Best Christmas Markets

Not trying to be cynical, but I do agree with those who say When you've seen one Christmas Market, you've seen them all.The one in Munich is very good--big with lots to see and do, eat and drink.
The other towns you mentioned make great day trips, but I wouldn't go just for the Christmas Markets.

Hi Dan,

They are all pretty similar, it's the town and setting that makes them seem different. Personally, we loved Salzburg and Innsbruck during the Christmas markets. Innsbruck especially for the alpine scenery and the Nordkettenbahn trip. Berchtesgaden was another favorite, as we like the small town and the Christmas market was smaller, but not open every day, just Thurs.-Sun. Most smaller towns don't have them open every day. I'd pick what towns you have an interest in. The Christmas markets would be an "extra".

"They are all pretty similar, it's the town and setting that makes them seem different." Along that line, I would rate the market at Lindau "the best" because it takes place on the harbor with a view out over the Bodensee to the Alps (if the weather is clear). They also sold some unique food items I hadn't seen elsewhere.

Some of the smaller ones can also be enjoyable if you know people there. Otherwise... yes, they're mostly the same food and cheap merchandise.

Nürnberg's is the Oktoberfest of Christmas markets. The most famous, the most jammed with foreign tourists, but not terribly different from many other lesser-known markets.

Some people have their favorites and enjoy the heck out of the markets, and then there are those who find it doesn't matter cause they feel like they are all the same. I am in the former category and search out markets that have their own unique flair and that offer more handmade items.

Smaller towns may be just one weekend and you get a cosy atmosphere due to the surroundings. Towns like Idstein, Gelnhausen, Tübingen, or Büdingen. Then there are medium sized towns that again due to the architecture surrounding the markets make them unique. Marburg, Seligenstadt, Mainz, Heidelberg, Bad Homburg and Rüdesheim. Others are unique due to their themes. Esslingen is one of my favorites as it is medieval, making it completely different. Stuttgart, though a large market is spread out in such a way and decorated so lavishly that it is also unique as it is a lot more fun walking through this market than a packed market. Large towns will have multiple markets spread through the city, all with different themes. You find this in Berlin, Cologne, Munich and a bit in Frankfurt.

Stuttgart was the only town offering goose bratwurst and the planked salmon being served in a giant, Finnish tipi with open fires keeping us warm as we sat on fur covered benches was a special treat. Taking the chair lift up to Germania standing watch above Rüdesheim at close to dusk offers a stunning view, with the decorated town below and the lights of the ships going past. Mainz has huge wine vats to sit in, with tables seating 6, and with a bonfire in the middle of the circled wine vats, all under the shadow of the 1000 year old cathedral. Büdingen, like Rothenburg, is a medieval walled town located an hour away from Frankfurt, and their market is just on one weekend, but the town is so pretty with the decorations on the walls and towers and fachwerk houses. Idstein is just plain gorgeous as is Marburg, with the entire town filled with fachwerk houses and beautifully decorated. Seligenstadt offers an indoor market on 2 weekends that takes place in the ancient Abbey begun by Charlemagnes biographer, Einhard. Here you will find the most beautiful hand made items, with the artists and craftspeople who made them on hand, some of them creating while they wait.

I would also consider going to the markets in the East, like Erfurt, Seiffen, Lübeck, Quedlinburg, or up to Potsdam. Loved the French markets in Strasbourg and Colmar.

I hope to visit the ones in Salzburg, Cochem, and Trier this year.

My short visit to Munich during the market left me unimpressed. Though nice enough, there wasn't anything really special about it. I could have been anywhere.

They are all pretty similar,

Only if you stay in the same region. Many people only visit Bavaria, they only experience Bavarian and Franconian traditions. If people would be more adventurous they would experience Christmas markets which are quite different. With miners parades, the ceremonial cutting of huge Stollen cakes and starting of big Christmas pyramids, brightly lit villages, shops which sell local and handmade wooden Christmas toys, and gingerbread which isn't from Nuremberg and tastes totally different for example. Bavaria isn't Germanys Christmas country.

We need to keep in mind the OP says they will be based in Munich and doing day trips. They also state they will have 12 days starting around Dec. 18.

Paul

It's probably worth pointing out that large cities like Munich have several different Christmas markets and you would be missing out if you only visited the Marienplatz market. There is a Neuhauser Strasse nativity market specializing in crèches, there is the Mittelaltermarkt, or medieval market, on Wittelsbacherplatz, Tollwood winter festival on the Theresienwiese, there are smaller neighborhood markets (Haidhauser Weihnachtsmarkt on Weißenburger Platz is my favorite), and the list goes on.

DJ

I appreciate the suggestions from one and all! Gives me some ideas for other day trips!

One reason we prefer Bavaria is the mountains, lakes and wonderful scenery and not least the people. Living south of Houston, TX, we have FLAT, FLAT, and more FLAT. While we do have variances in the area, we have to drive 100 miles or more. I guess you always want what you don't have.

We saw our first Christmas market just before we left via Frankfurt at the end of November. We were hooked and knew we wanted to come back and we have many things we plan on seeing in and around Munich. We plan on using Munich for a base taking many trips from there.

Again much appreciated!

Dan