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Itinerary support - Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich Christmas Markets

Posted by on

Hello all,

We are doing a Christmas market trip this year in mid December (finishing near Christmas day) and are considering the following itinerary:

4 nights in Budapest

5 nights in Vienna - Day trip to Bratislava

3 nights in Salzburg - Day trip to Hallstatt

4/5 nights in Munich (part of the plan in question)

There will be four of us and that includes two kids. We want to see the highlights for each location, maybe a tour or two, do the Christmas markets, and of course enjoy good food. We are unlikely to spend significant time doing museums. My main question is this too much/little time for these locations?

Any must see places or stops during the time of year? We will be taking the train for most of it but may rent a car while in Munich.
Also, we visited Munich and Prague in 2022 with visits to Nuremberg and Rothenburg. Any good recommendations for other day trips or overnighters from Munich? We have also been considering bypassing Munich and heading to Stuttgart area with a visit to Europa-park. However, we are worried it may be a mess the few days before Christmas. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Posted by
19947 posts

It’s personal preference, so no, it’s not too much/too little time at any stop. But it’s not what I would do. Which means very little in life’s big picture. But I will throw out what I would do.

6 nights in Budapest. It appears that this is your arrival city so the first night is jet lag night. Doesn’t count. Then I added a night for you to do a day-trip for another market in a smaller town near Budapest. Market or no market the towns are worth the time to visit. Either Szentendre https://youtu.be/KHTrW5AUs9E?si=rvA-FnKJgQUG-wMe or Székesfehérvár https://youtu.be/6sMTcKxPGzg?si=0laeNwsrN5erAtAK or maybe Esztergom https://youtu.be/zUiQUcO5vuk?si=cg7grotjnN5g7A_Z .

1 night in Győr old-town (Hotel Klastrom) and a trip to the Archabbey at Pannonhalma. Time the archabbey trip right and you might get to see the monks singing. Its Christmas, so an abbey is a good stop. https://foapatsagiturizmus.hu/rolunk/ https://klastrom.hu/szallodank_57.html

5 nights in Vienna - Day trip to Bratislava.

1 night in Hallstatt. Take the train to Hallstatt, then there are some transfer services to get you to Salzburg.

2 nights in Salzburg.

2 nights in Munich from which I suspect you are departing? Or on to Stuttgart

Posted by
1414 posts

I can't speak for Budapest, but I think you're shorting yourself on Munich, and I'm not sure what you plan to see other than the Christmas markets if you're not going to hit a few museums. It's going to be cold and wet, and there's a good chance of snow, so I expect the time outdoors will be somewhat constrained by that. A little Christmas market goes a long way, and the kids are going to want to do something else pretty quick.

I think the Europa Park is a good idea. I think you should consider Stuttgart if you have not been over there, and add the Naturkunder Museum to your "do" list. It's for kids who like dinosaurs (don't they all?). https://www.naturkundemuseum-bw.de/ The Porsche museum has driving simulators that are pretty popular (along with all the other stuff). And Stuttgart has a good Christmas market.

In Munich take the kids to Therme Erding. It's fun when it's nasty outside. https://www.therme-erding.de/

I'd pass on Hallstatt unless you get a really clear day.

Posted by
9197 posts

I am a fan of the Stuttgart Market with a side trip to Esslingen. I liked both of these markets much more than in Munich, but that may just be my personal opinion. The stands in Stuttgart are highly decorated and the market in Esslingen is a great, medieval market.

Posted by
19947 posts

This will probably go over like a load of bricks, but yesterday someone put up a thread that I think was advertising for the Golden Eagle Train line. It got deleted. Good! BUT, if you havent ever looked into this company, you should.

They do have an 8 day Christmas Market tour that does Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Munich which is consistent with the thread, so I thought I would mention it.

The carriages are beautiful and the cabins are all ensuite. The whole thing is 5 star all the way, begining with a couple of nights at the Four Seasons Hotel in Budapest. That alone would set you back $1200+ The day touris in the cities are included and there is no tipping. Meals and drinks are included. Sounds as all inclusive as you can do.

They even stop in each city for "adequate" time, looks a little better than cruise ship stop time.

And its only $9.995 pp double occupancy for this years' train.

They have a lot of other routes all year long.

https://www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com/journeys/christmas-markets-of-central-europe/budapest-munich/#journey

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