Please recommend a Christmas market
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 4,130
Please recommend a Christmas market
I want to make a day trip to Germany (from London) to visit a traditional Christmas market. I've never been to a Christmas market before, so I'm looking for as good an experience as possible (although I'm not sure how that would be defined!) ideally near to an airport with regular service from London. Your suggestions and any supplementary info will be gratefully received? (My schedule is pretty flexible but I'm likely to want to go on a weekday if that makes a difference.)
#2
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: USAirways CP
Posts: 712
I want to make a day trip to Germany (from London) to visit a traditional Christmas market. I've never been to a Christmas market before, so I'm looking for as good an experience as possible (although I'm not sure how that would be defined!) ideally near to an airport with regular service from London. Your suggestions and any supplementary info will be gratefully received? (My schedule is pretty flexible but I'm likely to want to go on a weekday if that makes a difference.)
http://www.travelintelligence.com/tr...istmas-markets
Rich
#3
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 7,560
If I wanted to go to a Continental Christmas Market for a day I would probably not choose Germany at all, but... Copenhagen! The Tivoli Christmas Market is my favourite by far.
#4
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SXF/TXL, old europe.
Programs: Skyhigh Airlines Platinum for Life
Posts: 962
I want to make a day trip to Germany (from London) to visit a traditional Christmas market. I've never been to a Christmas market before, so I'm looking for as good an experience as possible (although I'm not sure how that would be defined!) ideally near to an airport with regular service from London. Your suggestions and any supplementary info will be gratefully received? (My schedule is pretty flexible but I'm likely to want to go on a weekday if that makes a difference.)
1. Gendarmenmarkt
2. Schloss Charlottenburg.
#6
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: MEL
Programs: QF WP, LTG, QP on hold
Posts: 717
Cologne has a major and lovely market right next to the main train station. Düsseldorf has market stalls all over the old part of the city.
DUS gives good access to both Düsseldorf and Cologne by a short train ride.
Audrey
DUS gives good access to both Düsseldorf and Cologne by a short train ride.
Audrey
#7
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 189
Berlin has plenty of different christmas markets. You will easily find a nice one. My favourite is the christmas market at Winterfeldtplatz.
Another recommendation would be Dresden. It has two very different christmas markets in walking distance. The "Striezelmarkt" as well as a medival christmas market in the old castle.
You should easily find a direct connection from London to Dresden or Berlin.
757DUD
Another recommendation would be Dresden. It has two very different christmas markets in walking distance. The "Striezelmarkt" as well as a medival christmas market in the old castle.
You should easily find a direct connection from London to Dresden or Berlin.
757DUD
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Shanghai and Bavaria
Programs: Spire RA, 1865 Voyager, Bonvoy Titanium, FB LP, LH SEN.
Posts: 3,104
My favorite markets:
1 Regensburg
2 Vienna (serveral, the main market at Rathausplatz is great)
3 Munich (serveral markets, incl. medieval, modern, oriental, traditional, gay)
3 Salzburg
4 Nurnberg (crowded)
Flying into MUC/SZG gives access to several interesting markets, incl. smaller ones in outside the bigger cities.
1 Regensburg
2 Vienna (serveral, the main market at Rathausplatz is great)
3 Munich (serveral markets, incl. medieval, modern, oriental, traditional, gay)
3 Salzburg
4 Nurnberg (crowded)
Flying into MUC/SZG gives access to several interesting markets, incl. smaller ones in outside the bigger cities.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Germany
Programs: Miles & More, Amex
Posts: 678
The very well knowns are usually extremly overcrowed which is a rather strong fun killer. That applies to quite a number of christmas markets. I know this is true for Frankfurt and I assume it to be true for Nuremburg as well - even though that is a very scenic city to visit.
I was in Heidelberg visiting the local christmas market. I really enjoyed it and can recommend it any time. More information can be found at the Heidelberg Tourism Center or in the german version of the Weihnachtsmarkt Flyer.
In any case, enjoy it.
I was in Heidelberg visiting the local christmas market. I really enjoyed it and can recommend it any time. More information can be found at the Heidelberg Tourism Center or in the german version of the Weihnachtsmarkt Flyer.
In any case, enjoy it.
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BER
Programs: Hilton Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 15,757
another vote for Berlin. or Dresden, the christmas market is very nice and easy to do over a weekend. and closer to my place: Basel, Stuttgart and Strasbourg are very nice, too. For Strasbourg I may even come over for a vin chaud.
as a general rule: The best solution is to sample at least two Christmas Markets, preferably in a city for some serious shopping and a small town or village if you are looking for something a little bit more romantic. Alsace is a really good place for that. - or Berlin. Some town quarters have small, village-like christmas markets.
as a general rule: The best solution is to sample at least two Christmas Markets, preferably in a city for some serious shopping and a small town or village if you are looking for something a little bit more romantic. Alsace is a really good place for that. - or Berlin. Some town quarters have small, village-like christmas markets.
#11
Join Date: Jun 2004
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We just got back from 5 days in MUC. Several different christmas markets around town. They were fun. Took a day trip to NUE. One giant market in the middle of town. Can't miss it. Follow the lighted angels from the train station to the main town square. About 10 mins walk across a quaint bridge. LOVED the atmosphere at NUE.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2010
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Nuremberg is nice, but very tourism-oriented.
I would add myself to the Dresden and Berlin supporters here. Also very nice are the christmas markets in Hamburg, especially the big one in the city center on Rathausplatz (town hall square).
I would add myself to the Dresden and Berlin supporters here. Also very nice are the christmas markets in Hamburg, especially the big one in the city center on Rathausplatz (town hall square).
#13
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: IAH
Posts: 351
Wanted to attach another question to this thread. I am going to be in FRA next wed for a 13 hour layover, and wondered what would be a better going into Frankfurt or Wiesbaden. I am interested in going to a decent Christmas market although I don’t know if I can kill all day at a market. Ideally the Christmas market would have snow, since I am not going to being seeing much this year (snow that is). Anyway what are your thoughts. I saw one vote against Frankfurt since it is overcrowded.
#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, Melia Platinum, SIXT Platinum, Accor Silver, Lufthansa FTL
Posts: 381
Wanted to attach another question to this thread. I am going to be in FRA next wed for a 13 hour layover, and wondered what would be a better going into Frankfurt or Wiesbaden. I am interested in going to a decent Christmas market although I don’t know if I can kill all day at a market. Ideally the Christmas market would have snow, since I am not going to being seeing much this year (snow that is). Anyway what are your thoughts. I saw one vote against Frankfurt since it is overcrowded.
I doubt that you can kill 13 hours just on the christmas market, but the Frankfurt christmas market is located near the city center, so you also have lots of options to shop. Many museums are also in the direct vicinity.
If you need tips and directions, just ask for it.
Last edited by SunshineStay; Dec 9, 2010 at 1:19 am
#15
Join Date: May 2010
Location: BRE
Programs: Flying Blue Gold
Posts: 20
If you don't mind about getting there with Ryanair , Bremen might be an option as well.
http://www.bremer-weihnachtsmarkt.de...?CHANGElang=en
http://www.bremer-weihnachtsmarkt.de...?CHANGElang=en