Christmas Markets **General/Annual Bumper Thread**

VisibleGorilla

Anywhere really in within mainland Europe.

Edinburgh does a good one too.

Yamanoto

cdeb wrote: »

Fairly easily accessible from Charleroi airport if you want a Ryanair bargain.

FR now serve Brussels Zaventem & fares are on a par with Charleroi.

The mega-thread on Christmas markets is here OP.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057058086&page=17

Gal44

Cant decide between Budapest or Munich for girls weekend away....

harpstilidie

Thinking of going to Dusseldorf mid December over a weekend and use it as a base to see it, Cologne and Dortmund. Any one any experience of Dusseldorf itself? Any decent hotels, places to see etc? Christmas markets any good?

Also, hoping to catch a Dortmund game when we're over there so any tips there are appreciated.

clmitchell

I absolutely love the Cologne Christmas markets. Such a varied range of markets and great atmosphere and food (have the smoked salmon). The markets by the amazing cathedral held excellent evening concerts. There is also a little train that provides transport and makes regular circuits around the different markets which is great for those not up to walking far.
Cologne is also close to Bonn which is worth a visit if you have time.

harpstilidie

clmitchell wrote: »

I absolutely love the Cologne Christmas markets. Such a varied range of markets and great atmosphere and food (have the smoked salmon). The markets by the amazing cathedral held excellent evening concerts. There is also a little train that provides transport and makes regular circuits around the different markets which is great for those not up to walking far.
Cologne is also close to Bonn which is worth a visit if you have time.

Thanks, looking forward to getting away for a few days. Current plan is a day in Dusseldorf, a day in Cologne, and a Dortmund game. With the hotel I booked with we get free travel across the whole region for the duration of our stay which is an added bonus.

Turtle_

Hi Everyone,

I've booked two nights in Munich in December with my mum to go see the Christmas market. I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations on other things we should try to see while we're there?

What are evenings like entertainment wise?

Any general information on it would be welcome. We're staying around the corner from Marienplatz so hopefully we're well positioned.

munchkin_utd

Turtle_ wrote: »

<snip>

What are evenings like entertainment wise?
<snip>

I dont quite understand the question exactly. What would you normally do, or where would you normally go in the places you normally go ?

If you want a concert, then theres no end of them. German cabaret would be lost on you, but classical stuff is WAY more available in Munich than in Ireland (a few dozen concerts on Sundays for instance)
Check http://www.in-muenchen.de/ for ideas on concerts and whatnot. Google translate, will translate.

But as for live music in pubs, thankfully that plague is very rare in Munich and you only find blaring music in an odd irish pub.

Turtle_

munchkin_utd wrote: »

I dont quite understand the question exactly. What would you normally do, or where would you normally go in the places you normally go ?

If you want a concert, then theres no end of them. German cabaret would be lost on you, but classical stuff is WAY more available in Munich than in Ireland (a few dozen concerts on Sundays for instance)
Check http://www.in-muenchen.de/ for ideas on concerts and whatnot. Google translate, will translate.

But as for live music in pubs, thankfully that plague is very rare in Munich and you only find blaring music in an odd irish pub.

To be fair I thought it was a simple enough question, but I'll clarify: what's there to see and do rather than just sit in a pub in the evenings.

Thanks for the link to the concerts, but a bit condescending about German Cabaret...

munchkin_utd

Turtle_ wrote: »

To be fair I thought it was a simple enough question, but I'll clarify: what's there to see and do rather than just sit in a pub in the evenings.

Thanks for the link to the concerts, but a bit condescending about German Cabaret...

its not condesending

German cabaret is essentially comedy in German (its not half naked dancing ladies), which requires german of a standard that even after 15years in the place I'd not have and miss half of the double meanings.
Heres an example :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6ThxIx_Op4

munchkin_utd

actually, I might have you sorted !

The "GOP Variety Theatre" has shows all over the christmas period.
http://www.variete.de/tickets/?spielort=muenchen&date=2015-11-04&enddate=2016-01-10
The "Stardust" show is what is being offered in Munich and is a showcase for new talent(dancers/magicans??) and is presented by a comedian and magician
You can order the show with a meal included and the seats are with tables so its organised that way.

Another similar effort is the Schubeck Theatro, which is dearer, but is ran by a star chef so its more focused on lovely grub with a bit of a show on the side
http://www.teatro.de/en/home/
and here for tickets
http://www.teatro-ticket.net/shop.php4?ShopID=2&link=shop_php/spielplan.php4

munchkin_utd

I'd also add, its not a (one, single, solitary) market but about a dozen markets all over the city.
The two in the very centre (the main one and the crib one round the corner) shuts up at 8 or 9. Early anyhow.

But then the ones a wee bit further out would open longer. And there's a covered, heated, indoor market with a number of really large tents where the oktoberfest is which remains open past midnight.
Theres ice skating there at Karlsplatz which has mulled wine till late also.

I actually presumed you had researched this, but if youre asking what to do, then maybe you arent aware of how busy you can be just visiting the markets and pottering about the place.
Heres the city tourist board info on christmas happenings http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/home_en/Tourist-Office/Events/Christmas
And heres the locations of the various markets, I stopped counting at 15 of them, http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/home_en/Tourist-Office/Events/Christmas/Weitere-CM_e

Turtle_

munchkin_utd wrote: »

I actually presumed you had researched this, but if youre asking what to do, then maybe you arent aware of how busy you can be just visiting the markets and pottering about the place.
Heres the city tourist board info on christmas happenings http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/home_en/Tourist-Office/Events/Christmas
And heres the locations of the various markets, I stopped counting at 15 of them, http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/home_en/Tourist-Office/Events/Christmas/Weitere-CM_e

Yeah it was a spur of the moment decision around midnight last night, just looked at flights to places known for good markets and picked the best value :eek:

Thanks for all the info, really looking forward to it

Kablamo!

Just booked three nights in Krakow at the start of December- I'm excited! Anyone any tips or must see things for me to do? Already planning to visit the salt mines and Auschwitz.

munchkin_utd

Kablamo! wrote: »

Just booked three nights in Krakow at the start of December- I'm excited! Anyone any tips or must see things for me to do? Already planning to visit the salt mines and Auschwitz.

you cant beat a good concentration camp visit to get you in the holiday mood

Kablamo!

munchkin_utd wrote: »

you cant beat a good concentration camp visit to get you in the holiday mood

Ah while I'm there it's worth visiting. I wonder are the Christmas markets any good?

spurious

Kablamo! wrote: »

Just booked three nights in Krakow at the start of December- I'm excited! Anyone any tips or must see things for me to do? Already planning to visit the salt mines and Auschwitz.

Threads on Krakow:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=86999113

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=96065726

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=96496701

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=96886709

munchkin_utd

Turtle_ wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

I've booked two nights in Munich in December with my mum to go see the Christmas market. I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations on other things we should try to see while we're there?

What are evenings like entertainment wise?

Any general information on it would be welcome. We're staying around the corner from Marienplatz so hopefully we're well positioned.

To answer the "evening entertainment" thing.

It probably is the same in other german cities where theres proper formal shows, that you buy tickets for in advance
Along with 2 the daily show options mentioned earlier, I forgot to mention to have a look at the Deutsches Theater which was renovated for a few 100million (the eejits started and then had to keep going) which has a german musical "Ich war noch niemals in New York", which should be a bit of craic.
https://www.muenchenticket.de/search.jsp?venue=79151&cursor=0

The "Residenz Theater" which also includes the stupendously beautiful Cuvilles Theater seems to have nothing but plays in German, so not something for the english speaking audience really (but there are tours of the building I have heard)
http://www.residenztheater.de/spielplan/2015-12

Tdireddi

Hello,

Looking to head on a bit of a Christmas break with the other half this December..(7th-11th). Anyways not a travelling person, Haven't ventured much outside of Ireland, looking for help...I was thinking Krakow, also was thinking Skiing in Jasna or Zakopane but now im thinking of just a nice city break in a European City, shes mentioned she wants to go shopping so thats a need if we were to go to a European city and since we are both students money wouldn't be so much of a plentiful commodity..

Basically, looking fo a nice place to go before Christmas for a young couple (21 years of age), Plenty of good cheap shopping & interesting things to see..we're both into sports aswell, and im into my history hence Krakow..but is there enough to see in Krakow for four days and whats the shopping like...?

Have seen a lot of suggestions on here, to much in fact :P

Thanks for any help

otnomart

Was in Aachen today and they were putting up the wooden houses. It was already very Christmassy !

Kablamo!

Tdireddi wrote: »

im into my history hence Krakow..but is there enough to see in Krakow for four days and whats the shopping like?

I'm going the 29 Nov to Dec 2nd, I'll report back then if it's any good to you!

Tdireddi

Kablamo! wrote: »

I'm going the 29 Nov to Dec 2nd, I'll report back then if it's any good to you!

That would be great, im hoping to have something booked before then tho, what are you planning to visit while in Krakow...how is the shopping clothes, presents ect..have you heard much..?

Thanks

Kablamo!

No, I haven't heard a lot about the shopping side of things to be honest. I'm planning on visiting Auschwitz and the salt mines. From googling the Christmas markets they seem to be highly recommended. Everything seems to be very cheap over there from what I can tell.

Tdireddi

Kablamo! wrote: »

No, I haven't heard a lot about the shopping side of things to be honest. I'm planning on visiting Auschwitz and the salt mines. From googling the Christmas markets they seem to be highly recommended. Everything seems to be very cheap over there from what I can tell.

Will you be venturing to Zakopane or just keeping to Krakow, heard Zakopane is beautiful but finding times for coaches etc.. Is proving to be hard..?

Kablamo!

Planning on staying in Krakow. With the Christmas markets etc on, there's enough to see and do in the town considering we're only staying for three nights.

saggycaggy

Off to Budapest on the 3rd December-can't wait. Does anybody know would we have to book the baths in advance or how does it work?

Thanks!

Gal44

Im going to budapest next week, very excited! not sure if you have to pre book baths.. im thinking not....

saggycaggy

Gal44 wrote: »

Im going to budapest next week, very excited! not sure if you have to pre book baths.. im thinking not....

I just contacted my host in Air B&B and she said we don't need to book.
Have a great trip!

Gal44

saggycaggy wrote: »

I just contacted my host in Air B&B and she said we don't need to book.
Have a great trip!

Great! thanks, same to you!

saggycaggy

Sorry don't mean to move this thread away form the actual Christmas markets but I was about to order some Forint for a trip to Budapest but was told not to and to just use Euros over there?? Would this be right??

Thanks