I would like to cover Innsbruck, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, strasbourg, Nuremburg, munich, baden baden and vienna (or any other town/city). I got this list from the internet research.

I am traveling on your exact dates. I think your wish list is a bit ambitious, especially with a little one.

Our focus is the Christmas markets too. We're arriving/departing Munich. Our itinerary includes three nights Munich, train to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for three nights, train to Innsbruck for three nights, train to Salzburg for four nights, then train to Munich for the final night.

We will visit Garmisch/Zugspitz as a day trip from Munich if the weather gods are in a good mood.

"I would like to cover Innsbruck, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, strasbourg, Nuremburg, munich, baden baden and vienna (or any other town/city). I got this list from the internet research.What would be the best way to structure this?"

Skip Strasbourg and Baden-Baden, because these are out of your way.

The logical route is:

Innsbruck - Garmisch-Partenkirchen - München(Munich) - Nürnberg(Nuremburg) - Wien(Vienna)

Alternatively swap Nuremburg for Salzburg. Or do Nuremburg as a daytrip from Munich.

"ohh I loved the sleigh ride idea, am definitely including that)"

There are lots of places in Austria with sleigh rides(if there is enough snow):

https://www.austria.info/uk/things-t...nd-dogsledding

It's strange to see animals still enslaved for frivolous pleasure in the 21st century.

It may be strange for a city boy to see working animals in the 21st century, but it's perfectly natural for millions of country people.

I said nothing about authentic working animals working in agriculture, security or assistance to the disabled. I said "frivolous pleasure." And I am from the country, so I absolutely know the difference.

In my opinion, when you've seen one Christmas market you've seen them all. And smelled them all. (Fake pine scent and mulled cider.)

In France it is mulled wine, not cider.

Maybe it is in Italy, too. I never touch the stuff.

"Maybe it is in Italy, too. I never touch the stuff"

It can be good if it's made from good wine or at least from wine. Best to make your own.

"I said nothing about authentic working animals working in agriculture, security or assistance to the disabled. I said "frivolous pleasure."

What difference does it make for the horses if they haul a load of logs down from the forest or a few "frivolous" tourists? Other than that tourists are less heavy? If this is the way the owner of the horses puts bread on the table of his family than this is the duty opf the horses to do if they want to be well fed and cared for.

I can think of far more frivoulus activities than doing a horse sleigh ride. It looks actually a sustainable and carbon-neutral activity.

I'm with bvlenci re: Christmas markets. Seen one, seen them all. I have little patience for the kitsch they are selling or the food and (godawful) warmed wine. The first few I went to in Germany kind of intrigued me, but that wore off fast.

There's a nice little Cité de Noël here in Sarlat every year, which I suppose is a kind of Christmas market, but it has real artists selling appealing handicrafts, no candy stalls or cheap trinkets. And a nice skating rink for kids. If I'm in town around Christmastime I'll wander through, but certainly don't make a point to go to it without another reason to be in Sarlat. They have the requisite mulled red wine stall, too, but as everywhere else, it's pretty unpalatable.

I second what you said, marvelousmouse, and I pity the the people who cannot enjoy the Christmas markets. They probably have only been to the over-commercialised ones.

Let's not forget that Christmas is a Christian festival and even if most Europeans and North Americans are not Christians anymore, but we still have a Christian background and celebrating Christmas is something that we were brought up with and is completely natural for us.

On the other hand there is an increasing number of locals and travellers in Europe who don't have a Christian background(Jews, Muslims, etc.) and it's no surprise if they don't care about Christmas and the associated traditions.

I'm Jewish. No Christmas market is particularly appealing to me.

I'm Christian, and an observant Christian, but I don't see what a Christmas market has to do with religion.

Did the three wise men bring to the Christ child a cinnamon-scented candle, a balsa wood pine tree, and a red felt stocking?

The ski club in our town used to make a trip every year to Austria and the Alto Adige /Süd Tirol ( the German speaking part of Italy). We went with them twice. The first time we visited a Christmas market in Bressanone/Brixen, one in Innsbruck, and another in Austria. The only reason I went along the second time was because they were going to Bolzano/Bozen, and I wanted to visit the archaeological museum, which fearures Ötzi, the "iceman". That's very interesting. We didn't even stop at the Christmas market, but the day after we saw two in Austria. Some of our friends went on these trips every year.

For Jews? Absolutely does "Christmas" have to do with Christianity.

Fascinating as this discussion is, along with the one about horses, I am not sure it is helpful to OP, who wants to enjoy something different and try to make things special for their daughter.

Christmas is pretty much secular in France. If you visit the homes of the French of Maghrebi origin who have children, you will find that just about all of them have a Christmas tree with lights on it, because Christmas is a fun time of year and they don't want to be left out even if they are Muslim. Fewer French of Jewish origin do this because they have their own holiday season at just about the same time. That doesn't stop them from visiting the Christmas windows at the department stores, which have absolutely no religious connotation whatsoever.

Christmas is a big feast across the continent of Europe with tourist spots decked up to welcome the cheer of the festive mood. The grand cities, small seaside towns, and villages all brim with life to celebrate Christmas with candlelit dinners, crackling fires, and Santa Clauses. Europe is the best destination to revel in the scents, sounds, and sights of Christmas

Dresden, Germany
Dresden in Germany with the oldest Christmas markets and tallest Christmas Pyramid is one of the best places to celebrate Christmas. The hand-carved wooden ornaments are famous to buy and Fruit cake followed with mulled wine would entice your festive mood.

Bern - Switzerland
There would be nothing like celebrating Christmas in cold winter with snowflakes around. Bern provides one of the best experiences of Christmas, with golden lights, cozy cafes and hot chocolate to warm up.

Alsace - France
France takes a prominent spot when it comes to celebrations and the Alsace region is a dream to celebrate Christmas. Rich architecture, delicious food, beer, and wine make a formidable stay for Christmas.

Rovaniemi - Finland
If you want to celebrate Christmas than Rovaniemi should be the place to hop into for the festive season. Rovaniemi is the homeland of Santa and you can visit him at his secret office. Further, you can delve into ice-climbing and skiing in the rich snow.

Well, menachem, I guess you and I are to be pitied. I'll manage.

I love visiting the store window displays and seeing how the small towns around here decorate their streets and bridges with lights and ornaments. That has nothing to do with my dislike for the many Christmas markets I've visited, small and large, over-commercialised or not.