Being a kid from Florida, winter was not something I frequently had to contend with. I can remember years when my family and I would go to the beach for New Years Eve and the weather would be 90 degrees without a cloud in the sky. Truthfully, I didn’t like it and longed for the day I would live in a place with seasons. But, I had no idea what an actual winter entailed.
Flash forward to my first November in Bavaria. The summer left as quickly as it arrived, snow had arrived on the mountain facing my balcony and the days were very short and frigid. The leaves changed and dropped, soon replaced by ice on the empty branches.
The skies seemed always to be gray and took on a zombie-like quality of decay and sadness and, before long, my mental health took a major turn for the worse.
I quickly had to learn how to survive in this new, harsh reality or else succumb to the seasonal affective disorder which was threatening to take over my entire life. For anyone looking to visit or live in Bavaria, here are a few tips and tricks I found to jumpstart my mind during the long, bleak winter months.
While geared toward those in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, the advice is universal for the winter.
Go for a walk
I cannot stress this one enough. Running along the southern perimeter of Garmisch are large, lush open fields, criss-crossed with hiking trails that run alongside the jagged, snow-covered Wetterstein mountain range.
More specifically, it has a beautiful, grandiose view of the Zugspitze— the tallest mountain in Germany.
**view my story climbing the Zugspitze here**
These walks staring up at the mountain also included strolling through cow pastures, with many of the graceful, furry creatures letting you go so far as to walk up and pet them. Their quiet, calm strength inevitably rubs off on you and it is just about impossible not to feel a sense of peace.
Every day before work, I would take mental health walks through these fields and sit on a park bench just gazing toward the looming mountains above me; it is the best thing you can do for yourself.
Winter sports
Admittedly, this one is a little more difficult for some due to the high cost of entry but I assume that if you are in Bavaria during the winter, you probably have some level of interest in skiing or snowboarding.
Once again, I had never done anything like this before living in Florida, so the thought of flying down a mountain on skis scared the hell out of me. I figured since I had skateboarded before, I should try snowboarding as the experience would relate.
Spoiler: it didn’t!
I bought a season pass and got up on the mountain as many times as I could, flying down on my heels and butt for the first month before I finally started to get the hang of it. It was a great time.
Garmisch boasts some very impressive runs; from the classic, to the Alpspitze on extraordinarily snowy weeks, to the Zugspitze— the king of winter sports in Germany.
The Hüttes scattered on top of the mountains relieve the weary skier, serving hot, steaming bowls of Goulash and steamy, aromatic coffee— as well as a full bar for those who are looking to warm up in other ways.
This is a great way to get the blood pumping and adrenaline flowing in a space and time when most are indoors trying to stay warm and it’s exactly why it’s so high on the list.
Spas
Here lies my favorite way to warm up and the biggest fear for most Americans not familiar with public nudity: spas. Garmisch itself doesn’t boast very many spas but it is right smack dab in the middle of surrounding areas that do. From Aqua Dome in Austria to Therme Erding in Munich, these, to me, are the best way to warm up and relax your mind.
While these “textile free” areas might scare some tourists, it becomes second nature to sit nude in big, giant saunas or swim around warm, bubbly pools that feel cozy against the cold, biting wind just a few feet outside.
Most of these spas have bars as well, allowing one to get some true R&R in their easy chair. Sipping mimosas while staring out toward the snow on the distant mountain tops is a moment everyone should be able to experience.
These spas typically carry cold-plunge tubs, shocking your mind and dusting off the cobwebs that had been gathering since Fall first rolled around. It’s also a great way to beat the jet lag for anyone looking to stay awake after their transatlantic plane ride.
Spas became a mainstay of my time in Europe and I couldn’t recommend them more.
Spend Time with Friends
Misery loves company and that is never more true than during winter. Everyone is going through the same weather, yet all experience it differently. I found that loneliness can set in immediately when the dark nights last twice as long as the day, so I did my best to avoid ever being alone more than necessary.
A good support group truly makes life easier no matter what but this fact is especially true during winter. Every night, my friends and I would gather together for some sort of activity, even if it was just watching movies and the time seemed to pass much quicker when they were around.
If you are just passing through and haven’t made many friends yet, I still encourage you to find ways to be social even if just for a bit.
Try going to the Peaches bar on a Saturday night or talking with the friendly bartenders at Pub33 whenever possible— you’ll soon find that its harder to not make friends in Garmisch than it is to be alone.
Travel
This may be the most underrated tip on the list.
During winter, Europe is empty of all non-Europeans. Americans and Brits, as well as the rest of the world, come to have their “European Summer” and spend all their money. When they leave, the dust settles and it’s just the locals remaining and prices for excursions go way down.
If you are tired of the same-old grind or just looking to migrate somewhere warm for a bit, consider hitting the road. Germany is right in the middle of the continent and it is extraordinarily cheap to travel to another country and experience an entirely different culture just a few miles down the road.
Consider places off the beaten path too— look into Eastern Europe or Nordic countries for a once in a lifetime experience for half the price. Many of my friends went dog-sledding in the Northernmost city of Norway just for an unadulterated view of the Northern Lights and Santa Claus.
I went to Ljubljana during the peak of Winter and found I was the only tourist in the entire city— hostels remained empty, restaurants were destitute and tourist traps outright closed for the season. My time there was exceptionally rewarding as a result as I got to meet the incredibly cool locals who typically avoided going out.
If you find yourself in Europe for the winter, be sure to capitalize on your time and see things you wouldn’t normally; it is always a worthwhile time that is sure to expand your horizons.
Christmas Markets
Honestly, chances are if you’re in Europe in the winter, you’re probably in Germany for the legendary Christmas Markets or Christkindlmarkt. Each Germanic city hosts a market that is constantly vying for the top spot and trying to improve over the others.
These markets are warm, brightly lit sanctuary to cut through the darkness of winter; a dazzling, complex carnival of souvenirs, Bratwurst stands and tantalizing fried pastries that make you feel like a kid walking through a candy store.
These markets typically center around a colossal, intricately-decorated Christmas tree in the center of the town square and create an air of festivity the North Pole couldn’t rival.
Even more famous than the markets themselves may be the Glüwein stands. Sweet, steaming mugs of hot, mulled wine are poured from specially designed kegs and quickly drank before the cold, night air can cool them off.
You can choose between red or white— even rosé these days— and feel the piping liquid warm you from the inside out.
Glüwein wine is served in a uniquely-designed collector’s mug with each stand supplying a different style and shape. While they will give some money back if you return the mug at the end, I typically would just keep it. During my time there I ended up with at least 10 different mugs that I tried my best to ship home to my mom.
Only four made it.
When I was away from my family for the holidays, these markets typically felt almost as comfortable as home and I made it a point to travel all across Germany to find the best one. You should too.
Regardless of your situation, just find ways to keep the blood pumping and your mind sharp and excited. The biggest thing to do is take it easy on yourself and remember Spring will be here soon.