Markman Posted November 4, 2023 Report Share Posted November 4, 2023 Never done one abroad - retired now so have the chance to take Mrs Markman - not loads of money stuff - prob easy jet from Bristol - any good ideas - was thinking Prague but bit worried we will meet hens and stags and looking for a quietish sort of place - Hotel near wherever the Markets are! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markman Posted November 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2023 Oh - and 2 - or 3 nights max Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Londoner Posted November 4, 2023 Report Share Posted November 4, 2023 I’m doing the one in Vienna in a couple of weeks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markman Posted November 4, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2023 1 hour ago, East Londoner said: I’m doing the one in Vienna in a couple of weeks Know a nice Hotel? Vienna sounds good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILINFRANCE Posted November 4, 2023 Report Share Posted November 4, 2023 12 minutes ago, Markman said: Know a nice Hotel? Vienna sounds good 1 hour ago, East Londoner said: I’m doing the one in Vienna in a couple of weeks Vienna is an absolutely wonderful city and, Christmas market or not, you are sure to have a wonderful time. If you can find a flight, however, and should a Christmas market be your main criterion, try to get to Nuremburg in Bavaria (think flight to Munich or even Frankfurt) or even Dresden, in what was formerly East Germany. I have been to both, and they are truly excellent - Dresden was extremely cold, however, so a few Schnapps were necessary, whilst in Nuremburg you will be able to enjoy their wonderful Lebkuchen amongst other delights. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Londoner Posted November 5, 2023 Report Share Posted November 5, 2023 7 hours ago, Markman said: Know a nice Hotel? Vienna sounds good Booked into the Austria classic hotel Wien, based on Tripadvisor reviews Taking a train from Vienna to Prague in the same trip but the main Christmas markets there don’t open till early December whereas in Vienna it’s mid November 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reigate Red Posted November 5, 2023 Report Share Posted November 5, 2023 Did Nuremburg some years ago but that does not open until the beginning of December. Large selection of stalls and excellent bratwurst and gluhwien to keep you warm. Not probably the prettiest square where it's held due to the post war buildings but the city still has a lot of characterful areas. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1960maaan Posted November 7, 2023 Report Share Posted November 7, 2023 Did Bruges a few years back . Went on the Eurostar, so one change at Brussels. Lot of Tat in the market obviously, but lovely City when you get off the main Square. Croatia was recommended to us by an Eastern European guy when we were on holiday. Just seen it's been voted best Market for the 3rd year running. Not sure if you can fly to Zagreb direct from Bristol though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneTeamInBristol Posted November 8, 2023 Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 Of the localish ones in the UK I've always found Exeter to be the best one, really nice vibe to it next to the cathedral. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin phantom Posted November 8, 2023 Admin Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 2 hours ago, OneTeamInBristol said: Of the localish ones in the UK I've always found Exeter to be the best one, really nice vibe to it next to the cathedral. I was going to ask where people thought around the area Was thinking of a day out from Weston (by train), was looking at Bath, Cardiff or Exeter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erithacus Posted November 8, 2023 Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 Surprised no-one's mentioned the fabulous, spectacular Broadmead Christmas Market! Er... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneTeamInBristol Posted November 8, 2023 Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 34 minutes ago, phantom said: I was going to ask where people thought around the area Was thinking of a day out from Weston (by train), was looking at Bath, Cardiff or Exeter Not been to the Cardiff one, but Bath is horrendous at certain times/days. Shoulder to shoulder literally struggling to move when I've been previously, just pointless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin phantom Posted November 8, 2023 Admin Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 13 minutes ago, OneTeamInBristol said: Not been to the Cardiff one, but Bath is horrendous at certain times/days. Shoulder to shoulder literally struggling to move when I've been previously, just pointless. I had heard Bath was a nightmare at the station afterwards 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selred Posted November 8, 2023 Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 Bath is FAR too crowded. Would avoid on weekends. Winchester has a nice market next to the Cathedral, and it's not full of the normal crap you get (if I see black bomber at one more market...). I'm off to Milan Christmas Market in a couple of weeks, and seeing AC Milan at same time. @Markman I'd not worry about stag do's in Prague, they will be in Irish bars, not Christmas markets. Gorgeous City, similar to Budapest. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazred Posted November 8, 2023 Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 Cologne is worth a look. Quite a few nice markets. https://www.cologne-tourism.com/experiences-lifestyle/christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markman Posted November 8, 2023 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2023 some great ideas - crikey though some are scary prices :laugh: - perhaps I need to go flight only and book hotel myself -easy jet and jet2 what a lot of money for a package Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILINFRANCE Posted November 9, 2023 Report Share Posted November 9, 2023 (edited) One place I would certainly recommend to avoid is Paris, at the lower end of the Champs Élysées, just up from Place de la Concorde. It is full of stalls run by the same people who operate the fairgrounds in the summer, selling overpriced candy floss, sugar coated and plastic wrapped lollipops and the like together with cheap to manufacture plastic toys and general crap. Probably the worst and most disappointing Christmas market I have ever had the misfortune to visit. Oh, and also rife with pickpockets. Edited November 9, 2023 by PHILINFRANCE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slippin cider Posted November 9, 2023 Report Share Posted November 9, 2023 Went to the Xmas market in Cologne a few years ago , excellent atmosphere and much better than the crap you get over here . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frenchred Posted November 9, 2023 Report Share Posted November 9, 2023 1 hour ago, PHILINFRANCE said: One place I would certainly recommend to avoid is Paris, at the lower end of the Champs Élysées, just up from Place de la Concorde. It is full of stalls run by the same people who operate the fairgrounds in the summer, selling overpriced candy floss, sugar coated and plastic wrapped lollipops and the like together with cheap to manufacture plastic toys and general crap. Probably the worst and most disappointing Christmas market I have ever had the misfortune to visit. Oh, and also rife with pickpockets. I wouldn't advise any of the French "Christmas markets". Most are as PHILINFRANCE states above! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILINFRANCE Posted November 9, 2023 Report Share Posted November 9, 2023 4 hours ago, frenchred said: I wouldn't advise any of the French "Christmas markets". Most are as PHILINFRANCE states above! To be fair, Strasbourg isn't too bad. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red7 Posted November 13, 2023 Report Share Posted November 13, 2023 Switzerland has some good ones, Basel being the pick of the bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILINFRANCE Posted November 14, 2023 Report Share Posted November 14, 2023 The general consensus appears to be that that the Germanic markets are better, and they are certainy taken more seriously in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and even Luxembourg, as witnessed by the genuine products on sale, both food/drinks and gifts. I have visited markets in three of the countries mentioned, the exception being Switzerland, and they are all quite quaint, with obviously some being better than others. By chance, I shall be off to Alsace (which still retains many links to Germany) for a long weekend in a couple of weeks time, and shall very likely take the opportunity to visit the Christmas market in Srasbourg once more, but also Obernai. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepywall Posted November 15, 2023 Report Share Posted November 15, 2023 On 08/11/2023 at 10:47, phantom said: I was going to ask where people thought around the area Was thinking of a day out from Weston (by train), was looking at Bath, Cardiff or Exeter Bath markets are OK but go in the week, weekends are horrendous, bit like a Rovers away game...thousands there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CityReds Posted November 15, 2023 Report Share Posted November 15, 2023 Close - Bath England - Birmingham or Manchester UK - Edinburgh Europe - Brussels these would be my recommendations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slacker Posted November 15, 2023 Report Share Posted November 15, 2023 Gloucester used to have a great Christmas Market around the Quays.I think it has been downsized since covid though.A real shame as it was a nice night away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Londoner Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 Have just been to the one in Bratislava and very impressed by a large selection of Slovak street food and vast selection of punsch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyTonyTony Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 On 15/11/2023 at 20:26, CityReds said: Close - Bath Avoid like the plague - busy as heck and a right tourist trap 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slippin cider Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 23 minutes ago, TonyTonyTony said: Avoid like the plague - busy as heck and a right tourist trap And is nothing like the real thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lanterne Rouge Posted November 24, 2023 Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 On 08/11/2023 at 08:42, OneTeamInBristol said: Of the localish ones in the UK I've always found Exeter to be the best one, really nice vibe to it next to the cathedral. I like the Exeter one but it always gets a bit rammed on busy days and you can`t really stop to look at anything due to the crush behind you. The walkways need to be wider IMO. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admin phantom Posted November 24, 2023 Admin Report Share Posted November 24, 2023 Have booked to go to the Exeter market in a couple of weeks, glad to be avoiding Bath after reading the above Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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