A friend and I are going to spend 2 weeks in Europe in December. Our current plan is to fly into Stuttgart and out of Paris. Are there any "must see" markets we should make sure to visit?
Thank you for your input,
Paula
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Strasbourg - the biggest, best and oldest one. And conveniently on the rail route from Stuttgart to Paris.
Official website here (though it looks like they haven't updated it for 2018 yet): https://noel.strasbourg.eu/en/accueil
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9200 posts
The Stuttgart mkt for sure and then Esslingen. Perhaps Tübingen too.
In France, Strasbourg as well as Colmar.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23604 posts
And Strasbourg is more than one market. It is scattered across the city. I think we spent about three days covering Strasbourg. Also from a planning viewpoint keep in mind that the German Christmas markets will begin shutting down early afternoon on Christmas eve.
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2577 posts
Strasbourg - TGV to Paris .
Nearby in Germany is Gengenbach with the world's largest Advent calendar.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9200 posts
Most of the German markets will close on the the 22nd or 23rd, not the 24th. Check the city websites to be sure. Small towns may just have one weekend, or perhaps 2.
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
There are Christmas Markets all over and they are all wonderful.Vienna was my favorite (I had an 8 day tour several years ago)
Here is a good link and some photos.
Posted by
London, United Kingdom
4684 posts
Christmas markets are a phenomenom entirely limited to the German-speaking parts of Europe. Most outside those countries are simply pseudo-German novelties. The only worthwhile ones outside the German-speaking regions are Strasbourg as mentioned (Alsace has a Franco-German hybrid culture) and Brussels.
Posted by
Portland, Maine
2916 posts
Salzburg was terrific, as was Munich.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
Salzburg was a favorite, as well as the Market in Paris! I also loved a few on the Romantic road...Dinkelsbuhl (tiny and local) and Rothenberg (bigger and commercial) They are all amazing...Heidelberg was another favorite.
Posted by
165 posts
Munich's market is wonderful and has the advantage of being in a large, interesting city with lots of other things to see too. Rothenburg is also great and a charming town to see, if you want to mix Christmas markets with other sightseeing.