Dennis54

Looking to do a river cruise next spring, either in France or Germany for 10 days or so, perhaps late april.
When does the temperature become bearable, and the trees sprout leaves?

Anyone have strong thoughts on best rivers cruises to take?

J62

Bearable is all relative.... I live in USDA hardiness zone 4/5, and the first sunny day in early March I'll be outside in a t-shirt prepping my garden. Frozen ground be damned. I have relatives who live in Zone 9 consider it too cold to go outside in Feb.

What is your point of reference, for example where do you live, and when do you consider the temperatures bearable there?

Leaf bloom in France in Germany is generally about the same time it is in the Northeast / upper Midwest US.

Dennis54

I live in zone 8 (Southeast) and in the 50's I am in woolens.

I think it to be cooler there than here, but of course can wear puffer jackets.
just wanted to see some green leaves, not white snow!

Michael

This was snow coming down early May in the Dordogne. You can see that the trees are already green.

https://flic.kr/p/8vaFJv
Flowering acacias in mid-May:

https://flic.kr/p/8vdEXY
Flowering horse chestnut trees in Paris, end of April:

https://flic.kr/p/7D4Yrh
But I think that a river cruise is safer in May than April. If it rains you can't go to the next museum or passage to have a nice time. And I think that a cruise on the canal du Midi might be more pleasant weather wise than on the Burgundy canal or any waterway north of that.

VANAARLE

Trees will be green when the weather conditions dictate. Weather is unpredictable that far ahead.
One can get snow and green trees as sometimes the tresses are tricked.
Remember all of this does not mean it will not rain.Boy can it rain.
Conifers are evergreens. German/French border has a lot of conifers

dfourh

This year in Hamburg (northern Germany):

Dennis54

Thanks, that picture was most helpful. Sounds like mid may a better time.

hetismij2

You can get frosts anytime up to (and indeed beyond) the Ice Saints days in mid May. Ditto snow. You can also get 25-30C temps on occasion.
When the trees will green up will depend a lot on the winter/spring we get. Mild and they'll be early, cold and they'll be later. The amount of precipitation we get will also affect them after this year's drought.
Basically pick a date that suits you, then watch the weather as it gets near and pack accordingly.

Dennis54

Thanks, once I pick cruise and know the cities I may ask for good local places to eat.
great help

Dennis54

I am taking a Rhine river cruise. What day trips should I take, or must see places in or near these places?
March 17 Trier
March 18 Bernkastel
March 19 Cochen
March 20 Koblenz
March 21 mainz
March 22 Speyer
March 23 Strasbourg
March 24 Basel to Zurich
March 25 Zurich.

Thanks for any and all ideas

Dennis54

Just thoughts about traveling in Europe in early spring as I did. I was initially hesitant as I was worried that we would not see the trees with leaves. But traveling in spring had two positive aspects. First, the number of tourist is much less. Our tour guides would say that in the summer THRONGS of people would be crowding the city centers.
Second, my wife made the observation that IF the trees had their foliage we would not be able to see the houses as easily from our cruise ship. We had a wonderful time. The rain that everyone talked about luckily held off. Thanks to everyone who offered their suggestions.