best Christmas market? Europe or UK?

sunflowersuffolk · 19 October 2007 at 5:37PM

Wondering whether to book cheap Ryanair flight to Europe for Christmas market, just 1 or 2 nights. Not sure if its worth it as I have to go from stansted where parking is expensive ,cheap flights are really early or late, could stay overnight in hotel with parking. I have 2 hour drive from Suffolk to Stansted. Shame theres nothing cheap from Norwich.

Can anyone suggest best markets that are within fairly easy reach of a Ryanair airport?

I'd like a market that sells traditional wooden items etc that you can't get in UK, with lovely atmosphere.

Other alternative is to have weekend away at Lincoln Christmas market or similar UK market. Any ideas on hotels also gratefully received, in UK or Europe

Thanks very much

blackeberg · 20 October 2007 at 6:13PM

Skansen in Stockholm usually has a good one for the first few weeks of December. You can fly to Skavsta or Västerås which are both about 75 minutes on the bus to the central station. Check out Tripadvisor for hotel reviews.

griff. · 20 October 2007 at 8:13PM

There's a nice article here from the telegraph:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2007/10/01/et-christmas-markets-101.xml

I would really like to know as well if anyone has recommendations?

Oh, and if you're staying in Stockholm, treat yourself to a nice night there and stay at the Rival http://www.rival.se/ - run by benny from abba!

susancs · 7 November 2007 at 1:16PM

My sister works for an Austrian firm and her colleagues recommend salzburg, Austria on Saturdays in December. We have booked for a day trip leaving Stansted early am and returning late the same day. The bus from the airport takes 20 minutes and everything is in walking distance in Salzburg. It gets dark about 3.30pm and it's then the carol singers, sleigh rides etc start. You also get the added bonus of being able to visit Moazart's house . Apparently it is great for children and adults alike. With 1p flights from Ryan Air it works out not a bad trip price.

Badger_Lady · 7 November 2007 at 1:21PM

Carcassonne is really lovely - both in the city and in nearby villages. Olonzac (nearby) does a wonderful outdoor market with wooden toys / gifts. My favourite is a frog with a spiny back - you rub a stick along it and it sounds exactly like the noise a frog makes!

It's lovely when it's cold, too, because they dish out hot mulled wine and mince pies (for free) as part of the Christmas market experience...

davidscot · 7 November 2007 at 1:25PM

We went to the markets etc in Prague a couple of years ago and was not impressed at all. Not as good as anticipated, bit of a rip-off and the OH got her bag stolen:mad:

daveyjp · 7 November 2007 at 1:56PM

Went to Toulouse a few years ago and their Christmas market happened to be on at the same time.

It was no different to any UK Christmas market I've been to and this included stalls selling thousands of "frog with a spiny back - you rub a stick along it and it sounds exactly like the noise a frog makes!" in about 10 different sizes.

Go for the trip abroad and not for the market experience - agree about Salzburg - lovely place.

Badger_Lady · 7 November 2007 at 2:23PM

daveyjp wrote: »

It was no different to any UK Christmas market I've been to and this included stalls selling thousands of "frog with a spiny back - you rub a stick along it and it sounds exactly like the noise a frog makes!" in about 10 different sizes.

Oh, I thought it was really unusual

. How thick do I feel? :rolleyes:

topmum · 7 November 2007 at 5:39PM

There is a German market in Birmingham from the end of this month. It is from Frankfurt. It got rave reviews last year. I am going to console myself with a trip there as I cant afford to go abroad again this year - now all together - awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :rotfl:

topmum · 7 November 2007 at 6:33PM

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Oh, I thought it was really unusual . How thick do I feel? :rolleyes:

I have one of those frogs

I love it :rotfl:

knightstyle · 7 November 2007 at 9:40PM

Lincoln christmas market is really good, well organised, park on racecourse with frequent shuttle bus to the town and market, plus fantastic town to visit.
We went to Bruges a few years ago, that was really good as well but parking was a problem, Eurostar?

best Christmas market? Europe or UK?

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