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2027 Bavaria Christmas Market itinerary

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Hello. Would love some feedback on an itinerary I’m working up for the start of the Christmas Market season in 2027. We (spouse and I, early 40s, well traveled in Europe) have been to Christmas Markets in Alsace and loved them, and looking to explore more in Germany - but also see other sights. We love medieval and historical city centers, wandering city centers and stopping at random spots for local food drink and shopping, “fairytale” vibes, architecture, museums, and castles. We want time to visit Christmas markets but know they can get repetitive so we want to be somewhere with other sights and good restaurants and train transport. We live in Minnesota and aren’t worried about the weather. We no longer like to travel super fast and prefer to minimize hotel moves and long travel days.

After some research, I’m considering the following:
Flying in and out of Munich
Munich - 2 nights; we’ve been before and it’s not my favorite city, but I’d like to recover from jet lag there and take a day trip to Ulm to see some family before we continue on.
Bamberg - 4 nights. I gather this can be a long time here, but we’d love to do two days of day trips - one to Rothenburg and possibly Wurzburg, Coburg or Nuremberg.
Regensburg - 4 nights and take the direct train to Munich airport the day of departure for a 2pm flight. We’d also plan a day trip or two while here.

What are folks’ thoughts on these two towns as bases? I chose them based on research saying they have nice medieval centers and are very atmospheric at Christmas, but they have more to offer than just markets. Are there other spots in Bavaria that stand out as being better for our interests or the longer stays we prefer?

I see a lot of Xmas market itineraries where people are moving every 1-2 nights and I just can’t hang so I’m having a hard time figuring out where is ideal for 3-4 nights that’s not a big city. We also don’t want to base in Nuremberg as I’ve read the crowds are insane, and it’s just a larger city overall.

We are also still tossing around the idea of going back to Alsace first, and then doing just Regensburg and Munich, but it’s a haul from Strasbourg and I’m curious about a Germany only trip.

Thanks for any insight!

Posted by
3514 posts

Bamberg is my favorite city in Franconian Bavaria. A beautifully preserved old town that hosts a local and manageable Christmas Market, the spectacular cathedral, the old town hall on an island in the river. The city is very atmospheric - once (and still?) having more breweries than any other city in Germany. Try the local specialty rauchbier (smoked beer). Good rail connections for day trips.

Posted by
8311 posts

Sounds like Rothenburg is a definite day trip for you. Be sure to check DB schedules when analyzing bases for day-trips feasibility. Bamberg > Rothenburg > Bamberg would take 4.5-5 hours. I don't see any day trips listed from Regensburg... what did you have in mind? It's hard to judge day trip potental without specific destinations. if you are thinking of a day trip to Nuremberg, that would be 3 hours round trip, still kinda far off when daylight hours are short.

I’m having a hard time figuring out where is ideal for 3-4 nights that’s not a big city.

Base towns needn't be big cities; moderately-sized cities and even small towns can work well if they are well located and have good transportation available.

Since you'll definitely be traveling from Munich to ULM, perhaps you should consider places along this trajectory. You were planning to return to Munich, a place you aren't so fond of, after visiting relatives. But in less than one hour, you could step onto a train in Ulm and arrive in ESSLINGEN, which is a fabulous old-world town. AND it's a town with a renowned Medieval Christmas market. Where would you day trip to from Esslingen?

Tübingen, an historic university town, is less than an hour from Esslingen: https://historicgermany.com/tuebingen/
Stuttgart, also a big-time Christmastime destination, is only about 10 train minutes away.
Or hop on a direct train to old-world Herrenberg (< 1 hr.) for a look around.
Sindelfingen is also < 1hr. by train.
These last two are featured towns on the German Half-timbered House driving route. but getting there by train is no trouble.
More Castles? Well, how about Ludwigsburg, a standout palace close to half an hour from Esslingen?

Posted by
1163 posts

I hope you gets lots of responses to this posts. I'm sure there are others, like Russ, with great ideas.

My comments. First, I was underwhelmed by Regensburg when I visited last year. Medieval core is great, but I have no idea how I would spend more than a day there. Second, Bamberg is fantastic (I'm a beer fan). I would definitely do a day trip to Nuremberg from there. You may get suggestions to base out of Nuremberg and day trip to Bamberg. I would not argue against that idea if visiting two or three of Bamberg's smoke beer breweries is not on your agenda.

I have not been to a Christmas Market for over 20 years. Going back this December. In Germany, just Munich, then on to Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna.

Posted by
4 posts

Ah, interesting. I’m still pulled to Regensburg’s night Xmas market. I’ll have to do more research on the city as a whole. Russ’ suggestion also has me thinking about Strasbourg (4 nights with visits to smaller villages) - Esslingen (3 nights, day trip to Ulm for family visit), Regensburg (3 nights, possible day trip to Landshut or Passau or Nuremberg) route as it reduces travel from Strasbourg to a Germany base and eliminates Munich as a base. Hmmm!

Posted by
8311 posts

I also am quite fond of Franconia. Bamberg is a special place that you ought to see, even if you don't stay there.

The station there lies a bit outside of the attractive old town zone, far enough that you need to catch a bus from the station or take a lengthy walk with bags on arrival and departure days. And of course, if you are doing day trips from there, you will have to walk or take the bus before you begin your train journey AND after your outing; as Rothenburg is already too far, even starting from the station, I just don't see Bamberg as an ideal base town for you. A better idea would be to visit Bamberg from a base town somewhere else so that the transit between station and town happens just on one day and without bags.

The best base towns for day trips to your Franconian destinations will likely be Würzburg or Nuremberg. I'd pick Nuremberg over Würzburg, all things being equal. That said... while Nuremberg's old town feels small for its size, these are not really small places, and the crowds that hit Nuremberg in December can make for high prices and crowded conditions, which for me are a deterrent to an otherwise nice plac.

There is a tiny suburb of Würzburg which you might consider. Veitshöchheim. It's an atmospheric place right on the Main River with its own palace and just 5 miles outside of Würzburg. So you would catch a train into Würzburg station and move on to other places from there on day trips, which I think would all be under 90 minutes or so from Veitshöchheim to Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Rothenburg. And of course, Würzburg itself would be imminently accessible to you.

Veitshöchheim is relatively unknown to the world outside Germany. You'll find reviewers on Tripadvisor calling it a hidden gem, and I agree. It has some nice places to stay and eat, and is in Würzburg's backyard. I think it might make you happy.

https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attractions-g660220-Activities-Veitshochheim_Lower_Franconia_Franconia_Bavaria.html
https://www.tourismus-veitshoechheim.de/
https://angiesweb.com/veitshochheim/

I actually think you might do well with 4-5 nights in just TWO German base towns rather than trying to travel also to France.

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