Too early to think about christmas market trip?

Hi, neighbor.

Christmas markets are everywhere, so you can fly into just about anywhere you find a good fare. 2 weeks is a long time for just Christmas markets, so I'd base my destinations MOSTLY on your other interests, and mostly in cities of decent size - many of the small-village recommendations in guidebooks are too dead/dreary or shuttered in winter, when it's "lights out" at 4 pm.

Some cities I've enjoyed very much at Christmastime include Bamberg, Trier, Mainz, and Nuremberg (which does get immensely overcrowded on weekends during Christmas season.)

Remember most of the German markets shut down by mid afternoon on Christmas eve. There is some sameness to the markets so I would pick cities that are also interesting. And you better love sausage. We actually started in Strasbourg. Home of the oldest Christmas market going back to the 1400s - then Rothenberg, Nurnberg, Munich, and finally home from Prague. I would consider flying into Paris and train to Strasbourg. We actually flew to Strasbourg via Amsterdam but Paris would be a good starting point. We spent Christmas in Munich and moved to Prague for New Years. The markets in Prague were open after Christmas.

Did 6 days in Frankfurt this past December to visit friends. We did the markets in Frankfurt, Weisbaden, Mainz, Cologne, Rudesheim, Michelstadt im Odenwald & Alsfeld . They had a car to the last 3 were easy for us. The others we did wih the train. I liked Michelstadt the best.

This is a good website for the Markets in the Hesse region where Frankfurt is, even the small villages.
http://www.hessen-tourismus.de/staedteerlebnis/ausgewaehlte-weihnachtsmaerkte
You can probably find something similar for other parts of the country.

We did a December trip last year and hit the Christmas Markets. It was a great time to travel- very few crowds, not like summer Europe travel... Anyway, I would say our favorites were in Brugge, Prague and Vienna. Once you've been to one they are all pretty similar. Great food, music, shopping, ice skating rink... lots of fun. But I would definitely have other interests like one traveler said. Its fun to go in the evening and have dinner, walk around but during the day have something else to do. They do close down Christmas Eve and the one in Vienna was closed Christmas Day and the day after that- actually everything was closed those days so keep that in mind.

We spent two weeks in December in Germany and Austria, enjoying the Christmas markets. Loved Rothenberg ob der Tauber (not really for the market as it's very small but for the overall charm of the medieval town). A great town start to a German trip. Also went to Nuremberg which boasts a super large market but with the crowds it can be actually UNenjoyable; much prefer the smaller towns. Munich has a big market in the main square Marienplatz but also a nicer 'different' market in the Schwabing district (not the same old trinkets that you will see over and over). Regensburg is also nice. We then drove to Salzburg Austria for not only the market but the whole 'Christmas in Austria' vibe; mass at the Salzburg Cathedral, a traditional Austrian Advent Concert in St Andrew's Church, etc... just lovely. It's my favorite time of year to see Germany.

We have made 4 trips to Germany in this season and definitely enjoyed them. We sight-see during the day and visit the markets in the long evenings. (The sun sets at about 4PM in this season.) Our favorites are the same as the places that we liked best in the spring: Würzburg, Regensburg and Rothenburg. Stuttgart was our favorite big city market and a visit to the nearby Medieval Market in Esslingen was a nice change. To actually shop in the more popular markets like Nürnberg, München and Stuttgart, you do need to visit during the day when the crowds are not overwhelming.

With two weeks time we throw in a couple less traveled places like Aschaffenburg, Karlstadt and Landshut. It is treat to visit markets and towns mostly patronized by locals. The goods are the same.

Some photos

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent-2010/Wuerzburg/

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent-2010/Regensburg/

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Advent-2010/Thurn-and-Taxis-Palace-Market/

https://mcchelsea.smugmug.com/Germany-2008/Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber-2008/

Thanks to all for your comments, looks like we will simply find the least expensive travel option.