European christmas markets.

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Me,dh & dd2 aged 4 are hoping to have a little pre-xmas jaunt(just for the one night)to a christmas market> just wondered if anyone could give me some recommendations as to which ones were any good? was thinking maybe Amsterdam or Bruges? TIA

My frined went to Brugees last year and loved it, though that was without children.

Bruges or Cologne, although Cologne is far better.

We went to Prague a couple of years back and it was wonderful.

The city itself is breathtaking and the Christmas Market was truly festive.

Ah yes, I forgot about Prague, have been there too. Prague itself lovely, markets didnt have a huge amount of "different" stuff - but I think thats sadly the case for most markets these days - stained glass windows, leather goods, puppets, jewellry etc.

I was just about to post on this1

I am specifically looking for some that aren't heavily marketed though, as I fear we will just be in tourist hell, with overpriced tat.

My mum speaks fondly of the Christmas markets they used to go to when they lived over there in the late 70's early 80's and I would love to take her this christmas.

so looking for some maybe a bit more off the beaten track, so to speak.

any ideas?

If you are looking for something a little more traditional and not as hyped as most, have you thought about Stockholm?

There are loads of different Christmas markets on

a good start

and as another enticer, it started to snow yesterday

I think you have inspired me to go...SNOW!!!!

we are doing Munich this year. Supposed to be excellent..?

We enjoyed Lubeck, although mainly for the fabulous German sausages and gluhwein!

Theres a German Christmas Market at Birmingham which is supposed to be the largest one outside of Germany.

Not been yet but the feedback is supposed to be good from those who have been

Aachen Christmas market is lovely.

oooh stockholm would be v cool,. I have always wanted to go to Sweden,

I spoke to a lovely German lady I know on another forum and she suggested just picking any big german town, because they will all have a christmas market.
that way you get to avoid all the touristy overpriced stuff and just enjoy a traditional market.
she recommended Dortmund

If you fancy Sweeden then you could stay in Malmo, and get the train across to Copenhagen, you can fly pretty cheaply to Copenhagen, and I think the train across the bridge only take 30 minutes and costs $10 from the airport?

I went to Lille once which was great fun but that have had something to do with the company and the copious amounts of wine...

I went to Aachen many years ago and it was truly lovely. Lots of lovely cakes I seem to remember!

Munich is lovely, and a lot of the people there speak English. Although touristy, it's definitely worth a visit.

What's Berlin's Christmas market like, has anyone been?

hi

i have been to bruges xmas markets a few times, its lovely, try the gluwein(mulled wine) it tastes better on the continent.

have also been to rudesheim and rothenberg in germany both fantastic.

there is a gorgeous christmas decoration shop in bruges and germany called kathy wolfehart, take plenty of money as decoration are lovely.

Actually most German towns have lovely Christmas markets, but particularly nice ones (at least where I've been) are in Rothenburg and Nürnberg.

For the Nürnberg one have a look here:
(www.christkindlesmarkt.de/english/

You can fly to Munich (about 1 hr drive) or directly to Nürnberg.

slalomsuki
My German DH was at the birmingham Xmas Market this week and said it was great. He thought that the bratwurst were delicious. Most of the stall holders were German and he was quite tickled at being able to order in German.

I agree with others. You can pretty much fly to any German city and find a reasonable Xmas Market. I particularly liked Aachen. Cologne is good as there are several markets that you can visit in the town, including a medieval one at the chocolate factory and one with an ice rink. The train connection from the airport is good.