Christmas Market Newbies - Prague or Cologne

Darkphaery

I love Prague Heading there in 2 weeks :j

DH & I went last December for the Markets, i'd been a couple of years previous for a girly weekend. It was magical, yes the markets are much the same but Prague has it's own magic. So much effort is put in to decorate all the buildings. One thing i would say is we were really impressed with how the bad weather was handled. We stayed at a hotel on Kampa Island so we had to walk down the steps coming from Charles Bridge, even as it was snowing there were men there clearing them off.

want2move2010

Thanks very much for all your replies....lots of food for thought, esepcially about how much time the markets might occupy us for...

Think I am leaning towards Prague as there seems to be lots to do as well as the markets and have wanted to visit for a long time. Have been to Berlin and loved it but think would like to try somewhere new.

Going to do some more research on deals and good locations...any views on decent locations/hotels to stay? Probably looking at no more than £100 per night and from the limited research I have done so far, Wenceslas Square area seems quite popular as a handy location for sightseeing/eating out etc.

pattycake

Wenceslas Square is scummy! Do not stay in a hotel on the square. It is ok for a visit but to be avoided as a place to stay. The area around the "square", which is actually a long wide plaza, is fine. Our home is near to Namesti Republici which is only about 5-10 minutes walk from Wenceslas Square. Hotels in Prague 1 will be the most central. However, the transport system in Prague is excellent if you stay a bit further afield.

essexgirly

I'm so pleased I found this thread. We have booked to go to Prague on 1st December/4th December. Looking forward to it. We are booked into to the Intercontinental in the Old Town area (purchased via airmiles/clubcard deals).

Have done the Christmas trip before to Ypres and Austria, so this is a bit of a new venture, I hope the atmosphere along with the possible snow makes it all worthwhile. I'd welcome any information/tips on our trip.

Thanks all

signol

My friend who used to live in Prague would recommend the Ibis hotel next to Andel metro. Less than 5 mins from the old town, and after last metro, trams ran all night.

There are more local bars nearby, including one at a brewery, and a small Christmas market as well.

signol

pattycake

signol wrote: »

My friend who used to live in Prague would recommend the Ibis hotel next to Andel metro. Less than 5 mins from the old town, and after last metro, trams ran all night.

There are more local bars nearby, including one at a brewery, and a small Christmas market as well.

signol

Andel is a bit more than five minutes walk from Old Town though. I think you will find that most of the trams do not run all night either. However, I do like Andel and the Smichov area. When we first went to live in Prague, before we found a flat, we stayed at the Hotel Julian in Andel. Lovely place. More character than the Ibis which is of course a chain. It is on the other side of the river from Old Town as it is on the Castle side.

814man

Not really sure I can compare Prague with Berlin but having lived in Berlin for 5 years in the 90's I'd just say how wonderful the Christmas markets there are. Berlin as anyone who has been there will know is a huge city made up of many distinct districts all with their own character. Although there are slightly overly commercial Christmas markets in the central area it does not take too much effort to travel out to one of the outer districts such as Spandau to find a more authentic German Christmas market. http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/berlin_christmas_market.php

signol

pattycake wrote: »

Andel is a bit more than five minutes walk from Old Town though.

Sorry, I meant 5 mins metro

signol

Merkin

essexgirly wrote: »

We are booked into to the Intercontinental in the Old Town area

If you walk across the bridge from where you are staying you can go up the steps to the top of hill and get a great view down the river of the Charles Bridge.