Christmas market an 1-1.5 hours from Calais??

[Dog Star]

vescaegg said:

I was thinking of doing this at Christmas. The missus has been pestering for years.

Is Bruges any good? I was told dont bother going to Europe unless you are going to Germany. Cologne looks like a good shout but its a flight away which I really cant be bothered with.

Bruges is nice and close

Cologne is only a few hours from Calais - but I believe Aachen is better.

Bruges is always nice - I can't imagine a Christmas market there not being very, er, Christmassy.

[mini me]

This looks like a really good idea. Ive got some points for a hotel in Antwerp which would mean I get an overnight for nothing too.

So whats the crack with respect to the xmas market. Do you just turn up? do you need to buy tickets for entry? Is there parking laid on nearby?

Cheers for the idea by the way. This could be a really nice weekend break for us.

[sunbeam alpine]

We live between Bruges and Ghent, and we either go to Cologne or Aachen for a good Christmas market.

I don't find Bruges Christmas market to be anything special - but maybe that's because it's just down the road, so it doesn't really feel like a special trip.

I wouldn't visit Antwerp unless I wanted to be robbed or murdered.

[Trustmeimadoctor]

we went last year to bruge it was terrible! leeds, birmingham have all been better than bruge, but bruge is a lot nicer as place than those so go to bruge as its a lovely place not for its markets

[Dog Star]

sunbeam alpine said:

I wouldn't visit Antwerp unless I wanted to be robbed or murdered.

Really? I love the place - it rocks. Great night out.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

sunbeam alpine said:

We live between Bruges and Ghent ... I wouldn't visit Antwerp unless I wanted to be robbed or murdered.

I bow to your knowledge of your neck of the woods, but ... really? The old town is really nice, and surely no more dangerous than any city?

[vescaegg]

Trustmeimadoctor said:

we went last year to bruge it was terrible! leeds, birmingham have all been better than bruge, but bruge is a lot nicer as place than those so go to bruge as its a lovely place not for its markets

Who knew doctors handwriting carried over to the internet.

[mcflurry]

I'd add an hour to your drive and go to Aachen

[Trustmeimadoctor]

vescaegg said:

Who knew doctors handwriting carried over to the internet.

Ha ha ha boom boom!

basically Bruges is not a good christmas market i have been to better ones in the uk. there is a decent christmas shop though called the white pelican

[Snowman23]

Great thread, I've been on Christmas Market trips 3 times, once to Dortmund (flew over), once to Brussels on the Saturday then Brugeson the Sunday, and once to Leuven (Saturday) and Bruges (Sunday)

I think the last was my favourite, Leuven is a great town (and the hour free bar at the end of the tour is worth the money...), with a really good market in the main square, the atmosphere was great, and there are loads of bars to go into when the cold starts to get to you

As the Doc says, Bruges is great, but the not the best for markets, it worked well for us on the Sunday, because it's a short hop back to Calais, and after a day of markets it's nice to mix it up a bit

This is making me want to go! Take loads of Christmas music for the car, it helps set the tone, and avoids the terrible, terrible French and Belgian radio

[Trustmeimadoctor]

when we went there was some crappy tshirt stalls some funny hats and plastic toys it really wasnt worth it
if you go get booked in at ribs n beer http://www.ribsnbeer.com/index.php/en/

[TVR keith]

deanogtv said:

I'm consider combining a Christmas market with a weekend away. My first choice would be Bruges as we both love the place and would happily return. Just wondering if anyone else knows of any decent markets in historic locations a hour and a half max from the tunnel

OP has obviously gone to near Europe
Where is he?