What are the BEST Christmas Markets in Germany? (2009, hotel)

[HookTheBrotherUp]

We are visiting my wife's hometown of Barcelona, and adding up to a week prior, and I want to visit one, or two Christmas Markets. I know from past trips they exist in most cities, but I would like to know which are the best. I've been to the markets in Munich, Salzburg, Bern, Basel, Colmar, Rome, Florence, Zurich, and of course, Barcelona.

We have tickets to fly into Frankfurt, and we'll make our way down to Barcelona in a weeks time.

Thanks!

[sarahkate_m]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

We are visiting my wife's hometown of Barcelona, and adding up to a week prior, and I want to visit one, or two Christmas Markets. I know from past trips they exist in most cities, but I would like to know which are the best. I've been to the markets in Munich, Salzburg, Bern, Basel, Colmar, Rome, Florence, Zurich, and of course, Barcelona.

We have tickets to fly into Frankfurt, and we'll make our way down to Barcelona in a weeks time.

Thanks!

Well, just to get this "rolling," here's a link to the locations & dates:

German Christmas Markets - 2009 Market Dates & Locations - For the Original Romantic Christmas Markets visit Germany - German Christmas Fairs & Xmas Markets

Same site, reviews: http://www.germany-christmas-market....et_reviews.htm

This site touts a self guided rail tour: http://www.reviewcentre.com/products3205.html

This seems to be about a big venue in Berlin: http://www.christmasmarkets.com/Germ...as-market.html

Same site with variety of links: http://www.christmasmarkets.com/Germany.html

The Rhine River Advent Cruise sounds beautiful here: http://www.viator.com/Germany/d52/christmas-markets

I'll be watching to see how your thread turns out!

Best wishes on your trip,

Kate

[Snafu]

but that was a LONG time ago... I had been to several back in the late 80's (please don't do the math), and that was the one I remember best. Make sure you go on a cold, COLD afternoon/evening - the ambiance is better, and a couple steaming mugs of gluwein will add that extra little zing to the experience.

I still have quite a few of the gorgeous ornaments and crafts that I bought there over the years... I'm hoping to make it there this year myself, for the first time in quite a while!

Whichever you decide on, be sure to stop back into CD and give us your comments and critiques!

[Snafu]

you found some in Rome? I went to the one in Piazza Navonna last year, and it was extremely tacky and disappointing (in my opinion). There was a teensy, tiny one near the trolley stop at the Vatican, which was slightly better, but they were nowhere near the caliber of what I found in Germany. Any hints for me on where to look in Rome this year?

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Only problem now is we are required to get two rooms in Europe because there are five of us, and that is not a problem in itself, the problem is getting a hotel with two rooms that are adjoined. Oh well, I shall search. I'll post back here eventually with what route we decided to take.

[XodoX]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

Only problem now is we are required to get two rooms in Europe because there are five of us, and that is not a problem in itself, the problem is getting a hotel with two rooms that are adjoined. Oh well, I shall search. I'll post back here eventually with what route we decided to take.

I'll be there too and will probably be a little drunk from all the Gluehwein

I guess you want to stay in that area? Not sure if you're up for traveling, but Nuernberg would come to my mind too. Frankfurt has one too.

I liked the one in Dresen, but that's a little far. Goslar has an awesome christmas market too.

[DrVanNostrand]

I went to the Christmas market in Frankfurt last year and thought it was phenomenal. Granted, I have no real point of reference as it was the only one that I have ever attended... but for me, it was one of the most culturally enriching experiences of my life, and I long to return and experience it again in the not too distant future.

Let me add that I was completely alone, had no idea what I was getting into, and went at the advise of a cab driver that I had met leaving the airport... so when I got there and saw what I had stumbled upon, I was awestruck.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

My wife and I have been to Prague a few times, but we tried to go there a couple of years ago for the Christmas Market, I hear they are supposed to have one of the best in Europe. 'Anyone been?

Not to get off track... we booked the trip while in Paris, it was a spur of the moment thing, we only had two kids back then. We finally found a flight on a Czech airline, and had to go to the Orly airport... we got there... waited, and waited and no one was at the desk. With just an hour before the flight, I asked someone in the next booth, and they said there were no flights that day!

'Turns out they only fly two, or three times a week, and if the flight is too empty, they cancel. 'Guess which was our lucky day... the day with the empty flight. Since we were traveling, they had no way to get a hold of us, and we had no way of knowning. We lost about $300.00, we never bothered to try to get our money back, we considered it a $300.00 lesson.

We ended up staying in Paris a couple of more days, and took the kids to Paris Disney... the kids loved the Christmas Parade. Anyway, back to the thread in progress...

[sarahkate_m]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

Only problem now is we are required to get two rooms in Europe because there are five of us, and that is not a problem in itself, the problem is getting a hotel with two rooms that are adjoined. Oh well, I shall search. I'll post back here eventually with what route we decided to take.

Don't they have rooms with a sort of living room arrangement that has a sofa bed? I stayed at a place like that once in the Embassy Suites...

Best wishes on your family adventure!

Kate

[flamewerks]

I'm originally from Germany. I haven't been to a lot of christmas markets, but my mom always went. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the big cities, personally I'd love to see the one in Cologne, which the Dome in the background. Aachen, Munich, Nueremberg, etc are supposed to be nice as well.

As far as your english goes, you shouldn't worry. Any young person will be able to have a more or less fluent conversation with you, or at least help you out. Older people often now enough to direct you wherever you need to go.

Oh!! Make sure you stay for fireworks for New Year's Eve if you can. Especially in larger cities, the fireworks will be EPIC! At least to what they have hear in Canada....