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Original poster

Christmas market help

39 replies

NotUmbongoUnchained · 01/09/2018 23:53

We want to go away for Christmas markets this year, end of November beginning Of December but we can’t decide where. If you have been too a few, which ones would you recommend for family of 4. Kids will be 4 and 2.

Quite fancying Copenhagen or Reykjavik, but also loved Berlin on a summer get away. We are open to any option!

OP posts:
IfyouseeRitaMoreno · 01/09/2018 23:55

We went to the one in Berlin which was great and there is loads to do in Berlin. Ah I can smell the gluhwein now!

I haven’t been but Cologne is supposed to be good.

Baumederose · 01/09/2018 23:56

Berlin. We had a fantastic time and I would go again. And again.

catinboots9 · 01/09/2018 23:58

A friend at work this week was raving about Strasbourg! She was so convincing I've got flights marked just not yet paid for!!!!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 02/09/2018 00:21

Come over to the Christmas threads , there are a few Market threads if you search back.

I'm after one in the UK, just DH and I .

I wouldnt take my DC if they are young though.
The markets are busy , the stalls aren't really what young DC want .
And from what I've read , they're bloody freezing .

We took ours to the SouthBank when they were younger (mine are late teens now) , they just wanted to go on the Carousel.
A lot of the food stalls weren;t suitable. (though the HogRoast smells delicious and I'm a very long term vegetarian Xmas Blush )

Places like Winter Wonderland has stalls but again its busy and muddy.

TittyGolightly · 02/09/2018 00:23

New year is the time to go to Reykjavik.

Not sure I’d do it with a 2 year old though.

Heratnumber7 · 02/09/2018 00:34

There are several markets in Cologne. All much as you'd expect. There's not much to say about Cologne itself though - a pretty nondescript place imo. I wouldn't recommend it.

MaggieMagpie1 · 02/09/2018 00:38

Hamburg definitely! My cousin lives there and showed us around and would love to go back

Katedotness1963 · 02/09/2018 03:56

Stuttgart. There's also a medieval market in Esslingen.

ProseccoPoppy · 02/09/2018 04:18

I loved Cologne - I know not everyone does but I found it lovely and just how I imagined a German Christmas market would be. I especially liked wandering around with a mug of Glühwein and also climbing the cathedral to look down on the market.

@70isaLimitNotaTarget I would recommend Bath for a UK one. Really pretty (though very popular) and winds along all the little streets near the Abbey.

DeathlyPail · 02/09/2018 04:20

In the UK I’d recommend York

Canuckduck · 02/09/2018 04:27

I went to at least 10 markets. My favourite was Stuttgart. Berlin is nice too. I didn’t love Cologne.

user1483387154 · 02/09/2018 04:29

Vienna has amazing Christmas markets

CeeCeeAndAida · 02/09/2018 04:54

I second Vienna, I've been to the one outside the City Hall www.austria.info/uk/things-to-do/skiing-and-winter/christmas-markets/christmas-markets-in-vienna - apparently there's an area inside too, which is dedicated to entertaining children.

justilou1 · 02/09/2018 05:01

Cologne has several different markets, but they really are quite commercial and I think if you want atmosphere, Vienna is much more beautiful. You can easily travel by train or boat to Dürnstein (on the Danube) - look it up. It’s GORGEOUS!!! Austria is magical at that time of year.

12stars · 02/09/2018 05:14

Brussels has a nice little one that's easy to get to. You could even go for a day on the Eurostar (depending where you are) and leave the dc with grandparents. As a PP said i wouldn't be taking a 2 yr old and a 4 yr old.

Longdistance · 02/09/2018 05:47

I went to Nice a few years ago. It was more like a fair than market. With rides for kids. It was very child friendly, and was about 20’c during the day.
Düsseldorf has a great Christmas market, but not a very exciting place.
I wonder if Prague still has a Christmas market? It always seems Christmassy there in winter.

MadameGerbil · 02/09/2018 05:52

Hi there i liked dusseldorf Strasbourg and Brussels markets.
In the UK Birmingham and Nottingham ones not bad either.

habibihabibi · 02/09/2018 06:04

We enjoyed Cologne but more so the smaller markets In towns a short train ride away. My children were older, 5 &6 , they loved the carousel food and seeing all the decorations. We went to diff markets in the mornings and back to the hotel after lunch. It does get busy and a bit boozy so I'd be wary of taking a two year old unless they are particularly good at being strapped in a cosy buggy looking at legs Smile

P0ppyP0wer1 · 02/09/2018 06:14

I've been to markets in Prague and Basel in Switzerland. There is also the Tinguley art museum in Basel and fountain. Switzerland was extremely expensive

SnowOnTheSeine · 02/09/2018 06:33

I lived in Germany for a year and found that the smaller towns had much nicer Christmas markets - more quality, less commercial made in China crap. The best was a tiny one up in the mountains- so cold we could only stay outside for 20 Minutes at a time!

user1471548941 · 02/09/2018 07:50

Salzburg is completely magical! Everything in the city is walkable and there is square after square filled with stalls! Also book the coach up to St Wolfgang, sail across the lake, visit the tiny Christmas market and take the mountain railway up into the snow where they give you very strong alcohol to drink, huddled round a fire, looking at amazing views!

WhatsUpPussycat123 · 02/09/2018 07:56

Bruges is lovely.

ElainaElephant · 02/09/2018 07:58

In the UK, Edinburgh is great.

CherryPavlova · 02/09/2018 08:01

Strasbourg is lovely. I’m not sure either Bergen or Reykjavik would be big enough (unless you are swimmers).

CherryPavlova · 02/09/2018 08:02

Oh yes, Salzburg would be beautiful - we went in October when they were preparing it. Lots for children too.