Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi all! We have been experiencing an issue on site where threads have been missing the latest postings. The platform host Vanilla are working on this issue. A workaround that has been used by some is to navigate back from 1 to 10+ pages to re-sync the thread and this will then show the latest posts. Thanks, Mike.
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Christmas Markets **General/Annual Bumper Thread**

1246711

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 24 Libbybelle


    How do you think Krakow compare to the big European markets? Have booked a weekend there on Dec 6th, purely because it was the cheapest to get to. Are the Krakow markets very small in comparison?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,182 ✭✭✭Tiriel


    Went to Stockholm before for markets and it was fantastic - lovely atmosphere and beautiful city.

    Was in Bruges early Nov. last year but markets not yet up - think they were just getting ready - so if the markets are essential, that one may not be an option. However, it is a beautiful city and felt really Christmassy even without the markets, still a good few Christmas shops and decorations etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭Schalker


    Nueremberg is the most famous in Germany. Christkindlmarkt


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 751 ✭✭✭Gal44


    Hi all, Want to book a Christmas market break in early December, cant decide between Munich and Cologne.. any feedback would be great :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,569 ✭✭✭✭ProudDUB


    Never been to either one, but there have been several threads about Christmas markets started here in the past couple of months. If you use the Search function above, you'll probably be able to dig them up. Lots of useful info in 'em !


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,597 ✭✭✭WIZE


    I lived in Germany for 8 years and Loved the Christmas Markets
    ( Weihnachtsmarkt )

    Plenty of Gluhwein drank and Bratwurst eaten.

    Both Cities are great but nearly All cities in Germany have Weihnachtsmarkt.

    I found Dortmund's one one of the best but i lived there.

    This year like last year i will be going to the one in Hyde Park in London.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,597 ✭✭✭WIZE




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,148 ✭✭✭Passenger


    Considering Munich for Christmas too. Aer Lingus are flying to Munich airport for a reasonable fare in December, the city center seems pretty accessible from the airport, and hotel prices are decent too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,661 ✭✭✭ollaetta


    Been to both Cologne and Munich markets. Both cities have several different markets and to be honest you won't go wrong with either.

    Liked them both but if I had to pick between them Munich is the one I'd go back to.


  • Registered Users Posts: 21 Cointreau


    Can't speak for Cologne but went to Munich last year and thoroughly enjoyed it, you can't go wrong with it. The medieval market in particular was great, but i'm a sucker for that sort of stuff


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users Posts: 158 ✭✭callmekenneth


    Hi, anyone have any experience with christmas markets? i am looking to book somewhere for early decemeber, am thinking maybe bruges but i'd like it to be cold too, what about prague or germany?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 119 ✭✭spur


    Can only comment on German ones - they're fabulous!

    We've been to Munich a few times and that's my favourite! We've had very cold times and cold times there - I don't think we've ever seen snow there, but the atmosphere there is really Christmassy - there are a good few markets there, but most of them are walkable from each other. There is Tollwood, which is walkable (but a long walk) and it's different - we went there and I didn't like it, but lots of people absolutely love it.
    We went to Dusseldorf and it was snowing there! There aren't that many markets in Dusseldorf and in a day you've seen most of them - they have some fabulous lights though and the markets are worth revisiting at night. While I enjoyed it there, I wouldn't go back. We did day trips from there to Cologne and Essen. Cologne I don't think we saw all the markets, but around the cathedral is just awesome! Essen is much smaller, but it was magical - it was snowing all the time we were there and that added to the ambience. German rail travel is just brilliant, so doing day trips is simple (neither of us speak German nor can read more than a few words)
    We went to Berlin another year - now I love Berlin, but I wouldn't advise it for Christmas markets - they were lovely there, but we found the travelling back and forth between markets quite tiring and we felt we didn't get the same buzz - I think you're taken away from the Christmas atmosphere a lot in Berlin - more so than in the smaller cities where it seems to be just all markets. We went to Potsdam from Berlin and it was a nice day trip.
    This year we plan on going to Heidelberg and hope to do a few day trips from it.
    My regret the last time we went to Munich is that we didn't go to Salzburg - it's an easy day trip from there, but we just didn't organise ourselves to do it. (But I suspect we'll pay another trip to Munich in a few years - we simply love those markets)

    We've bought lots of stuff there over the years - and each year swear we have enough!! We brought back a crib from Munich last year - they have a crib market - their crib scenes are huge - almost a village scene. We have brought back lots of smokermen over the years. We brought back a wreath as well last year - had been admiring them for years. We've also brought back lots of candle holders - they do such fabulous ones - painted scenes onto glass.

    Some of the shop do wonderful window displays as well - there is one big store there that does spectacular ones and I can't remember the name of the store - but they usually have 5 or 6 windows and there are kinds of scenes in there - loads of animation etc - and as enjoyable for an adult as a child.

    In the markets as well there is loads of food and drink. They do fried potato things that are just delicious - they grate potato and form a patty and fry it - doesn't sound much, but they are delicious - can't think of the name of them now. (They are probably a guaranteed coronary!) I don't like their sausages, but they are all over the place too. Some places do some great bread stalls. And of course can't forget the gluwein - taste lots of it as the taste varies a lot - and you'll find one you like and go back to it again and again. Different cities do different things, some have lots of different mugs, some have all the same - we have a collection at this stage - you pay a deposit which is returned if you return the mug - our rule now is one mug kept!!! (They're all so lovely)

    Wherever you go - enjoy it! You'll get a wonderful Christmas feeling.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,214 ✭✭✭chopper6


    I was at the one in Heidelberg just before christmas about 5 years ago.

    It certainly cannot compare to the larger ones in the main cities but Heidelberg in December is amazingly atmospheric...quiet and almost devoid of tourists. You can take a trip to the castle in the morning and more or less have teh place to yourself.


  • Registered Users Posts: 441 ✭✭Ms.Sunshine


    I am heading to Berlin this year in Late November for them and can not wait! We are staying In a Hotel in Alexanderplatz so will be in the heart of them as there is one just outside the hotel door also Berlin is a great city so there is plenty to do besides the markets!

    I haven't been to Prague for a christmas market but I have been for a visit and thought it was a beautiful city. It is really romantic!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,127 ✭✭✭✭kerry4sam


    Ah Christmas Markets sound wonderful so they do :) If you are travelling this year to any, Hope you all Enjoy!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    Is there a Christmas market in Salsburg? I've been meaning to go back for years but haven't got round to it. A Christmas market would allow me to kill two birds with one stone.

    Ben


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 189 ✭✭flahers


    We visit a lovely city called Muenster, close to Dusseldorf quite a lot as husband's sister married there. We have been to many of the larger city markets and the market in Muenster surpassed all of them. There are four different markets dotted around the city, all huge and the array of things is to die for, much better than what we saw in Munich and much more reasonable. Check out Christmas markets in muenster. The city is small and beautiful and aside from markets shops are brilliant too. You fly into Dusseldorf and take a train direct from airport or car hire and drive very easy too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 860 ✭✭✭undo


    I agree with all that has been said before - you cannot really go wrong in any German city. I am from Dortmund myself and very much recommend the market there. Dortmund always has a huge Christmas tree (~ 45m tall) built of thousands of real trees. It looks fantastic. Many of the larger cities have multiple markets that you can walk/tram between. Two quick comments on things that were said before:

    - The grated potato pancakes that were mentioned are my favorite too. They are best with apple sauce. The name differs by region, it could be "Reibekuchen," "Kartoffelpuffer" or "Reiberdatschi."

    - Salzburg has a fantastic Christmas market. Relative to the city's size, the market is just huge. Salzburg is a ~2 hour direct train ride from Munich, so Munich and Salzburg can be ideally combined into a single trip.


  • Registered Users Posts: 441 ✭✭Ms.Sunshine


    Can you travel from Berlin to another Christmas market located in another region or even country? Would it be possible to do as a day trip?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 860 ✭✭✭undo


    You could easily travel from Berlin to Potsdam. Potsdam is just outside Berlin, maybe as far away as Bray is from Dublin.

    If you wanted to go slightly further, you could visit Leipzig - only 1:13 hours from Berlin by train.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 719 ✭✭✭fastrac


    We did Munich and Salzburg last year and both were excellent. There is a regular train service through a very scenic route between both . There are several markets in Munich and I would recommend doing the one at the town hall off peak as it gets very crowded at weekends.Be sure to take the funicular to the castle in Salzburg . It is just beside the market.Most important to dress for the cold .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,495 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    The Mooney Show on RTE1 radio today (Mon 28th) did a big piece on Christmas markets in mainland Europe with the travel guy Eoghan Corry, should be on the RTE player.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 503 ✭✭✭poteen


    Went to Cologne last year. Enjoyed it alot. Lots of great markets with nice mulled wine and foods. Felt 2 days and nights were enough and this allows for some morning sleep ins, shopping and a trip to the Catherdral.


  • Registered Users Posts: 77 ✭✭navigator


    Any town in Germany has a nice Christmas market. Choose the town you prefer to visit, and you won't be wrong.
    Personally, I prefer quite small towns (Bamberg, Freiburg, Regensburg).


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Regional East Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 12,335 Mod ✭✭✭✭miamee


    coylemj wrote: »
    The Mooney Show on RTE1 radio today (Mon 28th) did a big piece on Christmas markets in mainland Europe with the travel guy Eoghan Corry, should be on the RTE player.

    The link to the podcast is here: http://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_mooney.xml

    Thanks for that, I'll have a listen to that today :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,852 ✭✭✭ncmc


    My hubby and I are off to the Christmas market in Krakow on Dec 6th, how does it compare to the big German markets. Also, can we expect it to be very, very cold in Krakow in early December?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 860 ✭✭✭undo


    The market in Kraków is much smaller but also very nice. It has the usual food, crafts and mulled wine.


  • Registered Users Posts: 204 ✭✭sophya


    Booked a trip in late November to Berlin. Read that there's 60 Christmas markets, anyone got 4/5 of the must see ones to narrow it down?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,148 ✭✭✭Passenger


    Looking at Munich for December. Can anybody recommend a cheap but decent quality hotel/hostel in the center?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    Passenger wrote: »
    Looking at Munich for December. Can anybody recommend a cheap but decent quality hotel/hostel in the center?
    how cheap?
    and, is it essential to be at the centre?
    And when "in december", cos its a long old month.

    Theres a sale with accorhotels at the moment finishing tonight that has hotels going half price, so if you get an economy hotel that doesnt cost the earth in the first place, and half that price, its cheaper than a hostel.
    http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotels-offers/promotion-19896-.shtml


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,148 ✭✭✭Passenger


    how cheap?
    and, is it essential to be at the centre?
    And when "in december", cos its a long old month.

    Theres a sale with accorhotels at the moment finishing tonight that has hotels going half price, so if you get an economy hotel that doesnt cost the earth in the first place, and half that price, its cheaper than a hostel.
    http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotels-offers/promotion-19896-.shtml


    Thanks for that link but they're booked for mid December. :) City Center is important for accessibility to all attractions etc by foot.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    Passenger wrote: »
    Thanks for that link but they're booked for mid December. :) City Center is important for accessibility to all attractions etc by foot.
    sound job.

    Just asking about the city centre thing because perversly you can be quicker to the attractions from edges of the city centre by using the u-bahn or s-bahn than someone staying in the centre walking everywhere.


  • Registered Users Posts: 441 ✭✭Ms.Sunshine


    If you wanted to go slightly further, you could visit Leipzig - only 1:13 hours from Berlin by train.[/QUOTE]

    I looked up Leipzig and love the look of it. It looks romantic with the cobbled streets etc. We are in Berlin for 3 days (2full days) so might take a trip their on our last day if we feel we have seen all the Berlin ones.
    I have heard of Potsdam? there are many shops there ? is that where the Sony Centre is?


    Sophya - I am also going the end of November. I am very excited now that we are finally in November! What area are you staying in? I am also trying to figure out where the Christmas markets worth visiting are. I am staying in Alexanderplatz and I know there is one just outside of our hotel in the square there. I have heard that these are also a few of the nicest markets :
    Charlottenburg Castle & Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market.

    I am sure you have found this website but they updated it since I last looked at it. http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/berlin_christmas_market.php


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 860 ✭✭✭undo


    Ms. Sunshine: Potsdam is a city just outside of Berlin, easily reached by commuter train. What you are thinking of is Potsdamer Platz ("Potsdam Square"), a square named after the city. That square is right in the center of Berlin, easily reached on foot from the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag parliament building. And yes, the Sony Center is in Potsdamer Platz.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,489 ✭✭✭Yamanoto


    Passenger wrote: »
    Looking at Munich for December. Can anybody recommend a cheap but decent quality hotel/hostel in the center?

    I'm off to Munich in a few hours & got a great rate at the Holiday Inn City Centre - €47 for a superior double. Haven't stayed there before, so I'll report back & PM you the code / booking process if you're still intending to travel.

    It's on Hochstrasse, just across the river from the old town and an easy walk to the Christmas market at Marienplatz (which kicks off Mon 25th). It's also v close to the Deutsches Museum, which I'd love to hit up if I have time.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,711 ✭✭✭uli84


    Yamanoto wrote: »
    I'm off to Munich in a few hours & got a great rate at the Holiday Inn City Centre - €47 for a superior double. Haven't stayed there before, so I'll report back & PM you the code / booking process if you're still intending to travel.

    can I get that too please?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,489 ✭✭✭Yamanoto


    PM sent.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 499 ✭✭tankbarry


    looking to go away for a few nights to anywhere outside ireland has anybody got any recommendations on where would be a good spot.

    all help apprectiated


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,491 ✭✭✭moby2101


    Hey,

    Terrific Christmas market in Brno, Czech Republic..http://brnonow.com/2010/11/christmas-market/
    It's cheap as chips there, 5* hotel for 100 a night.. beer around a euro a pop, great nightlife as well!
    Beautiful little historic city


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭Blingy


    Hi,
    Have never been Germany or to the Xmas markets and would love to hear some recommendations as to which city is best. Going for a long weekend in Devember. Flights seem to be most expensive to Munich unfortunately.
    Any tips/help appreciated.
    Thanks.


  • Advertisement
  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,269 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Haven't been to Cologne, but of those three I'd pick Berlin just because there's so much other stuff to do there and to be fair, once you've seen one Christmas Market you've seen them all. You wouldn't fill a whole long weekend just traipsing around the markets.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭Blingy


    spurious wrote: »
    Haven't been to Cologne, but of those three I'd pick Berlin just because there's so much other stuff to do there and to be fair, once you've seen one Christmas Market you've seen them all. You wouldn't fill a whole long weekend just traipsing around the markets.

    Thank you!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 170 ✭✭Halfbaker


    I've been to all 3 cities more than once and would pick Berlin as my favourite, and probably Munich second, though as you are only going for a long weekend I would pick the one with the cheapest flights.
    All 3 cities have more than enough to keep you entertained for a few days.

    Also, after you've spent an hour or two strolling around the market you'll have had enough!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,212 ✭✭✭Naid23


    Berlin is by far my favourite. Have been a few times and there is so many markets to choose from around the city that you will not get bored.

    The nicest one is in gendarmenmarkt. Lovely Square and lots going on.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,842 ✭✭✭seanbmc


    Berlin!

    The Mauer Park flea market is on every Sunday,it has everything. Overall Berlin is a great place with lots to see and do. Been there twice and considering moving there at some point.

    http://www.mauerparkmarkt.de/?lang=en


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭Blingy


    Thanks for the replies and recommendations...flights booked for Berlin now just need a well located hotel.
    Thanks!!


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 27,269 CMod ✭✭✭✭spurious


    Park Inn on the Alexanderplatz - beside the TV tower usually has reasonable deals.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,476 ✭✭✭sarkozy


    Mauerpark gets so horrifically crowded I'm not sure it's worth it. There are other markets, too, so Google those. One thing to be said for Mauerpark is it's in Prenzlauer Berg, the nice, gentrified part of Berlin where you might not hear German spoken for miles. Lots of nice places to eat and shop (Oderbergerstrasse, Kastanienalee, Pappelallee, Schoenhauserallee). You can walk there from Alexanderplatz if you fancy it, towards Rosa-Luxembourg Platz and the up Schoenhauserallee. The area behind Hackeshermarkt would be particularly atmospheric that time of year as it's part of the surviving old city, and then further over towards Friedrichstrasse. Interestingly, it was the historic jewel of Berlin - Unter den Linden - leading up to the Brandenburg Gate that was preserved by the Communists during the Cold War. The old, bombed out 'centre' of the Western allies' sectors are hideous by comparison.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36 desperate housewife


    I am interested in going to a Christmas Market in Europe on December 20th for three days. We are thinking of either Belgium, Luxembourg or Budapest. Has anyone been to those cities and visited the markets and can you recommend? We have never been to a Christmas Market but we love visiting cities in the winter, do these cities have much to do in winter time? I know the biggest markets are in Germany but we have been there numerous times so don't want to go again, looking for a new city! Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,775 ✭✭✭✭Slattsy


    Best i've been to is Copenhagen. Unbelievable.


  • Advertisement
Advertisement