Can anyone help with information on the best Christmas Markets, I presume the German Markets will be the best bet, but which one to choose as there so many, and they need to have easy access to an airport.
Many thanks folks.

We will be able to tell you after Christmas. We are planning Heidelberg, Rothenburg. Munich and Salzberg. From what I have read so far the biggest ones are in Munich. Apparently there are several markets there including the big on at Marian Platz. I did see one comment on the market in Salzberg that the stuff for sale was expensive (more expensive than in the shops around the market).

The "easy access to an airport" bit might be a hindrance. I guess that rules out Salzburg, Landshut and Rotenburg and perhaps even Nuremberg.

The Munich markets are wonderful and would have good access to the airport, via the 40 minute train to the main train station.

I always liked the Vienna Christmas markets, but I can't recall access to the airport since we trained in.

Every article I've read about the makets Nuremberg was rated the highest. Towns with "traditional" markets are the best- rather than tose heavy with imported junky stuff ( no need to travel to Germany to pick up the same tat as sold on carts in most malls!). I really enjoyed Hamberg- great market, wonderful city. Munich is huge, but a lot of the stuff isn't that unique.
Do a search on here to find other threads on this topic for a listing of web sites.

www.whatsonwhen.com

is a site someone recently showed me that has all sorts of listings for festivals in various locations

We enjoyed the Christmas market in Colmar (Alsace) last year - very charming and authentic, and some great buys. But the airport access is the trick; we drove from Geneva in about 2.5 hours, I believe. You could probably connect into Strasbourg pretty readily, which would give access to all the markets in Alsace.

Nuremburg was my least favorite as it was so crowded. It's the only place we saw busloads of tourists. Of course, it didn't help that we visited on the opening weekend. Enjoyed the Salzburg market as well as the markets in Dusseldorf.

Two years ago I traveled to Germany for the Christmas markets. The Munich markets were very nice. Do not miss tasting the gluwein (sp?) Warms the soul! Rothenburg was well worth the trip, Kathe Wolfhart store was spectacular as was all of Rothenburg-worth staying overnight. Nuremburg was way too crowded for my taste - so many people it felt like I was being pushed along with the crowd. The Christmas markets are special...enjoy!

Just got a brochure for a tour of "Germany's Legendary Holiday Markets," and they are visiting:
Nuremberg, Bamberg, Rothenburg, and Wurzburg.

From my experience, Nurnberg is the most famous, and hence the most crowded/commercial, but take in the Toy Museum. Rothenburg is a year-round Xmas market and not to be missed (and not a bad drive from Frankfurt). Stuttgart's is very nice. But some of the best are little, small towns en route to more famous places! Someone in another post liked Heidelberg's the best (also not a bad drive from Frankfurt). If you go to Wurzburg be sure to take in a wine tasting as well.

If you fly into Stuttgart, you'd also be within a two hour drive of Alsace, Heidelberg, and Rothenburg. Don't know if you consider that "easy" or not!

Rosieuk, any more info you can give about your travel plans may help with info. Yes, Nuremburg is crowded, but it is something to experience. All the markets usually have a specialty. They have the Golden Angel and of course the famous gingerbread and the latern parade. I have not been to but heard good things about Stuttgart, Augsburg (close to Munich)Munich does have several markets, I am sure that the info office would have the other locations off Mplatz. MAny small towns have good markets that may have more crafts than the mass produced stuff you will find.

Amiens is said to have the biggest and best Christmas market in France.

I really liked the one in Bad Wimpfen. It's such a charming town and it was so pretty dressed for the holidays. Mannheim's is interesting and fairly spread out. I saw someone singing Falco's
Amadeus there - it was almost surreal. Heidelberg is my favorite, but that's because the town is my favorite. I didn't care for Nuremburg because it was too crowded. I ended up in an Irish pub instead. I'm looking forward to Stuttgart this year!

We spent a great deal of time with German relatives in 2002/2003 and visited numerous markets. Our favorite, hands down, was in Muenster in the north/central Germany. Muenster has a very attractive old town and the market had far more traditional, handcrafted items than we saw in other places (Nuremberg also had many traditional things, but the crowds were mind-numbingm however Nurember also has its own airport). It's a much less touristed city than Rothenburg, etc., and has a primarily German clientele. Easily reached by train from Dusseldorf airport (you don't say which airport)
One of the more interesting was in Dusseldorf. I realize that Dusseldorf isn't the most charming place in Germany, but its old town is lively and fun and the market had a lot of handcrafted, unique items (and more contemporary than traditional) from stands run by students and grads of Dusseldorf's renowned arts school.
Our least favorite was in Aachen (which is near an airport). Very crowded, not a good selection of merchandise (better to skip the market and concentrate on the stores in the old town around the cathedral).
If you're flying Ryanair, then Baden-Baden is worth a visit. The market is very pretty. Not a big selection of merchandise in the market itself, but excellent shopping throughout the town.
One suggestion: try to visit the markets on week-days and sightsee on the week-ends. Will cut down the crowd factor a lot.

My experience has been that the markets which appeal you the most, are those that match your expectations [duh!] Are you there to shop? If so, hit the biggies - Nuremburg, Rothenberg, etc. You hae to deal with the crowds but you do get the selection. If you are there to participate in the "geniality", go for Bad Wimpfen, Michelstadt, etc. They all are good. They are simply good in different ways. My preference is the Bad Wimpfens and Michelstadts as they are largely visited by people from the surrounding area and have a "warmth" that I like. However, if you are there to stock up on purchases, they might disappoint you and you'd be better off in the larger markets. Bottom line: they all are good - but they are different!

All of the info above is great, but the biggest piece of advice I can give is try to attend the markets during the weekdays (evenings included). We went to many markets during our four Decembers there and found the weekends to be overwhelmingly crowded.

Also, the other market we enjoyed but I didn't see mentioned is at Trier. The cathedral and Porta Nigra lit up at night is beautiful, and although I wouldn't recommend a great, long trip to get there, it's definitely worth a stop if you're nearby. Michelstadt was our favorite, but I would never go on a weekend again!

Have a wonderful time, and have a gluhwein for me!

The Vienna Market is great and there is a train that goes directly to the airport.

Dresden has a wonderful market as well however we drove there so don't know the access to their airport.