All day in Munich or a day trip to the Christmas markets in Nuremburg?

Kind of like Munich's Oktoberfest, Nürnburg's Christmas Market is the most well known and crowded, but not necessarily any better than any other large city Market. I would say if you want to see the city itself, go and enjoy the Market as an added bonus. I haven't visited any of Munich's Weihnachtsmarkten, but I can almost assume they would be just as enjoyable. I certainly like Nürnburg, but I can't say I really found their market particularly unique.

Though I really like Nuremberg, I would not spend my time traveling there for the Christmas Market. Munich has several as already noted. The main one at Marienplatz is about the same a Nuremberg's. We also enjoyed the slightly hippy craft market at Schwabbing, a medieval market Wittelsbach Platz and a community Christmas Market at Haidhausen. We lived in Nuremberg and it was our first Christkindl Markt. Still I think staying in Munich is a better use of time. You will likely enjoy yourself either way.

I agree with Tom. We did the Christmas market tour two years ago and spent Christmas in Munich. While Nuremburg was BIG and crowded, cannot say that it was better or the best. In someways we enjoyed Munich's markets better because they were spread out and a couple of the market specialized in a certain kinds of crafts. Just easier to handle. If in Munich, I would not take a day to go to Murenburg. Besides Munich has great beer halls that packed with fun looking people.

Do the Christmas market in Munich at the Marienplatz. We were there during this time last year, and it was awesome. Also, being in Munich gives your the opportunity to enjoy so many other sights besides the market. Go to Hofbrauhaus, enjoy the Glockenspiel, fab restaurants, architecture, etc. Munich is easy to get around and has a great public transit system. We had a blast. We did the market at night when it was all lit up and everyone out enjoying the ambiance, and went back again during the day for a different take on it all. Time it just right to watch the clock tower go off. We stayed at Hotel Uhland near the train station. They had a bus stop across the street that got us to just about everywhere or a couple of blocks from the subway gets you where you want to go to.

You are all so kind to give your helpful opinions. I was trying to squeeze one more thing into an already packed trip. It will be nice just to have a leisurely morning and perhaps do the hop on hop off tour as well as the Christmas markets you all have suggested. It will be a much more enjoyable day as our flight leaves the next day after our visit to Munich. Again, thank you all very much. Have a beautiful and blessed fall.

I'm not into Christmas markets, but I do believe Nürnberg is supposed to have the best. However, Munich also has one, so what are you willing to give to get to Nürnberg's. About the fastest you can do it by trains is just over 2 hours round trip but the ICE fare is over 100€ per person. On the other end, you can do it for 13€/P (for 2) round trip with a Bayern-Ticket but the trip will take 3½-5 hours round trip and you can't leave before 9 AM on a workday. If you book trains long in advance, you can do round trip for two on ICEs (2 hr RT) with Savings Fare tickets for 58€, but your time in Nürnberg will be set by what you book (ie, you can't return earlier or later than booked). Considering the cost or time required, I think I would just stay in Munich.

We made a day trip from Rothenburg to Nuremburg for the Christmas market. That was fine. I would not go all the way from Munich. If you want a different market, you might consider Salzburg.