Help with mid December itinerary

Posted by foster1.amanda on 09/23/26 02:16 AM

Just got invited to my BFF’s sorta last minute wedding in the Lake Constance area of Germany Dec. 12.

I don’t want to ”waste” the transatlantic flight, by just going to the wedding and going home. So I’m planning arriving on Dec.9 and leaving Dec.17/18.

Figue Dec.10-13 are wedding related. Where should I explore with the other days? Looking at flying into/ out of Zurich or Munich or flying in one and out the other- also open to other ideas.

We did German Christmas Markets along the Rhine Frankfort and north last year. And we’ve been to Garmish/ Bavaria- but it’s been a while so not opposed to another trip. We did love the Christmas markets so if any are must see in the area we are more than happy to go.

Help! I usually dream/ plan for at least a year before this kind of travel. It will be (mid 40’s) and my mom (almost 80) so we won’t be going skiing and the like, but stairs etc are not an issue.

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

09/23/26 03:18 AM

23822 posts

Where exactly on Lake Constance (Bodensee)?

Posted by foster1.amanda OP

09/23/26 03:56 AM

2 posts

Überlingen…. I’ve not been there before, but it looks to be a smallish town.

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

09/23/26 04:48 AM

23822 posts

Zurich is the closest airport to Ueberlingen. From ZRH you take the train to Schaffhausen and get a connection there. 2 to 2 1/2 hours depending on your timing.

There is a lot to see just north. Black Forest, Strasbourg (big Christmas Market), Stuttgart and nearby Esslingen with a highly rated Christmas Market. You could fly home from Stuttgart, or take a train back to Zurich. Those are just a couple of suggestions off the top of my head. I am sure there are other ideas.

Posted by jkh

Northwest Arkansas

09/24/26 03:46 PM

1326 posts

Plenty of choices. My suggestion is to look at your outbound travel options. On to Munich, back to Zurich or something else entirely? Based on your travel preference, pick the cities that make the best use of your time over the 3-4 days that you will have before flying home.

Posted by vacationinsites

10/25/26 04:42 PM

1 posts

Sounds like a fun trip! Here are a few ideas for your days around the wedding. They're all easy by train or boat, and none of them needs a car.

Konstanz: the Weihnachtsmarkt am See runs every day from 26 November to 23 December 2026, 11:00–20:00 (until 21:30 on Fri/Sat), right on the harbor. From Überlingen you can go over via Meersburg on the Konstanz car ferry, which runs all year, day and night. It's a nice little lake crossing even in winter.
Lindau: the Hafenweihnacht (harbor Christmas market) on Lindau island runs 26 November–20 December 2026, but only Thursday to Sunday, 11:00–21:00. For your dates that's Thu 10, Fri 11, Sun 13 or Thu 17 December. The island old town is small and flat, so it's easy for your mom.
Munich at the end: if you're flying home anyway, think about flying into Zurich and out of Munich. The EuroCity Express from Zurich to Munich stops in Lindau and takes about 3.5 hours for the whole trip. You could finish with two or three nights in Munich for the markets. The big one around Marienplatz runs until 24 December, and the medieval market at Wittelsbacherplatz and the Tollwood winter festival both run until 23 December.

With your mom, I'd stick to one or two bases (for example, the lake, then Munich) instead of moving every night. December days are short, too: it's dark by about 16:30, which is when the markets look best anyway.

We live in Bavaria near the Austrian border. Enjoy the wedding!