Christmas markets
Discussion
Hi all.
Trying to keep in the wifes' good books (married two years, running out of ideas... Lol) and I'm thinking of taking her to a Christmas market somewhere nice. Was thinking of a long weekend in Ireland, but I'm gravitating towards Germany now.
Having spent 5 years there while I was in the Army I really liked the place.
Has anyone any experience of such a trip to somewhere in Germany?
Where would folk recommend, based on experience?
There's a few at Stuttgart and I could plan in some car stuff, too!
Thanks in advance, Stuart.
Trying to keep in the wifes' good books (married two years, running out of ideas... Lol) and I'm thinking of taking her to a Christmas market somewhere nice. Was thinking of a long weekend in Ireland, but I'm gravitating towards Germany now.
Having spent 5 years there while I was in the Army I really liked the place.
Has anyone any experience of such a trip to somewhere in Germany?
Where would folk recommend, based on experience?
There's a few at Stuttgart and I could plan in some car stuff, too!
Thanks in advance, Stuart.
We do this every December. The weekend before Christmas we go away somewhere cold and full of markets, to get us in the festive mood.
Last year we did Vienna, which has the biggest and best markets of anywhere I've been. The year before was Berlin, which was great and obviously has loads of history to keep you busy. Copenhagen had lots of smaller markets but not much else to do.
Last year we did Vienna, which has the biggest and best markets of anywhere I've been. The year before was Berlin, which was great and obviously has loads of history to keep you busy. Copenhagen had lots of smaller markets but not much else to do.
Strasbourg, ok it's in France......just.
But being in the Alsace region it's arguably more German than French.
Lovely city and the Xmas market is glorious.
http://www.noel.strasbourg.eu/en
But being in the Alsace region it's arguably more German than French.
Lovely city and the Xmas market is glorious.
http://www.noel.strasbourg.eu/en
The Munich market is phenomenal, it just goes on and on in different squares and streets. Puts all others to shame! Is a really nice city to visit anyway, even outside of market time and oktoberfest. If going there I recommend staying at one of the Motel1 places, there are several of them, they're basic but clean and cheap.
Most German and Austrian cities seem to have good Christmas markets, including Berlin where it is spread over a lot of different squares again. A couple of years ago we tried Brussels at Christmas, and while the city as a whole is pretty boring, we were impressed with the market, which again leads from street to street and ends up at a big square with fairground rides etc. Easy to get to from London via Eurostar.
Most German and Austrian cities seem to have good Christmas markets, including Berlin where it is spread over a lot of different squares again. A couple of years ago we tried Brussels at Christmas, and while the city as a whole is pretty boring, we were impressed with the market, which again leads from street to street and ends up at a big square with fairground rides etc. Easy to get to from London via Eurostar.
kev1974 said:
The Munich market is phenomenal, it just goes on and on in different squares and streets. Puts all others to shame! Is a really nice city to visit anyway, even outside of market time and oktoberfest. If going there I recommend staying at one of the Motel1 places, there are several of them, they're basic but clean and cheap.
Most German and Austrian cities seem to have good Christmas markets, including Berlin where it is spread over a lot of different squares again. A couple of years ago we tried Brussels at Christmas, and while the city as a whole is pretty boring, we were impressed with the market, which again leads from street to street and ends up at a big square with fairground rides etc. Easy to get to from London via Eurostar.
I worked in Munich 2013/14 and had 2 Christmases there. Munich, whilst good is phenomenally packed every day. Nuremberg is much better and the Bavarians tend to agree. Cost of simple Christmas decorations is eye-watering!Most German and Austrian cities seem to have good Christmas markets, including Berlin where it is spread over a lot of different squares again. A couple of years ago we tried Brussels at Christmas, and while the city as a whole is pretty boring, we were impressed with the market, which again leads from street to street and ends up at a big square with fairground rides etc. Easy to get to from London via Eurostar.
GF and myself went to Cologne last year, just before 
nice short flight.
Stayed here, typical business hotel but very clean and the girl on the front desk had a great local knowledge http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/north-rhine-westp...
got a good deal from Booking.com
Only a 5 minutes walk from the Station, Main market, Cathedral. Breakfast and internet prices were shocking
though 25euros pp, we went to a lovely local bakers and had pastries, coffee etc for about 5euros each
7 different Markets all in walking distance from our hotel. Also the advantage of the local Kolsh beers
Some dates and info here http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/
nice short flight.Stayed here, typical business hotel but very clean and the girl on the front desk had a great local knowledge http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/north-rhine-westp...
got a good deal from Booking.com
Only a 5 minutes walk from the Station, Main market, Cathedral. Breakfast and internet prices were shocking
though 25euros pp, we went to a lovely local bakers and had pastries, coffee etc for about 5euros each7 different Markets all in walking distance from our hotel. Also the advantage of the local Kolsh beers
Some dates and info here http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/
I did a Christmas market tour thing in Italy with the missius a couple of years ago. We stayed at Riva Del Garda and went to the market in Bolzano (which was all right but nothing spectacular). However, the cable car up from Bolzano was brilliant, as was the day trip to Venice and the day trip to Verona. A bit different from the usual German mark trip, plus we got to see some other places at a quite time of year. The weather was amazing - 5 days of cloudless skies.
Bernkastel - Kues is my favourite. Go for the opening night 3rd Sat of November. Fly to Hahn, hire a car its only 30 mins away. Lovely area. Go ever Fri afternoon, come back Sunday ( German shops are all closed Sundays). Visit Trier Sat am then return for 4.30 Bernkastel opening.
I 'm Irish, visit Cork where I live for the food.
I 'm Irish, visit Cork where I live for the food.
majordad said:
Bernkastel - Kues is my favourite. Go for the opening night 3rd Sat of November. Fly to Hahn, hire a car its only 30 mins away. Lovely area. Go ever Fri afternoon, come back Sunday ( German shops are all closed Sundays). Visit Trier Sat am then return for 4.30 Bernkastel opening.
I 'm Irish, visit Cork where I live for the food.
That's a good tip! Bernkastel's not far from where I live, and Trier's only 30 mins.I 'm Irish, visit Cork where I live for the food.
I've not visited so many places that are still "local" to me. *hangheadinshame*
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