Hello!

My husband and I are planning a trip to Frankfurt from November 30- December 8th or 9th.
We have read the Frankfurt is absolutely beautiful in December for Christmastime. We plan on flying into Frankfurt and enjoy the beauty at Christmastime in Romerberg. Where else would be ideal to travel within Germany in this time period of about 8 days? We enjoy Christmas more than anything else but open to suggestions of other towns that are a must see.. I read that Nurenberg is lovely? What would be a sample itinerary that would allow us to enjoy Germany to the fullest being it is both our fist time there. We enjoy market, shopping, food, drink, immersing in culture..We plan on taking the train to reach other destinations. Thank you very much for your ideas and help

Is romerburg actually how you spell it? My best guess is Rothenburg, but maybe there is a Romerburg.

Nuremberg is awesome at Christmas. Better than Rothenburg. But it's busy.

I think since it's your first time, you should pick up a guidebook and decide less on the Christmas Markets and more on what interests you. And then decide how many nights in each place and how much traveling you really want to do.

In ten days, I visited Munich, Regensburg, Rothenburg, Erfurt , Dresden, Nuremberg. That was a little fast paced for me. Of those, Munich, Nuremberg and Dresden had the best markets. Rothenburg was the worst, but it does have an amazing Christmas store and it's a cute town with a terrific museum.

There are a few different ways you could do this, with 8 days. 8 days is ample to catch a train south and explore Bavaria (which would take in Nuremberg). I would also do Heidelberg and Bamberg if you go down this road. You could zip up the Rhine and do the Middle Rhine gorge for a few days. You could go north and do the Harz Mountains (Goslar, Wernigerode, Quedlinburg (amazing town, UNESCO World Heritage Site)), and if you're lucky you might get a little snow there. Or you could just stay in the Rhein-Main area, make Frankfurt your base and explore Hessen and Rheinland-Pfalz, as there is quite a bit to do in the area. There are good trip reports by texasbookworm that treat this area well:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...kfurt-area.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...htsmrktes-.cfm

For sure you have come at the right time for Christmas markets so you will definitely get a big dose of them. Many of the bigger cities like Cologne have multiple markets in different locations, with a slightly different flavour.

Lavandula

>Is romerburg actually how you spell it? My best guess is Rothenburg, but >maybe there is a Romerburg.

Yes, there is a Römerberg (also known as the Römer) - it's what remains of the old town in Frankfurt. And yes, it's pretty in winter because it hosts the Christmas market.

Lavandula

Frankfurt
Munich
Day trip to:
Nurnberg
Salzburg, Austria
Heidelberg -one of least damaged large cities from WW2 and in a lovely setting:

https://www.google.com/search?q=heid...w=1745&bih=863

Train to Frankfurt Airport (not far)

Trains are great - check www.bahn.de/en - German Railways official site for schedules and nifty discounts if you wish to book in stone early enough to get those limited in number tickets - cheapest way to go, along with using Bavaria Pass for any regional train trips in Bavaria (Nurnberg, Rothenberg, Fussen for Neuschwanstein Castle (possible day trip from Munich by train) - if wanting total flexibility to hop any train anytime then the German Twin Railpass would probably be a good deal and save money if taking 3-4 non-local trains - winter special 20% off - for lots on trains see www.seat61.com (adroit advice on booking your own online discounted train tickets); www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

Bavaria Pass which you buy in any train station - NO need to pre-purchase - valid on regional trains only: https://www.bahn.com/en/view/offers/...-tickets.shtml

laura -

I've organized a week long Christmas market trip for a group of women friends - also during the first week of December - all but two of us are first timers to Germany, so I put together this particular itinerary with them in mind:

We're flying into/out of Munich.

Three nights Bamberg with a day trip to Nuremburg
Two nights Rothenburg ob de Tauber
Two nights Munich

On a previous girls trip years ago, we flew into/out of Frankfurt, and spent a few nights in Rothenburg ob de Tabuer, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Munich as well as made day trips to
Neuschwanstein, the Zugzpitz and Mittenwald. Oddly enough, we didn't spend any time in Frankfurt though.

I've spent several Christmases in Germany and have been to many markets in many towns - they all have their own charms. Just an FYI - if you visit smaller towns, check their market dates - some small towns only have Christmas markets on the weekends or in some cases only on a particular weekend.

I have been to Frankfurt several times and though in other seasons it has vast nice parks the city center is due to war damage all rather boringly modern IMO - really nice to walk around on pedestrian shopping streets but not your dreamy town - like melanq8's smaller cities tend to be.

Frankfurf has major art museums and a wondrous Christmas Market and nice Sachenhausen district at night for its ballyhooed apple wine but two nights there would be my max - one night after landing and the next.

However if you want to base in Frankfurt there are some sweet smaller towns a short train ride away -Marburg, Speyer, Worms are three of the best (each with its own Christmas Market of course) and Heidelberg of course.

Correction, we flew into Frankfurt, out of Munich on the original girls trip.

I have a few trip reports posted here from our Christmas trips to Germany (and Switzerland) which may or may not help:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...e-170136-2.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...eutschland.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...witzerland.cfm

. I read that Nurenberg is lovely?>

Well not that lovely but a nice large city. I'd say base in Bamberg - a much dreamier city and day trip maybe to Nurnberg and Rothenburg as melanq8 says - Frankfurt for a few days and Bamberg and maybe Munich - 8 days ain't much.

Funny how some folks seem to either love Rothenberg or dislike it for being a heavily touristed place.

I'd take a train from Frankfurt Airport to your place farthest away - say Bamberg or Munich, etc. Base there and then come back to Frankfurt for few days before your departure -

anyway laura what do you think?