Christmas Markets not to be missed
Jul 30th, 2008, 02:37 PM
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Christmas Markets not to be missed
DH and I are planning a trip to Europe leaving 11/26 and returning 12/6. What are the must-see Christmas markets? I am most interested in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France. Ideally we would fly into one city (Frankfurt or Munich maybe?) and then fly out of another (Paris?).
Jul 30th, 2008, 02:53 PM
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I don't think you can go wrong with any German Christmas market, so consider what cities you would like to see anyway and what fits your planned route. From what you have indicated so far, I think you would want to fly into Munich, rather than Frankfurt. You are already almost in France when in Frankfurt - hey, I mean that geographically, not culturally 
.
Some markets have particular reputations - Nurnberg, for example is considered quite traditional and then there is the Lebkuchen (gasp!).
Try this link for a background starter.
http://gogermany.about.com/od/things...masmarkets.htm
.Some markets have particular reputations - Nurnberg, for example is considered quite traditional and then there is the Lebkuchen (gasp!).
Try this link for a background starter.
http://gogermany.about.com/od/things...masmarkets.htm
Jul 30th, 2008, 03:41 PM
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I would not miss Munich or Nurnberg. Enjoy! It's a magical experience. If you search "Christmas Markets" you will find a rather lengthy discussion of some of our (posters who have gone several times) favorites. Then ask any questions you have. CJ
Jul 31st, 2008, 05:17 AM
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This site has a lot of detailed info on most of the markets.
http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/
http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/
Nov 2nd, 2008, 01:57 PM
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thank you so much! We are going to stay in Munich for four nights, with two day trips planned: Nurnberg and Rothenburg, then spend two nights in Strasbourg, finally ending in Paris for four nights. We haven't quite figured out the train situation but that's on the list for this week.
Nov 2nd, 2008, 03:19 PM
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Munich has lovely Christmas market. Dresden, is said, to have the largest one in Germany (almost the entire town turns into Christmas market wonderland). I liked Berlin's too, but they're smaller. Have a wonderful time.
Nov 2nd, 2008, 04:06 PM
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I happen to think the Christmas Market in front of the city hall in Vienna was the most beautiful I have seen.
This photo was taken around December 5, 2007. It's not the best photo, and does not do it justice, but I think you can get an idea of how beautiful the Market setting is in Vienna.
<a href="http://i38.tinypic.com/2czooqd.jpg">Vienna Christmas Market - December 2007</a>
This photo was taken around December 5, 2007. It's not the best photo, and does not do it justice, but I think you can get an idea of how beautiful the Market setting is in Vienna.
<a href="http://i38.tinypic.com/2czooqd.jpg">Vienna Christmas Market - December 2007</a>
Nov 2nd, 2008, 04:07 PM
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Sorry about the bad link above, here is the link to the Vienna Christmas Market photo:
http://i38.tinypic.com/2czooqd.jpg
http://i38.tinypic.com/2czooqd.jpg
Nov 2nd, 2008, 04:07 PM
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Munich has several markets with the one in the Marienplatz being the biggest (and most crowded). The market in the English Garden is small but I found wonderful ornaments there, I am told that there is also one at the airport.
The market in Rothenburg is supposed to be great, but anything in Rothenburg during the holiday season is going to be fantastic, the whole town is a wonderland. A day trip to Rothenburg is do-able, but it will be a very very long day, perhaps you might want to consider spending one of those Munich nights in Rothenburg, it truly is a beautiful place when the day crowds leave.
The market in Rothenburg is supposed to be great, but anything in Rothenburg during the holiday season is going to be fantastic, the whole town is a wonderland. A day trip to Rothenburg is do-able, but it will be a very very long day, perhaps you might want to consider spending one of those Munich nights in Rothenburg, it truly is a beautiful place when the day crowds leave.
Nov 2nd, 2008, 04:39 PM
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The only thing to keep in mind about spending the night in Rothenburg (we spent 2 nights) is that SO many things close down about 6 pm....as soon as all the tour buses leave.
It is a wonderful and magical place at Christmas, and we enjoyed wandering the near empty streets in the evening (and the Night Watchman's tour was great fun!)...but if you were going to enjoy the markets in the evening, it would be disappointing.
We also really loved the markets in Heidelberg.
It is a wonderful and magical place at Christmas, and we enjoyed wandering the near empty streets in the evening (and the Night Watchman's tour was great fun!)...but if you were going to enjoy the markets in the evening, it would be disappointing.
We also really loved the markets in Heidelberg.
Nov 2nd, 2008, 05:35 PM
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I bought lots of stuff, but I really liked the beautiful painted ornaments - all with magical wintery scenes. The one thing I regret NOT getting was a large painted votive candle holder. We saw them in Heidelberg and figured we would see them later on, but never did. 
Nov 2nd, 2008, 06:26 PM
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we have been to the markets several times and each time I pick up a "village house" that represents one of the cities that we visit. These are painted, ceramic, candle lit pieces. I look for ones with finishes that coordinate with My Dept 56 Dickens series. I have always wanted to get an unusual nutcracker, but the prices seem to be higher in Germany where they are made then here in the US., I also love the painted ornaments and would love to have one of the realy big ones, but getting it home in one piece would be a real challenge.
I hand carried several beautiful ornaments from Salzburg in my carry on, only to have them broken by the TSA agents at Ohare--I was REALLY mad, but held my tongue until I was well past the screening post--at that point I just wanted to get home. A word of advise, be sure to nicely inform security agents that there are extremely delicate items in your carry on if you happen to be one of the lucky ones singled out for searching.
I hand carried several beautiful ornaments from Salzburg in my carry on, only to have them broken by the TSA agents at Ohare--I was REALLY mad, but held my tongue until I was well past the screening post--at that point I just wanted to get home. A word of advise, be sure to nicely inform security agents that there are extremely delicate items in your carry on if you happen to be one of the lucky ones singled out for searching.
Nov 2nd, 2008, 06:29 PM
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Poconolady.....my beautiful painted eggs from Salzburg made it all the way home (well, we were in Egypt at the time)......only to have one fall out of my hand when I was putting it on the tree!! AUGH!
Dec 6th, 2008, 08:05 AM
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Help Help Help! My mother and I want to hop on a plane to see a Christmas market in Germany. This is last miknute. I need to book today. We will leave the 15th and return on the 23rd. Everyone has an opinion to which market to go to. Can someone tell me just one destination? I thought Cologne would be good...but no one has mentioned it. Would Munich be better?
Thanks!
Maria
Thanks!
Maria
Dec 6th, 2008, 08:20 AM
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That's a no brainer, Munich will be better.
Forget Cologne (with regard to this specific topic only, of course).
You'll find at least three nice Christmas markets in Munich (there are actually many more), the big one in Nuremberg (just 90min by train), and also have the option for a cheap day trip by train to Salzburg for you final overdose of Christmas spirits.
Forget Cologne (with regard to this specific topic only, of course).
You'll find at least three nice Christmas markets in Munich (there are actually many more), the big one in Nuremberg (just 90min by train), and also have the option for a cheap day trip by train to Salzburg for you final overdose of Christmas spirits.
Dec 6th, 2008, 09:45 AM
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There is a huge Christmas market on the lower end of the Champs Elysee near Place Concord in Paris.
I like the Christmas market near the Opera House (on Unter den Linden) in Berlin. The area is nice to walk around with a cup of gluewien in your hand. There is a ferris wheel and an ice skating rink, too.
Thinny
I like the Christmas market near the Opera House (on Unter den Linden) in Berlin. The area is nice to walk around with a cup of gluewien in your hand. There is a ferris wheel and an ice skating rink, too.
Thinny
