Hi all!
I am finally planning my vacation to visit Christmas markets in Europe, this has been my dream for 10+ years. it will be me, my husband, 13-year-old daughter, and 10-year-old daughter. We’ve been to Europe before, but this will be our first Christmas markets vacation. We don’t want to do Munich and Berlin as we’ve spent a lot of time there, although not during this time of year.
We are flying into Paris on 11/20 and will be there until 11/24 (we’ve been twice).
We fly out of Düsseldorf on 12/8. My original plan was to leave Paris then go to Heidelberg, Nuremberg, and Düsseldorf Now I’m rethinking to eliminate Nuremberg and go to the Alsace area. It seems that Nuremberg is a little bit further out of the way from our route and I hear it can be a bit crowded and touristy.
We spent four days in Strasbourg two years ago but never made it to any of the other cities around there, again, not there during the Christmas season. I know everyone’s opinion is different but interested to see what other people have to say on which is ‘better’.
We want things to do other than just the Christmas markets. Not huge into art galleries but we all are interested in history and architecture.
I will say I do not want to leave Europe without getting a traditional Nutcracker and pyramid. Everything else is just a bonus.
Thanks for your help and I am beyond excited about this trip.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
247 posts
We’ve gone to Strasbourg the past three years (during our Thanksgiving trips to Paris) and have loved it! Big tip: make sure you go on a weekday. The weekends are so jammed that you can hardly walk.
Posted by
Maryland
1222 posts
The Markets are most alive in the evenings so plan some fun daytime things too. Strasbourg and Nuremberg Markets don’t open until Nov 27.
Posted by
San Diego, California
7219 posts
Please include :
Strasbourg and Colmar, Stuttgart (and Esslingen). We finished in Rothenberg, because of the town, (the markets were small.) All magical and different.
Do firm up plans asap as hotels will already be in short supply- especially on the weekends. I'll look for my 2019 Trip Report.
This will be magical for all!
Posted by
NorthCarolina
1289 posts
Nuremberg is farther - but it's also GERMANY - and one of our favorite markets. We go over to them every other year. It is crowded because it is SO SO good. Amazing items and food and a great town. There is a great RS video on YouTube about the Nuremberg market. Find it !! The town is so good with half timbered homes, old wood bridges and canals, many cathedrals, a castle, lots of Hitler stuff. We love Hotel Victoria.
Our fav route is to book MultiCity tickets - fly into Vienna which has MANY markets and needs 3 full days minimum.
We use the train. We make our way to Saltzburg for a couple nights, Nuremberg for 3 nights, Regensburg for a night, then to Munich as it's so easy to fly home from there and the markets there are ok (not our fav, but an easy airport). If you are going this year, you are behind if you haven't booked hotels. We book a year in advance for the best price and location.
Paris is pretty, but the Xmas markets are not authentic and underwhelming w/Chinese imports.
Heidelberg is good. Cologne is very good, but the town is underwhelming.
Strasbourg & Colmar are stunning and festive, but NOT Germany - so not our favorites, but still very good.
Regenesburg is good, especially their PRIVATE market - Thurn & Taxis which you do need tickets for.
The Smokers, Nutcrackers, Pyramids are GERMAN and you will will see them in the GERMAN markets - be sure you aren't getting the Chinese imports which you will see in France, Belgium, Switzerland.
Passau also has a good market and a good town
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
3122 posts
Unless you plan on buying tons of Christmas items, realize that you will spend maybe 2-3 hours at a market, so make sure that there are a lot of your normal tourist interests in the places you visit.
Posted by
San Diego, California
7219 posts
Found it!
PS- Yes, Alsace area is NOW French, but remember the region went back and forth between Germany and France for decades! The German influences are ingrained and intertwined.
Posted by
NorthCarolina
1289 posts
I disagree with the above post about 2-3 hrs in a market. We spend much more than that in many of the markets as most of our fav ones have concerts, musicians, choirs in the main area and we absolutely love those and have been known to stay all day and way into the evening eating, drinking, seeing cathedrals, listening to the concerts, shopping, etc. The markets in Vienna, Nuremberg, Salzburg, etc will need much more time than 2-3hrs (for us anyway). That's why we stay 2-3 days in each town so we can enJOY the market and the town.
Posted by
OP
California
65 posts
@ChinaLake.
Yes, this was my concern. This trip is to go to German markets, (Paris is a bonus) and the reason I am doubting Strasbourg and Colmar.
We have been to Strasbourg before for 4 days so I feel like I’ve seen most of it, other than the markets. I’ve also been to Cologne, before kids, and it was okay but hear the markets are nice.