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Christmas Trip Questions - Prague, Vienna, Zurich?

Posted by (Dallas, TX) on

I'm planning what will be my husband and my second europe trip. We have Dec 17-Dec 29 available and I'm thinking about flying into Prague, train to Vienna and flying out of either Zurich, Geneva or somewhere in between.

Can anyone offer advice for these locations at christmas time? Things we should definitely do/see in each place? Hotels to stay at? We enjoy art, history, food, wine, and shopping. Our budget is flexible - anywhere from $100-$250 a night. I'd like to find somewhere in Switzerland for our last few days of the trip where the rooms have a fireplace - I'm hoping to go snow-shoeing or at least enjoy a white christmas, so I'm guessing Alps would be the best place but I would love recommendations! I've heard Zurich has better christmas markets, however I'd love to see Chateau de Chillon and my husband wants to visit the large hadron collider in Geneva, so any opinions would be appreciated.

Thanks for sharing your ideas!!

Posted by
868 posts

In general Christmas markets are a tradition of the German- speaking world, and they usually end on Dec 23. Prague has a Christmas market which appeared some years ago to please the tourists, but many other Czech towns without tourists don't have one.
If you are serious about Christmas shopping: Germanys Christmas country is two hours to the north of Prague. Saxony and the Ore mountains are the region where most of Germanys Christmas traditions come from, and deep in the Ore mountain is Seiffen, a village with nothing but Christmas shops.

Posted by
8417 posts

We lived in Augsburg, Germany for four years and always enjoyed the Christmas Markets in Germany. Most Bavarian cities have a market. I can't comment on Prague or Vienna, but they might have one as well.

I know that many river cruise lines offer a Christmas Market cruise that stops at several such cities. Suggest checking out Vantage, Viking, AMA, Uniworld, and Avalon.

One thing, if you don't like cold weather and it getting dark at 4:30pm, consider another trip. If you do go, take a nice warm coat, shoes and hat.

Also, Switzerland is wonderful, but prices for everything there are about 50 percent higher than in Austria and Germany.

If you are going to the Alps in late December, don't plan on driving a rental car. Some areas of Switzerland can get lots of snow and you might need chains for your tires.

I suggest a Prague, Germany, Vienna itinerary.

Posted by
4637 posts

Prague has several Christmas markets not just one. IMHO the best is in the Old Town Square. Nowadays almost every city or town in the Czech Republic has Christmas Market. I don't know about Christmas Markets in Switzerland but other than that Luzern would be much better destination than Zurich. In Germany one of the best Christmas Markets is in Nuremberg. Vienna Christmas Market at the Rathaus (City Hall) is awesome.

Posted by
7175 posts

My first thoughts would be to consider a white Christmas in the Austrian Tirol and not Switzerland.
17 Dec Prague (3 nights)
20 Dec Vienna (3 nights)
23 Dec Tirol (3 nights)
26 Dec Munich (3 nights) or Luzern (and fly out of Zurich)

Posted by
250 posts

In Prague, K+K Hotel Central and Hotel Metamorphis are both excellent. 4-star hotels for $100-150 per night. Huge breakfast spreads. Great locations not far from Old Town Square.

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