Best German city for Xmas Markets (Except Berlin)

whiskeyman

Hi,

Thinking of going to Germany in first week in December for the Xmas (not long now!:D ) markets.
Will be thinking of somewhere other than Berlin (did that already).
Anyone ever been to Frankfurt, Munich, Cologne or any other places that'll be good that time of year for the markets, and other things?

Hoping to get cheap flight, but will probably stay in good hotel (4/5 stars seem v cheap over there)

Thanks

muletide

Cologne is excellent - was there at christmas two years ago lots of nice markets, ice skating rinks and very reasonably priced hotels in the city centre.There is also a very relaxed atmosphere in the city - very safe with lots of families going around enjoying the festivities. I can send you on details of the hotel we stayed in if you are interested

Tabnabs

My mum and goes to the Munich xmas fairs quite regularly with a bunch of friends. She speaks very highly of it. Can't remember about flights or accommodation but she reckons that eating out is very reasonable compared to here.

whiskeyman

muletide wrote:

I can send you on details of the hotel we stayed in if you are interested

Please do. Looking to book soon to get good rates, so any info / feedback from personal experience will be most welcome.

Thank you

jester77

The Frankfurt market is excellent, especially around Römer. It's the largest in Germany and the best one I've been to and rated by many as the best in Germany!

Edit:
Some info about it here (in German)
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankfurter_Weihnachtsmarkt

and some pics here:
http://www.frankfurt-tourismus.de/cms/tourismussuite/en/events_trade_fairs_messe_frankfurt/christmas_market_Frankfurt_xmas.html

Moanin

I was at the one in Baden Baden last year.It was nice but very small and Baden Baden is a very expensive city.We flew in Karhlsruhe with Ryanair

carrotcake

The Frankfurt market is very nice, as mentioned above.

I've also been to the Dresden market, which is the oldest in Germany. Dresden's also where 'stollen' Christmas cake comes from, and the Erzgebirge region is nearby, which is where all the wooden craft comes from. Plus it's got the largest step pyramid in the world (probably the wrong name for it, I'm translating directly from German). There's a picture of it here.

Coupled with the fact that Dresden is a much nicer city than Frankfurt, I'd pick Dresden!

dixiefly

Been to Frankfurt twice, the last time we spent the weekend in Rotenburg on de Taber (class place). Very good market in Frankfurt, flight times are a bonus. I would recommend Hotel Miramar, very close to the markets.

littlesurfer

I second Cologne,....its a great city with great christmas markets......nuff said.

fits

Havent been to any other besides the Leipzig one in Germany and Salzburg in Austria.

The leipzig market was truly excellent. I'd definitely recommend it.

LostinBlanch

dixiefly wrote:

Been to Frankfurt twice, the last time we spent the weekend in Rotenburg on de Taber (class place). Very good market in Frankfurt, flight times are a bonus. I would recommend Hotel Miramar, very close to the markets.

Rothenberg is amazing, a preserved medieval town, worth seeing any time of the year. Here is info on the Christmas market from their tourist board. A couple of hours from Frankfurt by train, but on German trains travel is a luxury. There's a train station at the airport and they are really helpful, speak English and will book the tickets for you, giving you all the times, platform nos etc.

Third_Echelon

I would second Frankfurt and Dresden.

Direct flights to Frankfurt with Aer Lingus.

Fly to Dresden with Lufthansa (via Frankfurt) (might be a bit more expensive)

Also you could fly with Aer Lingus to Berlin and get the train direct to Dresden (no problems with the train. Hassle free to be honest)

aidz

muletide wrote:

Cologne is excellent - was there at christmas two years ago lots of nice markets, ice skating rinks and very reasonably priced hotels in the city centre.There is also a very relaxed atmosphere in the city - very safe with lots of families going around enjoying the festivities. I can send you on details of the hotel we stayed in if you are interested

i was thinking of going to cologne this year for the christmas markets too...however i cant seem to be able to book direct flights.germanwings (dub-cologne) allow you to book until october this year. they possibly have pulled these flights thereafter??? anyone in the know on this?