And about the politeness matter, I'm quite used to German, ahm, frankness; I mentioned being polite on my profile as it's a stark contrast to my boyfriend's snarky disposition . Which I find oddly adorable, so maybe there is a little German in all of us!

Thanks so much to you and everyone else for the comments! I'll be in Southern Bavaria so I'll definitely check out the Alps, and of course Neuschwanstein.

(And as I said in my newcomers post, I may be American but YES, I understand that Neuschwanstein was the inspiration for Disney and not the other way around )

It could be that on some days you will wonder if this statement is true...

Also, be sure not to ask the brits why on earth the Queen built Windsor Castle so close to the Heathrow approach pattern

Second HEM. It might not be quite as cold as you're used to, but you're visiting in the absolute gloomiest time of year. It gets dark really early, and there are more cloudy days than otherwise. (When the sun's out, it's cold.)

It might also be helpful to know that if you're in Munich, the city will seem pretty empty till after the January 6 holiday. Often people leave town before Christmas Eve and don't return till after Three Kings' Day.

Ohh good one... and while we're on the subject, isn't it convenient that Leonardo da Vinci created his masterpieces in the same city as the Eiffle Tower? How considerate.

I heard a similar story years ago about an American tourist asking the same question about Edinburgh Castle and Waverley station.
Wait, couldn't be one of those apocryphal stories, could it?

Back on topic-
Germany + Winter = Christmas Markets.
For a few weeks anyway.

All Christmas Markets close before Christmas, so arriving on 26th would be kinda ... inconvenient in that regard.

Not all mate.

some of the markets in Berlin are open until 31 Dec.

Berlin's Christmas Markets

Note to self- read the whole thread.

Yes, well, once more about the poor-season thing- BECAUSE it is the worst time of the year to visit Germany, you get the best airline deals. Meaning I found a steal of a ticket arriving in Frankfurt, which is suitable to my student budget. As I am mostly going to be with bf and friends, and not do as many tourist-y things, it works out pretty well. And actually cold weather is better for, ahm, certain activities.
@ Deccie: Very cool, I had assumed that all of the christmas markets were closed by the time I arrived! I'll see if I can't find a few that are open... don't suppose there are any New Years type markets by chance?
Thanks kiddos!

Tollwood in Munich will still be happening till after New Year's Eve, but they close the Christmas market on December 24.

If you're in Berlin, try looking for frozen dogshit on the footpaths, maybe do it like a quiz, with points for size, colour, artistic impression etc.

Or do an "outstaring competition" with some of the locals, always good for a giggle that one.

I'm always one to suggest the roman baths.
I've heard that ones like Friedrichsbad are overrated (although I quite enjoy it there), so maybe others can give you insight into good places to go.

Good idea. Muellerisches Volksbad in Munich (near Rosenheimer Platz/Isartor) is great, but you should do a search here on the forum and read up on the etiquette first.