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opinion between xmas-NYE

Posted by (San Francisco) on

Hello:

We will be in Europe basically the week before Christmas and week after...

Week before will be some combo of Nuremberg/Munich/Salzburg (possibly as day trip...).

The week after we are thinking either Strasbourg (Colmar too) and Paris?

Or Vienna/Prague?

We are ok with the train travel between these and back to Frankfurt where we fly out.

We have been to Paris, but only 1.5 days last summer. Husband has been to Strasbourg in summer and loved it (the rest of us have not been). Everything else all new to all of us (with boys, 12 and 13).

So.... for the week between Xmas and New Years (realizing summer might yield a different choice)... which would you pick?? I know it's a personal decision, just looking for some opinions. :)

Thank you!!
Kim

Posted by
509 posts

We spent Christmas in Budapest - your boys would no doubt love the baths, and you can see the Nutcracker - even my boys enjoyed this, take a ride on the Danube, and enjoy the markets which were in pretty full swing even on Christmas Day. Then we moved to Vienna for the rest of the week until New Year's Day. Lots going on there and we enjoyed all of the museums and a fine dinner out on New Year's Eve with midnight fireworks in every direction. I thought they were both great places to spend the holidays. I also love Paris, but have never spent the week after Christmas there.

Posted by
2794 posts

We spent that week in Paris several years ago and it was very nice. Not too crowded, lots of nice decorations and just a good time to be there. I would go again!

Posted by
8412 posts

We lived in Bavaria for four years and loved the Christmas Markets in Germany.
However, touring in Europe in the Winter, to me is not a lot of fun. First of all, it gets dark at 4:30, so your days are short. Second, it is cold and sometimes wet with either ice, snow or cold rain.

If you plan on driving a car, particularly in areas near the Alps, it could be a problem if there is an early snow.

If you go that time of the year, have warm overcoat, shoes, gloves and a hat, as well as a big umbrella or rain coat.

Posted by
2466 posts

The Christmas markets in Paris are nothing much to see. I don't know why people insist that they are so wonderful, because they are not - unless you just like wandering around from "vin chaud" stand to "chocolat chaud" stand and eating factory-made waffles and candy in-between that.

If you have young children who know how to ice-skate, there is a small skating ring, and a trampoline-parachute, and a tiny train that goes in a circle.

The other merchandise that is sold here is over-priced stuff that you can find anywhere else - including where you live.

So, really not much to get all worked up about. I see a lot of disappointed faces here, every single year.

On the other hand, Strasbourg has a wonderful Christmas market, and that's where I'd recommend you go.

Posted by
1008 posts

We decided arriving and departing Frankfurt - Nuremberg, day stop in Salzburg, Vienna, Prague, Berlin.

Excited!! Save the rest for another trip!! :)

Thanks!

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