Budapest and ????? in November/December

Skip Tel Aviv, I was just there and wasn’t impressed. I was thinking of adding Amman while in Israel and the more I read the less interested I was, it lacks that old world charm. The rest of the places you listed interest me. Sorry, I can’t recommend a place only suggest what two to drop.

They are destinations of WizzAir out of Budapest that I havent visited yet :-)
Dates? After 17 November, before 9 December. I am flexible.

Tel Aviv is the airport for Israel, so there are options beyond Tel Aviv. But to be honest I have been to Israel a few times and the best part of Israel will be in Budapest so its not tops on my list.

There are nonstop flights from Budapest to Baku and Tigru Mures.

That was a question? Yes there are.
https://wizzair.com/en-gb#/booking/select-flight/BUD/TGM/2022-11-22/null/1/0/0/null starts at about $20
https://wizzair.com/en-gb#/booking/select-flight/BUD/GYD/2022-12-05/null/1/0/0/null starts at about $50

I haven't been to Targu Mures, but it's near a lot of cities I found very attractive. I don't remember whether you've mentioned visiting any of them in the past: Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Brasov.

Hmmm, Amman is interesting but not sure I would go just for the city. But if you get a driver and some day trips, maybe you would like it. Not sure.

And I haven’t been to Tbilisi yet (my daughter has), but there may be some wine areas from there you would be interested in. Also supposedly a really interesting place for Gregorian chant. The mountains further in might be pretty also. I would be tempted by Kutaisi. Might need your coat!

Skopje…. Hmm. I would probably land and head to Ohrid somewhere. And I would be taking a drive through Galicia Nat’l Park while I was there. It’s awfully close to Albania - maybe you could pop in there for a few days. Maybe not the best time of year, though.

You’ve been to Romania, too.

My vote is Georgia.

Lake Ohrid has a very unique species of trout.... hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm tasty

I would suggest Skopje, a historical place. "They" allow visitors to go to Baku? Good to know that it's not off limits.

Macedonia, Thessalonika, places in Bulgaria - these are the items on our "bucket list" now.

You know you're more than welcome here. There's a host of places to visit besides Tel Aviv (ugh). Great wine tasting too. The earlier in November, the better . . . I will be leaving for Kadarka on Dec 1.

Why do you think I said tge best of Israel would be in Budapest. :)

owning a place in Europe, I assume you've been over there during Nov and Dec and you've seen the Xmas Markets in Budapest and the amazing ones close by?

I am probably ready worst traveled person on the forum. I've seen the Western essentials i guess, but otherwise if it isn't old Soviet Bloc, I don't know it.

I've done the markets in Budapest a number of times .... freaking amazing. The only other ones I have done are in Slovakia and Romania and ... ehhhhhh ... okay I guess

I’m asking because the best Xmas markets are in Germany- why not check out Vienna, Salzburg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau and other close by places for some Xmas markets - you’ll be there at the perfect time

NOOOOOO, the best Christmas markets are in Budapest. Its like pate and chopped liver.

Georgia will be cold. I was there for a week so would recommend it during a sunnier month.
I’d head to Israel or Jordan.

But I like Atlanta.

The best Xmas markets are in Germany- why not check out Vienna, Salzburg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau and other close by places for some Xmas markets - you’ll be there at the perfect time.

The majority of cities James listed says he’s beyond visiting cutesy Bavarian Christmas marts on the beaten path and prefers more adventurous surroundings. James, have you narrowed it down yet?

Mary Pat, I never see it as adventurous. Sofia is no more adventurous than London. If the taxi driver does speak English, it will be more understandable than a London cabbie. Its more of seeing less familiar and avoiding those things built for tourists. Just feels more real to me.

There are I hear, some very excellent markets in Germany. So excellent that people from all over the world come. I wonder the tourist to local ratio? I also hear that some sell imported junk. You would have to if you want to satisfy 2 million tourists.

Everything in the Budapest markets is local, and without exception by the rules of the market, and I love the atmosphere. But I am biased because I prefer the Hungarian people over Germans. Nothing wrong with Germans, just a personal and heavily biased opinion.

I have narrowed it down to Baku or the country that we can't talk about or just staying put in Budapest. I will make a last minute decision.

But I do appreciate all the input.

I’ve always been fascinated with Neft Daşlan. Not an easy place to get to though, but nearby.

I'll see about renting a row boat

You don't mention Zagreb or Beograd or Sarajevo. Have you been to those? Also there is W Romania - Oradia, Timisoara. Sarajevo is in the mountains, and you Texans have never seen snow. You could go for the snow.

Done it all but Timisoara and o am saving that for a future trip. And Belgrade and Serbia in general not a Mister E friendly place these days.