Please critique my Christmas Market itinerary
May 24th, 2010, 06:16 PM
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Please critique my Christmas Market itinerary
Please take a look at this itinerary and let me know what you think. We will arrive and depart Munich,
visit Prague and several German cities. Our main focus is the Christmas markets, but will do a little sightseeing as well, and just enjoy the holiday atmosphere, and of course the food and beer! We have been to Bavaria on previous trips so we have seen Munich, Rothenburg, castles, Salzburg, Garmisch,etc. We will revisit some of our special spots in Munich and recharge our batteries from the long flight and have an extra day built in just in case of travel delays. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. We will use trains, any special fares.etc, would point to point tickets or a railpass be more cost effective? Any other cities that might be better for the markets? I'm looking forward to your suggestions. Thank you in advance.
Day 1 leave USA
Day 2 arrive Munich 9:50AM overnight Munich
Day 3 Munich overnight Munich
Day 4 early train to Regensburg, day in Regensburg, dinner time train to Prague. Overnight Prague
Day 5 Prague overnight Prague
Day 6 Prague overnight Prague
Day 7 Prague-possible daytrip? overnight Prague
Day 8 early train to Dresden overnight Dresden
Day 9 early train to Leipzig overnight Leipzig
Day 10 early train to Nuremberg,day in Nuremberg, dinner time train to Munich, overnight Munich
Day 11 12:15 flight to USA
visit Prague and several German cities. Our main focus is the Christmas markets, but will do a little sightseeing as well, and just enjoy the holiday atmosphere, and of course the food and beer! We have been to Bavaria on previous trips so we have seen Munich, Rothenburg, castles, Salzburg, Garmisch,etc. We will revisit some of our special spots in Munich and recharge our batteries from the long flight and have an extra day built in just in case of travel delays. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. We will use trains, any special fares.etc, would point to point tickets or a railpass be more cost effective? Any other cities that might be better for the markets? I'm looking forward to your suggestions. Thank you in advance.
Day 1 leave USA
Day 2 arrive Munich 9:50AM overnight Munich
Day 3 Munich overnight Munich
Day 4 early train to Regensburg, day in Regensburg, dinner time train to Prague. Overnight Prague
Day 5 Prague overnight Prague
Day 6 Prague overnight Prague
Day 7 Prague-possible daytrip? overnight Prague
Day 8 early train to Dresden overnight Dresden
Day 9 early train to Leipzig overnight Leipzig
Day 10 early train to Nuremberg,day in Nuremberg, dinner time train to Munich, overnight Munich
Day 11 12:15 flight to USA
May 24th, 2010, 06:44 PM
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Sounds good to me. Have not been to Prague at Christmas. Am going to Leipzig this year (for the first time.) Don't know your time frame but hope Nuremberg is not on the weekend. If so, get there as early as possible. Have a great time. CJ
May 25th, 2010, 12:27 PM
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Nuremberg is scheduled on a Fri, so hopefully overbearing crowds will not be a problem. Does anyone have any suggestions for a daytrip while in Prague-keeping in mind that it is going to be COLD?
May 25th, 2010, 04:45 PM
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We have been going to the Christmas markets for the past few years, and my favorite city is Regensburg. If I were planning your trip, I would stay in Regensburg overnight and train to Prague the next day. We especially liked the Medieval Christmas market at night. It was very different from most of the other Christmas markets we saw.
May 25th, 2010, 07:17 PM
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Thanks for tip about staying in Regensburg. We can easily make the change and stay overnight and then get an early start for Prague the next day. Any suggestions for hotels in Regensburg?
May 25th, 2010, 10:29 PM
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If your focus is on Christmas Markets then deduct one day from Prague. The Christmas Market(s) there are not exactly exciting compared to the German ones. I was there last year and thought one hour was enough.
Leipzig is an interesting city and worth an overnight, but the Christmas markets there are quite similar to Dresden's.
The most beautiful Christmas Markets are in the Erzgebirge/Ore mountains - between Dresden and Nuremberg. Maybe you can squeeze in an overnight there - Annaberg-Buchholz, Schwarzenberg, Kurort Seiffen. In case you're in the area on a weekend, try to see a parade or attend a Christmas concert or something like that. Or visit a workshop where the Christmas items are manufactured.
I.
Leipzig is an interesting city and worth an overnight, but the Christmas markets there are quite similar to Dresden's.
The most beautiful Christmas Markets are in the Erzgebirge/Ore mountains - between Dresden and Nuremberg. Maybe you can squeeze in an overnight there - Annaberg-Buchholz, Schwarzenberg, Kurort Seiffen. In case you're in the area on a weekend, try to see a parade or attend a Christmas concert or something like that. Or visit a workshop where the Christmas items are manufactured.
I.
May 26th, 2010, 06:44 PM
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We did a Germany Christmas Market-Rhine river cruise this past Christmas. We enjoyed the markets but found them to be more food markets than Christmas stuff. Great food, lots of it and little unique or different Christmas ornaments. It sort of ended up -seen one you seen them all type of thing. Still a great time with the snow, hot wine, food and friendly people.
May 26th, 2010, 07:22 PM
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Since many of the items carried in Christmas Markets are made in the Erzeberge/Ore Mountain area, do the prices for such things as nutcrackers,wooden toys, glass ornaments, etc tend to be less than at markets in other areas? I would really love to visit a nutcracker factory, is that possible? If so. where? Is it easy to use trains to get around this area, or is having a car preferable?
May 27th, 2010, 01:39 AM
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Many of the items these days are made in China or similar so check for authenticity.
Instead of one night in Leipzig and another in Dresden I would stay two in Dresden and visit Leipzig for the day by train. It is only one hour, not enough to warrant a hotel change IMO.
Sorat Hotel Regensburg, Best Western Regensburg are two good hotel options. Regensburg is one hour from Munich so I would not change hotels again personally. Perhaps base in Regensburg instead of Munich since you have already been there. You have 5 hotel changes in 11 days, too much IMO.
Instead of one night in Leipzig and another in Dresden I would stay two in Dresden and visit Leipzig for the day by train. It is only one hour, not enough to warrant a hotel change IMO.
Sorat Hotel Regensburg, Best Western Regensburg are two good hotel options. Regensburg is one hour from Munich so I would not change hotels again personally. Perhaps base in Regensburg instead of Munich since you have already been there. You have 5 hotel changes in 11 days, too much IMO.
May 28th, 2010, 05:39 AM
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Thank you for the hotel sugggestions in Regensberg. I agree that we have too many hotels, and too many train connections also. I am re-thinking this whole itinerary and may switch our air plans so that we don't have to return to Munich,thus giving us more time in the Dresden area so that we can visit some of the Erzeberg/Ore Mountain towns.
May 29th, 2010, 01:22 AM
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Sorry for the late reply; I was very busy these days.
Prices in the Ore Mountains are slightly less than at the big Christmas Markets. That alone would not justify a detour, though.
*The* town for visiting manufactures and shopping is Seiffen. To get there by public transportation is doable, but not very convenient, and time consuming - it is located in the mountains, quite far from big cities. Better rent a car in this case.
You can visit all sorts of manufactures. A perfect place is this one:
http://www.schauwerkstatt.de/1schauwerkstatt.cfm
(sorry, in German only)
They also show the manufacturing of smoker men, figures with candles etc. (Bahnhofstrasse 12 in Seiffen)
Other options:
Schauwerkstatt Manufaktur Richard Glässer
(Hauptstraße 80)
Workshop in the Hotel „Seiffener Hof“
(Hauptstraße 31)
I personally buy my nutcrackers from the Füchtner family who 'invented' this Christmas item back in 1865. It is still a small, family run business. They sell their products in their small family house behind the church in Seiffen (follow the small street right to the church about 200 yards). Their manufacture is some miles away, in a different part of the town.
But seriously, the whole town of Seiffen seems to have one shop next to the other. Buy where you find something you like.
I.
Prices in the Ore Mountains are slightly less than at the big Christmas Markets. That alone would not justify a detour, though.
*The* town for visiting manufactures and shopping is Seiffen. To get there by public transportation is doable, but not very convenient, and time consuming - it is located in the mountains, quite far from big cities. Better rent a car in this case.
You can visit all sorts of manufactures. A perfect place is this one:
http://www.schauwerkstatt.de/1schauwerkstatt.cfm
(sorry, in German only)
They also show the manufacturing of smoker men, figures with candles etc. (Bahnhofstrasse 12 in Seiffen)
Other options:
Schauwerkstatt Manufaktur Richard Glässer
(Hauptstraße 80)
Workshop in the Hotel „Seiffener Hof“
(Hauptstraße 31)
I personally buy my nutcrackers from the Füchtner family who 'invented' this Christmas item back in 1865. It is still a small, family run business. They sell their products in their small family house behind the church in Seiffen (follow the small street right to the church about 200 yards). Their manufacture is some miles away, in a different part of the town.
But seriously, the whole town of Seiffen seems to have one shop next to the other. Buy where you find something you like.
I.
Jun 21st, 2010, 09:46 AM
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Ok, its about a month since I last posted here, I have been rethinking this trip and I now need some advice on scheduling. We have decided to eliminate the Munich and Regensberg portion and just concentrate on Dresden (and surrounding areas) and Prague and add in a driving portion so we can include the Seiffen area. Would it be better (better roads etc) to drive Dresden-Seiffen_Dresden and then take the train to Prague, or what are the road conditions, time needed etc to drive from Prague to Seiffen and then on to Dresden (stopping to spend the night in Seiffen or vicinity)?
We are using miles so we will fly into/out of FRA--what are my airline options into Prague and Dresden, or is train just as convenient? What are suggestions for rental car companies?
Thanks on advance!
We are using miles so we will fly into/out of FRA--what are my airline options into Prague and Dresden, or is train just as convenient? What are suggestions for rental car companies?
Thanks on advance!
Jun 21st, 2010, 02:23 PM
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I guess I am in the minority but we did not find the markets in Nuremberg to be particularly interesting. We also did not care much for the city itself compared to others we visited including Bamberg, Wurzburg and others. It was our least favorite last year of the cities and towns we visited.
Jun 21st, 2010, 02:48 PM
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Any comments on the questions below?
Poconolady on Jun 21, 10 at 12:46pm
Ok, its about a month since I last posted here, I have been rethinking this trip and I now need some advice on scheduling. We have decided to eliminate the Munich and Regensberg portion and just concentrate on Dresden (and surrounding areas) and Prague and add in a driving portion so we can include the Seiffen area. Would it be better (better roads etc) to drive Dresden-Seiffen_Dresden and then take the train to Prague, or what are the road conditions, time needed etc to drive from Prague to Seiffen and then on to Dresden (stopping to spend the night in Seiffen or vicinity)?
We are using miles so we will fly into/out of FRA--what are my airline options into Prague and Dresden, or is train just as convenient? What are suggestions for rental car companies?
Thanks on advance
Poconolady on Jun 21, 10 at 12:46pm
Ok, its about a month since I last posted here, I have been rethinking this trip and I now need some advice on scheduling. We have decided to eliminate the Munich and Regensberg portion and just concentrate on Dresden (and surrounding areas) and Prague and add in a driving portion so we can include the Seiffen area. Would it be better (better roads etc) to drive Dresden-Seiffen_Dresden and then take the train to Prague, or what are the road conditions, time needed etc to drive from Prague to Seiffen and then on to Dresden (stopping to spend the night in Seiffen or vicinity)?
We are using miles so we will fly into/out of FRA--what are my airline options into Prague and Dresden, or is train just as convenient? What are suggestions for rental car companies?
Thanks on advance
Jun 21st, 2010, 09:07 PM
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Train to Dresden is convenient enough from Frankfurt. To Prague it is not exactly convenient - wouldn't choose this one. Airline option is only Lufthansa I think - quite expensive. Don't know about Frankfurt - Prague.
The roads Dresden - Seiffen are in better condition. Remember that you'll be driving in December - ice and snow possible. Make sure you get a car with winter tyres. As mentioned in your other thread one-way rentals to different countries come with a hefty drop-off fee. Many rental companies don't even allow you to drive the car from Germany to Prague (theft problems).
The roads Dresden - Seiffen are in better condition. Remember that you'll be driving in December - ice and snow possible. Make sure you get a car with winter tyres. As mentioned in your other thread one-way rentals to different countries come with a hefty drop-off fee. Many rental companies don't even allow you to drive the car from Germany to Prague (theft problems).
