I would like info on the Christmas markets in Germany.When they start/end and the best ones you've visited. Also hotels/pensiones you've stayed in while there.

There will be a site on the web with start dates as they vary each year. Last year was around Nov 28. <BR><BR>We have done them a few times and did again in 2001. We started at Rothenburg (very small market, but great town)). Stayed at the Markusturm which is reasonable, scenic and great owners.<BR><BR>The big one is Nuremburg. Go to their web site and be there for opening ceremonies. You won't understand the German but it is very pretty.<BR><BR>We also have made it to Munich downtown, Oberammergau, Salzburg and Innsbruck plus numerous other small towns.All are fun inn there own way. Forgot Heidelberg...good one also in the old town.<BR><BR>Best advice is to surf the net for opening info and plan from there. Nuremburg is considered the big one of all, I believe.

We have made Christmas markets in Wiesbaden, Bacharach, Heidelberg, Stuttgart (one of the best), Mannheim, Wurzburg, Rothenburg, Nuremberg, Munich, Garmisch, Salzburg, and Berchtesgaden. Some of the most enjoyable are in the smaller towns. They begin by the 10th of December and continue past Christmas. Weather can be cold since most are seen at night when they are lit up. The hot gluhwein will warm your bones! It is really a festive time. They must have enough Christmas ornaments to supply everyone on the planet with 20 each! Jinx Hoover

If you go the Nuremburg web site, try http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr. While it is not totally accurate, the translation is understandable. You paste in the language and choose the language to which you want it translated and it does so right there.<BR>You will love the Christmas markets. The gluhwein is great. I was at the ones in Vienna, Bratislava and Krakow and hope to see the ones in Germany soon.

I recently asked this question on my website - "Of all the Christmas Markets that you might have visited in Germany - which stand out as your favorites?". Here are some responses and additional links to Christmas Market sites - <BR>http://www.bavariaben.com/questionsandanswersnumber7.html<BR><BR>

hi there,<BR><BR>liked Jinx named it - there are christmas markets in nearly every town in south Germany. Most starting between 1. and 6. Dec, ending at 23. or 24. The biggest is in Stuttgart, the oldest in Nuernberg. Other very nice are in Strassburg, Augsburg, Vienna (ok, not Germany). For it is not holiday season it will be not problem to get a hotel/pernsion for a resp. price. <BR>have fun<BR>Gar

There are Christmas Markets in almost every town of any size, both north and south Germany. The most famous have already been mentioned by posters (esp. Nuremburg, which can be a real crush) but even the smallest markets are fun and can have more local and hand made products and foods. We try to hit as many as possible starting in late November to buy home and hand made presents, little ornaments for the tree and wooden toys for kids big and small.<BR><BR>The markets besides being part of local tradition are a way to extend "shopping" beyond the restrictive opening hours of german stores. Many markets are open beyond the 8pm weekly shop closing time limits, the 4pm max saturday times and are open on Sundays when no stores at all are open. <BR><BR>Rothenberg op der Tauber is a very popular market town. It is also the home of the mother of all christmas shops, Kaethe Wohlfahrt. You will see booths from this company at most major markets too, but the home base is Rothenberg. (See:www.wohlfahrt.de )....visit at your peril!!! And be prepared to part with a LOT of Euro. I swear each time I will be good, but, ah, the tree decorations, the Nutcrackers, the Candle Carrousels, the angels...<BR><BR>Not in Germany, but just over the Rhine, Strassburg has a great market too.<BR><BR>Judy in Germany<BR>

JI am studying this France, and plan to do one weekend trip to Germany for a Christmas market. I had wanted to go to Nuremburg, but as the train is looking to be much more expensive than I planned for, I'm also considering Stuttgart.<BR><BR>I knoa they both have great markets, so my question is, what else is there to do in Stuttgart? Enough to pass a weekend? Or should I just suck it up and pay the extra (about $50) for Nurmeburg?<BR><BR>Thanks, <BR><BR>Jen <BR>[email protected]

No need to go from France to Germany for a Christmas market. There are Christmas markets in Alsace. Christkindelsm&auml;rik in Strasbourg is one of the largest in Europe. There are also markets in Colmar, Selestat (where the Christmas tree was invented) and in many of the smaller towns and villages.

Surprisingly, Dusseldorf has an excellent Christmas market in its old town. The city has a highly respected arts/crafts school and many artisans connected to the school sell locally made high quality items. Dusseldorf doesn't usually catch the interest of people looking for Romantic Road type towns, but nonetheless, its old town is appealing (and really hops on week-ends--jazz bars, nightclubs, etc.).

I have been to a few Christmas markets in Germany: Kronberg, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, Nurenburg, Dresden, Michelstadt. Generally, I go for the small ones which tend to have nicer, more unique stands.<BR><BR>My favorite is Michelstadt in the Odenwald. It is small but really nice and still has a traditional feel. One section is dedicated completely to crafts - woodworkers, candlemakers, glassblowers, etc. This year it starts on Nov. 29 and goes until Dec. 22. Monday to Wed. 2pm to 8pm. Sat and Sun 11:30 to 8 pm.<BR>Another favorite of mine is Kronberg. It is in the Taunus just northwest of Frankfurt am Main. This year it is on Dec. 7 &amp; 8. It is very small but has some nice stands.<BR>Frankfurt am Main is quite a big market and also quite nice as far as big Christmas markets go. However, here you find the standard things - mass production items and lots of food stands. <BR>In Dresden there were several Christmas markets. The one near the Liebfrauen Church was nice. <BR><BR>In general, most of the big ones are quite commercial with all kinds of mass production stuff. For this reason I tend to stay away from them. Once you have seen one big Christmas market you have seen them all.<BR><BR><BR>

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung just posted an article called &quot;Sugar &amp; Spice&quot; which discusses Christmas Markets throughout Germany and gives highlights of most major markets. It can be found at www.faz.com - look under &quot;Living in Germany&quot; for the article (in English).<BR> The market in Dresden is the oldest, starting in 1434. This would be my first choice as Dresden is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe - I would bet it is just magical over the holidays. Have some gluhwein (also try some Feuerzangenbowle - described in article) and have a Happy Holiday!!

Top this one. They start next week and I will not be there! Damn!

Jen, you asked what else there was to do in Stuttgart. You might like to check: <BR>&gt;&gt;www.stuttgart-tourist.de&lt;&lt;<BR>There is also an English version.<BR><BR>My tips:<BR>See if you can get tickets for Roman Polanski's musical &quot;Dance of the Vampires&quot;. Easy to understand, even though it's in German.<BR>Have a look at the exhibition of Nativity models in the town hall.<BR>Go to the zoo and watch the polar bears or visit the butterfly house (among other things). <BR>Go shopping (or just window-shopping) in Breuninger. Expensive, but every bit as well-stocked as Selfridges or Harrods in London.<BR>Go to the State Art Gallery - modern art and an architectural eye-opener.<BR>Visit the Porsche or the Mercedes-Benz Museum.<BR>Go to one of the hot spas.<BR>Spend an evening in a wine reataurant in Bad Cannstadt.<BR>In short - check out the website. (You have to scroll down a bit, as the tourist spots aren't immediately visible.)<BR>