2015 Europe Xmas markets
Discussion
Really fancy going this year but have a few questions
1. How long do you need? 3 days min 5 tops?
2. We're thinking Vienna or Saltzberg or any of the German markets.
We want to go to the best one with snow really to make it magical
Are the two Austrian options the best or Germany is great - but they have loads of locations we have no idea how to whittle it down
3. Wife mentioned Lapland- I've heard very hit and miss on this especially the rip off pricing
1. How long do you need? 3 days min 5 tops?
2. We're thinking Vienna or Saltzberg or any of the German markets.
We want to go to the best one with snow really to make it magical
Are the two Austrian options the best or Germany is great - but they have loads of locations we have no idea how to whittle it down
3. Wife mentioned Lapland- I've heard very hit and miss on this especially the rip off pricing
In my opinion, once you've seen one, you've seen them all. Bear in mind I live in a city that has a lovely christmas market... but it's usually the same deal pretty much, wherever you go. I'd also suggest you don't need too long to enjoy a city break. And I doubt the presence of snow would make it nicer- bear in mind you'll be in the middle of a city with loads of people traipsing through wet black sludge as opposed to pristine white powder...
So I'd recommend going to a city where there are plenty of other wintery things to do besides checking out wooden carvings and mulled wine
So I'd recommend going to a city where there are plenty of other wintery things to do besides checking out wooden carvings and mulled wine
I agree with the post above. I went to the ones in Dresden (Germany's oldest christmas markets) last year and the ones in Manchester were pretty much a carbon copy. Wood carvings, Glühwein, mulled wine, pancakes with nutella on them. Nothing special other than it was full of Germans.
Lapland is good but the Russians have pushed the prices up alot.You can book everything your self for Levi and all accommadation bookings go through tourist information office www.levi.fi
We've done
Manchester - vastly overcrowded IMHO
Bath - amazing city and really nicely done for he market.
London - by far the best but somehow we spend £500 in a day 2 adults 2 young kids... Yes some drink some grub and then fairground rides and then picking up the odd thing here and there (but only so much you can carry in a pram).
Rouen - likes this one a lot bitterly cold lovely food and drink in all the pubs.
Think we will do Winchester too as it's only 40odd miles away.
Good points re the slushy snow
I think it's possibly we just fancy something different & im sure the kids will love it.
Manchester - vastly overcrowded IMHO
Bath - amazing city and really nicely done for he market.
London - by far the best but somehow we spend £500 in a day 2 adults 2 young kids... Yes some drink some grub and then fairground rides and then picking up the odd thing here and there (but only so much you can carry in a pram).
Rouen - likes this one a lot bitterly cold lovely food and drink in all the pubs.
Think we will do Winchester too as it's only 40odd miles away.
Good points re the slushy snow
I think it's possibly we just fancy something different & im sure the kids will love it.
You may want to consider Belgium.
We drove over to Bruges last year. Quite simple, picked the kids up from their last day at school on Friday 19th and drove to the Channel tunnel.
Booked a family room in Bruges (the hotel also had a swimming pool). The Xmas market as such wasn't that big, but the whole city experience, pre Xmas with decorations and real log fires in the bars etc was magical.
We are off to Ghent for three nights this year, setting off Saturday 19th December again. Family room in an independent hotel (with a swimming pool... see a pattern emerging!)
We drove over to Bruges last year. Quite simple, picked the kids up from their last day at school on Friday 19th and drove to the Channel tunnel.
Booked a family room in Bruges (the hotel also had a swimming pool). The Xmas market as such wasn't that big, but the whole city experience, pre Xmas with decorations and real log fires in the bars etc was magical.
We are off to Ghent for three nights this year, setting off Saturday 19th December again. Family room in an independent hotel (with a swimming pool... see a pattern emerging!)
The other half is/was into these so I've done a few..
We did Cologne last year - nicely spread out markets not too busy, some other things to do as well - reasonably priced, lots of other stuff to do incudinng the Lindt chocolate museum ;-)
Prague was very good - vienna,berlin and budapest less so - Although Berlin has lots that can be done as well. Prague castle is the pick of the bunch though, and was our cheapest city market break.
Manchester is too busy and crammed with drunk mancunians.
Bath as said before is very good, but very little if any cheaper than going abroad.
Getting around on public transport in the cities much easier in europe than the UK and interesting - especially on the old tram networks.
S.
We did Cologne last year - nicely spread out markets not too busy, some other things to do as well - reasonably priced, lots of other stuff to do incudinng the Lindt chocolate museum ;-)
Prague was very good - vienna,berlin and budapest less so - Although Berlin has lots that can be done as well. Prague castle is the pick of the bunch though, and was our cheapest city market break.
Manchester is too busy and crammed with drunk mancunians.
Bath as said before is very good, but very little if any cheaper than going abroad.
Getting around on public transport in the cities much easier in europe than the UK and interesting - especially on the old tram networks.
S.
Got a different one this year; we usually do a foreign market but this time we are going to go to Eindhoven for a friends birthday party - Ryanair from Manchester to Eindhoven on Friday the 18th and back on the Sunday.
I have no idea if there is any kind of Xmas market there. It'll be a good time no matter what, mind you.
I have no idea if there is any kind of Xmas market there. It'll be a good time no matter what, mind you.
swerni said:
AJB88 said:
I've done:
Manchester - its ok but crowded
Birmingham - IMHO better than Manchester
Southbank London - not bad
Winterwonderland London - massive just don't go on a saturday night it was a nightmare
Hoping to do either Poland,Austria this year.
DManchester - its ok but crowded
Birmingham - IMHO better than Manchester
Southbank London - not bad
Winterwonderland London - massive just don't go on a saturday night it was a nightmare
Hoping to do either Poland,Austria this year.
Southbank is s
t. It has about 8 different stalls that are just repeated in a different order selling the same crap. We did Portsmouth last year, was a Victorian Christmas market, it was quite good.
Always seem to be in Prague just before Christmas and love the markets out there.
Will try Birminham this year. Everyone seems to rave about it.
We went to Vienna a couple of years ago - really nice Christmas market over a few different sites and the Town hall looks great lit up at night. Plenty to do in town during the day with the Palaces and museums - if you get bored I guess you could also do a day trip to Budapest or trip down the Danube.
I worked in Munich in 2013/14 - There are around 6 differently themed markets around the city. Pretty good. The guys I worked with all agreed that Nurnburg was the place to go.
If you rent transport, Salzburg is 1hr South East, Garmisch (can get a train to the top of Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain) and Oberamergau about 1hr South West.
I'm off to Bruges on the 19th for a few days and to stock-up with wine for the holiday.....
If you rent transport, Salzburg is 1hr South East, Garmisch (can get a train to the top of Zugspitze, Germany's highest mountain) and Oberamergau about 1hr South West.
I'm off to Bruges on the 19th for a few days and to stock-up with wine for the holiday.....
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