My husband & I along with our 2 married children & their spouses (no kids) want to go to Germany the week of Christmas. We want to see the Christmas markets but the younger members also want to ski one day. We were thinking of heading towards Munich. What ski resort would be good? Where would it be nice to be on Christmas Eve for Church etc.?
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Please clarify: "We were thinking of heading towards Munich. What ski resort would be good?"
You'll get a more useful answer if you clarify from which direction, area or town you'll be "heading towards Munich".
Posted by
OP
United States
9 posts
We would fly into Munich from the US. Since we also wanted to go to the Christmas market we though Munich would be a good place.
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
Combining Christmas markets with skiing is probably a really good plan when spending Christmas in Germany. The Christmas markets in Munich shut down on Dec 24 around noon - and pretty much everything else all over Germany will shut down as well for a couple of days. Except for the ski resorts which will be very busy. So make reservations as soon as possible.
Sorry, I'm not a skier so no resort tipps from here.
Posted by
DTW
343 posts
Lynne, we skied the Zugspitze on Thanksgiving day 2007. Only the upper part was open at that time. We took the cable car up and the cog wheel train down. Beautiful scenery and you feel like you are on top of the world as you look down on some of the mountains around you. We stayed one night in Garmisch which was only a few hours at most from Munich.
I'm sorry I do not have a church recommendation.
Posted by
so cal, CA., USA
23 posts
Hi Lynne, I believe Nurnberg has the oldest Christmas Market in Germany if not europe. If you are going to consider staying in Nurnberg for a few nights, drop me an e-mail and I'll tell you a nice hotel there. Munich also has a nice one, as do most towns. Garmisch is a good place to stay and ski the Zugspitze (tallest mountain in Germany). I know the cog wheel train operates even on Christmas day. As someone else said, almost all stores close around noon or 1pm on Dec 24th and don't reopen until Dec 27th. The only reason the Zugspitze would be closed is because of a storm on the mountain. We were there last Christmas and are leaving for the Oktoberfest next week. Have a great time. Lee
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Within a few hours of Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen is probably your best bet, although it will likely be packed, and you may not be able to get a room unless you reserve for a few nights. But there is also a wonderful Christmas market here. Even for non-skiers, it's a winter wonderland.
Posted by
Atlanta
3262 posts
You might also look at ski resorts in Austria or Switzerland--not so far from Munich.