Christmas Markets General/Annual Bumper Thread

NiNa_20 · 30-10-2011 10:22pm

I'd say 300 euro for flight and hotel for 2 people will be very hard to find something.
You might be able to find a cheap flight for Frankfurt (Ryanair goes there). Berlin and Munich will be very expensive.
Maybe look up Cologne (Ryanair goes there too, I think): it's beautiful there in winter and romantic with the dome and all.
What I would suggest is Luebeck. It's an average big German city in the north near Hamburg (Aerlingus goes to Hamburg) and is famous all over Germany for it's xmas markets. It's very romantic, prices will be much lower than in the big cities but it's big enough to fill 3 interesting days.
(I am German so I know a bit about the christmas markets)

NiNa_20 · 30-10-2011 10:26pm

Btw here is a link to Luebecks Christmas website:
http://www.luebecker-weihnachtsmarkt.de/en/
There are a couple of really nice restaurants that I can recommend too, if you are interested...
(I am not getting paid for advertise that city - just love the markets there

)

munchkin_utd · 31-10-2011 9:37am

ok.... when someone says something cant be done on a budget I take that as a challenge!!!!

I just checked Ryanair and they are doing Dublin to Memmingen (Munich) for 42.98 incl taxes/ online checkin return, credit card fee extra but is technically avoidable. Dates are Friday 2nd to Sunday 4th.
The Shuttle bus to Munich is 15euro each way so 72.98 in total to get you from Dublin to Munich city centre.
Not bad.

If you are happy with hostels, then Wombats around the corner from the main station in Munich is €20 a night per person. So 40 for accomodation for the 2 nights.
So in total, 112.98 per person for flights, transfer and accomodation

Not to mention, staying near the station means you dont even need an underground ticket saving you the 13.30 for a 3 day ticket, which I'd consider essential for comfort - but if the cash aint there you can still function once you are downtown without public transport.

EDIT.
I see you want to go from the 20th till 24rd.
Ryanair dont fly those dates to Memmingen, but the 21st till 24th is there and a tenner dearer than the flights above - so €125ish per person all in!

alexonhisown · 03-11-2011 11:33pm

Thanks for all the info Mel.B. The Ice sculpture Festival in Bruges looks great. I will definitely go to Bruges, looks like a lovely city.

hugh82 · 10-11-2011 12:27am

try ebookers,

going to berlin on the 28th of this month for 4 nights midweek in a 4* hotel near the zoo stop off on the train line from the airport. Kawede is next door, the biggest department store in europe. it cost us 400 euro for 2 but we booked it 4 wks ago and its at the opposite end of the month that u want.

otherwise keep an eye on www.thetraveldepartment.ie, they do decent christmas breaks from minimum of 2 nights and they have a section for late availibility which will be a total gamble waiting for if you are stuck to the dates you posted

dmark25 · 21-11-2011 2:04pm

i am going to Christmas Market in Bernkastel Germany this weekend. Going out on Friday and coming home monday. Just wondering if you would know how much spending money is needed on a trip like this. flights, accomodations and meals are already paid for it is just spending money for the markets and drinks etc.

jester77 · 21-11-2011 6:20pm

dmark25 wrote: »

i am going to Christmas Market in Bernkastel Germany this weekend. Going out on Friday and coming home monday. Just wondering if you would know how much spending money is needed on a trip like this. flights, accomodations and meals are already paid for it is just spending money for the markets and drinks etc.

What do you plan spending it on? Drinks are around €2-€4 depending on what you get, snacks (sweet/savory) up to €5. While Gluhweins & Feuerzangenbowles are nice, you most likely will not drink too many of them. Only so many snacks you can eat as well. There are lots of stalls selling clothes, souvenirs, jewelery and so on. A lot of these are handmade and can be expensive.

lisasimpson · 11-10-2012 6:32pm

Ive a few days annual leave to use up before the end of the year. I always wanted to go to a christmas market in europe. does anyone know of a tour operate that offers trips for people going on their own but would like an escorted trip (on a budget)

The Davestator · 12-10-2012 8:19pm

lisasimpson wrote: »

Ive a few days annual leave to use up before the end of the year. I always wanted to go to a christmas market in europe. does anyone know of a tour operate that offers trips for people going on their own but would like an escorted trip (on a budget)

Click and go.com are doing 3 night trips for around 170 euro - flights and accommodation. Irish company.

cleanslate · 29-11-2012 1:31pm

I went with them recently, I heard about them from someone who works in Aer Lingus. V impressed with them, had never heard of them before...

Birdsong · 05-07-2013 8:37pm

Am thinking of heading to see the Christmas Markets this year, thought about it for a few years. At the moment, looking like Berlin or Munich, was wondering if anyone had any experience of either or both, or even anywhere else to consider.

Flights seem dear enough for that time, due to the markets i suppose. Its around the €180 at the moment.

Lima Golf · 05-07-2013 9:15pm

Cologne in Germany. I was there for the Christmas markets last year and it was amazing. Brass band, mulled wine, cute stalls with crafts, hot crepes...fantastic. High street shopping was excellent also, Zara, Vera moda, promod, etc. stayed at the lindner hotel. It was modern, central and reasonably priced. You can fly in to Frankfurt or dusseldorf and get the train to cologne. I flew into dusseldorf with aer lingus and it was about 30minutes on the train.

orchidsrpretty · 05-07-2013 11:14pm

Was in Budapest a couple of years ago and really enjoyed the markets. At almost every corner someone was selling mulled wine, lots of tasty treats and some good handcrafted gifts. They also have a huge indoor market, cant recall the name but they sold everything there from little gifts to huge butcher counters.

donadoni · 06-07-2013 2:34am

I am from Munich so I know the Christmas markets in Munich very well. Never been to one in Berlin but have seen Christmas markets in other cities across Germany and Austria.
Tbh the markets are equally nice everywhere. I wouldn't pick one city over the other in relation to that.
Should you decide to go to Munich I would recommend that you visit the winter festival "Tollwood", which is much more than "just" a christmas market. It goes from 26.11 until 31.12. and has an international flair with music, food, arts etc. from all over the world.
In one of the tents there are also discussions and talks with scientists, philosophers, artists and politicians about all things under this sun, which makes it a bit different from other festivals and Christmas markets.

Here is some information about Tollwood

There are about 12 bigger christmas markets in Munich plus several smaller ones. The biggest and probably most spectacular one is in the old town (Marienplatz)
Here is some information about the markets in Munich

girl_friday · 06-07-2013 2:37am

I'd recommend Cologne. I go to a different Christmas market in Europe each year and it just blew me away!!

spurious · 06-07-2013 8:19am

Dresden is lovely too. Beautifully restored following the practically criminal deliberate destruction at the end of WWII and only two hours on the train from Berlin (or Prague).

ScottSF · 06-07-2013 11:55am

I agree that Cologne is a great recommendation. My wife and I visited last year. Flew into Dusseldorf which is an interesting enough city if you have a few hours to spend on the way home.

We also took a train to Bonn to see their markets and that is also a lovely though smaller city. Cologne had numerous markets spread throughout the city, each a little bit different. The city makes for a very enjoyable long weekend.

If you have not visited Munich or Berlin before I suggest save those for another trip where you can enjoy those cities without the Christmas crowds.

This website is very useful to compare Christmas Markets across Europe and come up with ideas. Plenty to consider:
http://www.christmasmarkets.com/Germany/cologne-christmas-market.html

Birdsong · 06-07-2013 6:20pm

Wow, thanks so much for the replies, we decided on Munich in the end, and will defiantly be taking looking up your suggestions donadoni

Chinasea · 06-07-2013 6:35pm

Totally agree with Tonadoni - loved Tollwood and there was a lovely trendy market in Schwabing also. Was deep snow there when we went so make sure to bring appropriate footwear and clothing.

We fly to Memmingen with Ryan air when we go to Munich, and despite the gasping from the anti Ryanair brigade, we have managed to get really excellent fares. Memmingen is 73 miles away from Munich. You can get the train down to Munich in 1 hr 20 mins at a cost of €29 for up to 5 people, or you can get a bus right outside the door for €18.00 one way each - straight drive down the motorway.

donadoni · 07-07-2013 9:56am

Chinasea wrote: »

Totally agree with Tonadoni - loved Tollwood and there was a lovely trendy market in Schwabing also. Was deep snow there when we went so make sure to bring appropriate footwear and clothing.

We fly to Memmingen with Ryan air when we go to Munich, and despite the gasping from the anti Ryanair brigade, we have managed to get really excellent fares. Memmingen is 73 miles away from Munich. You can get the train down to Munich in 1 hr 20 mins at a cost of €29 for up to 5 people, or you can get a bus right outside the door for €18.00 one way each - straight drive down the motorway.

I wasn't aware of that connection to Memmingen at all. Is that a direct flight from Ireland? Thanks for the hint. I have to look into that.

I know that market in Schwabing you're talking about very well. Used to live near Muenchner Freiheit subway station for many years and passed there every evening coming home from work. When the market was on, I never made it home without meeting my room mates already on the famous "Jamaica Glueh" they sell there and having a mug or two with them. Sweet memories

Galadriel · 07-07-2013 1:59pm

Does any one know of any Christmas markets that stay open over the Christmas period? Prague does but we've been there a few times so looking for somewhere else. We're looking for someone like Prague that doesn't close restaurants and bars on the 25th/26th.

donadoni · 07-07-2013 4:34pm

Galadriel wrote: »

Does any one know of any Christmas markets that stay open over the Christmas period? Prague does but we've been there a few times so looking for somewhere else. We're looking for someone like Prague that doesn't close restaurants and bars on the 25th/26th.

At least in Germany and Austria Christmas markets are rarely open after the 24th but a Google search told me that there are some exceptions (sites only in German unfortunately).

There are some markets in Hamburg and Berlin open until January 6th, but closed on December 25th and 26th.

I found some more markets in some other smaller cities and towns across Germany that are open longer but I guess it would be a lot of hassle to look for them and get there if you're on a short trip.

I also heard that Christmas markets in Italy are open until after christmas, because they are getting their presents on January 6th. Not sure if that' true though.

Chinasea · 07-07-2013 6:10pm

donadoni wrote: »

I wasn't aware of that connection to Memmingen at all. Is that a direct flight from Ireland? Thanks for the hint. I have to look into that.

I know that market in Schwabing you're talking about very well.

Yeap, we liked it, not so kitsch'y!

Yea, Ryanair fly to Memmingen for a few years now. It is called Munich West in brackets as it is the 76 miles up the road, but in Germany with such excellent public transport and motorways, that is a hop, skip and a jump. People go off on one when they read the Munich West bit, but I research before I travel which usually helps eliminate surprises! The airport itself is an ex army base. You land, your bags are on the conveyor belt before you get there, and you are unterwegs with no messing about.

and at a damn good price.

donadoni · 08-07-2013 4:49pm

Chinasea wrote: »

Yeap, we liked it, not so kitsch'y!

Yea, Ryanair fly to Memmingen for a few years now. It is called Munich West in brackets as it is the 76 miles up the road, but in Germany with such excellent public transport and motorways, that is a hop, skip and a jump. People go off on one when they read the Munich West bit, but I research before I travel which usually helps eliminate surprises! The airport itself is an ex army base. You land, your bags are on the conveyor belt before you get there, and you are unterwegs with no messing about. and at a damn good price.

Thanks again Chinasea! It's a great help for our stretched finances. As I said, I wasn't aware of that connection at all.

Daisy78 · 09-07-2013 10:08pm

I spent the latter half of last Christmas in Copenhagen and we spent a lot of time in the Tivoli market. It is spectacular. In fact I'm half thinking of going back again this Xmas.

Recession traveller · 10-07-2013 8:33pm

A cheaper alternative is Bratislava. You can pick up cheap flights and the markets are great. Plus you can also get the train to Vienna which has some of the best markets in Europe.

Ms.Sunshine · 13-08-2013 1:11pm

Hi! My partner & I are starting to think about our annual trip abroad to a European city. We usually go the last week in October & have been to Krakow, Berlin & Prague. This year we won't be able to go away at that time of the year ( Unless a very very cheap deal comes up!) So I was thinking of a 2 or 3 day trip to a European city before chirtsmas when the markets are set up!

Can anybody recommend any good markets they were at in the past or has any one been thinking about going to ones this year!? Himself has mentioned he would like to go to Munich & I would like to go to Budapest , I wonder if they have a good market? .. or should we visit them at another time?

Thanks in advance!

munchkin_utd · 13-08-2013 2:17pm

Munich is market central

Theres the large market downtown which is actually 2 separate ones - a crafts market with 170 stands and a crib maket - but then about a half dozen other ones in differents parts of town including a medieval themed one, a gay one(lots of pinkness!), a really arty one in Schwabing, a few small cute ones in squares in the outlying city centre and a really big one with tents down by where the Oktoberfest happens which is a sortof new age environmentally friendly christmas market.

It seems that Budapest only has the one main market with 100 stands.

Vinz Mesrine · 13-08-2013 2:18pm

My parents went to one in Frankfurt a few years ago which they thoroughly enjoyed.

Ms.Sunshine · 13-08-2013 2:19pm

Wow Munich seems to have it all! When does the heavy snow start in Munich? I take it One would need a ski type jacket and snow boots!? Woutld it be best to book it closer the time when packages might come out, or now?

Christmas Markets **General/Annual Bumper Thread**

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Christmas Markets General/Annual Bumper Thread