Best Christmas Markets

[Theimpossiblegirl]

Dh has said he'll treat me to a trip to a Christmas market (assuming Brexit doesn't bugger up travel).
All being well, where should we go? Travelling last weekend of November.
I'm thinking Bruges, Vienna or Copenhagen but open to suggestions.

DH and I were thinking of Bruges in December (I hadn't actuallly thought of Brexit )

Are you wanting to go outside of UK ? There's threads on here , IIRC Birmingham is good .
I've been to the SouthBank in London, the stalls are nice enough but a bit samey .
I don't know what Bruges has to offer that others don't . (I'm lurking on here to see )

Definitely outside of the UK as its taken years to get Dh as into Christmas as I am, so I want to capitalise on it.

Salzburg is beautiful. Fab restaurants there too; amazing scenery etc. There's also another Xmas market about a 20 min bus journey from
The centre of town, in a forest which was just enchanting!

Also - Innsbruck; a small town in the most amazing mountainous setting. Properly Christmas card land.

Vienna is also amazing.

I really like Austria

Edinburgh is lovely at Christmas but very busy at weekends much nicer mid week. We always go for a few days nice Xmas market and fair and also go to the panto and go to the ice rink. Have a look online for Edinburgh winter festival.

Bruges has a lovely Christmas market but I'd say its more a part of a weekend in Bruges. We went with DC and partners a couple of years back and had a great time. We stayed at the Duke's Palace Hotel which was lovely.

If the focus is entirely on the Christmas market in a lovely location rather than a family weekend/sightseeing then I'd probably go for Vienna but one of the DC raved about the Budapest market (they went on a particular weekend though). Have also heard good things about Prague and Talinn so may pick one you think will also appeal to DH and plan the next one whilst there...

We're not taking the kids so sightseeing, walking, eating and drinking will very much be part of the weekend.

We went to Bruges last year. The market itself was really disappointing, utter tat and not even christmassy tat at some of the stalls. Bruges itself was utterly lovely though. I would not recommend it for the market but would recommend it for a weekend away if that makes sense.

We went to Cologne last year, it was brilliant. Amazing city with the backdrop of the cathedral.

I’m biased but Brussels has a good market - maybe look at staying there and taking a day trip to Bruges or Ghent.

Prague or Berlin at lovely but busy. The problem with all of these markets is that they're all so commercial and samey. I have been to Cracow at Easter and can imagine it would be lovely at Christmas too. And the food was fabulous. Lots to do there too.

@Snowbrussels that is a good idea.
We're probably going to fly but train is also an option.
Dh fancies Bruges but this way we could do 2 places. Is it easy to get from one to the other? (Brexit aside)

Munich is lovely. There is a lot of sightseeing to do, all very central.

They have a lovely market in the Residenz selling baubles, another which is more pretend medieval - our favourite because it had the Feuerzangenbowle which is the best Christmas market drink ever, plus the gignormous market that spreads out over Marienplatz and beyond with lots of different food and drinks specialties and the Christmas crib market.

Cologne or Frankfurt they are beautiful places with great markets

If you are thinking Belgium, it's really easy to get between, Bruges, Ghent and Brussels, so you could get 3 markets in one trip. My personal preference would be Antwerp though...stalls all along the river and Het Steen castle lit up like a fairy tale. That's also a possibility to fit into a trip with any or all of the others.

Definitely not Bruges, their Christmas markets were dreadful. Surprising really, so 'accessible' and touristy, you'd think they'd make a killing on it.

Edinburgh great but SO BUSY - I wouldn't go too near Christmas, I have to say.

Hamburg was good.

I'm fancying Ljubjlana this year.

I second Hamburg. I've also been to Munich and it was good too. They had several markets around the city including one in the middle of a big park. Sorry, I can't remember the name!!

We are thinking of going to Vienna this year. We've been before but not to the Christmas market. It's a lovely city.

Definitely Cologne.

Frankfurt was AMAZING

We LOVED Vienna when we visited just before Christmas. There were was reasonable accommodation right in the centre, amazing markets (plenty to fill our time) and loads of sightseeing to be done.

I'm halfway to a decision. I've booked flights to Brussels so may do a night in Bruges, a night in Antwerp and a night in Brussels. Hints, tips and recommendations very welcome.

Not much help to you as I've not been yet but we've just booked to go to Berlin

Ah...fabulous Belgium! Hints for Brussels include checking the Grand Place webcam for times when it is less crowded. We loved Saint Gilles, which is full of Art Nouveau buildings. We have stayed at B Aparthotel a couple of times... 5 minutes walk into the centre. For Antwerp, the train station is a destination in its own right...truly the most beautiful station I have ever seen. Even if you don't drink, go to the Elfde Gebod bar, which is full of icons and statues. If you do drink, the Belgian beer there is fab, and with a wide selection. Walk along the river to see Het Steen the castle lit up like a dream. Go ice skating and treat yourselves to some chocolate hands, the symbol of Antwerp.

Another vote for Bruges and Hamburg. Both lovely cities for a short weekend break too.

Taking notes on other suggestions too.

We have been to Christmas markets in Prague and Frankfurt and loved them both.
Am contemplating another this year, possibly Vienna..

I have been to Burges and Ghent and Brussels before and all are great cities so am sure you will have a great time there