I apologise if I'm the first to mention Christmas 09, but I still need an answer...

[parachutes]

...what is the nicest, most traditional, Christmas market? I'm thinking of going to one of the German ones but would really appreciate some advice (have to give people loads of notice which is the reason I'm asking now.)

TIA

i asked a lovely german lady I know and she said tbh you can go to ANY big town/city in germany and they will have one.

the big very commercialised ones that you see advertised are often full of touristy tat IMO,. it's all overpriced because it's just aimed at the tourist market, which is a shame

Thanks very much thisisyesterday, I'm definitely going to try and go to one this year.

We took my PIL to Lübeck one year. Is quite small but less touristy than many & in a great setting. Has the added bonus of if you want to go to a massive one Hamburg is only 40 mis away by train.

In a long weekend we went to Lübeck, Hamburg & Schwerin.

As thisisyesterday says most places have them - Cologne is very famous - but IMO very touristy too.

can't help you sorry but YAY A christmas thread!!!!!

I am putting the christams countdown everyday on Facebook. Much to the annoyance of others.

HORAAHHH post of the day goes to Parachutes

thank you shinyshoes! I was almost too scared to come back to the thread

omg can we have summer first pleeeeeese

no, summer is cancelled, it's all about Christmas now

Hooray christmas!!!! I went to a lovely market in Belgium last yr.
I love christmas, I bought 8 presents yesterday. Total bargains in the sales, £163 worth of stuff for £58.

Hi kys, the belgium one sounds interesting. For many reasons we can't travel too far, or try to travel too much in one day, and I assume the eurostar goes straight over? Is that how you went? Thanks.

Yeah we went on eurostar, cant remember how long it took. We went for a day trip, it was a long day but def worth it. Our ds is obsessed with trains so he loved it.

I like Valkenburg, because its in caves and is truly beautiful.

If you don't mind small and sweet (or even chocolatey) then there is Bruges - if they are still doing the ice sculpture exhibitions that they did every year, this is a MUST see (although not a market, admittedly). Bruges is small enough to get round on foot and has pretty shops including oodles of chocolate shops

Sold on Bruges! For the chocolate alone.

We went to Trier christmas market one year pre DS, it was lovely all the buildings and stalls and lights. Not too touristy but busy, with the best stalls being hidden down all the little streets as well as the ones in the centre of town. We bought nice xmas decorations mainly, and some traditional toys for neices and nephews.

Would love to take DS he would find it amazing. Can't afford it this year though.