German Christmas Markets

[mudskipper]

I'm thinking about a weekend in Germany to visit a Christmas market.

Has anyone done this, and which do you recommend, or is the whole experience more hassle than it's worth?

Relevant:

I'd be going with 20yo shopaholic daughter.
I don't much like shopping - I'm looking for a bit of festive spirit. I don't necessarily want a huge market, but a nice one with hand made goods etc.
Would probably travel Fri-Mon or possibly Fri-Sun - fly or train depending on where we go.


Currently thinking maybe Hannover/Hamelin - fly out to Hanover on Friday, train to Hamelin Saturday, back to Hannover for Saturday night, Hannover market(s) Sunday and home Monday.

German Christmas Markets - 2013 Christmas Market Dates & Locations - German Christmas Fairs & Xmas Markets

Would be good to hear about others' experiences.

[Bacchus]

Took the Eurostar to Bruges to do this one year

Lots of quality/wooden decorations, not so much in the way of gifty things (Amazon), Bruges is a truly lovely town, great atmosphere, Belgian beers, gluhwein, Eurostar much more civilised than air travel imho. What's not to like...

Actually I may have just talked myself into going again (c:

[doodab]

My mum came over for the Munich one and went mad. It's pretty good, if you like that sort of thing, lots of hand made wooden Christmas tat, and an ice rink. There are some decent shops in town, a medieval style market and stuff like that as well. Haven't been to any of the others so can't compare, but worth a visit I'd say, and Munich has the best beer and pork as well...

[mudskipper]

Took the Eurostar to Bruges to do this one year

Lots of quality/wooden decorations, not so much in the way of gifty things (Amazon), Bruges is a truly lovely town, great atmosphere, Belgian beers, gluhwein, Eurostar much more civilised than air travel imho. What's not to like...

Actually I may have just talked myself into going again (c:

Sounds nice - and Bruges is lovely - but I think daughter wants Germany!

[mudskipper]

My mum came over for the Munich one and went mad. It's pretty good, if you like that sort of thing, lots of hand made wooden Christmas tat, and an ice rink. There are some decent shops in town, a medieval style market and stuff like that as well. Haven't been to any of the others so can't compare, but worth a visit I'd say, and Munich has the best beer and pork as well...

Sounds lovely, and haven't been to Munich. Beer and pork sound good - although daughter is veggie!

[stek]

Hamburger Dom was good at Xmas when I was there...

[Pondlife]

Hamburger Dom was good at Xmas when I was there...

The Hamburg one isn't bad IMHO although it's the only one I've been to.

It's best if the Alster freezes enough for them to open it up to the public.

[AtW]

There is a big one in Birmingham every year - I think it's the biggest German Xmas market in UK.

[TykeMerc]

Sounds lovely, and haven't been to Munich. Beer and pork sound good - although daughter is veggie!

If you're flying the quantity of tat you acquire will effect the cost of the return trip, not like 2 women travel light to start with and a shopaholic daughter could result in it being cheaper to just buy a plane!

[mudskipper]

There is a big one in Birmingham every year - I think it's the biggest German Xmas market in UK.

Yep - she lives in Brum - would certainly be cheaper, but perhaps not quite so atmospheric!