Hello.. Need advice.
We'll be in Germany Frankfurt from Dec 16- Jan 1. This will be our first time to see Germany, Im traveling with a 5yr old and a teenager. Would love to have your suggestions pls on what to see and do there. We can travel by train or fly as well if needed. I just want to give my children a nice Christmas holiday. Your suggestions will be much appreciated.
You don't say if you will only be in Frankfurt or if you plan to go elsewhere during your visit.
This RS link to lots of information about Germany complete with details on specific cities and towns could be helpful in your decision-making.
I lived in Nuremberg for 3 years, so I'm partial to that city during the holidays, but there are many options that could be fun during that time of year.
Using Google to find winter activities in towns of interest should be helpful, too. For example, this is what I found by Googling "Nuremberg December" and exploring the events section. Note the way people are dressed.
Keep in mind that the days will be short and it will be cold and probably snowy. Pack accordingly.
Germany's official tourist website contains a real good overview and short detailed information.
If you found a destination the state and city / area tourist websites contains more detailed information and also season specific infos.
In general you shall be aware how Germans celebrate Christmas and days after. Without wanting to promote Berlin too much a short description about Christmas days in Berlin on this webpage might help you because rest of Germany is quite similar.
You do not say if you are arriving and departing from Frankfurt on the indicted dates, or if you will be in Frankfurt for those dates for some event(s). If you want to just see Germany/Low Countries/Luxemberg /eastern France it can all be done easily by train. The RS Germany guidebook is best used an an outline of travel details and some hotels, but he doesn't go far off of the paths his tours take. Don't limit yourself to the main stops though.
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml
There are many travel offers too that can get you around as a family at a discount on regional train routes (1-5 people) that are good all day, and many are good for both days on a weekend.
Just be careful that you pick the proper spelling of the place names you want, and note that some places have more than one train station (guidebooks like RS will tell you the right one).
It will be cold, and probably wet and the days are short - not much competition from other tourists through - EXCEPT around Christmas markets.... Christmas Markets begin around December 1 and usually end by the 24th, so you can do those early if you want, and do some other traveling later. But, of course the Dec 23-Jan 4 will be school holidays. Note also that almost all shops in small- town Germany except tourist hotels/restaurants are closed on Sundays and after 8 pm which is a change for Americans.
Every town has a Christmas Market, including Frankfurt, but Nuremberg seems to be the one that all the guidebooks lead people to... You will be able to sample big ones like Nuremberg and smaller but really nice ones like Augsburg, Bamberg, etc.
Nuremberg has excellent museums too, including a toy museum that I particularly liked.
https://museums.nuernberg.de/nuremberg-municipal-museums/
The Marksburg castle on the Rhine is easily accessible by train from Frankfurt, and is an excellent intact example.
https://www.marksburg.de/en/visitor-information/
Bavaria of course has lots of castles and palaces to tour:
https://www.schloesser.bayern.de/englisch/palace/index.htm
If you are not tied down to Frankfurt doing a Rhine Loop - Braubach (Marksburg) - Koblenz-Cologne and return and/or a loop east and south Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Augsburg, Strasbourg, and back to Frankfurt are both easy enough.
You will have a great time. There are non-Alcoholic Gluhweins/Punches for the kids at the Christmas markets while you can go for the Feuerzangenbowle.
Thank you all for the advice. Yes, to add we are coming from Asia and arriving in Frankfurt on Dec 16 and going back Jan 1 to Asia. So yes would love to maximise the whole trip by seeing as much places and will also have a 5yr old and teenager. This is our 1st time so we are quite excited and yes would love to see snow ... if you can suggest a great itenirary for us would be great. We want to be back in Frankfurt for Christmas day to spend with friends so we want to see places pre and post christmas. Thank you so much in advance and love to all!!
Given the additional information I would suggest Frankfurt airport directly to Munich and move on Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen (additional 2 hrs) for four nights (nights of 16, 17, 18, 19) before Christmas to see the Alps before the school holidays. G=P also has skiing on the Zugspitze glacier then, and a lovely small Christmas Market. Return to Munich for its Christmas Market (20, 21), then back to Nuremberg or Bamberg for their Markets (22, 23) and then back to Frankfurt for Christmas on the 24th. After Christmas when the markets are mostly closed try a northern loop down the Rhine and back.
https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml
Have a great time!
If you want to see snow, you will probably have to head down to the Garmisch area. One never knows though. One year, it snowed almost every day in Dec. here in Frankfurt.
On the 24th at 17:00, there is the Pealing of the Bells in Frankfurt. Come downtown and listen to the bells from 10 churches ring for 30 min.
Lots of great Christmas markets in the area and to keep a 5 year old and a teen both interested, go for the smaller markets or ones that are unique. For a big city market, visit the one in Stuttgart and then also go to Esslingen which has a large medieval market. In the evening (around 15:30-16:00), the torches, lanterns and candles are lit.
21.11-23.12 Rüdesheim (ride the chairlift for a cool view of the Rhein. They give you blankets)
25.11-22.12 Frankfurt
25.11-22.12 Heidelberg
25.11-23.12 Fulda
25.11-6.01 Speyer (24th 10-13:00, closed 25-26)
26.11-23.12 Wiesbaden
28.11-22.12 Aschaffenburg
28.11-23.12 Mainz
29.11-22.12 Hanau
29.11-22.12 Michelstadt
29.11-23.12 Marburg
29.11-23.12 Limburg
20-22.12 Bad Homburg (this one is fun for little kids because they have a mini steam train they can ride.
