We are flying Lufthansa direct to Frankfurt on Dec. 7th. returning Dec 19. We got a really good price.
Trying to plan an itinerary. We want to stay in places 2 or 3 nights. Interested in history for the towns and the medieval markets.
I know we don't have time for all of these places but here are some of the markets I would like to go to.
Cologne, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Esslingen(medieval market), Nuremberg, Munich and Frankfurt since I am there.
I have been to Munich(not at Christmas) so could skip it. I am looking for a suggested itinerary. Frankfurt is set in stone and I like the idea of Esslingen but I am open to anywhere else.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Posted by
Alsenborn, Germany
2092 posts
If you cut Cologne, Nuremberg, and Munich out of your list it should be easy to build a decent plan based in the Rhineland/Alsace general area. Figure Frankfurt is just over an hour from Heidelberg, Stuttgart/Esslingen is another 2.5-3 hours south from there, Strasbourg a bit less.
In order of quality, based on what I've experienced the last couple years I'd rank them Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Frankfurt. I have not been to Stuttgart/Esslingen in that timeframe. However, if you have any interest in cars you should consider the Porsche and MBZ museums as something to do in the daytime, as the Christmas markets are best after 4pm (when the sun goes down).
A few other really good markets in the area are Mainz, Neustadt, Bad Durkheim, Speyer. Mannheim is a pass, don't bother. there are a lot of smaller ones too, and they can be a lot of fun. It's a bit early for the dates to be posted, but watch this forum as they will get posted.
Posted by
Munich
877 posts
If you are heading to areas west of Frankfurt, then this Christmas market in the Black Forest should definitely be on your list: https://www.hochschwarzwald.de/en/christmas-market-in-the-ravenna-gorge
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9460 posts
Wonderful markets around the Frankfurt area: Limburg, Marburg, Seligenstadt, Mainz, Wiesbaden, Rüdesheim and on weekends Bad Homburg is great. This one had the most hand-made items I have seen at a market, except for a medieval market like Esslingen or the one in Ravenna Gorge that only has local products. Rüdesheim is not my favorite market but riding the gondolas at sunset is cool. Seeing the town from above and the Rhein with Bingen across the river with all the twinkling lights is a bit special.
Markets only held on one weekend in towns like Büdingen are usually great. Theirs is 3-7 Dec. in 2025. Idstein is a good one too and is held 5-7 Dec.
Have gone on the torch walk in Ravenna Gorge twice, walking to the Xmas market there, but have just now found another torch walk, but up on the Rhein. Something unique and fun to do.
https://www.winningen-im-lichterglanz.de/fackelwanderung/
Posted by
OP
50 posts
Thank you everyone for the recommendations. I am going to work on a plan for Frankfurt, Heidelberg, Strasbourg and Esslingen. I am going look into the torch tours and to think about day trips to small town markets.
Posted by
8 posts
We are flying to Germany at the same time you are. This will be our seventh or eighth trip.I've lost count. From Munich, you can make all of those locations fairly easily and pretty much on non-stop trains. Strasbourg is about 4.5 hours by train. Nuremberg is 1 hour. Frankfurt is 3.5 hours. Stuttgart is 2 hours. Salzburg is 1.5 hours. Ulmer is 1.15 hours. Cologne is an hour outside Frankfurt. And Heidelberg is 3.0 hours from Munich or 1.0 hour from Frankfurt. You can hit multiple markets in a day, especially when they're "on the way" to/from another location. Also, Innsbruck is 2.0 hours south of Munich. A German rail pass can take you to all these locations very easily. Have fun!