We are planning to be in Germany Dec 22-29. Christmas Markets are top of the list. We will staying the Baravian Alps. What other things, sight, food and places? Are there anything open or things to do during this time, especially 26 27 28 ?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23235 posts
Keep in mind that the Christmas markets begin shutting down in early afternoon on Christmas eve and are completely gone by Christmas day. I was more than a little surprise at how fast they disappeared.
Posted by
San Francisco
993 posts
Berlin's markets were open past Christmas, and I believe Salzburg's until the 26th. Just google and most markets had last year's openings when I was planning so you could see what's still on.
Posted by
NYC area
2902 posts
I agree, in Bavaria most Christmas Markets will be closed as of Dec. 24th.
Now, Austria, that's different. Look at Salzburg, The Salzkammergut (Wolfgangsee, St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang) and Innsbruck/Hall in Tirol area. These town's Christmas markets are open until early January. Even northern Italy, an hour from Innsbruck, are the very charming old towns of Sterzing/Vipiteno and Brixen/Bressanone where the Christmas markets are open daily until early January also.
Innsbruck is an hour from Garmisch, Germany and 2 hours from Munich. Salzburg is under 2 hours from Munich. The Salzkammergut starts at St. Gilgen, 30 or so minutes from Salzburg.
Paul
Posted by
TX
980 posts
If there is enough snow I’d recommend going sledding. There is a long sledding run on Wallberg near Tegernsee. You take a cable car up and slide down for about 45 minutes. Halfway down there’s a hut you can stop at for one drinks and snacks.
Another fun thing to do is attend a winter solstice bonfire celebration. They are known by several names (Sonnwendfeuer, Wintersonnenwende, Bergfeuer, etc) so you’ll have to do a lot of Internet searching or maybe email a local tourist office to see if any are going on while you’re there. Since you arrive on a Saturday and depart on a Saturday There’s a good chance you will miss them as there are usually held Saturday nights near the solstice.
DJ