Christmas markets.
Discussion
After a day in York yesterday with daughter and friends it was decided that a trip to a Christmas market in Germany needs to be planned for next year.
Has anyone any experience of visiting any particular Christmas market in Germany? Initial impressions seem to imply that there is a big market in Cologne each year , anybody been?
Has anyone any experience of visiting any particular Christmas market in Germany? Initial impressions seem to imply that there is a big market in Cologne each year , anybody been?
.Le TVR said:
Was in Cologne a few weeks ago and there were at least 3 Christmas markets in the city, best one was around the cathedral. And yes there was Glüwein everywhere!
Entrance to cathedral market.
Thanks for that , certainly looks the part. Any idea, (roughly) , the number of stands? Entrance to cathedral market.
Edited by Le TVR on Saturday 17th December 12:39
There are at least 7 Christmas market locations in Cologne.
I've found that English friends who visit them often come back with very different opinions of them, and I wonder whether it's an expectation thing? Whilst there are stalls selling various Christmas decorations and gifts etc, the main point of them is to get people out and socialising. So it's very much about the food and drink and standing about scoffing and boozing and chatting with friends, workmates etc.
Maybe some visitors are expecting something more akin to an English market where it's much more about buying cheap, imported goods? I think the larger the group of you that goes, the more you'll enjoy it, else you might find it quite boring after an hour.
I certainly think Cologne is a good city to experience them though.
I've found that English friends who visit them often come back with very different opinions of them, and I wonder whether it's an expectation thing? Whilst there are stalls selling various Christmas decorations and gifts etc, the main point of them is to get people out and socialising. So it's very much about the food and drink and standing about scoffing and boozing and chatting with friends, workmates etc.
Maybe some visitors are expecting something more akin to an English market where it's much more about buying cheap, imported goods? I think the larger the group of you that goes, the more you'll enjoy it, else you might find it quite boring after an hour.
I certainly think Cologne is a good city to experience them though.
Bernkastel-Kues, opens third Saturday in November with a parade, and on the first Saturday in December there the swim in the dark in hte nearby Mossel River holding candles. Fly Ryanair to Hahn, and hire a car for the 30min drive to Bernkastel. For your Gluewhein which costs €3.50 pay €.50 extra for an added tot of rum or brandy !
Hosenbugler said:
After a day in York yesterday with daughter and friends it was decided that a trip to a Christmas market in Germany needs to be planned for next year.
Has anyone any experience of visiting any particular Christmas market in Germany? Initial impressions seem to imply that there is a big market in Cologne each year , anybody been?
they are only loosely related to the UK ones. In Germany they are nice, festive, family events. In the UK they are council pissfests. The Austrian ones are possibly nicer than the German ones?Has anyone any experience of visiting any particular Christmas market in Germany? Initial impressions seem to imply that there is a big market in Cologne each year , anybody been?
V8mate said:
I think the larger the group of you that goes, the more you'll enjoy it, else you might find it quite boring after an hour.
We did Brussels with a group of 5 this year and that rings very true. Great evenings out eating, drinking, and talking nonsense. Also Brussels for some reason has seesaws everywhere that become great catapults when you put a skinny mate on the other end 
ATG said:
I'd hazard a guess that Salzburg would be worth a visit. Dunno what Bernkastel-Kues is like at Christmas, but by pure chance I was their during its annual wine festival when I was 18 ... and I have never had any recollection of it whatsoever.
salzburg is pretty amazing actually. I went there maybe 15 years ago and it started to snow whilst we were out and about. Bit of a nightmare transfer from Munich, think 3hrs. I'm sure you can get more convenient flights now.Thanks everyone for the observations. Decisons, decisions. Interesting perspective regarding Austria. The only overseas Christmas market I've actually attended was in Budapest, some years ago. Was enjoyable, but not that big, relatively minor compared to the like of the bash in Lincoln.
I'll pass on your comments to others concerned, we have a while yet to make confirmed decisons
I'll pass on your comments to others concerned, we have a while yet to make confirmed decisons
sidekickdmr said:
Are you planning to drive or fly?
If you are flying, go to Berlin, biggest Xmas market in Germany.
If you are Driving go to Cologne, about 3-4 really good xmas markets, main one being under the cathedral.
Recommend a stop off at Bruges on the way too, lovely city.
I'd imagine that we'll fly. We did consider Eurostar (depending on venue) but that means going to London, so not a popular choice. If you are flying, go to Berlin, biggest Xmas market in Germany.
If you are Driving go to Cologne, about 3-4 really good xmas markets, main one being under the cathedral.
Recommend a stop off at Bruges on the way too, lovely city.
Very much doubt if we will drive , a lot of potential variants with the weather (no European sat nav if roads closed etc) plus of course, some venues like Berlin are quite a hike. Its likely we will likely only stay one night , two at the most, so flying makes the most sense.
Thats a point about Bruges, I wonder if they have a Christmas market of any size, I'll have to take a look.
Hosenbugler said:
I'd imagine that we'll fly. We did consider Eurostar (depending on venue) but that means going to London, so not a popular choice.
Very much doubt if we will drive , a lot of potential variants with the weather (no European sat nav if roads closed etc) plus of course, some venues like Berlin are quite a hike. Its likely we will likely only stay one night , two at the most, so flying makes the most sense.
Thats a point about Bruges, I wonder if they have a Christmas market of any size, I'll have to take a look.
I’ve been to Bruges at xmas a few times, they do have an xmas market, but its really tiny, hence why we drive to Cologne VIA Bruges, Bruges for beer and chocolate, Cologne for the xmas market. Very much doubt if we will drive , a lot of potential variants with the weather (no European sat nav if roads closed etc) plus of course, some venues like Berlin are quite a hike. Its likely we will likely only stay one night , two at the most, so flying makes the most sense.
Thats a point about Bruges, I wonder if they have a Christmas market of any size, I'll have to take a look.
Blown2CV said:
ATG said:
I'd hazard a guess that Salzburg would be worth a visit. Dunno what Bernkastel-Kues is like at Christmas, but by pure chance I was their during its annual wine festival when I was 18 ... and I have never had any recollection of it whatsoever.
salzburg is pretty amazing actually. I went there maybe 15 years ago and it started to snow whilst we were out and about. Bit of a nightmare transfer from Munich, think 3hrs. I'm sure you can get more convenient flights now.menguin said:
Murph7355 said:
Munich's our favourite.
Berlin's good but Munich beats it.
Just got back from a long weekend in Munich. Great markets - 17 of them in total! Worth trying to make it one of the two weekends where they have the Krampus run. Fantastic!Berlin's good but Munich beats it.
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