early thoughts on Christmas Market trip incl Berlin, Nurnberg, Prague

When does their Christmas break start? Most markets will close on the 22nd or 23rd of Dec. with only a few open on the 24th, or later. Check the websites for each city to find the dates.

If there is an interest in WW2 history, Berlin is the city to be in and they have markets all over the city.
Would you consider just staying up north, visiting the market in Dresden and then perhaps one in a smaller, quainter town like Lübeck or Quedlinberg.

Not sure your dates but you should start in Nuremberg as their market will close earlier.

We did a similar trip in 2016 - Was supposed to be Nuremberg (but ended up in Munich), Vienna (some of my favorite markets!), then Prague, then Berlin. LOVED THIS TRIP. So amazing.

We ended up in Prague Dec 24-27 and then Berlin through 12/31 - they both still had markets open. Just went back and looked at the blog, and was reminded that Prague's markets were all kind of the same, sort of commercialized... not like the very distinct markets in Vienna.

You can read my travel blog here for lots of details.

https://onatangentweb.wordpress.com/category/christmas-markets-2016/

Still need to add pictures since I had to migrate it over from travelpod after it closed... I should motivate and get that done!!!

Ask any more questions!
Kim

We are aiming to be there 12/15-12/?, maybe 28 or 29. Although we are going for Christmas Markets, that is not our only reason for going. We wanted cities with many things to do indoors (since it will be cold). We have been to Vienna before, so likely wouldn't return there this trip. Thanks for the advice and I will DEFINITELY check out your blog. Thanks for the link.

K

you should start in Nuremberg as their market will close earlier.

The Nürnberg Christkindlesmarkt 2018 will open on nov., 30 and close on dec. 24, 2pm.

Just went back and looked at the blog, and was reminded that Prague's
markets were all kind of the same, sort of commercialized... not like
the very distinct markets in Vienna.

That's because these Christmas markets were established in the 1990s to promote tourism, unlike the market(s) in Vienna, which exist since centuries and are an important part of the local Christmas traditions.

If we do drive, might change the order and drive Berlin to Prague so
we could make a stop in Dresden.
However, if there is a really MUST SEE place that I am missing, let me know.

If you travel by train you should definitely stop in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia. It's the only big German Christmas market (200+ stalls) in a city not destroyed in WW2. All other cities with equally big markets, like Nuremberg, Munich or Stuttgart, were destroyed in WW2.
If you decide to travel by car however I highly recommend a detour via Dresden and the Ore mountains. Dresden itself has one of Germanys biggest, oldest and best Christmas markets, but the real highlight are the Ore mountains, which are Germanys Christmas country. Many traditions, and most products you can buy on a German Chrismas market, come from this area. The epicentre there is a small village called Seiffen, deep in the mountains and close to the border to Czechia, which is basically a big Christmas shop all year round.
Here is a nice report about a similar trip, to Prague, Dresden and Seiffen:
https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/germany-and-prague-for-the-christmas-markets-12-days-of-heaven-869725/

THANKS so much to everyone for this great info. I am getting excited to be there already!!

Kaye,
I PM'ed you. We just returned from a very similar itinerary of Christmas markets.