Looking for any and all thoughts on what to do 24-26 Dec in Germany. My initial thought is skiing in Garmisch but I'm nervous that most things will be shut down on those days. My wife and kids may have a heart attack if we just sit around for those three days because everything is closed. No reservations made as of yet. Plan on travling from Munich on the 23rd. Open for any and all suggestions you have from skiing locations to places to stay. Appreciate the help!
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
The Christmas holiday for Garmisch is like 4th of July for a beach town in the US. IE, the busiest time of year. Some shops might close, but most restaurants and hotels remain open. And the pistes are certainly in full action. I don't think you will have any problems finding fun activities, particularly if everyone in the family is either a skier or boarder. I've stayed in the almost too-charming Gasthaus Fraundorfer a few times, but the location isn't very convenient to the ski lifts. I also stayed at Hotel Vier Jarhszeiten (no connection to the Four Seasons luxury hotel chain), which is within about a 10 minute walking time (wearing ski boots) from the main lift, and also very close to the Bahnhof. The Fraundorfer, however, is in a much more picturesque neighborhood. And don't let my limited experience with these two hotels make it seem like they are the only worthwhile places to stay in GaP. There's no shortage of good hotel options in town. Nearby Erhwald and Lermoos are also nice places to stay, but they're not as big as GaP. GaP would also be a better choice if you won't have a rental car.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
When we were in Munich on Christmas day, the beer halls were open and packed with locals and their families. The Christmas markets began shutting down mid afternoon on the 24th but till then a lot of actions.
Posted by
Berlin, Germany
37 posts
It's true that all the Christmas markets I've seen in Germany close for the season in the early afternoon of the 24th December. Within striking distance from Munich (Bayern Ticket again) as a day trip is the Christmas Market in Salzburg, http://www.christkindlmarkt.co.at/index.html helpfully open for at least six hours on the 24th, 25th, and the 26th when it, too, shuts down for the season at 6pm. The Stiftskeller St Peter has a little Glühwein stand in one of the coolest settings I've ever seen... Worth finding. Also, you can depend on what you learned in A Christmas Story. Chinese restaurants are open through these holidays, which has helped us out over the years. You won't starve... Enjoy the holidays ~
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
719 posts
I spent the 24-25 in GaP a few years ago, before heading to Munich. The slopes were open, as were most businesses until about 2 pm or so. We pent the evening wandering the town and Olympic area then had dinner, and plenty of restaurants were open. You'll have plenty available to do, as it's a resort town.