Christmas Markets

Kira000

pjjafc wrote: »

Hi,

I went to a Christmas Market last year in Bruges and it was excellent! Popped to the one in Brussels on the way back and thought it was pretty poor.

Looking to go to a different one this year, has anyone got any good suggestions??

Cologne is a good market if you want something small and easy to navigate- there are 3 or 4 markets all within 10-15 minutes walk from each other, and a great little chocolate museum with a chocolate fountain for whiling away a few hours if the weather is bad. Downside is that the produce in each of the markets is pretty similar. If you can get a good rate, the Sofitel Am Dom is a great choice right in the centre of the city on the doorstep of a couple of the markets.

Berlin is a good bet if you want a bigger city feel for your trip. There are lots of markets- 8 or 9 of various sizes but they are spread around the city, so you will need to use the metro to reach some of them. Great shopping streets and some historical areas you can also go and visit for a few hours, and a good choice of hotels and restaurants. I can recommend the Swissotel on Ku'Damm. Good hotel, and fairly central to several of the bigger markets, right on the main shopping street, and a good choice of restuarants near by.

Munich is also good. Smaller than Berlin, but more variety than cologne. Probably rated my second fave. A good few markets, we did 5 or 6 ranging from very large, to small local ones and some gorgeous architecture in the city. I would recommend Flemings hotel on Bayerstrasse. It is right by the main train station, so very easy to reach from the airport, as well as the centre of town to get around easily.

However, our top market to visit is Vienna which we have visited several times. A really lovely Christmas Market trip. 3 or 4 large markets near the centre, and some small others, mostly walkable distance apart but also by public transport. A much better choice of food and drinks and shopping at the markets than the others we have visited. The market in Spitellberg, in 3 or 4 streets, is lovely and very atmospheric. Great restaurants and cafes. On that basis, i cant rate the K+K Maria Theresia hotel highly enough as a base. Nice rooms, great breakfasts, wonderful location and good restaurants on the doorstep and a few minutes into town by foot.

Hope that helps, and happy to answer any questions by PM.

K

Rainmaker_uk

We are planning to go to the one in Rome - does anyone know if itsw any good?

chicacherrycola

a_sav wrote: »

cant think where but someone went to some lovely markets in caves ...sorry i'm no good atm

Do you mean Valkenburg? I have heard they are quite unique.

I would again vote for Germany. I'm itching to go to Cologne. I lived in Berlin and christmas was my favourite time there.

pjjafc

Kira000 wrote: »

Cologne is a good market if you want something small and easy to navigate- there are 3 or 4 markets all within 10-15 minutes walk from each other, and a great little chocolate museum with a chocolate fountain for whiling away a few hours if the weather is bad. Downside is that the produce in each of the markets is pretty similar. If you can get a good rate, the Sofitel Am Dom is a great choice right in the centre of the city on the doorstep of a couple of the markets.

Berlin is a good bet if you want a bigger city feel for your trip. There are lots of markets- 8 or 9 of various sizes but they are spread around the city, so you will need to use the metro to reach some of them. Great shopping streets and some historical areas you can also go and visit for a few hours, and a good choice of hotels and restaurants. I can recommend the Swissotel on Ku'Damm. Good hotel, and fairly central to several of the bigger markets, right on the main shopping street, and a good choice of restuarants near by.

Munich is also good. Smaller than Berlin, but more variety than cologne. Probably rated my second fave. A good few markets, we did 5 or 6 ranging from very large, to small local ones and some gorgeous architecture in the city. I would recommend Flemings hotel on Bayerstrasse. It is right by the main train station, so very easy to reach from the airport, as well as the centre of town to get around easily.

However, our top market to visit is Vienna which we have visited several times. A really lovely Christmas Market trip. 3 or 4 large markets near the centre, and some small others, mostly walkable distance apart but also by public transport. A much better choice of food and drinks and shopping at the markets than the others we have visited. The market in Spitellberg, in 3 or 4 streets, is lovely and very atmospheric. Great restaurants and cafes. On that basis, i cant rate the K+K Maria Theresia hotel highly enough as a base. Nice rooms, great breakfasts, wonderful location and good restaurants on the doorstep and a few minutes into town by foot.

Hope that helps, and happy to answer any questions by PM.

K

Wow! thank for the info! Vienna sounds good! Bit of a strange one but Mrs pjjafc will be 6 months pregnant so dont really want any snow around! I know you cant guarentee there wont but whats Vienna generally like that time of year??

Tarry

I went to Auchen many moons ago and I quite liked it I hope to get to one this year, been trying to get to one for a couple of years now and never quite managed it.

Kira000

pjjafc wrote: »

Wow! thank for the info! Vienna sounds good! Bit of a strange one but Mrs pjjafc will be 6 months pregnant so dont really want any snow around! I know you cant guarentee there wont but whats Vienna generally like that time of year??

We have been 3 times- usually around the 12th Dec +- 7 days. We have had some snow flurries and pretty cold weather, but no deep snow any of the occassions. If you did stay at the K+K i recommended, you should be all right as there is plenty on your doorstep that wont require long walks if the snow did turn up in force!

**curlywurly**

Been to Krakow and Dortmund. Both excellent and would recommend. Great snow in Krakow, big Christmas tree, children singing, mulled wine. Lovely.

Tarry

I am going to one 4 December 2010 Can't wait

van22663

Did Salzburg Christmas market last year, absolutely beautiful place, cant wait to go back.

Tarry

We are heading towards Bruges we have decided