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suggestions - where to visit between Xmas and New year ?

Posted by (NSW Australia) on

We will be in Dusseldorf for Xmas day 2018 and then have 4 days free to travel 'somewhere' ( including returning back to Dusseldorf)
we are looking for something interesting to see/do, perhaps 2-3 hours train travel or say 1-2 hours flying time from Dusseldorf?
( 55+ active couple)
our trip is already locked in other than these 4 days.
in the general area, we have already been to Amsterdam, Bruges, Gent, Brussels, Rhine valley and we will be at the end of a trip to Prague, Vienna, Slovenia, Salzburg, Nuremburg and Spain.

any suggestions- comments please?

we have previously toured southern Germany/ Austria, Switzerland and France ( east,south and central), lots of Italy

Posted by
4684 posts

At any other time of the year I would suggest the Harz, but the weather would probably be too bad. You really need a city at that time. Maybe Hamburg, Luebeck, or one of the other northern German towns?

Posted by
12313 posts

In Spain, December 25 is only the beginning of Christmas. The big day is Jan. 6th.

Posted by
6365 posts

At that time of year and from Dusseldorf, I would recommend Munich. You might consider a day trip from Munich to Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. I was in Munich in January, twice. When we went to the castles, it had just snowed a lot, and the area and the castles looked magical. We used the Bayern ticket to get to the castles (Fussen) which is quite reasonable.

Posted by
3050 posts

the 26th is a bank holiday, and some businesses like grocery stores reopen on the 27th, but everything shuts down again the afternoon of the 31st and the 1st again. A lot of businesses close from the afternoon of the 23rd or 24th all the way through the 6th, particularly restaurants. Keep this in mind for planning travel in Germany/Austria/Switzerland. Berlin and maybe Hamburg may be more happening, but southern Germany is going to be dead during this period.

I'd go to France, they tend to keep their Christmas markets running through at least the 1st, and things are generally more lively. Alsace (Strasbourg and Colmar) are one option, as is Paris. If you want to stay in Germany, I'd consider Berlin.

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