I’ve just asked a bunch of general market questions in a separate post. Here’s our itinerary, and I do have accommodations fully booked. It wasn’t always easy to find what we wanted, but I’m happy with the result. Would love your thoughts and ideas, or things we haven’t considered.
Sat Dec 3 – arrive Munich 9:30 am and take the train to Salzburg. (Connecting from the airport through the Munich main station.) Staying at an old seminary on the other side of the river, apparently 15 m walk to Old Town/market. Would like to visit a market, and stroll some of the iconic streets in the old town. Planning to nosh at the market as we wander.
Sun Dec 4 – morning in Salzburg, hoping to make it up to the castle. Our plans for Munich are light, so we don’t plan to leave Salzburg until 1-2 pm. (I’ll post a couple of questions about Salzburg in the Austria forum.)
Take afternoon train back to Munich.
? Staying at Hotel Isartor, so once we get in Munich, taking the s-bahn to the hotel from the hbf seems like a reasonable idea?
We’ll also probably walk to Marienplatz for the market there. Honestly, it’s early in the trip, so any market will probably be magical.
Mon Dec 5 – pick up rental car near the hotel. (I know driving isn’t for everyone. Husband lived in Germany for a year and we love a road trip. Also, bad weather does not bother us, being hardy Canadians.) Only big driving day—off to Alsace, about 5 hrs. We plan to take the route that passes near the Bodensee, and take our time. Two nights in Colmar. (Will post questions to France forum)
Wed Dec 7—drive to Esslingen. ViaMichelin says 2.5 hrs but we plan to take our time, arriving in Esslingen before dark. Booked at Hotel am Schelztor. Really excited about the Esslingen Medieval Market! We could take a train into Stuttgart, which I understand has a lovely market, but we’re happy to stay in Esslingen and not kill ourselves with extra arrangements.
? Anyone been to the Esslingen Medieval market? I really want to know if adults are allowed to try the traditional carnival games! Tiny ax throwing! Archery! And who knows what else?
Thurs Dec 8 drive to Rothenberg ob der Tauber, 2 nights at Goldener Hirsch inside the walls. (About 2 hr drive from Esslingen.) I really, really wanted to be in RodT after the daytrippers leave. If it’s too crowded during the day, we can go to some of the cool nearby towns. Definitely want to do the Nightwatchman’s tour. So much to see in this area.
(Friday more of the same from base in Rothenberg)
Sat Dec 10 Dinkelsbuhl (45 min drive from RodT). Staying at Goldenes Lamm, inside the wall. Last day for a small town market, but happy to wander this beautiful area if we are marketed-out. Would love to stop in Nordlingen, and perhaps Augsberg, but again, we are on vacation and don’t want to kill ourselves with plans. (Could also check out Nordlingen when we are in RodT, as the drive isn’t too strenuous.)
Sun Dec 11 back to Munich (2.5 hrs from Dinkelsbuhl). Drop off the car and settle in to Hotel Isartor again. Enjoy the evening in Munich. We don’t depart the next day until 4 pm, so we can take our time in the morning.
? We plan to take the s-bahn back to the airport—is this reasonable?
That’s a lot, but I’d love to hear from those of you who have done the markets and/or this area.