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Europe in December: Nuremburg, Prague, & ???

Posted by (IN, USA) on

Hey there,

My wife and I are thinking of going to Europe this December for probably two weeks. The main motivator is to go to the Christkindl Market in Nuremberg. So we will likely spend 3 or 4 days there. We also have wanted to go to Prague so are thinking of going there for a few days. I am looking for some feedback and advice:

Looking for validation that we are not crazy to go in December! I haven't done a lot of research yet, but I'm making an assumption that most major tourist sites are open in December?
Knowing that Nuremberg is the main motivation and we are looking at two weeks, are there any other cities that you think are must visit this time of year? We have been to Munich, Vienna, and Salzburg as well as all over Italy in the past. We are not into Skiing, but that doesn't mean heading to the Alps is out of the question.
I fell compelled to hit three spots over two weeks, although I dislike the travel days because regardless as efficient you are you always seem to lose the better part of a day when you travel. Maybe just hitting Nuremberg and Prague (?) is enough for two weeks? I was thinking maybe going to somewhere in Switzerland for a couple days also?

Thanks much for any feedback!
Steve

Posted by
1586 posts

From Nuremberg , you can take a trip to Rothenburg Germany. It's a Christmas market Extravanganza there. You will enjoy a visit to this charming medieval town. I guarantee it. It's a little over an hour from Nuremberg via train. Then from Rothenburg head to Prague.

https://mydaytrip.com/landing/rothenburg-to-prague?ad_adgroup_id=29037750677&ad_campaign_id=353190917&ad_creative_id=269956565216&ad_device=c&ad_match_type=e&ad_network=g&ad_position=1t1&ad_source=google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkbbhnsqO4QIVQUSGCh1X_w-DEAAYASAAEgJDQvD_BwE&utm_content=B&variant=B

https://www.tripsavvy.com/rothenburg-ob-der-tauber-1520012

Posted by
868 posts

The main motivator is to go to the Christkindl Market in Nuremberg.

In case you are serious about Christmas (and Shopping): Germanys Christmas country are the Ore mountains, halfway between Dresden and Prague. Many of Germanys Christmas traditions come from this area, just like the wooden Christmas toys you see on every German Christmas markets, which are all made there. The epicentre is Seiffen, a village with nothing but Christmas shops. It's like a Käthe Wohlfahrt shop, but MUCH bigger, and MUCH cheaper.
In this case I would recommend to spend a few days in Dresden, which not only offers some of the best museums of the country, but also one of Germanys oldest and biggest Christmas market (the one in nearby Bautzen is the oldest), and do day trips from there, or even spend a night or two in Seiffen, which is really deep in the mountains and not really doable as a day trip.

Posted by
1451 posts

I will be taking my mother next year to the Christmas markets as well, Munich, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Salzburg, Strasbourg, Colmar & a few days in Paris before heading home.
Other markets you can do as day trips from Nuremberg:

Regensburg: https://tourismus.regensburg.de/en/explore/unique-features/christmas/christmas-markets.html

Esslingen w/Medieval Market: https://www.esslingen.de/,Len/startseite/es_topics/Medieval+Market+and+Christmas+Market.html

A map of Germany w/Christmas Markets selected: https://www.germany.travel/en/map-of-germany.html#!/map/c/t/128/c/1585/b/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.germany.travel%2Fen%2Fspecials%2Fchristmas%2Fchristmas-market-in-landau.html

Posted by
1561 posts

I have family that will be over there at that time also. They are doing Nuremberg and Salzburg, and I'm trying to convince them to add Vienna or Prague. They have been to Nuremberg, it's one of my Sister in law's favorite places, but not to the others. I think they'll go Vienna, because the flights are better.

I like doing 3-4 days in a city, because that way you're not rushed, and yet you leave something to come back to.

Posted by
22 posts

Thanks KGC. We hit Salzburg and Vienna last year. We toyed around w going back to Salzburg in December as I'm sure it is absolutely beautiful there in the winter. But we have two weeks and want to do and see enough but not be rushed so we are thinking of just hitting a couple spots in Germany along with Prague.

The other recommendations made here so far have been helpful and interesting. Thanks.

Posted by
286 posts

My wife and I visited Prague in December a couple of years ago. There were lots of tourists! The Christmas markets were nothing special. But we still greatly enjoyed ourselves!

Posted by
1561 posts

If you want to hit a couple interesting places in Germany/Bavaria in December, and Prague is your final destination, I'll recommend these:

Wurzburg - has a nice Kriskindlemarkt and is a great town to walk around. You can probably have whole rooms to yourself in the major tourist attractions.

Ansbach - once seat of the Bavarian government and now pretty much a backwater, it's a short drive from Nuremberg and a great little city to walk around.

Bamberg - get's a lot of mention from folks on this BBS, and I really like the old town. (Unfortunately most of my memories are from bars due to the company I was keeping at the time.)

One other, and again not on everyone's path, Bayreuth. If anything I think this place looks better in winter.

Amberg's not bad either...

I highly recommend Domus Balthazar in Prague if you're looking for a small hotel in a good location.

Posted by
12 posts

Christmas in Europe is a magical time. Decorated Christmas trees appear on the central squares, the streets are lit with glowing lights, music is playing, delicate aroma of mulled wine, fresh baked goods, and roasted meat are floating in the air. Christmas Markets open and it is almost impossible to leave it with empty hands and a full wallet.

Nuremberg Christmas Markets
Christkindlesmarkt, located on the Hauptmarkt Square next to the St. Sebaldus Church and the Town Hall, is one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets (first mentioned in 1628). The symbol is Christkind, with white curls, in golden clothing. The performer of this role is chosen from among the young citizens once every 2 years and opens Christkindlesmarkt on Friday, preceding the first Sunday of Advent.

If you are hungry taste Nuremberg sausages, made from minced pork with marjoram, served 6, 8, 10 or 12 with horseradish or mustard, or put 3 pieces of each into buns (this dish called Drei im Weggla or “Three in a bun”). The recipe and format of these sausages(7-9 centimeters, 20-25 grams) have not changed since 1497!

Another local specialty is gingerbread Lebkuchen, baked here for over 600 years. Every year in Nuremberg sells about 70 million gingerbread. If you get cold, mulled wine will warm you. It can also be poured into a souvenir mug (its design is changing every year). According to statistics, 80% of the souvenir mugs visitors take with them.

There will be Children’s Christmas Market at Hans-Sachs-Platz. Little visitors can ride the carousel and the train, talk with the Christmas Angel. Workshops on baking gingerbread (€ 3), decorating candles or glassware (€ 2), making cards and Christmas gifts (from € 1), making sand paintings (€ 5) will be available for them. Children can also send a letter to relatives, visit St. Nicholas and get warm in the free Bruder game room.

If you will be in Munich here is some resource to help you Get from Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber https://www.besttrips.tours/how-to-get-from-munich-to-rothenburg-ob-der-tauber/

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