Christmas markets in Europe?

[Bonk!]

Anyone been? Looking for tips and recommendations (hotels/restaurants/things to do). We're flying into Vienna, then travelling (via train) to Saltzburg, Strasbourg, Lucerne and Zurich. Thx.

[boosten lebaron]

Vienna is gonna be the best market on that route followed by strasbourg. Austria Goes way overboard on the markets. Its very traditional. Since i just pop in and out i cant recommend much in terms of accommodations or doing anything but the markets really at that time of year. i can say Zurich will be crippling expensive and even more so if the orange man keeps pushing the dollar down. We are talking like $23 usd for a subway combo expensive. I would do all my shopping at the other markets.
If your going to just see the markets i would have picked a different area. London has the big dog winter carnival in Hyde park and that place is booming. Krakow and villinus have probably the nicest winter markets that mix a lot of traditions. Germany has a ton of them, probably more than any other eu country. Pick a city and go.

[Bonk!]

Thanks - this isn't my trip to plan - we're tagging along with our best friends and they've already booked flights. Zurich is simple our departure spot - I don't think we're spending time there. I told them I'd do some research. We've been to Vienna, so I have a hotel in mind there.

[obsolete]

Wife really wants to go but my friend is running the Berlin Marathon so we have to go for Octoberfest... Awesome shucks. Post up your results so we can go back ��

[Bonk!]

We may split from our friends, based on the above, and bypass the long Strasbourg leg and go to Nurenburg instead, and day trip to Rothenberg.

[xrocket21]

We may split from our friends, based on the above, and bypass the long Strasbourg leg and go to Nurenburg instead, and day trip to Rothenberg.

'Ring rental.....

[tsorfas]

Vienna is gonna be the best market on that route followed by strasbourg. Austria Goes way overboard on the markets. Its very traditional. Since i just pop in and out i cant recommend much in terms of accommodations or doing anything but the markets really at that time of year. i can say Zurich will be crippling expensive and even more so if the orange man keeps pushing the dollar down. We are talking like $23 usd for a subway combo expensive. I would do all my shopping at the other markets.
If your going to just see the markets i would have picked a different area. London has the big dog winter carnival in Hyde park and that place is booming. Krakow and villinus have probably the nicest winter markets that mix a lot of traditions. Germany has a ton of them, probably more than any other eu country. Pick a city and go.

Just converted $5000 to get 4000€. Sucks

[breakdirt916]

we did it in copenhagen last year; the markets are a lot smaller than I expected, but quite charming

[boosten lebaron]

'Ring rental.....

Nurenburg is where they tried war criminals. Nurburgring goes round and round.

[ZX-12R]

we did it in copenhagen last year; the markets are a lot smaller than I expected, but quite charming

Everything in Denmark is small. The upside is Copenhagen is one of the cleanest cities I've ever been to.

[boosten lebaron]

Everything in Denmark is small. The upside is Copenhagen is one of the cleanest cities I've ever been to.

Tokyo has entered the conversation.

[xrocket21]

Nurenburg is where they tried war criminals. Nurburgring goes round and round.

That's my bad. Never been across the pond.

[boosten lebaron]

Ring rental is a good excuse to go. 9 hour flight with a 2 hour drive and your at the ring in a rental car. Perfect weekend trip.

[obsolete]

Everything in Denmark is small. The upside is Copenhagen is one of the cleanest cities I've ever been to.

Loved Copenhagen. Went to a 1 star michelin restaurant there that has no electricity in the kitchen. One of my favorite dining experiences.

[xrocket21]

Ring rental is a good excuse to go. 9 hour flight with a 2 hour drive and your at the ring in a rental car. Perfect weekend trip.

Maybe someday

[jeantarrou]

I lived in Strasbourg for a year, the self-proclaimed "Capital de Noel" with the tradition going back to the 16th century. The markets there are fantastic with the "chalets" surrounding the cathedral, I give it my highest recommendation. Staying in Petite France is preferred for the beautiful architecture and options for restaurants/cafes, it isn't centre ville, but it's only a pleasant 10 minute walk from Petite France to the cathedral. I have no first hand experience with the other locations you mentioned, I'm sure they're all pretty good, we did do Quebec City last December and I was pleasantly surprised how nice it was.

EDIT:
La Fignette was my favorite Alsatian restaurant.

[Bonk!]

I lived in Strasbourg for a year, the self-proclaimed "Capital de Noel" with the tradition going back to the 16th century. The markets there are fantastic with the "chalets" surrounding the cathedral, I give it my highest recommendation. Staying in Petite France is preferred for the beautiful architecture and options for restaurants/cafes, it isn't centre ville, but it's only a pleasant 10 minute walk from Petite France to the cathedral. I have no first hand experience with the other locations you mentioned, I'm sure they're all pretty good, we did do Quebec City last December and I was pleasantly surprised how nice it was.

EDIT:
La Fignette was my favorite Alsatian restaurant.

Cool - thanks.

[Bonk!]

Reviving this thread because we're going again, this time to Germany. Preliminary plans have us flying into Frankfurt and hitting (forgive misspellings!) Heidelberg, Rothenburg, Nuremberg, Regensberg and back to Frankfurt.

We found relying on the trains was less than ideal (despite Europe's reputation) so we are simply going to hire a driver to take us from point A to point B. We are also spending less time traveling and more time at the destinations. If anyone has been to these places or to German Christmas markets in general, I'd love your thoughts.

In terms of the original trip, each city was fantastic but we wound up spending too much time on trains. We also found that the markets in little towns and villages were much more authentic and laid back.

[obsolete]

Been to Frankfurt to get to Bingen. Can't speak on Frankfurt but we really enjoyed Bingen. Smaller town on the Rhein. Wife has friends there so we got a nice tour. Unsure of their Christmas market situation but worth a look into if you have the time.

What issues did you have with the trains? Our only gripe is that they'll cancel the train, have a new one rescheduled and it becomes a free for all for seats even if you already bought nicer seats. Happened to us in Denmark I believe. But after that we lookout for it and leave proper American queuing etiquette at customs.

[Bonk!]

Kind of the same experience - cancelled trains, lost seat reservations, tons of track changes, hauling bags, etc.

Bingen looks to be in the wrong direction - maybe next trip!

[number9]

Reviving this thread because we're going again, this time to Germany. Preliminary plans have us flying into Frankfurt and hitting (forgive misspellings!) Heidelberg, Rothenburg, Nuremberg, Regensberg and back to Frankfurt.

We found relying on the trains was less than ideal (despite Europe's reputation) so we are simply going to hire a driver to take us from point A to point B. We are also spending less time traveling and more time at the destinations. If anyone has been to these places or to German Christmas markets in general, I'd love your thoughts.

In terms of the original trip, each city was fantastic but we wound up spending too much time on trains. We also found that the markets in little towns and villages were much more authentic and laid back.

Deutsche Bahn does not have the reputation it used to enjoy, i.e. they have had tons of problems over the year and the German precision is very much lacking.

That being said, Germany is a great place - I've been to the Christmas markets in Berlin twice, and it was terrific.