Visiting Germany in Winter

Visiting Germany in winter might be the best idea you ever had. However, it’s important to know what to expect and where to go as not every German region is great for a winter vacation. That’s why we have put together this quick guide to help you have the most magical time on your trip to Germany’s winter wonderland.

What to Expect in Winter in Germany:

Although Germany can be cold in winter, the temperatures are nothing compared to our Scandinavian neighbors to the north. In Germany, you can expect temperature ranges from -5 degrees Celsius to +10 degrees Celsius. Some days can be fairly mild, while others can be quite cold. The weather also greatly depends on which part of the country you are in. Despite being in the northern hemisphere, the temperatures actually get warmer as you move further to the north. This is because southern Germany is home to larger mountains and higher altitudes, while the north decreases in elevation as you get closer to the sea. Snow is obviously more likely and/or guaranteed in higher altitudes, which can luckily also be found in eastern, central and western Germany. We’ll talk about these regions in our ‘where to go’ section below.

No matter where you go, make sure to bring proper winter clothes like winter boots and a winter jacket, gloves, a hat and a scarf (you also want to fit in, right? ;)).

There is not a lot of sun in winter in Germany, which doesn’t matter too much as it is dark most of the time. You can expect daylight to last from around 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. But we make up for the lack of daylight as the country with the most beautiful Christmas markets in the world! Almost all German cities and towns will be filled with the cutest Christmas stalls and decorations you’ve ever seen! So in terms of Christmas markets, it truly doesn’t matter where you go in Germany. They will be everywhere and they will be beautiful.

Now that you know what the weather is like, let’s move on to our recommendations on where to go in Germany in the winter.

Where to Go in Winter in Germany:

As mentioned earlier, if you’re only visiting to see the Christmas markets, it truly doesn’t matter where you go, as they will be beautiful everywhere. If you want to make sure you experience Germany’s winter wonderland with a high likelihood of snow, you will have to visit one or more of the following regions. The German Alps is the number one place to guarantee magical, snowy mountainous landscapes. However, there are also plenty of highlands in Germany that frequently transform into a winter wonderland throughout the winter. We actually prefer staying in the highlands more than in the Alps, as these regions are much less crowded and less touristy, making it easier to explore the most traditional German towns. These regions include:

• The Eifel in western Germany
• The Hunsrück in western Germany
• The Westerwald in western Germany
• The Rothaargebirge in west-central Germany
• The Taunus in western Germany
• The Pfälzer Wald in western Germany
• The Black Forest in southwestern Germany
• The Schwäbische Alb in southwestern Germany
• The Odenwald in west-central Germany
• The Teutoburger Wald in central Germany
• The Harz in central Germany
• The Thüringer Wald in central Germany
• The Erzgebirge in eastern Germany
• The Fichtelgebirge in eastern Germany
• The Bayrischer Wald in southeastern Germany
• The Fränkische Alp in south-central Germany

This list might be little overwhelming, but these are the regions in Germany (apart from the Alps) where you will likely see some snow on your trip to Germany.