Christmas markets itinerary
Jan 9th, 2020 | 01:08 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 38
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Christmas markets itinerary
Hi. Wife and me are planning a 10 day trip to Europe in December 2020. I know it's too early but we have some vouchers which we need to use now. We want to visit Christmas markets for 4 days keeping either Munich or Basel as the base followed by 6 days in London. We have narrowed down on 2 itineraries.
Option 1
Stay in Munich and make the following daytrip:
Day 1 : Bamberg & Nuremburg
Day 2 : Salzburg.
We would like to spend the remaining 2 full days in Munich to explore the city.
Option 2
Stay in Basel and make the following day trips.
Day 1 : Freiburg
Day 2 : Strasbourg & Colmar
Day 3 : Bern
Spend 1 day in Basel exploring the city.
We are not big into museums. We want to explore the city on foot and see the main sites. The main agenda is to see the Christmas markets and visit the various food/wine stalls and get the traditional Christmas vibe. Dont need a city with shopping since we have allotted that time in London post the Christmas markets. Would love to see a white Christmas somewhere although I'm not sure if that's possible. We are planning to visit the markets from 18th - 22nd December.We have already booked London for 6 days post that.
looking forward to suggestion.
Thank you in advance
Option 1
Stay in Munich and make the following daytrip:
Day 1 : Bamberg & Nuremburg
Day 2 : Salzburg.
We would like to spend the remaining 2 full days in Munich to explore the city.
Option 2
Stay in Basel and make the following day trips.
Day 1 : Freiburg
Day 2 : Strasbourg & Colmar
Day 3 : Bern
Spend 1 day in Basel exploring the city.
We are not big into museums. We want to explore the city on foot and see the main sites. The main agenda is to see the Christmas markets and visit the various food/wine stalls and get the traditional Christmas vibe. Dont need a city with shopping since we have allotted that time in London post the Christmas markets. Would love to see a white Christmas somewhere although I'm not sure if that's possible. We are planning to visit the markets from 18th - 22nd December.We have already booked London for 6 days post that.
looking forward to suggestion.
Thank you in advance
Jan 9th, 2020 | 07:41 AM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,969
Likes: 0
When we do a Christmas market centric trip, the itinerary is very different from other kind of trips.
The markets are prettiest during at night and there is not much to do in terms of usual outdoor venues and the opening hours of indoor venues are also shorter. What we end up doing are much shorter stays in each cities like one nighters, something we don't do at other times of the year. But it worked well for Christmas markets. Move between cities late morning. Arrive around lunch time, do a few in door things, and visit Christmas market at night and then move on the next day.
If you do visit markets at night, you will find that you will probably have to eat dinner in the city of the market, which in turn makes returning back to home base much later at night. That makes Salzburg from Munich much tougher to do. We have covered Nuremberg, Munich, and Salzburg in one of our Christmas market trip. We landed in Nuremberg, visited its market along with Bamberg which is a trivial trip from Nuremberg. Moved onto Salzburg from Nuremberg during late morning, visited Salzburg markets at night, then moved onto Munich the next day late morning. We travel light so moving around everyday was not difficult at all when there was not much to do in the early mornings at this time of the year.
The markets are prettiest during at night and there is not much to do in terms of usual outdoor venues and the opening hours of indoor venues are also shorter. What we end up doing are much shorter stays in each cities like one nighters, something we don't do at other times of the year. But it worked well for Christmas markets. Move between cities late morning. Arrive around lunch time, do a few in door things, and visit Christmas market at night and then move on the next day.
If you do visit markets at night, you will find that you will probably have to eat dinner in the city of the market, which in turn makes returning back to home base much later at night. That makes Salzburg from Munich much tougher to do. We have covered Nuremberg, Munich, and Salzburg in one of our Christmas market trip. We landed in Nuremberg, visited its market along with Bamberg which is a trivial trip from Nuremberg. Moved onto Salzburg from Nuremberg during late morning, visited Salzburg markets at night, then moved onto Munich the next day late morning. We travel light so moving around everyday was not difficult at all when there was not much to do in the early mornings at this time of the year.
Jan 10th, 2020 | 12:43 AM
#4
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
When we do a Christmas market centric trip, the itinerary is very different from other kind of trips.
The markets are prettiest during at night and there is not much to do in terms of usual outdoor venues and the opening hours of indoor venues are also shorter. What we end up doing are much shorter stays in each cities like one nighters, something we don't do at other times of the year. But it worked well for Christmas markets. Move between cities late morning. Arrive around lunch time, do a few in door things, and visit Christmas market at night and then move on the next day.
If you do visit markets at night, you will find that you will probably have to eat dinner in the city of the market, which in turn makes returning back to home base much later at night. That makes Salzburg from Munich much tougher to do. We have covered Nuremberg, Munich, and Salzburg in one of our Christmas market trip. We landed in Nuremberg, visited its market along with Bamberg which is a trivial trip from Nuremberg. Moved onto Salzburg from Nuremberg during late morning, visited Salzburg markets at night, then moved onto Munich the next day late morning. We travel light so moving around everyday was not difficult at all when there was not much to do in the early mornings at this time of the year.
The markets are prettiest during at night and there is not much to do in terms of usual outdoor venues and the opening hours of indoor venues are also shorter. What we end up doing are much shorter stays in each cities like one nighters, something we don't do at other times of the year. But it worked well for Christmas markets. Move between cities late morning. Arrive around lunch time, do a few in door things, and visit Christmas market at night and then move on the next day.
If you do visit markets at night, you will find that you will probably have to eat dinner in the city of the market, which in turn makes returning back to home base much later at night. That makes Salzburg from Munich much tougher to do. We have covered Nuremberg, Munich, and Salzburg in one of our Christmas market trip. We landed in Nuremberg, visited its market along with Bamberg which is a trivial trip from Nuremberg. Moved onto Salzburg from Nuremberg during late morning, visited Salzburg markets at night, then moved onto Munich the next day late morning. We travel light so moving around everyday was not difficult at all when there was not much to do in the early mornings at this time of the year.
Strasbourg /Munich / Salzburg /Basel ?
Last edited by akatop; Jan 10th, 2020 at 12:47 AM.
Jan 10th, 2020 | 03:15 AM
#5
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 26
We lived in Vienna for seven years (until last summer) and so my thoughts on Christmas markets should be taken within that context. "Christmas Market Fatigue" can be real, so it pays to do some homework in advance. As mentioned above, the markets really are more enjoyable from the late afternoon onward; the combination of the lights, sounds, and aromas are what makes each special. During the day it is possible there will be school groups at the big markets along with all of the tourists, and sometimes that combination can feel overwhelming.
Also, perhaps investigate whether there are any "special" markets for the dates of travel. Over time we found that the "one weekend only" or a market in a small town was cozier and less "commercial" than some of the markets in the more well-traveled destinations.
I looked back on my notes for the markets in Salzburg, Munich and Nuremberg if they might be of help. If you decide on Salzburg, do make the effort for the market at Schloss Hellbrunn and especially the Wolfgangseer Advent (my trip report). Happy Planning!
Salzburg
Mirabellplatz. Definitely the most traditional market of the holiday, with lovely fresh and seasonal floral arrangements at one stall that I regret not purchasing. However, the market was very small.
The Christkindlmarkt at Dom and Residenzplatz. Refreshingly uncommercial compared to Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt. We enjoyed a small snack of Bauern Krapfen (flat, fried doughnuts topped (in our case) with garlic and a little bit of sauerkraut—an acquired taste, to be sure). One of the tall, cylindrical market mugs also came home with us.
At this market I also found my beloved Schneeball, another acquired taste of fried dough strips wrapped into a ball and covered with sugar powder. We had discovered the Bauern Krapfen in Innsbruck last year (where it is known as “Kiachl”) and the Schneeball in Bavaria on a trip several years earlier, and were happy to meet up again with these yummy friends.
SternAdvent at Stern Brau. Hands down, our favorite market of those we visited in Salzburg’s AltStadt. The setting was enchanting, and the stalls were filled with unique handcrafted items. Several purchases were made at this market. Walking back to our vehicle from the market, we passed a Käse Hütte offering cheeses from Vorarlberg, and combined with some Wild (Deer) Salami, a couple of baguettes and a crisp Weiss Burgundy from the grocery, dinner was born.
Munich
Christmas Village at Munich Residenz. Described as a “recreated farming village” in the courtyard, to us it was indistinguishable from any small and pleasant market we have visited. A large Christmas pyramid and the lighting made the market festive at night; and the storybook scenes were enjoyable to walk through even with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
The Munich Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz met all of the criteria of a major European city’s showcase market: a spectacular setting (in front of Rathaus), a large Christmas tree strung with twinkling lights; and striking wooden pyramids with eye-popping pricetags. Of course, the €460, five-tier pyramid was the one I admired the most, but with not an ounce of German in our heritage, we passed. If there were 10 straw ornaments to choose from, there were 10.000! But, at a mere Euro or two each, I easily added a few dozen to our tree without breaking the bank. Many, many sweets stalls to choose from, though the savory food choices were a little lacking.
Nürnberg Christmas Market
We have the fortunate advantage of living in Europe and are spoiled by the number and variety of Christmas markets; this makes us sometimes a little choosier and perhaps a little more critical of the market offerings than a first-time visitor. With that caveat I can write that Nürnberg did not disappoint! We arrived on a Sunday, three days before Christmas, and explored the section of the market hosted by the “Sister Cities” of Nürnberg first. Lavender products from Nice; handmade ties and scarves from Scotland; intricate Matruschka dolls from Ukraine, and so forth. The stall from Macedonia amused us; there were no gifts or comestibles from the nation on display or for purchase—the representative had merely set up a bar! Conversely, the stall from Atlanta, GA disappointed us. Thinking “Coca-Cola” products, all that was on display was Kool-Aid, M&Ms, and Hershey products.
By this time we were near to the lunch reservations I had made, and so we sat for a rather ordinary but perfectly satisfactory lunch at an Italian restaurant on the square. The reservations were our lifesaver; by the time we left there was not an empty table available. And when we stepped outside into the market, the perfect Christmas market storm of sunny weather and the proximity to the holiday meant there was not a free cobblestone to walk upon. There was a line simply to enter the Käthe Wohlfahrt store! We heaved to and fro with fellow marketgoers, thoroughly exhausted by the time we found our way back to the car. The experience was grand, mostly because we had no agenda and were not under any pressure to find last-minute gifts.
Also, perhaps investigate whether there are any "special" markets for the dates of travel. Over time we found that the "one weekend only" or a market in a small town was cozier and less "commercial" than some of the markets in the more well-traveled destinations.
I looked back on my notes for the markets in Salzburg, Munich and Nuremberg if they might be of help. If you decide on Salzburg, do make the effort for the market at Schloss Hellbrunn and especially the Wolfgangseer Advent (my trip report). Happy Planning!
Salzburg
Mirabellplatz. Definitely the most traditional market of the holiday, with lovely fresh and seasonal floral arrangements at one stall that I regret not purchasing. However, the market was very small.
The Christkindlmarkt at Dom and Residenzplatz. Refreshingly uncommercial compared to Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt. We enjoyed a small snack of Bauern Krapfen (flat, fried doughnuts topped (in our case) with garlic and a little bit of sauerkraut—an acquired taste, to be sure). One of the tall, cylindrical market mugs also came home with us.
At this market I also found my beloved Schneeball, another acquired taste of fried dough strips wrapped into a ball and covered with sugar powder. We had discovered the Bauern Krapfen in Innsbruck last year (where it is known as “Kiachl”) and the Schneeball in Bavaria on a trip several years earlier, and were happy to meet up again with these yummy friends.
SternAdvent at Stern Brau. Hands down, our favorite market of those we visited in Salzburg’s AltStadt. The setting was enchanting, and the stalls were filled with unique handcrafted items. Several purchases were made at this market. Walking back to our vehicle from the market, we passed a Käse Hütte offering cheeses from Vorarlberg, and combined with some Wild (Deer) Salami, a couple of baguettes and a crisp Weiss Burgundy from the grocery, dinner was born.
Munich
Christmas Village at Munich Residenz. Described as a “recreated farming village” in the courtyard, to us it was indistinguishable from any small and pleasant market we have visited. A large Christmas pyramid and the lighting made the market festive at night; and the storybook scenes were enjoyable to walk through even with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
The Munich Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz met all of the criteria of a major European city’s showcase market: a spectacular setting (in front of Rathaus), a large Christmas tree strung with twinkling lights; and striking wooden pyramids with eye-popping pricetags. Of course, the €460, five-tier pyramid was the one I admired the most, but with not an ounce of German in our heritage, we passed. If there were 10 straw ornaments to choose from, there were 10.000! But, at a mere Euro or two each, I easily added a few dozen to our tree without breaking the bank. Many, many sweets stalls to choose from, though the savory food choices were a little lacking.
Nürnberg Christmas Market
We have the fortunate advantage of living in Europe and are spoiled by the number and variety of Christmas markets; this makes us sometimes a little choosier and perhaps a little more critical of the market offerings than a first-time visitor. With that caveat I can write that Nürnberg did not disappoint! We arrived on a Sunday, three days before Christmas, and explored the section of the market hosted by the “Sister Cities” of Nürnberg first. Lavender products from Nice; handmade ties and scarves from Scotland; intricate Matruschka dolls from Ukraine, and so forth. The stall from Macedonia amused us; there were no gifts or comestibles from the nation on display or for purchase—the representative had merely set up a bar! Conversely, the stall from Atlanta, GA disappointed us. Thinking “Coca-Cola” products, all that was on display was Kool-Aid, M&Ms, and Hershey products.
By this time we were near to the lunch reservations I had made, and so we sat for a rather ordinary but perfectly satisfactory lunch at an Italian restaurant on the square. The reservations were our lifesaver; by the time we left there was not an empty table available. And when we stepped outside into the market, the perfect Christmas market storm of sunny weather and the proximity to the holiday meant there was not a free cobblestone to walk upon. There was a line simply to enter the Käthe Wohlfahrt store! We heaved to and fro with fellow marketgoers, thoroughly exhausted by the time we found our way back to the car. The experience was grand, mostly because we had no agenda and were not under any pressure to find last-minute gifts.
ption 1 It is magical. You will love Munich. We booked our hotels about 6 months in advance and the price was not that bad. We stayed very close to a passageway that led to the Hofbrau house. Nurnberg, love Hotel Victoria.
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Jan 13th, 2020 | 03:57 AM
#8
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
We lived in Vienna for seven years (until last summer) and so my thoughts on Christmas markets should be taken within that context. "Christmas Market Fatigue" can be real, so it pays to do some homework in advance. As mentioned above, the markets really are more enjoyable from the late afternoon onward; the combination of the lights, sounds, and aromas are what makes each special. During the day it is possible there will be school groups at the big markets along with all of the tourists, and sometimes that combination can feel overwhelming.
Also, perhaps investigate whether there are any "special" markets for the dates of travel. Over time we found that the "one weekend only" or a market in a small town was cozier and less "commercial" than some of the markets in the more well-traveled destinations.
I looked back on my notes for the markets in Salzburg, Munich and Nuremberg if they might be of help. If you decide on Salzburg, do make the effort for the market at Schloss Hellbrunn and especially the Wolfgangseer Advent (my trip report). Happy Planning!
Salzburg
Mirabellplatz. Definitely the most traditional market of the holiday, with lovely fresh and seasonal floral arrangements at one stall that I regret not purchasing. However, the market was very small.
The Christkindlmarkt at Dom and Residenzplatz. Refreshingly uncommercial compared to Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt. We enjoyed a small snack of Bauern Krapfen (flat, fried doughnuts topped (in our case) with garlic and a little bit of sauerkraut—an acquired taste, to be sure). One of the tall, cylindrical market mugs also came home with us.
At this market I also found my beloved Schneeball, another acquired taste of fried dough strips wrapped into a ball and covered with sugar powder. We had discovered the Bauern Krapfen in Innsbruck last year (where it is known as “Kiachl”) and the Schneeball in Bavaria on a trip several years earlier, and were happy to meet up again with these yummy friends.
SternAdvent at Stern Brau. Hands down, our favorite market of those we visited in Salzburg’s AltStadt. The setting was enchanting, and the stalls were filled with unique handcrafted items. Several purchases were made at this market. Walking back to our vehicle from the market, we passed a Käse Hütte offering cheeses from Vorarlberg, and combined with some Wild (Deer) Salami, a couple of baguettes and a crisp Weiss Burgundy from the grocery, dinner was born.
Munich
Christmas Village at Munich Residenz. Described as a “recreated farming village” in the courtyard, to us it was indistinguishable from any small and pleasant market we have visited. A large Christmas pyramid and the lighting made the market festive at night; and the storybook scenes were enjoyable to walk through even with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
The Munich Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz met all of the criteria of a major European city’s showcase market: a spectacular setting (in front of Rathaus), a large Christmas tree strung with twinkling lights; and striking wooden pyramids with eye-popping pricetags. Of course, the €460, five-tier pyramid was the one I admired the most, but with not an ounce of German in our heritage, we passed. If there were 10 straw ornaments to choose from, there were 10.000! But, at a mere Euro or two each, I easily added a few dozen to our tree without breaking the bank. Many, many sweets stalls to choose from, though the savory food choices were a little lacking.
Nürnberg Christmas Market
We have the fortunate advantage of living in Europe and are spoiled by the number and variety of Christmas markets; this makes us sometimes a little choosier and perhaps a little more critical of the market offerings than a first-time visitor. With that caveat I can write that Nürnberg did not disappoint! We arrived on a Sunday, three days before Christmas, and explored the section of the market hosted by the “Sister Cities” of Nürnberg first. Lavender products from Nice; handmade ties and scarves from Scotland; intricate Matruschka dolls from Ukraine, and so forth. The stall from Macedonia amused us; there were no gifts or comestibles from the nation on display or for purchase—the representative had merely set up a bar! Conversely, the stall from Atlanta, GA disappointed us. Thinking “Coca-Cola” products, all that was on display was Kool-Aid, M&Ms, and Hershey products.
By this time we were near to the lunch reservations I had made, and so we sat for a rather ordinary but perfectly satisfactory lunch at an Italian restaurant on the square. The reservations were our lifesaver; by the time we left there was not an empty table available. And when we stepped outside into the market, the perfect Christmas market storm of sunny weather and the proximity to the holiday meant there was not a free cobblestone to walk upon. There was a line simply to enter the Käthe Wohlfahrt store! We heaved to and fro with fellow marketgoers, thoroughly exhausted by the time we found our way back to the car. The experience was grand, mostly because we had no agenda and were not under any pressure to find last-minute gifts.
Also, perhaps investigate whether there are any "special" markets for the dates of travel. Over time we found that the "one weekend only" or a market in a small town was cozier and less "commercial" than some of the markets in the more well-traveled destinations.
I looked back on my notes for the markets in Salzburg, Munich and Nuremberg if they might be of help. If you decide on Salzburg, do make the effort for the market at Schloss Hellbrunn and especially the Wolfgangseer Advent (my trip report). Happy Planning!
Salzburg
Mirabellplatz. Definitely the most traditional market of the holiday, with lovely fresh and seasonal floral arrangements at one stall that I regret not purchasing. However, the market was very small.
The Christkindlmarkt at Dom and Residenzplatz. Refreshingly uncommercial compared to Vienna’s Christkindlmarkt. We enjoyed a small snack of Bauern Krapfen (flat, fried doughnuts topped (in our case) with garlic and a little bit of sauerkraut—an acquired taste, to be sure). One of the tall, cylindrical market mugs also came home with us.
At this market I also found my beloved Schneeball, another acquired taste of fried dough strips wrapped into a ball and covered with sugar powder. We had discovered the Bauern Krapfen in Innsbruck last year (where it is known as “Kiachl”) and the Schneeball in Bavaria on a trip several years earlier, and were happy to meet up again with these yummy friends.
SternAdvent at Stern Brau. Hands down, our favorite market of those we visited in Salzburg’s AltStadt. The setting was enchanting, and the stalls were filled with unique handcrafted items. Several purchases were made at this market. Walking back to our vehicle from the market, we passed a Käse Hütte offering cheeses from Vorarlberg, and combined with some Wild (Deer) Salami, a couple of baguettes and a crisp Weiss Burgundy from the grocery, dinner was born.
Munich
Christmas Village at Munich Residenz. Described as a “recreated farming village” in the courtyard, to us it was indistinguishable from any small and pleasant market we have visited. A large Christmas pyramid and the lighting made the market festive at night; and the storybook scenes were enjoyable to walk through even with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
The Munich Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz met all of the criteria of a major European city’s showcase market: a spectacular setting (in front of Rathaus), a large Christmas tree strung with twinkling lights; and striking wooden pyramids with eye-popping pricetags. Of course, the €460, five-tier pyramid was the one I admired the most, but with not an ounce of German in our heritage, we passed. If there were 10 straw ornaments to choose from, there were 10.000! But, at a mere Euro or two each, I easily added a few dozen to our tree without breaking the bank. Many, many sweets stalls to choose from, though the savory food choices were a little lacking.
Nürnberg Christmas Market
We have the fortunate advantage of living in Europe and are spoiled by the number and variety of Christmas markets; this makes us sometimes a little choosier and perhaps a little more critical of the market offerings than a first-time visitor. With that caveat I can write that Nürnberg did not disappoint! We arrived on a Sunday, three days before Christmas, and explored the section of the market hosted by the “Sister Cities” of Nürnberg first. Lavender products from Nice; handmade ties and scarves from Scotland; intricate Matruschka dolls from Ukraine, and so forth. The stall from Macedonia amused us; there were no gifts or comestibles from the nation on display or for purchase—the representative had merely set up a bar! Conversely, the stall from Atlanta, GA disappointed us. Thinking “Coca-Cola” products, all that was on display was Kool-Aid, M&Ms, and Hershey products.
By this time we were near to the lunch reservations I had made, and so we sat for a rather ordinary but perfectly satisfactory lunch at an Italian restaurant on the square. The reservations were our lifesaver; by the time we left there was not an empty table available. And when we stepped outside into the market, the perfect Christmas market storm of sunny weather and the proximity to the holiday meant there was not a free cobblestone to walk upon. There was a line simply to enter the Käthe Wohlfahrt store! We heaved to and fro with fellow marketgoers, thoroughly exhausted by the time we found our way back to the car. The experience was grand, mostly because we had no agenda and were not under any pressure to find last-minute gifts.
Jan 13th, 2020 | 07:11 PM
#11
Original Poster
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
So we have finalized our trip. We will be spending 4 nights in Munich with the following itinerary :
Day 1 : Munich
Day 2 : Daytrip to Salzburg & St Gilgen.
Day 3 : Daytrip to Bamberg & Nuremburg
Day 4 : Munich
Followed by 6 days in London.
Does the Germany bit sound very aggressive or is it doable ?
Day 1 : Munich
Day 2 : Daytrip to Salzburg & St Gilgen.
Day 3 : Daytrip to Bamberg & Nuremburg
Day 4 : Munich
Followed by 6 days in London.
Does the Germany bit sound very aggressive or is it doable ?
Jan 13th, 2020 | 07:33 PM
#12
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,350
Likes: 0
We just visited the Christmas markets last month. We flew into Munich, trained immediately to Regensburg for two nights, which we absolutely loved. The markets, especially the one at the castle were just lovely. We next trained to Nuremberg. We really enjoyed the market in Nuremberg on Friday afternoon and evening, but NOT on Saturday...literally wall to wall people...we shuffled about...not enjoyable. We day tripped to Rothenburg and then moved on to Esslingen for our last three nights. We loved Esslingen and the Medieval Market.
My only suggestion is to plan on visiting the markets during the week and NOT on the weekends....it is much more enjoyable when there isn't a wall of people everywhere you go. Enjoy....it is a wonderful experience!!
My only suggestion is to plan on visiting the markets during the week and NOT on the weekends....it is much more enjoyable when there isn't a wall of people everywhere you go. Enjoy....it is a wonderful experience!!
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