Christmas markets / short break

[LD27]

Ruralite wrote:

Have you thought about the Moselle region, Trier, Cochem & lots of lovely little places in that region have their own markets. Probably have to fly to Luxembourg & hire a car though and then it’s not that far from there to drive.

Having been to many large markets like Vienna, Munich, Cologne and Berlin, I much prefer the smaller ones, such as Rudesheim and Boppard on the Rhein. I’ve only been to Trier in the summer, but think it would be a good setting for a Christmas market – very easy train journey from Luxembourg. I visited Nuremberg earlier this year – which has a lovely old walled inner city with castle – and thought it would make for a very picturesque Christmas market. Sadly BA no longer flies there.

There are markets in France too. If you go to the market in Nice for example, you could start a collection of Santons de Provence.

[Michael C]

LD27 wrote:

Ruralite wrote:

Have you thought about the Moselle region, Trier, Cochem & lots of lovely little places in that region have their own markets. Probably have to fly to Luxembourg & hire a car though and then it’s not that far from there to drive.

I visited Nuremberg earlier this year – which has a lovely old walled inner city with castle – and thought it would make for a very picturesque Christmas market. Sadly BA no longer flies there.
.

They do in December!

[LD27]

Michael C wrote:

LD27 wrote:

Ruralite wrote:

Have you thought about the Moselle region, Trier, Cochem & lots of lovely little places in that region have their own markets. Probably have to fly to Luxembourg & hire a car though and then it’s not that far from there to drive.

I visited Nuremberg earlier this year – which has a lovely old walled inner city with castle – and thought it would make for a very picturesque Christmas market. Sadly BA no longer flies there.
.

They do in December!

Oooh. Thanks for that. Just been looking and hope to book when discussed dates with family as don’t get back from S America until December.

[Londonsteve]

Yes, the Nuremberg market seems to well-known in Germany and is an utterly charming location for a market, as well as for a short break. Transport fans will find much to occupy them at the Deutsche Bahn museum too. It’ll also be cheaper as it’s not a first tier city for tourism, unlike Vienna or Munich.

For a generally Christmasy atmosphere with a fair chance of snow, Salzburg makes a lovely choice but for sensibly priced flights you need to fly outside of the ski season. Munich offers plentiful flights that aren’t so affected by the ski traffic and has excellent regular trains to either Nuremberg or Salzburg. Why not visit all three?! They’re only about 2 hours apart from one another and all are great, compact cities with much to offer.

[masaccio]

I think fly into MUC and take trains to Nuremberg and Salzburg is a great plan. When we lived in Munich, they were favourite day trips. But I’m biased as Munich is one of my default recommendations on account of it just being awesome.

[Gordon]

I totally agree on Nuremberg for the Christmas markets, wonderful, Peter pane restaurants were very good, I visited Berlin for the Christmas markets last year, but was not as good but the culture was worth the visit. Off to try Vienna this year?

[bungalow]

I’m definitely leaning towards flying into Nuremberg, few nights there, then Munich for 3 nights and flight home from there, but taking in a day trip to Salzburg.
Vienna is very appealing, but once I crunched the numbers 2 or 3 nights in Vienna would more than cover the above 5 night itinerary – and change (plenty of Hilton group hotels, and I have a shed load of points)!
To be fair connecting flights from BHD were also a factor, and Germany involves a lot less faffing around.
Some great tips though folks, and for sure I’ll be putting a few other suggestions on the long finger.
Thank you all once again 👍

[BBbetter]

Would like to hijack this thread a bit… which of these Christmas markets would you recommend for visiting with a child (4-7years)? Assume carousels would be available in most of these markets, but anything else?

[Michael C]

BBbetter wrote:

Would like to hijack this thread a bit… which of these Christmas markets would you recommend for visiting with a child (4-7years)? Assume carousels would be available in most of these markets, but anything else?

We found Paris great at that age: easy to get to, the massive “main” market in Les Tuileries with rides, sugary crap traditional nativity goodies, etc. Great easy food everywhere. Great window decorations (moving puppets etc.) plus rooftop at Galeries Lafayette. And Disney if needs must!

[Richie]

@BBbetter BTW Hamburg’s Christmas market has a train for little ones which is very good.

[Richie]

@LD27 Trier is a great smaller Christmas market. Easy to get to from Luxembourg. BA CE fares to LUX can he great value for tier points.

[LD27]

@Richie. Thanks for that. Have visited Luxembourg many times by car and plane. We used to go to the Villeroy and Boch factory shop and load up the car with china! As you say, especially in summer when EU on holiday, there are often cheap CE flights, hence visiting Trier in the summer.

As someone else mentioned, the markets in Munich are excellent and every time we’ve been it’s snowed. After shopping each day we’ve ended up at the Hofbrauhaus after a few Gluhwein. On one occasion we visited Dachau. It was freezing walking around and was very poignant.

I think it’s now a toss up between Trier, Nuremberg and Salzburg, all of which we have visited in summer. When son gets back from California after his delayed John Muir trail hike, we will make a decision and book flights. We’ve also decided to go to Tromso next January, which will be cold but different.

[elguiri]

LD27 wrote:

Ruralite wrote:

Have you thought about the Moselle region, Trier, Cochem & lots of lovely little places in that region have their own markets. Probably have to fly to Luxembourg & hire a car though and then it’s not that far from there to drive.

Having been to many large markets like Vienna, Munich, Cologne and Berlin, I much prefer the smaller ones, such as Rudesheim and Boppard on the Rhein. I’ve only been to Trier in the summer, but think it would be a good setting for a Christmas market – very easy train journey from Luxembourg. I visited Nuremberg earlier this year – which has a lovely old walled inner city with castle – and thought it would make for a very picturesque Christmas market. Sadly BA no longer flies there.

There are markets in France too. If you go to the market in Nice for example, you could start a collection of Santons de Provence.

I second the smaller ones. If you go by train up the Rhein you can stop off at multiple village markets which are mostly unique (as opposed to the larger ones which are all the same).

[strickers]

A certain Northern UK based airline that I may have an interest in has just launched its biggest ever winter market program.

[NorthernLass]

@strickers, is it the biggest and best winter market program ever?!

This airline is very well thought of among family and friends but they still envy my BA free luggage allowance and not having to pay for my G & Ts 😂

[strickers]

@NorthernLass Yes it is, 250,000 seats I think. We do try hard to look after people and we understand how hard people work to be able to afford a holiday. The vast majority of our demographic won’t read this forum, customer service of today is profit of tomorrow. Some people ask me what I do, some of my colleagues say they are pilots, I reply that I take people on holiday. I actually feel really good when I say it too.

[jumpersforgoalposts]

Just reviving this thread for some thoughts on a UK weekend Christmas break.

We’ve been to Somerset and Edinburgh the last few years. We’re based in London so keen to keep the distance to under 2 hours given we have an 18 month old in tow.

[NorthernLass]

I was distinctly underwhelmed by the actual market in Edinburgh (queuing and paying to get in!), though the city looked beautiful, and also the one in Chester (a handful of huts in the rain). Manchester as well just seemed to be an excuse to sell overpriced fast food and alcohol. I would imagine London might actually be the best – don’t they have some sort of “winter wonderland” in Hyde Park?

I’d be interested as well to get some good recommendations as so far I feel that the UK just can’t match the continent for Xmas markets.

[Richie]

Bath is doable for a day trip.

[pauline]

We are going to Burghley Xmas Market – impulse booking! Looking forward to it

[TGLoyalty]

@NorthernLass Winter Wonderland is a tourist trap to sell over priced food and alcohol 🙂

Might aswell go to Birmingham xmas market, it’s not actually too bad.

[BBbetter]

jumpersforgoalposts wrote:

Just reviving this thread for some thoughts on a UK weekend Christmas break.

We’ve been to Somerset and Edinburgh the last few years. We’re based in London so keen to keep the distance to under 2 hours given we have an 18 month old in tow.

If you can stretch the journey time a bit (train should be ok?), York can be an option to consider.

[Michael C]

jumpersforgoalposts wrote:

Just reviving this thread for some thoughts on a UK weekend Christmas break.

We’ve been to Somerset and Edinburgh the last few years. We’re based in London so keen to keep the distance to under 2 hours given we have an 18 month old in tow.

Winchester is lovely with a pretty decent selection of interesting stalls.

[brian]

+1 to Winchester.

We visited two years ago and enjoyed it. Last year was Vienna. This year will have to be a UK weekend break or see what Dublin is like in the lead up to Christmas as will be passing through.

[Gordon]

I’ve been to Nuremberg and Berlin for the Christmas markets, preferred Nuremberg,
I am happy to see a lot of recommendations for Vienna, as I’m off there next month!
Looking forward to it.