Christmas Markets **General/Annual Bumper Thread**

mel.b

yourdeadwright wrote: »

Which would be your fav for a romantic Christmas get away ,

I love Bruges, although I'd probably steer away from weekends if you can. The market is pretty small though. The buildings, everything all lit up etc is just gorgeous. Strasbourg was also great - really liked the market there.

ProudDUB

yourdeadwright wrote: »

Hye folks
Storngly thinking off going to Bruges early December for Christmas market and atmosphere can anyone recommend a nice hotel that won't break the bank ,

How early are you going? A couple of years ago, I was there from Dec 2-4. There wasn't a ton of Xmas market stuff to see/do. There were a few stalls around the main square & a bigger cluster around another square about a 10 minute walk away. (Sorry, don't remember the name of it.) But you could see all that they had to offer in about 20 minutes. So it was a bit of a let down in terms of 'doing' the Christmas market. I was told that if I was there a week later (after the feast of St Nicholas) there would have been more Xmassy stuff to see/do.

The ice rink in the main square, the bell tower, the beautiful old buildings, the canal walks & the chocolate shops were all great though. I didn't get to do the tour of the canal (which is the best way to see Bruges) as the boats don't run in the winter. Was v disappointed at that. Wasn't impressed with the hotel I stayed at, so can't offer up any recommendations. Don't be afraid to stay somewhere a bit further out from the main square, if you get a good deal. There is a decent local bus service & taxi drivers are plentiful. It also struck me a very well heeled town. Our hotel was about a 10 minute walk away from the centre of town and we didn't feel at all nervous walking back to it in the dark, in the evenings.

peteroregan

Has anyone been to the Christmas Market in Trieste?
I was there with work at the start of December last year and all the timber huts were being set up around the canal area but it was only opening two days after we left.
It was a beautiful city otherwise.

ScottSF

One idea if you want to combine Christmas Markets with New Year's Eve celebration is Vienna.

The markets run until the New Year plus the decorative holiday lights going down many of the pedestrianized streets are spectacular. For New Year's Eve there are several music stages around the city centre to go between and enjoy the atmosphere.

Ohm13

Hey

Anyone know any decent places to visit during December, looking to head out for 3/4 days with the misses, not so much to shop, more so the christmas atmosphere and just to spend quality time together. Was thinking Strasbourg anyone know some good hotels to stay at within walking distance of the European quater and would Basel be a better airport to fly into?

Basically looking for somewhere a bit magical with nice scenery food and of course hot mulled wine!!!

All recommendations greatly recieved

Cheers all

ProudDUB

Bruges. End of discussion.

There is load of info on it here. Do a search for Bruges or Christmas markets & you'll find lots of good stuff.

Galadriel

I LOVE Prague at Christmas time, it's like Christmas in a snow globe!

keithclancy

Dusseldorf - DE
Cologne - DE
Aachen - DE
Munich - DE
Valkenburg - NL
Maastricht - NL
Antwerp - BE
Bruges - BE (Already mentioned)

Any of those will have a christmassy feel

Yamanoto

Anyone been to Lübeck?

Certainly looks pretty appealing & wonder if it's worth a weekend visit.

Moanin

Yamanoto wrote: »

Anyone been to Lübeck?

Certainly looks pretty appealing & wonder if it's worth a weekend visit.

Yes I was there a good few years ago when Ryanair used to fly there. There were 2 markets there if I can remember correctly. They were very small but good.

Zulu

ProudDUB wrote: »

Bruges. End of discussion.

There is load of info on it here. Do a search for Bruges or Christmas markets & you'll find lots of good stuff.

Sorry but: No. Bruges while nice isn't 'spectacular'. The market in the main square has maybe 12 - 15 stalls all selling the same tat you get in the IFSC. In fact, if bruges wasn't such a beautiful town the IFSC markets would be better.

It's nice, but it's not a topic closer.

Also, it's worth noting for younger families, the town isn't particularly buggy friendly - it's not their fault, it's a medieval town, but you'll be restricted.

(went last year)

keithclancy

Zulu wrote: »

Sorry but: No. Bruges while nice isn't 'spectacular'. The market in the main square has maybe 12 - 15 stalls all selling the same tat you get in the IFSC. In fact, if bruges wasn't such a beautiful town the IFSC markets would be better.

It's nice, but it's not a topic closer.

Also, it's worth noting for younger families, the town isn't particularly buggy friendly - it's not their fault, it's a medieval town, but you'll be restricted.

(went last year)

Also if you go with a car, parking is a fooking nightmare.
All the tight assed dutch people park outside the city and then cycle in

ProudDUB

Zulu wrote: »

Sorry but: No. Bruges while nice isn't 'spectacular'. The market in the main square has maybe 12 - 15 stalls all selling the same tat you get in the IFSC. In fact, if bruges wasn't such a beautiful town the IFSC markets would be better.

It's nice, but it's not a topic closer.

I acknowledged in a post on this very page, that the Xmas market stalls in Bruges were far from spectacular, when I was there. I said that the city itself...the lovely old buildings, the chocolate shops, the canals etc etc were the main attraction & not the Xmas market.

The poster that I was responding to, did not ask about Xmas markets. They said that they were not all that into shopping. They wanted somewhere that was "a bit magical" and had "atmosphere". Bruges more than fits the bill in those two categories imo.

Indestructable

Went to Prague last year and it was really beautiful. It's a gorgeous city and compact enough to walk around in. Nice and cheap too! Last year there was a light snow falling and a few inches on the ground, made it truly magical!

This year we are off to Budapest, hoping for something similar!!

whiskeyman

Regensburg and Nuremberg are fantastic.
Regensburg has such a lovely old town, it probably pips it.

I'd love to go to Rothenberg, but it's a bit of a treak to get there.
anyone been there for its Christmas market? I would think it's small enough, but the town is just magical.

Schalker

Never been at Rothenburg ob der Tauber for Christmas Market but you can get good info about it on their Cítywebsite

tourismus.rothenburg.de/index.php?id=677

miamee

Going to be checking out the ones in Bratislava and Vienna at the end of November so I'll let ye all know how that goes for next year

diarmuid05

Anyone been to Wroclaw? Heading over beginning of December.

LoganRice

the christmas market in munich sounds fabulous

Stojkovic

Indestructable wrote: »

This year we are off to Budapest, hoping for something similar!!

Was there Dec 2012.
Minus 5 and snowy.
Nothing like an sitting in an outdoor spa in minus 5.

In Exile

Hi all,

Have a question regarding the weather being forecast.

I'm in Australia but am home for Christmas and looking to do DUB to either Berlin or Hamburg for a couple of days.

If the weather is as bad as forecast, what are Dublin and the German airports like in dealing with the weather?

I'm only looking at a Monday to Wednesday trip, so any long delays nearly make it pointless.

Schalker

diarmuid05 wrote: »

Anyone been to Wroclaw? Heading over beginning of December.

Not after 1945

mcw100

Hi there, anyone know of any escorted Christmas market tours ex Shannon. Thanks

_DMac_

Hi folks. I booked a little trip to Budapest for the end of November but just found out today that the official Xmas markets are opening the day we are leaving. Will there be any other smaller Xmas markets that will be running in Budapest at this time or is it only the main 2 that run through December?

Any info greatly appreciated.

munchkin_utd

mcw100 wrote: »

Hi there, anyone know of any escorted Christmas market tours ex Shannon. Thanks

why?
What escorting does one need to go to a town square and wander about stalls selling nic nacks, mulled wine and Würst?

ProudDUB

munchkin_utd wrote: »

why?
What escorting does one need to go to a town square and wander about stalls selling nic nacks, mulled wine and Würst?

Sometimes it can be a good to have someone along, who knows the ropes, speaks the language, knows the culture, knows the best restaurants/bars, what shops/stalls have the best deals, which shops/stalls should be avoided, the best things to do, once the market has been covered etc etc. You can read all the guide books and message boards out there, but sometimes it can be good to have someone on the ground with you, if you want to get decent bang for your buck, or squeeze the really worthwhile stuff into just a couple of days.

rustyzip

Thinking about going to Budapest before Christmas for a few days..
Bit dubious as I've seen a god few posts saying how unfriendly Budapest peeps are and scammers and what not..

I always thought Budapest looks pretty and it's cheap so I still want to go.

Any suggestions/thoughts, hidden spots appreciated

schemingbohemia

I was in Budapest last December and loved it, people were really nice and there's loads to do there. Check out the ruin bars for something a little different (they're a bit like pop-up bars, cool vibes).

DoYouEvenLift

One of the best cities I've been to in Europe, was there last October. Was more of a drinking holiday but I still know it's a city worth visiting for the usual tourist reasons. Gonna go back there and thean head to Krakow sometime.

Lapin

I didn't find the locals rude there, more blunt and to the point really. Small talk isn't their thing.

But they are mannerly.

I wasn't there at Christmas but I'd be gone like a shot if I had the chance. Great city.