(c) Michael T. Schumacher
The tourists are
leaving and the wine is ready! Making your trip
to Germany in autumn
has plenty of advantages.
The high season for
traveling
to Germany and the rest of Europe is from June through September. The warm
weather draws more tourists than at any other season, driving up prices and
creating long lines at museums and sights. In August, Europeans are
themselves on the move to their own vacation spots.
By October, prices have
dropped for airline tickets and hotel rooms, not to mention souvenirs and meals
in popular restaurants. While the weather can turn temperamental, you can still
experience wonderfully warm weather with brilliantly blue skies. Most of the
tourist sights, restaurants and hotels will have diminished their teeming
throngs, allowing travelers greater spontaneity and the chance to meet local
residents rather than fellow vacationers. Classical music lovers will appreciate
that autumn is also the time when Germany's opera and classical music
venues begin their seasons.
 If you love eating, music,
singing and dancing, visit a wine festival! Wine and harvest festivals begin at
the end of August and continue through the fall. The festivals offer travelers
the opportunity to sample regional dishes and see a parade dedicated to wine.
Autumn in Germany also means that you can indulge in some fresh and tasty
Neuwein, often sold in multi-liter plastic jugs at roadside stands. Drink it
fast, because new wine loses its sweetness quickly, especially in a closed
container. The festivals specifically for new wine are called "Federweissen" and
usually take place in the fall.
There are downsides, of
course. The weather might turn nasty, so you'll have to pack some heavier
clothing. The farther into autumn you make your trip, the colder the weather
will be. Tourist facilities might have shorter hours than in the
summer. However, if you're prepared for these drawbacks, your reward will be
memorable travels in Germany.
Autumn Wine and Harvest Festivals in Germany
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