Nov. 27 to Dec. 3 Munich Trip - Best Advice

My 2 pence-

I would tell her at least a month in advance for two reasons-

1)To make sure her passport won't expire in the next 6 months. There's nothing like seeing that your passport is almost lapsed.

2)As a woman, I usually like to plan what I'm going to wear on vacation and perhaps buy something new.

As for the language, I can honestly say that most of the hotels I have emailed in Germany have replied back in perfect English so as long as you stick to the tourist trail you shouldn't have problems. As always it's a nice idea to learn the basics in German- hello,goodbye,etc.

I would also Google Munich Christmas Markets as there was an expat blogthat rated all the Munich Xmas markets.

Do you have a good guidebook to Munich/Bavaria/Germany ? You can take ones out from the library, even take it with you for a 7-day trip. (Just don't rip pages out.)

Deutsche Bahn is easy to see online, in English. Many people in the places you are going will speak English, especially in the markets.
I am assuming you both have passports and you will make sure she brings hers. And if you're dressing for the Midwest, you should be fine for Germany.
Have a great trip!!

And check the dates. Most German ones start Dec 3. Salzburg gets an earlier start, just Bayern Ticket away.

To echo a reply, language is no issue. I think you will be alright with what you already have planned. You still should check out a guide book and read what both cities have to offer that way you decide for yourself with your time what is a "must see". Everything you will hear here in that regard is in a guide book. But if you need one idea I recommend you go see
Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds
https://museums.nuernberg.de/documentation-center/

A Christmas market trip! What fun! You're in luck, since Marienplatz has one. Nuremberg's is good too, and it's less than 1 1/2 hrs away by train. Salzburg has several markets and is even closer. Stuttgart, though is just a little under 2 1/2 hours away. That's too far for me for a day trip, but it's your decision.

I agree that it would be very smart to get a Germany travel guide. I like Rick's, not least because of his excellent advise on how to use public transportation ( both inter and intra city).

If you aren't familiar with European trains travel, this site gives excellent information: https://www.seat61.com

Have a great time and don't forget to have some gluhwein.

Most of the markets are starting on 27 Nov. this year.
Stuttgart is my favorite big city market. Near-by Esslingen (about 10 min. train ride from Stuttgart) will be your Wow market as it is a medieval market. Try and be there by dusk when they light the lanterns, torches, and candles.
Munich I found to be just ok, nothing exciting. Nuremberg is too packed and not a lot of fun. Regensburg would be a better side trip, including a visit to the Thurn & Taxis market at the palace.

I agree with Jo that Stuttgart was our best big city market and Esslingen is a fairly unique atmosphere. Regensburg is my favorite town in any season and the Romantic Market at the Thurn & Taxis Palace is a great atmosphere.

Munich's main market (Marienplatz) is very crowded week nights and almost impassable on weekend nights. Three of us had trouble just staying in sight of one another. If you are there on weekend, consider spending the evening at the Schwabing market for crafts and a different flavor. The Haidhausen market is a small but attractive community market. Do any serious market shopping in the day. The nights are best left for atmosphere.

It is a great season, you will likely have a wonderful. Forget "must sees". It is all good.

Great advice from everyone. I do appreciate all of the tips and places that are your favorites. I did check out start dates of several main Markets in Munich, Stuttgart, Nuremberg.... Our timing will allow us to catch the opening day of several, if we are so inclined.

Any tips on train travel between towns? Should I go ahead and purchase multi-day passes or wait and just buy them for each day the night before? Seems like there are suggestions for single trip tickets as well as multi-day passes.

heather - I think I solved the concerns you brought up. I hinted that we would possibly be traveling north into Canada, so he would need to take her passport. Plus, that provides cover for us packing warm, layered clothes. She is already thinking about buying some additional clothes for it. My thoughts for it being a surprise is so we will be doing something somewhat spontaneous (except that I will have the major bases covered). I am also thinking about proposing on Thanksgiving with her family before flying out the next day for Indiana to see mine. So it is going to be special already... I just want to make it even more so! Oh... and I invited my mom (who she loves and will be turning 70 in December) to go with us. I figured they would get a kick out of the market shopping together, also.

As for train tickets, I'd recommend you to buy them online in advance if you already have a concrete itinerary (https://www.raileurope.com, or there is a link from Rick's "Trains & Rail Passes" page: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains).

I found out that multi-day passes can be more expensive than buying point-to-point tickets depending on how far and often you travel. You should compare the cost first by putting all point-to-point tickets in the shopping cart. Remember, you have to pay for seat reservations even if you have multi-day pass.

Stuttgart has a nice big-city Christmas Market, but sightseeing-wise there's not much else to see there. Personally, I would go to Salzburg, Austria for a day-trip from Munich. They have nice smaller Christmas Markets in a very "Sound of Music" setting, and it's just 1.5 hours away by train.

I stayed in the area south of the train station a couple of years ago. At that time there were a lot of Muslim and north African migrants in the area. If you are looking for a quaint German experience, I'd suggest avoiding the area around the train station, regardless of the city.