What is so ‘bad’ about the German winter? I asked my friends from different countries and got opposite answers:

• People from warmer climates (South Africa, Pakistan, India) said ‘it’s cold and dark’
• People from colder climates (Ukraine, Sweden, Finland) mentioned that ‘there’s no snow!’

And this made me realize – we all focus on what’s missing. Coming from Belarus, I am used to the lack of daylight hours but terribly miss the *real* snow. My friends from warmer countries can’t come to terms with the temperature, but are excited for even a couple snowflakes haha.

So, why focus on what’s not there when you can enjoy what is? The grass is greener where you water it, so here are my tips on making the most out of your German winter.

Christmas Markets (obviously!)

Sadly, they don’t last too long and you’ll have to find other activities for January and February. But while the festive season is still here, you need to try my personal delicious favorites:

• Hot cocoa (with Baileys if you drink)
• Reibekuchen (amazing potato pancakes)
• Chocolate glazed strawberries
• Baumkuchen (Trdelnik)
• Crepes
• Any Wurst mit Pommes (Sausage with Fries)
  

Traveling

(after the exams are done and you can finally put that 49 Euro-Ticket to use)

• Bavaria is perfect for winter if you want to see snowy nature
• Cologne in February (celebrate one of the main German traditions – Karneval!)
• Check which nearby coutries you can visit with your 49 Euro-Ticket (which is usually included in your semester ticket!) (sometimes neigbouring cities can be included in the ticket range – like Venlo in the Netherlands)

Cozy Night-Ins

When on some days the weather gets too cold and the energy levels just aren’t there, I love staying in – but with a twist. I invite friends over and we cook something together, like a home-made pizza, or bake gingerbread cookies. Get some cocoa, milk, choose a cozy movie – and enjoy the time with frieds, despite the cold outside.

Sauna / Thermal Spa

What can be better than a little spa-retreat in the middle of the cold day? Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to break the bank! There are a lot of budget friendly options with student discounts or even specific deals for a special ‘student’ day of the week. I enjoyed myself in Aachen like that (Carolus Thermen have an amazign pool + sauna area for only 18-20 EUR for 3,5 hours!)

Classic German Movies

I love cinema and want to really dedicate my time to studying German this semester break – so why not combine both? Join me in this challenge.

Here are some of the classic German films on my list:

• Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel (Three Wishes for Cinderella) – a beloved fairy tale movie.
• Oh Boy – for a wintry slice of Berlin life.
• Das Wunder von Bern – a heartwarming post-war story with snowy vibes.

I am sure there are a million other cool things to do this winter!
Some of which we’ll be covering in the upcoming ‘Winter Wellness & New Year Planning’ webinar with Caro from DEGIS National team. Join us on December 18th and let’s break the ‘German winter’ stereotype!