Kathysa

Hello. Our family of 4 (2 adults, 2 teens) is considering a trip to Germany over the Christmas holiday. We're limited to certain dates due to our children's school vacations. We've never been to Germany and would like to visit Munich and Berlin, with a possible visit to either Nuremberg or Dresden, and possibly a day trip to Salzburg Austria. We prefer train travel over having to rent a car. We have 11 days. My thought is to fly into Munich and out of Berlin. 3 days in Munich, maybe a day trip to Salzburg, a day or 2 in either Nuremberg or Dresden, and then 3-4 days in Berlin. Is this feasible? Can we stay in Munich and go to Salzburg and back the same day, while having enough time to see Salzburg? Any preference on Nuremberg or Dresden? I also am not sure what will be open on 25 and 26 of December. It looks like the Christmas markets end on 24 December. Thanks for any advice.

Mainhattengirl

Usually Christmas markets end on the 22nd or 23rd. A very few may be open later. Check the websites for each town.

On the 24th, Germany kind of shuts down about 14:00, all stores and restaurants will close. Make sure you have dinner reservations at a hotel that is doing dinner.

The 25th and 26th are holidays, so all stores will be closed. Check museums and tourist attraction websites to see if they are open on these days. The 27th is a Sunday, so stores will still be closed.

Trains will run on a Sunday or holiday schedule.

fourfortravel

Several Christmas markets were open in Berlin when we visited between Christmas and New Years 2013. We arrived on 26 December and were able to pick up a few provisions at a grocery for the apartment; a few other stores were open, as well, but closing early. Open groceries and stores were hit-or-miss on Sunday.

Last December we spent a long weekend in Munich and Nuremberg for the Christmas markets. Here is my report if you are interested. http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...as-markets.cfm

Train travel between Munich and Salzburg is about 90 minutes, plus time to navigate into the AltStadt. We have taken visiting family and friends to Salzburg as a long day trip from Vienna, and while it is possible to see the major sites in one whirlwind of a day, adding time for the Christmas markets and Sound of Music tour (if that interests you) would require more than one day.

Melnq8

<I also am not sure what will be open on 25 and 26 of December.>

Not much.

We spent Christmas in Munich a few years ago. The city pretty much closed down around 2 pm on Christmas Eve.

Some restaurants re-opened on Christmas afternoon, but as mentioned above shops stayed closed through the 27th.

We watched the Christmas market stall vendors pack up on Christmas morning and stumbled upon a beer garden and small Christmas market still open in the Englischer Garten. We also visited a church and just wandered. Still had a lot of fun and enjoyed the peace and quiet after the chaos of the build up to Christmas.

We visited the Deutsches Museum the day after Christmas, but many other attractions were closed.

quokka

Note that this year the 27th is a Sunday, so shops will only reopen in the morning of the 28th.