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-   -   Christmas Markets after Christmas in Germany / Austria / Denmark (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/christmas-markets-after-christmas-in-germany-austria-denmark-1718566/)

Manisha Nov 9th, 2023 10:10 AM

Christmas Markets after Christmas
 
Hello Fodorites!

Hope everyone is well! Our original Christmas vacations plan fell through at the last minute. I am now planning a last minute to Europe to visit the Christmas markets (always been a dream of mine!) Thinking Germany and perhaps Austria (open to suggestions!) Due to the kids school, we can only get there by December 25th. I understand most close by then. But I found a few that are open. Two questions (Apologies if these have been asked before. I did a search on the forums and couldn't find anything but perhaps I was using the wrong search terms):
  1. Has anyone been to Christmas markets post Christmas and does it live up to the pre-Christmas spirit/experience? Do the activities/lights/decorations, etc. dwindle down after Christmas?
  2. Does anyone have a recos to any Christmas markets that are open post Christmas. It doesn't have to be Germany. Open to other countries too.
These are a few I found online that are open post Christmas and they look magical. But not sure what the post-Christmas experience will be like:
  • https://www.visitduesseldorf.de/en/experience/events/christmas-market
  • https://www.braunschweig.de/weihnachtsmarkt_engl/index.php
  • https://www.tradefairdates.com/Christmas+market-M8413/Wolfsburg.html
  • https://www.burg-hohenzollern.com/event/items/winterzauber-2023.html
  • https://www.bielefeld.jetzt/weihnachtsmarkt
  • https://www.weihnachtswald.de/
  • https://www.hamburg-travel.com/see-explore/events/christmas-market-on-spitalerstrasse/?_ga=2.212552530.756997493.1696348700-1153260530.1696348700&_gl=1*fmener*_ga*MTE1MzI2MDU zMC4xNjk2MzQ4NzAw*_ga_G0SQ0BF5HQ*MTY5NjM0ODY5OS4xL jEuMTY5NjM1MTIzNi42MC4wLjA.
  • https://www.hamburg-travel.com/see-explore/events/christmas-market-at-the-church-of-st-petri/?_ga=2.215632977.756997493.1696348700-1153260530.1696348700&_gl=1*1jwoqeg*_ga*MTE1MzI2MD UzMC4xNjk2MzQ4NzAw*_ga_G0SQ0BF5HQ*MTY5NjM0ODY5OS4x LjEuMTY5NjM0OTMwOS4zMi4wLjA.
  • https://www.hamburg-travel.com/see-explore/events/christmas-market-on-jungfernstieg/?_gl=1*1pgyb4t*_ga*MTE1MzI2MDUzMC4xNjk2MzQ4NzAw*_g a_G0SQ0BF5HQ*MTY5NjM0ODY5OS4xLjEuMTY5NjM1MTYyMy42M C4wLjA.&_ga=2.244467523.756997493.1696348700-1153260530.1696348700

lavandula Nov 9th, 2023 12:12 PM

HI Manisha, I do have a few thoughts. Most of those cities are what I would think of as second cities without the markets. Hamburg is a big drawcard, though, and while Duesseldorf is a big city it's not my first choice for tourism. However it does have an amazing market. I have never been to a Christmas market after Christmas so I don't know if they run out of puff after Christmas or not.

So, say you went to Hamburg and Duesseldorf, with Wolfsburg and Braunschweig (close together) you could work in a trip to the Harz region. Braunschweig is not that interesting, but Wolfsburg has Volkswagen, which you can visit, and you could also visit Wolfenbuettel, just a quick trip on the train from Braunschweig, to see the town and if you are lucky, you might see the Gospels of Henry the Lion, an illuminated bible that once was the most expensive book in the world. It's only on display every two years, at the Duke August Library (Herzog August Bibliothek). You must of course also see Quedlinburg and Wernigerode. Quedlinburg is a UNESCO-listed town for its well-preserved Fachwerk houses and Wernigerode comes a close second. And Goslar is another town with a spectacularly-painted town square, but it is small.

In other countries Brussels has the Winter Wonders market and ice skating - both extend into early January.

Lavandula


Manisha Nov 9th, 2023 02:56 PM

Christmas Markets after Christmas in Germany / Austria / Denmark
 
Hello Fodorites!

Hope everyone is well! I posted this in the general Europe forum and could not figure out how to tag it. So posting it again with the names of countries in the title, hoping this will somehow get it tagged correctly.

Our original Christmas vacations plan fell through at the last minute. I am now planning a last minute to Europe to visit the Christmas markets (always been a dream of mine!) Thinking Germany, Austria, Denmark ( open to other suggestions!) Due to the kids school, we can only get there by December 25th. I understand most close by then. But I found a few that are open. Two questions (Apologies if these have been asked before. I did a search on the forums and couldn't find anything but perhaps I was using the wrong search terms):
  1. Has anyone been to Christmas markets post Christmas and does it live up to the pre-Christmas spirit/experience? Do the activities/lights/decorations, etc. dwindle down after Christmas?
  2. Does anyone have a recos to any Christmas markets that are open post Christmas. It doesn't have to be Germany. Open to other countries too.
These are a few I found online that are open post Christmas and they look magical. But not sure what the post-Christmas experience will be like:
  • https://www.visitduesseldorf.de/en/experience/events/christmas-market
  • https://www.braunschweig.de/weihnachtsmarkt_engl/index.php
  • https://www.tradefairdates.com/Christmas+market-M8413/Wolfsburg.html
  • https://www.burg-hohenzollern.com/event/items/winterzauber-2023.html
  • https://www.bielefeld.jetzt/weihnachtsmarkt
  • https://www.weihnachtswald.de/
  • https://www.hamburg-travel.com/see-explore/events/christmas-market-on-spitalerstrasse/?_ga=2.212552530.756997493.1696348700-1153260530.1696348700&_gl=1*fmener*_ga*MTE1MzI2MDU zMC4xNjk2MzQ4NzAw*_ga_G0SQ0BF5HQ*MTY5NjM0ODY5OS4xL jEuMTY5NjM1MTIzNi42MC4wLjA.
  • https://www.hamburg-travel.com/see-explore/events/christmas-market-at-the-church-of-st-petri/?_ga=2.215632977.756997493.1696348700-1153260530.1696348700&_gl=1*1jwoqeg*_ga*MTE1MzI2MD UzMC4xNjk2MzQ4NzAw*_ga_G0SQ0BF5HQ*MTY5NjM0ODY5OS4x LjEuMTY5NjM0OTMwOS4zMi4wLjA.
  • https://www.hamburg-travel.com/see-explore/events/christmas-market-on-jungfernstieg/?_gl=1*1pgyb4t*_ga*MTE1MzI2MDUzMC4xNjk2MzQ4NzAw*_g a_G0SQ0BF5HQ*MTY5NjM0ODY5OS4xLjEuMTY5NjM1MTYyMy42M C4wLjA.&_ga=2.244467523.756997493.1696348700-1153260530.1696348700

Manisha Nov 9th, 2023 02:57 PM

Hi lavandula,

Thank you so much for your insights and suggestions! I will take a look at these, thanks again!

Moderator1 Nov 9th, 2023 03:01 PM

Your two threads have been merged and country tags added

Melnq8 Nov 9th, 2023 03:27 PM

Salzburg's markets run until Jan 1. Yes, they're still festive, although fewer people, which is a good thing in my book.

goingthere2 Nov 9th, 2023 04:57 PM

It’s different for every city.
You’ll have to research and find those that are still open.
Mel is right - if open, still festive, fewer people, if you’re shopping, sometimes less selection of goods

Manisha Nov 11th, 2023 10:30 AM


Originally Posted by Moderator1 (Post 17508943)
Your two threads have been merged and country tags added

Thanks so much, moderator!

Manisha Nov 11th, 2023 10:31 AM

Thank you so much Melnq8 and goingthere2. I am feeling optimistic now! And excited about going!

Vienna111 Nov 13th, 2023 01:50 PM

Hi

It will be great for you to visit Vienna Austria .. all the Chrismas markets open and there are so many things to in Vienna






Manisha Nov 14th, 2023 09:39 AM

Vienna111 - Thanks so much for that recommendation! I looked into Vienna Christmas Markets and most of them close on 12/23 and 12/26. "Christmas Market Schloss Schönbrunn" is open until Jan 4th. We are restricted to fly into Germany first so may not make it there by the 26th. Do you know much about the Christmas Market Schloss Schönbrunn after Christmas?

Melnq8 Nov 14th, 2023 11:49 AM

Are you flying into Munich?

Manisha Nov 14th, 2023 03:01 PM

We are bound to Lufthansa so will need to fly in/out of Munich or Frankfurt. Right now, it is looking like we will fly out of Munich (so that we can visit Salzburg and hopefully Vienna).

nancyonthego Nov 14th, 2023 10:02 PM

The Prague main Christmas Markets are open daily from 2nd December 2023 to 6th January 2024, including on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.🎄 The main Christmas markets are held at the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, in the heart of the city. Smaller Christmas markets will close earlier.

Vienna111 Nov 15th, 2023 02:37 AM

Schonbrunn Christmas market open From 18 November 2023, to 4 January 2024,

Manisha Nov 16th, 2023 03:27 PM

nancyonthego - thanks so much!

Vienna111 - Yes, I saw that! Do you know much about that particular market (Schonbrunn Christmas market). It looks lovely in the pictures!


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