what Christmas market is near Munich? Help, please!
Dec 3rd, 2003, 06:40 PM
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what Christmas market is near Munich? Help, please!
Hi everyone,
Need your help! I just planned a last-minute 4-day weekend to Germany and figured I would go to Munich (fly into Munich) since I have always wanted to see the Neuscwanstein castle and I think Munich would be a good base -- correct me if I'm wrong.
Additionally, I'd LOVE to visit a Christmas market -- my main reason for going this time of year -- is there one that I could get to within a 2-3 hour train-travel time from Munich? Is there a Christmas market IN Munich?
I've also heard a lot of good things about the CHristmas markets at Nuremberg AND the one at Cologne. Do you recommend leaving Neuscwanstein for another trip and focusing on going to either Cologne (which also has the cathedral) or Nuremberg, instead of Munich? I only have a long weekend, so I can't go to several places...
Many thanks!!!
Need your help! I just planned a last-minute 4-day weekend to Germany and figured I would go to Munich (fly into Munich) since I have always wanted to see the Neuscwanstein castle and I think Munich would be a good base -- correct me if I'm wrong.
Additionally, I'd LOVE to visit a Christmas market -- my main reason for going this time of year -- is there one that I could get to within a 2-3 hour train-travel time from Munich? Is there a Christmas market IN Munich?
I've also heard a lot of good things about the CHristmas markets at Nuremberg AND the one at Cologne. Do you recommend leaving Neuscwanstein for another trip and focusing on going to either Cologne (which also has the cathedral) or Nuremberg, instead of Munich? I only have a long weekend, so I can't go to several places...
Many thanks!!!
Dec 4th, 2003, 12:36 AM
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The Christmas Market in Munich is centered arounf the Marienplatz in the center of the city. Frankly, I have never seen that much difference between the various markets since, in my experience, they pretty much all off er the same sorts of merchandise..in many cases the exact SAME merchandise, but other's may have different opinions.
The Neuschwanstein experience (and if you combine it with the nearby Linderhof) is going to take a day in and of itself. If you are interested in wooden carved items, particularly creche figures and scenes, you would be much better off going to Oberammergau than any of the Christmas Markets.
I'd stay in and around Munich rather than venturing out of Bavaria on just a long weekend, but others may advise differently. Have a great trip nonetheless.
The Neuschwanstein experience (and if you combine it with the nearby Linderhof) is going to take a day in and of itself. If you are interested in wooden carved items, particularly creche figures and scenes, you would be much better off going to Oberammergau than any of the Christmas Markets.
I'd stay in and around Munich rather than venturing out of Bavaria on just a long weekend, but others may advise differently. Have a great trip nonetheless.
Dec 4th, 2003, 01:31 AM
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Stacy,
With one weekend, I think you'd be content staying just in Munich, spending a day going to Neuschwanstein/Hohenschwangau, and then visiting the various Christmas markets in Munich.
My favorite, which is also the pick of the locals, is the Christmas Market in Schwabing. There is even an english-version website: http://www.schwabingerweihnacht.de/seite29.htm
It is literally connected to the U-Bahn stop at Münchner Freiheit (U-3 & U-6 lines). My wife and I were just there after work last evening and had a great time...just like the last two years.
What sets this market apart from the others is the type of art and crafts sold there. Not your typical manger scenes and wood crafts, but really neat pottery, candles, jewelry, etc. It also draws a younger crowd that the other markets.
Since you're in Munich, you'll most likely spend time at the main market in Marienplatz. It is very crowded, though it is sprawled out a lot more than the Schwabing Market. It is definitely good, but not as quaint as the others.
I think you also would like the tollwood festival. There is a summer tollwood fest at Olimpia Park, and the winter one is on the Thereseinwiesen Oktoberfest grounds. Check out the website, which I think is www.tollwood.de . Tollwood is more like a fair/carnival than the other markets. Not only is there stuff for sale, but also there are music concerts and artistic events.
There is a pretty neat market in the Enlish garden, at the Chineser Turm (site of a great beer garden in the summer). This has nice things to buy, but it is quite isolated from the rest of munich, being that it is in the heart of the English Garden. When we went, it was not very crowded.
Some friends of mine don't recommend the market at Roseinheimerplatz (Haidhousen), but I've never been to that one to comment first-hand.
Here's what you need to eat/drink at the Markets:
Gluhwein, which is typically red wine heated with cinnamon, cloves and other spices. You can add a shot of rum (schuss) for about 50 cents. It really keeps you warm! I also saw apple gluhwein, but didn't try it. It sounds good, though.
Heiss Maroni - these are roasted chestnuts. No visit to a market would be complete without them!
Flam brot - a very hot toasted baguette, which often is served with goat cheese and ham (although there many variations).
One last point is that the mugs in which the gluhwein is served are great souvenirs. Each time you buy a gluhwein, you will also pay about 1.5-2 Euro as a Pfand (deposit). When you return the mug, you get the Pfand back. But you're free to keep the mugs if you like, and each market has different mugs designed for each year.
Re neuschwanstein, please check the opening times, as they operate on winter hours now. My wife took a friend there last year in November, and there were no guided tours...just those headsets. Try to see if there will be tours--a much better experience.
have fun!
With one weekend, I think you'd be content staying just in Munich, spending a day going to Neuschwanstein/Hohenschwangau, and then visiting the various Christmas markets in Munich.
My favorite, which is also the pick of the locals, is the Christmas Market in Schwabing. There is even an english-version website: http://www.schwabingerweihnacht.de/seite29.htm
It is literally connected to the U-Bahn stop at Münchner Freiheit (U-3 & U-6 lines). My wife and I were just there after work last evening and had a great time...just like the last two years.
What sets this market apart from the others is the type of art and crafts sold there. Not your typical manger scenes and wood crafts, but really neat pottery, candles, jewelry, etc. It also draws a younger crowd that the other markets.
Since you're in Munich, you'll most likely spend time at the main market in Marienplatz. It is very crowded, though it is sprawled out a lot more than the Schwabing Market. It is definitely good, but not as quaint as the others.
I think you also would like the tollwood festival. There is a summer tollwood fest at Olimpia Park, and the winter one is on the Thereseinwiesen Oktoberfest grounds. Check out the website, which I think is www.tollwood.de . Tollwood is more like a fair/carnival than the other markets. Not only is there stuff for sale, but also there are music concerts and artistic events.
There is a pretty neat market in the Enlish garden, at the Chineser Turm (site of a great beer garden in the summer). This has nice things to buy, but it is quite isolated from the rest of munich, being that it is in the heart of the English Garden. When we went, it was not very crowded.
Some friends of mine don't recommend the market at Roseinheimerplatz (Haidhousen), but I've never been to that one to comment first-hand.
Here's what you need to eat/drink at the Markets:
Gluhwein, which is typically red wine heated with cinnamon, cloves and other spices. You can add a shot of rum (schuss) for about 50 cents. It really keeps you warm! I also saw apple gluhwein, but didn't try it. It sounds good, though.
Heiss Maroni - these are roasted chestnuts. No visit to a market would be complete without them!
Flam brot - a very hot toasted baguette, which often is served with goat cheese and ham (although there many variations).
One last point is that the mugs in which the gluhwein is served are great souvenirs. Each time you buy a gluhwein, you will also pay about 1.5-2 Euro as a Pfand (deposit). When you return the mug, you get the Pfand back. But you're free to keep the mugs if you like, and each market has different mugs designed for each year.
Re neuschwanstein, please check the opening times, as they operate on winter hours now. My wife took a friend there last year in November, and there were no guided tours...just those headsets. Try to see if there will be tours--a much better experience.
have fun!
