Winter in Germany is cold, but beautiful with a range of things to do and see. Whether you’re looking for snow, Christmas markets, or pure relaxation, Germany has you covered.
Winter in Germany, where to go?
Some travelers ask: Is Germany worth visiting in winter? As a German, I can confirm that it definitely is. Germany offers numerous regions for a winter vacation, each with its own festive charm. Whether you want to explore German cities or enjoy a snowy Christmas trip, you’ll find something for you.
What to expect from winter in Germany 2024
How cold is Germany in the winter? The weather predictions for the upcoming winter in Germany vary, but higher regions are more likely to have snow. If you’re longing for a snowy holiday, consider heading to the mountains in the Bavarian Alps.
Where to go in Germany this winter
Winter in Germany: the best city trips
If you’re up for a city trip during winter in Germany, these cities will capture your heart.
1. Berlin
If you’re looking for the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany visit Berlin. Christmas is celebrated in the zoo here too, a special event for the whole family.
The zoo is transformed into a sparkling fairy tale land with light installations and sounds. You’re guaranteed to experience Christmas joy here, from mid-November to mid-January, with or without snow.
Christmas shopping is also a lot of fun in Berlin. For example, all the trees on the Ku’damm are festively illuminated for several miles. Window shopping is also well worth it, as the lavish store decorations rival those of New York City — a visit to KadeWe (the second-largest department store in Europe) is a must.
And if you aren’t afraid of cold water, you can join the Ice Dippers for ice bathing. They meet in winter every Saturday to take a dip in the Berlin Plötzensee.
2. Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a small town, well known as a winter village, and is home to the Christmas store Käthe Wohlfahrt. While the Christmas atmosphere is present all year round, it’s beautiful in winter. You won’t find a better place to buy Christmas decorations and get into the festive mood.
In December, there’s a regional Christmas market, the Reiterlesmarkt, with numerous stalls and atmospheric brass music. A stroll through the narrow streets of the old town and along the well-preserved city wall is a must. If you want to learn more about the holidays, visit the German Christmas Museum.
If you’re not in the Christmas spirit, you can get a bit spooked by the numerous historical torture devices at the Criminal Museum.
How to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Best you fly to Frankfurt and take a rental car. It is about 100 miles southeast of the airport.
Winter vacations in Germany with kids
If you’re traveling with the whole family, these destinations are perfect for a winter vacation with kids.
3. Blomberg, Bad Tölz
Want to go sledding in Germany? There are several options once the first snow falls. But none are as exciting as Blomberg near Bad Tölz, not far from the city of Munich.
Sledding has been a tradition here since the turn of the century, and even the German Sledding Championships have been held in Blomberg. You’ll find 3 winter toboggan runs to choose from, catering to beginners and advanced riders.
You can take the cable car or hike up. A visit here is also suitable for a more affordable winter vacation in Germany, as using the toboggan runs is free – you only pay for the lift and the sled.
In addition, there’s the “Blomberg Blitz,” an all-weather toboggan run, a climbing garden, a small animal enclosure, and an app with an interactive forest mystery trail for kids. For adults, there’s alpine ski touring and numerous hiking trails.
How to get to Bad Tölz: Fly to Munich and take a rental car, Bad Tölz is only 50 miles from the airport.
4. Zugspitze
Does Germany ever get snow? Of course and for a snow vacation in Germany, there’s hardly a better place than the Zugspitze – a German ski resort with over 12 snow-sure miles of slopes. This means plenty of fresh snow and winter sun at the heights.
There are also numerous ski schools and slopes for young skiers, as well as several toboggan runs. A special highlight for families is the Igloo Village Zugspitze.
The igloo village is built here for 10 days from late December to the first week of January. And instead of staying in a hotel, you can sleep directly on the Zugspitze – a unique experience!
Bundle up warmly and off you go – your night in the igloo includes a delicious cheese fondue, a snowshoe walk, sauna use, and breakfast with a view of the Alps. And as you might already suspect, you’ll sleep on snow and ice (with a few thick blankets) in a real igloo. A once in a lifetime experience for the whole family.
How to get to Zugspitze: Take a flight to Munich. From there you can easily catch a train to Garmisch-Partenkirchen. After this you take another short local train ride and a the cable car up the mountain.
Winter wellness: spa breaks in Germany
When it’s cold outside, there’s nothing better than a wellness vacation in the warmth.
5. Sauna Raft on the Havel
Not far from Berlin (about 2 hours by train, or under an hour driving) is the sauna raft, located on one of the most beautiful lakes in Germany. The Werbellinsee is open year-round, even in icy winter.
The sauna raft is a floating sauna barrel and can be rented for small groups of up to 7 people. The sauna on the raft is operated carbon-neutrally and can be heated up to 203 °F. Onboard, you’ll find a shower, toilet, and a ladder. So, after your sauna session, you can take a dip in the lake and then relax on the raft.
You can also cruise the lake with the raft; anyone over 18 can use the propeller motor. Alternatively, book a skipper for an additional fee.
6. Elmau Valley
In Elmau Valley lies one of Germany’s best wellness hotels: Schloss Elmau. Here you’ll find beautiful castles and hiking trails — a fantastic place for a winter vacation.
The resort has 6 different spa areas where solo travelers, couples, and families can truly relax. This includes a hammam and the Nature Spa, as well as treatments in Chinese medicine and aromatherapy.
If you want to be active, there’s Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Pilates, and a yoga pavilion. As you can see, it offers a unique wellness experience along with award-winning gourmet cuisine.
Outside, there are numerous slopes, snow-covered hiking trails, an ice rink, and dog sledding. In winter, you’ll have an incredible view of the snow-covered Zugspitze and the Karwendel Mountains.
How to get to Schloss Elmau: Fly to Munich and either get a rental car or a local train, the hotel is about 90 miles from the airport.
7. Baden-Baden
If you’re looking for a must-visit spa town in Germany, you can’t miss Baden-Baden. The state of Baden-Württemberg has the highest density of thermal springs in Germany, and nowhere does it bubble more than in Baden-Baden. Allegedly, there are 200,000 gallons from 12 springs per day — perfect for warming up in the winter cold.
Especially suitable for this purpose is the well-known Caracalla Spa. It features a rock grotto, an aroma steam bath, a current channel, and indoor and outdoor whirlpools. You can choose from various pools with healing water ranging from 64 to 100 °F.
Baden-Baden also offers the Friedrichsbad, once the most modern thermal bath in the world. You’ll feel like you’re on a journey through time as you follow in the footsteps of Mark Twain, who pondered life in its warm waters and under the magnificent dome.
How to get to Baden-Baden: The closest German airport is in Stuttgart. Alternatively, you can also fly to Strasbourg. After you will need to take a train or get a rental car. I recommend a train as parking is not easy to find and quite expensive in Baden-Baden.
8. East Frisia
Want to experience Germany in winter by the sea? Head to East Frisia right on the coast of the North Sea in Lower Saxony. East Frisia includes the wonderful islands of Norderney, Juist and Borkum.
There is plenty to see and do here during a winter vacation. Wellness is a top priority, as the healthy climate of the North Sea is said to strengthen the immune system. Go on a long beach walk or a winter hike through the world-famous mud flats, then warm up in a sauna. Alternatively, the famous East Frisian tea helps – it’s not just a drink here, but a celebration. Like Japan or China, a tea ceremony is quite a serious affair in East Frisia.
If the weather is too wintery, stay inside with your tea and a book. East Frisia is the setting of many excellent East Friesland crime novels, and many have been translated into English.
Important: Pack warm clothes and rain boots with you. Even if it doesn’t always snow, the North Sea can sport ice floes and there is usually strong wind.
How to get to East Frisia: Admittedly even the closest big airport, Hamburg, is almost 200 miles from the coast of East Frisia. From here (a great destination in it’s own right) you can take a train or drive to East Frisia. When heading to one of the islands check ferry times in advance as they run on a limited schedule in winter.
Skiing in Germany
For many, a winter in Germany isn’t complete without skiing. Here is where you can find the best slopes.
9. Ski Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal
The best ski resort in Germany is the Zugspitze with the slopes around Garmisch-Partenkirchen. However, the title of the largest ski resort goes to Ski Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal offering over 80 miles of slopes.
Among them, everything a skier’s heart desires: many lifts, family slopes, freeride trails, and some black slopes for adventurous professionals. If you’ve never been on skis or want to refresh your skills, you can attend one of the numerous ski schools. Children can rely on the ski mascot Burmi for their first turns.
The experience is beautiful on a winter night, as there are several opportunities for night skiing under floodlights. If you prefer a more leisurely pace, there is a network of cross-country skiing trails.
You can learn everything you need for that in a cross-country skiing course. Additionally, you can enjoy tobogganing, winter hikes, and ice skating in the region.
How to get to Ski Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal: From Munich airport you can take a rental car or trains and busses to get to Oberstdorf. If you are not used to driving in wintery conditions, use public transport.
10. Oberhof, Thuringia
Great skiing isn’t limited to the south; there’s the rest of Germany too. Oberhof in the Thuringian Forest is known for being particularly snow-sure, and many top winter athletes train here.
As early as the turn of the century, winter sports enthusiasts were training for the Olympics here, now they can use the unique ski sports hall, the only cross-country ski hall outside of Scandinavia. In addition, there are 2 downhill slopes and numerous miles of cross-country ski trails for you to enjoy.
If that’s not enough, there’s also a snow tubing facility and a natural toboggan run. Both adults and children can race down the slope. At the end of the toboggan run, a shuttle bus conveniently waits to take you back up.
How to get to Oberhof: Fly to Frankfurt, the nearest big airport. From there you can catch a direct ICE (fast train) to Oberhof or get a rental car.
The best Christmas Markets in Germany
Where can you find the best Christmas markets in Germany? This might be up for debate, but one thing is certain these 2 below are worth a visit.
11. Nuremberg Christmas Market
The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt holds the title of the oldest Christmas Market in the world despite having some competitors. Without a doubt, it’s one of the most beloved and reason enough for a city trip to Nuremberg.
Every year, it’s opened by the traditional Christkind, before the crowds of visitors flock to the “little town made of wood and cloth.” At the market, you can buy beautiful handicrafts and traditional Christmas decorations, and then fill your stomach with festive treats. Naturally, the famous Nuremberg gingerbread (there’s even a Lebkuchen-Schmidt) and Nuremberg bratwurst are part of the experience. The latter even has its own Bratwurst Museum!
For the little ones, there’s the Children’s Christmas, a separate Christmas town for kids. It features a carousel and Ferris wheel, cookie baking, and the opportunity to write your wish list on-site and hand it over to the Christkind.
An especially attractive offering of the Nuremberg market is the themed experience paths. These guided tours introduce you to various aspects of the market, both old and new.
How to get to Nuremberg: While Nuremberg has its own airport you won’t get a direct flight from the US. Either you book one with a layover or fly into Munich and take the train.
12. Lindau Harbor Christmas Market
The Lindau Harbor Christmas Market offers traditionally decorated stalls, mulled wine, and baked goods. The location is what makes this market particularly unique: it’s romantically situated on Lake Constance with a view of the Alps.
The “Enchanting Fairytale Forest” also adds to the atmosphere, adorned with Black Forest fir trees. Fairy tales are told for children in the forest. There’s also a festive program for Christmas enthusiasts. This includes the Night Watchman tour, which takes you to the Lindau Christmas tree at the town hall, the huge Christmas crib in St. Stephan’s Church, and the popular Christmas ship.
On St. Nicholas Day, the hardy can even venture into the refreshing waters of Lake Constance – that’s when the Nikolaus swim takes place. Participating is a tradition for many, and the only question left is: with or without a wetsuit?
How to get to Lindau: Fly to Munich and take a train from there. Technically Zurich airport is closer however flights to/from Switzerland are always slightly pricier.
I hope I’ve sparked your interest in a winter vacation in Germany. If you’d like to explore other destinations, you can find more travel destination inspiration below: