What’s your first thought when someone says winter? The snowy slopes and crisp white snow? Or is it the warm and cozy indoors with mulled wine and Christmas music? Why choose when you can have both! From November to the end of December, every city, town, hamlet is blinged out with Christmas lights, a life-sized creche scene, and little wooden stalls ready to sell you everything from a hot mulled wine to locally made handicrafts. The Christmas market might not be a thing here in Asia, but in Germany, it is a crime to celebrate Christmas without visiting a Christmas market with your friends and family.
Additionally, with Germany as your winter destination, you can have the best of both worlds! The best part is, it wouldn’t break your bank! Yes, you heard that right! We said cheaper because it is much cheaper and affordable to visit the tourist attractions when you consider Germany’s famous neighbours Austria and Switzerland.
It is definitely a good idea to know some important facts before you rush to book the tickets. First, it’s essential to learn the weather, temperature, and appropriate attire to wear during winter. Let’s begin with some crucial FAQs!
1) How cold is Germany during winter?
So winter lasts longer than actually people from the warmer parts of the world assume. It begins in early December and ends in March. The temperature from December to March usually goes down to -3°C and up to 4 °C. Sometimes you get to see heavy snowfall, and sometimes it’s just sleet, but you should be prepared with layers to bundle up.
2) What are the fun festivals/activities to enjoy throughout winter?
All across the country, Germans beat the winter chill with a series of unique festivals and fun activities. While Christmas markets in Germany are the star of the season, there is a world of fun and entertainment beyond Christmas markets waiting for you; from chocolate tasting to merry carnivals, spectacular fireworks to religious festivals. A list of the events you may bump into during your winter travels are as follows:
- ChocolART (Tübingen)
- Winter sports and skiing
- Nikolaustag
- Christmas markets
- New Year’s Eve/Berlin New Year’s party
- Karneval or Fasching
- Martinstag
3) What should you pack if you wish to travel to Germany during this cold season?
Just because it’s winter, it doesn’t mean you can’t be fashionable and stay warm at the same time. If you dress in layers, you can enjoy winter travel in cold and snowy places. Be it in the great outdoors, visiting museums, shopping, taking in nightlife in various cities, trying the local cuisine, or enjoying a drive down winding roads with picturesque scenery of farms, fields, and forests. So what are the articles of clothing you’ll need?
- Sunglasses (Believe it or not, you will need this to shield your vision from stark white snow while driving)
- Beanies
- Acrylic Scarfs
- Touchscreen Gloves
- Single/Double-Breasted Trench Coat
- Turtleneck Pullover Sweater
- Pullover Hoodie sweatshirt
- Waterproof Ski Jackets
- Hooded Warm Coat
- Boots
- Thermal Pants
- Waterproof Coat
- Long Sleeve Cardigan ( Men and Women)
With so many options to choose from, layering will never be an issue. Please remember, it is always better to go extra with the layers if in doubt, as giving yourself hypothermia might not be an enjoyable experience while travelling. If you feel too many layers do not suit you, wear thermal shirts and pants to reduce the coatings and keep the warmth.
So, are you all packed and ready? You’re almost there! You will need to do one more thing to make your vacation the best one in Germany. It is to learn how to speak basic German! Of course, you wouldn’t need to know advanced German, but by knowing common greetings and phrases, you’d be able to converse with the locals and find your way around the block. You can search for the greetings and common phrases online, or you can make an appointment with the experts at Learn German Singapore to help you fix up a quick lesson! With an expert, you will be able to grasp the meanings and pronunciation of the words quicker than self-teaching.
If you are interested in German lessons or a crash course in German, reach out to Learn German, and talk with us at learngerman.com.sg. To find out more about our classes, get in touch with us now!
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