West Europe Travel Guide

Germany

Germany

According to Countryaah, there are 9 countries in Western Europe. Germany is one of them. Germany borders on nine countries and naturally in the north on the waters of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, in the south the mountainous region of the Alps. With around 82 million inhabitants, it is one of the densely populated area states.

Climate:

Germany lies in the temperate climate zone, depending on the altitude (mountains) and the north-south extent, regional differences can arise. While Atlantic influences predominate in the west, the continental climate dominates to the south and southeast. In the north of Germany, the North Sea and the Baltic Sea shape the climate, while the Alps are characterized by a mountain climate. In July an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius is reached, in winter the value is around 4 degrees Celsius.

Best travel time:

Thanks to its relatively stable weather conditions, Germany offers attractive destinations all year round. Accordingly, the travel period is based on regional preferences and the interests of the traveler. In summer, a long period of good weather lures the Baltic Sea and the southeast, while autumn promises mild vacation days in southern and western Germany. Between December and March, skiers get their money’s worth in the mountains.

Switzerland

Switzerland

As a federal, democratic state, Switzerland is located in Europe, but is not a member of the European Union. It borders Germany in the north. According to the federal constitution, Switzerland has no capital; the seat of the federal authorities is the federal city of Bern.

Switzerland is a country located in West Europe. Switzerland has around 8.1 million inhabitants, including around 1.9 million foreigners, which makes up 23%. The country is one of the more densely populated countries in Europe, with the population concentrated in the central plateau in the north of the country. The largest cities are the economic centers of Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lausanne and Bern.

Climate:

Switzerland has a largely temperate climate, with the north of the Alps being cooler and rainier. Southern Switzerland is dominated by the Mediterranean, and the altitude generally influences the temperature. On some mountains there is snow all year round.

Best travel time:

Thanks to the moderate climate and favorable location in Central Europe, Switzerland is a worthwhile travel destination all year round. Depending on the region, skiers use the period between November and April; mild summer temperatures in the Rhone Valley invite you to spend a long time outdoors. It can get even warmer in southern Switzerland. The pre-alpine region surprises with pleasantly warm autumn days, at Lake Zurich and Lake Constance it is very foggy during this time.

Austria

Austria

About 60 percent of the national territory is mountainous and has a share in the Eastern Alps. These include above all the Tyrolean Central Alps, Hohe Tauern and Niedere Tauern, the Northern Limestone Alps, Southern Limestone Alps and the Vienna Woods. For this reason, Austria is sometimes also called the Alpine republic. The biggest city of Austria is Vienna with a population of 1.897 million.

Climate:

In general, Austria belongs to the moderate climate zone, with the east of the country being more continental. In the west, Atlantic influences are noticeable, while in southern Austria some Mediterranean tendencies are already noticeable. Long winters with lots of rain and snow characterize the alpine mountain regions. Thunderstorms often occur here in summer, warm down winds (called foehn) regularly bring the area to a warm 20 degrees Celsius in the transition months.

Best travel time:

You can travel to Austria all year round. With the exception of winter, city tours are actually always possible; the period between November and early April can be used for skiing in the Austrian Alps. Mountaineers find optimal conditions in summer and autumn. If you want to do water sports in the alpine lakes, you should preferably do so in summer, in Burgenland and the Carinthian lakes you can also use spring and autumn for this.