Fall.
My favorite season, no matter the place! In Germany, fall is nothing short of wunderbar!
I.LOVE.IT.
We arrived in late summer, so thankfully and luckily I was able to experience fall as my first full season living abroad!
Fall here in Bavaria is much like some of the places I have visited within the United States.
The air is crisp, the leaves turn colors, and of course boot season is in full swing!
FALL WEATHER
Fall weather in central Europe is up and down.
In early fall, it feels like late summer, but with a few chilly days.
In late fall, it feels like early winter, but with a few warm days.
As I sit writing this, in what is now the winter season, I am suddenly reminded of those below average cold days that visited in early fall. I didn't have my household goods at the time (I only had two pieces of luggage that I brought from the states, full of clothes), but I am really grateful that a little voice within my head said "Bring at least one coat".
The average high in middle Germany in October is about 56°F, and the low is about 40°F.
Pretty 'average', right? Yeah.
Sometimes it rains for days in a row.
Sometimes the sun shines for days in a row.
Sometimes it's overcast and cold.
But it is best to be prepared for those random 'off' days in the fall. They strike without warning, and can make you wish that you had brought tank tops, or sometimes the opposite: A parka.
I won't tell you what to carry on your person for daily site-seeing in Europe, but a few words of advice:
A FEW EXTRA NOTES:
My favorite season, no matter the place! In Germany, fall is nothing short of wunderbar!
I.LOVE.IT.
We arrived in late summer, so thankfully and luckily I was able to experience fall as my first full season living abroad!
Fall here in Bavaria is much like some of the places I have visited within the United States.
The air is crisp, the leaves turn colors, and of course boot season is in full swing!
FALL WEATHER
Fall weather in central Europe is up and down.
In early fall, it feels like late summer, but with a few chilly days.
In late fall, it feels like early winter, but with a few warm days.
As I sit writing this, in what is now the winter season, I am suddenly reminded of those below average cold days that visited in early fall. I didn't have my household goods at the time (I only had two pieces of luggage that I brought from the states, full of clothes), but I am really grateful that a little voice within my head said "Bring at least one coat".
The average high in middle Germany in October is about 56°F, and the low is about 40°F.
Pretty 'average', right? Yeah.
Sometimes it rains for days in a row.
Sometimes the sun shines for days in a row.
Sometimes it's overcast and cold.
But it is best to be prepared for those random 'off' days in the fall. They strike without warning, and can make you wish that you had brought tank tops, or sometimes the opposite: A parka.
WHAT TO PACK for EUROPE in the FALL
I'm not going to sit here and bore people with a list of what boots are my favorite, and where to buy cozy sweaters.
This is a list of what everyone should have packed for a visit in the autumn; the style choices of each item are up to you!
What you MUST bring to Europe in FALL, aside from soap and junk:
- Jeans and/or pants, jeggings
- Leggings
- Boots (tall or ankle style)
- Flats
- A heavy coat
- A light coat
- A sweater or two
- A scarf or two
- At least one pair of shorts (capri length are best. Save the booty shorts for summer)
- At least two short sleeved shirts
- One tank top or cami
- Boot socks (non-insulated is fine, unless you'll be at a high altitude)
- A cardigan or two
- A sturdy umbrella
What you MIGHT want to bring to Europe in the FALL:
- A wool hat or beanie
- Skirts/dresses (for layering with leggings)
- Casual sneakers (like Converse, Vans, Keds)
- Sweater dress
- At least one thick scarf
- Rain boots
- Earmuffs
- A parka (if you are bringing a heavy wool coat and sweaters, skip this and layer instead)
- Heels or dress boots, for a night on the town (flats are acceptable)
- Gloves
- Boot socks
What you MAY NOT NEED, but should think about:
- A swimsuit. WHAT? Yes, a swimsuit. Most hotels in large cities have indoor heated pools, saunas, and some have mini water parks. Some European cities even have world renowned outdoor thermal spas (Baden Baden, Budapest, etc,.). UPDATE: I regret not having my swimsuit while in Paris during Christmas vacation. Our hotel apartment had a few indoor Jacuzzis that sounded really nice (with vin chaud) after a cold and tiring day.
- Snow boots and insulated synthetic socks, depending on where you visit, and specifically when you visit. The Alps=bring snow boots.
- Sunscreen is always good, no matter the time of year. The day we visited Heidelberg in October was pretty sunny and we came home slightly burned.
- Just because the morning starts out cold doesn't mean the rest of the day will remain the same. It was freezing the morning of the Kurbis Fest, so I wore jeans and a long sleeve with a jacket. By mid-afternoon, I was melting. The jacket was eventually handheld and I was almost tempted to take my shirt off, but rolled my sleeves instead (shirtless people are frowned upon). Fall in Europe is tricky. It's best to layer, which is why I mentioned bringing a tank top AND a cardigan, just in case.
- Water. In cold or hot weather, stay hydrated.
- If you plan to hit many of the fall festivals or markets, bring a cloth grocery sack to carry souvenirs around. Many market vendors don't offer bags.
A FEW EXTRA NOTES:
- ALWAYS carry a small handful of 50 cent Euro coins, no matter the season. You'll need them to tinkle.
- It is a-okay to wear fall colors during fall in Europe (oranges, browns, mustards, etc, are all acceptable and common)
- Don't underestimate a good umbrella.
Well, winter has arrived and I am not frozen yet!
I expect the extreme cold will come in time, but until winter is over, you'll have to wait for my next seasonal list!
Fall in Europe is beautiful and I swear, if I didn't live here I would probably try to visit during the fall. A perfect mix of warm and chilly, with an added bonus of color throughout the land! Gotta love it.
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