Best German Christmas market

[RefreshingCandour]

Looking for recommendations for a wonderful German city that has Christmas markets and is picturesque and twinkly. Enough to see and do for 3 nights. Going end of November and ideally flying EasyJet with a not long trip at the other end.

City, hotel recommendations much appreciated.

Not Germany - but Vienna was amazing. Gorgeous city and lots of little markets around every corner.

Make sure that you check opening dates as some don't start until early December.

Yes thank you I’ve heard Vienna & Salzburg good - was it v expensive?

OK thanks - all the ones I’ve looked at so far start last weekend in November.

@RefreshingCandour I don’t recall it being particularly expensive - certainly no more than German cities anyway.

I’ve been to Salzburg in the summer - it’s a lovely city. Don’t think you could go wrong with either.

I really like the one in Leipzig.

I’ve lived in both Vienna and Düsseldorf and loved their markets! I also did Cologne and Munich markets which were great. I didn't get a chance to do Hamburg or Berlin but heard good things about them!

Berlin.

We went a couple of years ago. There are loads of markets with different themes. Loads of other stuff to do too. Loved it.

I've been to Düsseldorf and Munich, both were lovely, more likely to get snow in Munich I reckon.
Birmingham Christmas Market is the best in UK I reckon.

I loved the Christmas markets in Berlin. There were at least four around the city centre, different sizes and offering different things.

It's the only one I've been to but Cologne was good. There are 4 or 5 different markets.

Lübeck is lovely. Dresden or Berlin nice too! Berlin has lots of variety.

I’m a big Christmas market fan so have been to many over the past 10 years.

Nuremberg and Vienna in Austria are my favs, with Vienna comprising of more Christmas markets as it’s a much bigger city.

Aachen and Dresden were also lovely, as was Cologne and Berlin. We also loved the Christmas market in Colmar and Strasbourg in France.

Vienna wasn’t that expensive when you get there, however we did stay at a hotel a couple of stops away from the main area (the main area hotels were really pricey during Christmas). Christmas markets ran most of December and it turns into a new years market on the last few days of December. Nuremberg was quite cheap, with cheap flights going there also and a beautiful little town

Nürnberg is lovely but if you can avoid a weekend. I lived locally for 3 years and we never went on weekends, it's mayhem.

We went to Berlin last year, very different vibe but obviously plenty to do and see in general. It was freezing cold, even during the day, we had snow a couple of days prior and it was still on the ground.

Hamburg - less pitroresque but still great, you can easily take a train to Lübeck for a day which is a lovely city with a mediveal flair.

I see often Rothenburg recommended but you need a car to get there.

Munich - colleagues recommend it, it was on the list but was trumped by Berlin. Again, plenty to do and see. But definitely no snow guarantee end of November.

Cologne! I’ve been several times. Don’t miss the Lindt chocolate shop and cafe though! The museum is also fab

Have a watch on YouTube - Kara and Nate who I follow did 3 video's visiting different ones all over Europe.
Lots of differences between them

Cologne has LOTS of Christmas markets, Rothenberg basically IS a Christmas Market as is Monschau (the most picturesque place IMO) or Luxembourg which has soooo much to offer and is easy to potter around and is a lovely fairytale city.

Munich was great for Christmas markets - several different themed ones, including fairy tales, medieval, religious etc, and a huge market on the Oktoberfest site. Even a market at the airport!
Plenty to see and do in Munich besides the markets, and its a short train ride away to Erding, where there's a huge spa. We did one night there, and then three nights in Munich.

Ooh thanks everyone! It’s a toss up between Nuremberg, Munich and Vienna I think.

Fly to Basel airport and do Colmar market in France and Basel in Switzerland. Stay in Colmar to keep costs down.

Colmar Christmas market is amazingly beautiful.

Another vote for Cologne, we had a great time

The Christmas markets in the UK are nothing like an actual German market. The UK ones are all clones selling the same cheap tat and crap food/drink at sky high prices.

@RefreshingCandour

is this going to be a one off or something you think you'll start doing yearly??

my mistake was doing the best ones first, now the others feel small & somewhat disappointing.

Probably just a one off.

@RefreshingCandour

cologne was fabulous, several markets right there and a good base for visiting other places, but central cologne is PLENTY to keep you busy/entertained & fed for a few days!!

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not Germany, but I loved Copenhagen

munich was great too.

i could go on, but easier to say I enjoyed them all in different ways.

i can't remember the hotel details, sorry. But no issues with any of them & they were all lower/mid range. For ME I prefer to be very close to the market so when I'm knocked it's not far to go home, or to pop down for a pretzel & mulled wine if we've been out for the day elsewhere.