Dave1980

Morning All

I have been thinking about going to some christmas markets during early to mid december this year. Last time i went to some in Prague which were ok however i have heard the German ones are particulary good.

Anyone been to any of them, found a decent website but there are so many to choose from.

Any tips would be great, a bit of snow would be nice too.

Probably going to drive it as for some reason i like driving all over the continent.

Cheers
Dave

Leslie

Never been to one but I have heard the German ones are good too. Maybe Wurzel could help you about those.

Les

Turbo2

Every town/city in Germany has one. However, if it's snow you're after you'll probably need to head East or down South towards the Alps. The western cities don't get much more snow than we do and have a similar Atlantic influenced climate that we have. If you're in the East, try out Leipzig or Dresden: it's always bitter cold with weather coming from Russia and Poland, so snow is very possible (probably a bit like Prague). To keep warm eat lots of Bratwurst sausage and drink gallons of piping hot Glühwein! They do nice Xmas decorations such as the candle-powered rotating pyramid thingies and illuminated arches for your windows. You'll need to change or adapt the plug for any electrical items of course.

KiwiGTI

I think one of the best ones is in Cologne.

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

Stuttgart has a big one from 1st Dec to usually 21st ish of Dec.
Apparently the best ones to go to though are Dresden, Cologne, or Nürnberg (Nuremberg to you)

However with the changing climate we have not had any snow at the Stuttgart one for a few years, however it is usually pretty cold but not usually wet or miserable. As others have said there are plenty of decoration stalls and other stalls made out of wooden sheds, there are plenty of places to get Glüwein and Jägertee aswell. It is better to go after dark as it seems more festive and all the Christmas lights are on aswell. Friedrichshafen also has one that I have been to aswell. I am not sure if they have them in Switzerland, you may want to try out Zürich and see. I live near Stuttgart so tend to go to that one.

john banks

We went to Berlin last December and combined Xmas mkts with the usual Berlin stuff. Interesting but very cold indeed. From what I hear the Xmas mkts elsewhere are better if you are just going for that, but Berlin was easy to get to, nice hotels (cheap compared to UK) and lots of other things to do.

Volks

Agree 100%.

Have visited a few (lived in Germany for 5 years) and Koln was definatley one of the best. It`s basically 5 different markets around the city, all within walking distance of each other.

They get pretty busy but the locals are great, the food and drink are fantastic and there`s plenty to do in and around the city when you`ve had your fill of gluhwein.

Like a previous poster said, most German towns have them but Koln`s is excellent.

Nigel H

We've been to the ones in Dusseldorf, Stuttgart and Vienna. Stuttgart was the best - Dusseldorf was OK, but small, Vienna was too busy.

We flew and booked six months in advance to get a good price on flights (Air Berlin, Air Niki, German Wings).

There wasn't any snow at any of them, but it was VERY cold which was good enough.

Food and drink were good at them all, got to try the local speciailties.

Dave1980

thanks guys, some useful tips there. will have a look at the eastern ones, snow would be good but i guess its not the end of the world.

i do like the german food and drink, i particulary want to try those giant hofheim burgers and schnitzels.

Ray_li

I've been looking high and low in the UK for german sausage but i can find any

Dave1980

that could sound dodgy to anyone who didnt know what the topic was about

or then again it could just be my mind creating filthy images again

Turbo2

Go to any Lidl.

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

or Aldi

failing that I can post you some

Ray_li

Aldi or lidl

I'm after red sausages

Hi Wurzel. its been a while

sherlock

iTrader: (1)

Tesco's do Frick's and bratty's nice with Hela curry gewurst ketchup

stuart n

I'd recommend the Cologne market, have a few beers while you're over there and your opinion of Germans will change as well!

CrisPDuk

My Mum has been going to the one in Cologne for years, she loves it

She went to the Dresden one once too, I don't think she was so keen on that one.

MrsD's been with her a couple of times too, our loft is full of bleeding tree decorations from there

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

Hi Ray, it certainly has.

KiwiGTI

Cologne is my favourite, as I said, but it also has the advantage of being easily drivable from the UK. 3-4 hours from Calais, as opposed to what can only be described as a boring and long drive to the Eastern/Southern side of Germany.

Leslie

You can certainly get sausages like Bratwurst which are my favourite at Lidls, but I cant find German zenthe anywhere in this country and bratwurst are nothing without proper German zenthe.

Les

pwhittle

let the mountain come to Mohammed!
York has German and continental markets in December, as does Edinburgh.

I can pop out in my lunch break for a large German sausage

Leslie

With proper German mustard?

Les

Wurzel

iTrader: (1)

It is bizarre isn't it? I live in Germany and am fed up with sausages, all I crave is mature English cheddar, pies and pasties. Where as you lot all live in England and can get exactly what I am longing for and all you want are German sausages and German mustard.

It is a funny old world isn't it

Volks

lol, I missed mature cheddar while I was in Germany, decent bacon as well.

PAS

iTrader: (4)

Hi Dave,

When we visited the relatives in Switzerland, they took us to the Xmas market on the German/Swiss border at Lake Constance, german side (or it might be spelt with a K I can't remember). That was good, lots of different things there and close by was an all you can eat chinese buffet if you don't like the sausages lol.

First year we went we had snow, 2nd year we went there was no snow.

Tracey