aussiedreamer

I'm just about to throw my hands up in the air and give up. Dh, myself, our two daughters and their partners are planning a 'white' (I know, no guarantees). I'll be really honest, we want to experience the whole thing, xmas markets, mulled wine, shopping, eating, snow would be great, skiing would also be awesome, but especially somewhere really 'cool' to spend Xmas eve and Xmas day. And if we can ‘throw in’ a sleigh ride, I’d be in heaven.

We will spend about 5 days together then each couple will go their own way. One couple to London/Scotland the other still deciding and DH & I may do Scandinavia.

I've had a look at Berchtesgaden in Germany, which looks great. One concern is there may not be 'enough' to do. We'd all like to go skiing (well try anyway) even if it’s a short bus/train ride from our base. We're thinking a major city might offer more variety for everyone.

I'd love any and all suggestions.

quokka

Sorry to burst or at least squeeze your bubble a bit. None of the big cities can guarantee you snow. You need a ski resort in the Alps for that. And shops are all closed during the Christmas holidays (from Dec 24 noon to Dec 27 morning). Most Christmas markets terminate on Christmas Eve (noon/early afternoon) or even a day or two earlier, those few that stay open longer are closed over the holidays. If you want the markets, make sure you are here in time before Dec 24, which is when most markets terminate, at least in Germany.

annhig

Hi aussie,

personally I would not try to combine the markets/city experience and skiiing. Pick the best city for your christmas, and then find a ski resort for the rest of the trip.

trying to combine the two may lead to your trip falling between two stools.

however, should you inexplicably still try to so the two, I'd have thought that Salzburg was the best bet. the markets may be closed, but the fun will undoubtedly continue.

BTW - the markets in Prague and budapest certainly carry on after Christmas Eve- We have been to both during the period between Christmas and New Year, and they were both in full fling.

quokka

>Pick the best city for your christmas, and then find a ski resort for the rest of the trip.

My recommendation is the other way round. Pick a city BEFORE Christmas (for the markets, shoppingm the whole Advent atmosphere), and spend the holidays and the time after Christmas in a winter resort in the mountains.

annhig

Pick a city BEFORE Christmas (for the markets, shoppingm the whole Advent atmosphere), and spend the holidays and the time after Christmas in a winter resort in the mountains.>>

ok, quokka you may be right there, but I think we agree that trying to combine the two types of holiday in one place is going to be less than satisfactory.

bigtyke

I was in Salzburg last Christmas. There had been snow a few days before Christmas, but by Christmas it had all been washed away by rain. However, just a few miles outside in the mountains, there was plenty of snow.

There is plenty to do in Salzburg and if you want to take an organized tour to do a sleigh ride, you can schedule that on Christmas Day. The Salzburg Christmas market has been open the past couple of years on both Christmas and the day after.

laurie_ann

We spent New Years week in Salzburg a few years ago. It is an ideal combination for city and skiing. There's a bus right from the central square that takes you to a different ski resort everyday. There's an English speaking guide on the bus to help orient you for equipment rental and slopes appropriate for your skill level. Highlights in the city itself were the city history museum, the modern art museum and Mozart's birthplace. We also took day trips to Berchtesgaden, the lake at Wallensee and the town where Silent Night was composed. There are lots of cozy coffee places, wine bars, etc. in the city. We thought it was ideal for a winter holiday.

aussiedreamer

Thank you all SO much. Looks like Salzburg as a base,doing markets, sight seeing etc. with bus trips (I'll presume a car would not be wise?)out to Berchtesgaden and a ski resort, might be the sensible thing to do. And none of have been, so thats a bonus, if it happens to snow in the city huge bonus, if not sounds like I wont have to go far to see it. When I said shopping I did actually mean Xmas shopping, markets that kind of thing.

Now to find somewhere 'nice' to stay without blowing the bank........

Thanks again.

pja1

Hi,

I can't see how you can go wrong with Salzburg. t's a wonderful old town and during the Christmas markets, it's magical. The Berchtesgaden area and the Salzkammergut are very close by for a change of scenery, skiing and an even better chance for snow. We stayed in Konigsee 11/10 and visited the Salzburg and St. Gilgen Christmas markets. We had some snow on 2 of the 4 days we were there, and same went for our next 4 nights based in Hall in Tirol by Innsbruck.

www.worldisround.com/home/pja1/index.html

Paul

aussiedreamer

Thanks Paul, its taken us a while to settle on a place but now I'm really excited. Prepare to be swamped with questions over the next few months. ;-)

pja1

Hi,

We've been to Salzburg and the area 5 times in the last 11 years. It never gets old. We love Salzburg, the Berchtesgadena area, etc. I can't imagine you'll be disappointed.

Paul

rosemaryoz

We had a wonderful white Christmas with all the special effects a couple of years ago, by travelling down the Romantic Road from Munich to Hohenschwangau in the Bavarian Alps. The small 'Road' villages eg Rothenburg and Dinkelsbuhl are chocolate-box perfect for Christmas - great markets, decorated streets and shops, traditional Christmas menus. For the Christmas Day period we checked into Hotel Mueller which is just below the classic Neufschwanstein Castle. We woke on Christmas morning to gentle snow, and walked up to the Hohenschwangau castle next door in snow, and then did a tour of the Neufschwanstein on Boxing Day in snow. It was great! There are also rides through the country lanes in a one horse open sleigh, and we spent Boxing day afternoon swimming in the thermal pools (outdoor & indoor) at the Royal Crystal Spa. The Mueller put on an incredible Christmas Eve dinner, and then another dinner on Christmas night, as there was a heap of Aussies staying then. They also put on a shuttle bus for midnight candlelight mass in a nearby village church. We then drove two hours to Salzburg for a wonderful few nights there. It was an excellent Christmas!

mowmow

You will love Salzburg. The Christmas markets there and surrounding towns will be in full force. The buses will take you to ski resorts, and you can check out the usual sights in Salzburg itself. It will be beautiful. The chance of snow is good; even without, the city is gorgeous, and the mountains will have plenty of it.

We spent Christmas in Wagrain, which is close, and I still remember walking by candlelight up to the little church where "Silent Night" was premiered in 1818 for midnight mass, and singing the hymn in its original German.

It was about 40 years ago...I think they do the community singing on the 26th now, as the "tourist" crush was probably overshadowing the mass itself.

aussiedreamer

Great to hear, really excited. Just have to find the appropriate accommodation now. A three bedroom apartment would be perfect, then find somewhere for Xmas eve dinner and Xmas day lunch. Or a Hotel that will put lunch on!!!

lavandula

While I am sure you will find (many) hotels that will feed you on Xmas Day, the significant celebration there is Christmas Eve, and the two following days (25th = 1. Weihnachtstag, 26th= 2. Weihnachtstag, or first day of Christmas, second day of Christmas) are secondary in importance (shops and other businesses will still be closed though). So you won't be having a Christmas lunch as you would in Australia, that's not a celebratory meal. Sounds like you will have a lovely trip, though!

Lavandula

aussiedreamer

I was so excited to have found http://www.blobergerhof.at/ only to discover they are closed for Christmas........back to the drawing board.

AisleSeat

I don't know how much this will help you but here are two of my favorite experiences at Christmas in Europe.

Several years ago we spent Christmas in Salzburg. Christmas eve we went to the cathedral for midnight mass. The cathedral says they hold 10,000. I think there were about 12,000 there. The priests had to elbow their way down the aisle of standing room only crowds. I'm not sure but I think the service started about 10:30pm. The church doors were locked till about 9:30pm and people were lined up for blocks. The program started with what looked like a pick-up choir singing carols. Then the service started with an orchestra in the choir loft with organ and formal choir. They included some Mozart (what else would you expect in Salzburg?). The manger scene in front of the altar had an empty crèche. During the service one of the priests carried in a life size wood-carved baby Jesus and put him in the manger. At the end of the service the cathedral was lit only with candles and a quartet with guitar sang "Silent Night". As the last notes faded a huge bell directly above us began to toll. As we left the cathedral the 28 other churches in Salzburg answered the cathedral with their bells. We walked back to our hotel in the snow literally lifted by the bells.

Another Christmas we spent in Seefeld (about 15 miles south of Mittenwald). It is a quaint ski village with a charming little Christmas market. It was very memorable in a very different way.

aussiedreamer

Sounds lovely Aisle Seat, getting very excited. Just have to settle on 'where' to stay.
Thanks fo rtaking the time.

AisleSeat

In Salzburg we like to stay in the Altstadt at the Golden Ente or the Weisses Kreuz. A little way outside the old town is a nice affordable B£B called the Am Moos.

CUFFLNX

You want a memory and an 800 year old experience, check out Gaming, Austria, a mere 2 hour drive from Salzburg, with all of the "guaranteed" skiing experience.

http://www.kartause-gaming.at/History.22.0.html?&L=1