European Christmas markets

Fleurpepper

As said, with the Pound so massively low now, holidays are going to be so much more expensive, and everything else one there.

The euro has tumbled too so European holidays might not be much more expensive than before.
?
It’s the more far flung that trade in dollars that are going to be ruinous.?

Not all British markets are full of cheap tat. I’d recommend the one at Chatsworth House. Good choice of products and in that beautiful setting it’s magical.

Grandmadinosaur

Not all British markets are full of cheap tat. I’d recommend the one at Chatsworth House. Good choice of products and in that beautiful setting it’s magical.

Ah yes, but so so expensive last time I went.

It was reported in yesterdays newspapers that lots of the uk Christmas markets have been cancelled! This is due to extra costs involved bringing goods into the UK for the smallholders from europe please check.

Well, not surprising, really.

DD1 and her husband have done a variety of European Christmas markets and much prefer Krakow. The people and location are better, as far as they’re concerned.
I’m a fan of York’s
Christmas Market. DD2 and I met Robert Fuller, selling his fabulous artwork there a few years ago and we love a glass of wine in the ‘teepee’.

Oldbat1

It was reported in yesterdays newspapers that lots of the uk Christmas markets have been cancelled! This is due to extra costs involved bringing goods into the UK for the smallholders from europe please check.

Wonder why Euro pressie prices are high? Leavers votes explains.

Our son lived in Prague for some years so we often did the markets there.
Prague is cheap and easy to get to and accommodation is reasonably priced.
The markets and Old Town Square are fabulous.

Sadly I will no longer do a Christmas market after being in Strasbourg at the time of the terrorist attack there.
I was unhappy at the high level of Policing and had a sixth sense something was wrong so I begged my husband to let us leave our friends and get out of the area, we did.
The following day in that very street the terrorist attack happened.

Aachen and Cologne for me.

Berlin has lots of different markets over the city, all slightly different which makes it interesting.

silverlining48

Berlin has lots of different markets over the city, all slightly different which makes it interesting.

Berlin is wonderful - full stop!

We really enjoyed Prague but avoid Riga. It’s simply depressing. In this country we always go to the Spirit of Xmas at Olympia. We also like the Xmas Market at Waddesden. Book afternoon tea and then wander the grounds to see the light show.

Montreux is great all along the lake- great quality artisan stuff- but oh the price (especially now with Pound so so low).

Fleurpepper you have given some lovely ideas where to go, all with a different flavour.
I'm not saying the exchange rate is irrelevant, but if people are booking a visit abroad to a Christmas Market in the first place I don't think they will be deterred from spending. Some might have to cut their cloth accordingly but I see it as a one off so enjoy it without worrying. The danger is I might get hooked and want to go every year!

I have been to a few Xmas markets in Europe. Prague was lovely, and I have enjoyed some smaller Scandinavian ones - although all of this was some years ago. I think they would all be very expensive now.
I think that the 'big' Xmas markets in the UK don't have too much tat (not too sure what you mean, other than cheap knickers!) I especially recommend Bath (visit to the Spa afterwards!) and Lincoln is really memorable.
I'd also agree that Waddesdon is a lovely Xmas experience, they do it very well.

Nannarose, I meant the Christmas markets I have been to in UK have been mostly selling the same stuff as normal markets, slippers, vests, knickers and kitchen stuff- not Christmas stuff, and certainly not much nice artisan stuff not made in China!

Joseanne, the lovely thing about Montreux is that is has a much nicer climate than Northern European markets, and it is so easily reached by train, from UK, or from Geneva airport. The train station is right next to the airport, 2 mins walk with escalator and lifts, and the journey to Montreux is all along the lake with Alps opposite. But cheap, it is not. (for instance if you visited Switzerland about 10 years ago, it is now 60% more expensive- the Swiss franc has gone up like the Dollar, and Sterling has tanked- so worth a warning).

Joseanne

Fleurpepper you have given some lovely ideas where to go, all with a different flavour.
I'm not saying the exchange rate is irrelevant, but if people are booking a visit abroad to a Christmas Market in the first place I don't think they will be deterred from spending. Some might have to cut their cloth accordingly but I see it as a one off so enjoy it without worrying. The danger is I might get hooked and want to go every year!

I agree.

Christmas Markets abroad are a wonderful treat in cold boring December, money spent can't really be the deciding factor.

Each we have been to was different, each wonderful in its own way - even plastic tat in Madrid (with a fantastic very tall tree made of lights).

It is an annual must-do for us, you will get hooked! Our children, GC, GGC enjoy Christmas Markets as well.

Now for a very daft question, has anyone ever managed to transport one of those snow globes home in hand luggage? ☃️ ?

Budapest has a brilliant one as doesBruges

I really enjoyed the Munich Christmas market. The churches and galleries are all lovely and we had a stroll around the English Garden in the snow. They have loads of stalls, the handmade Christmas decorations are beautiful, although I did spend a lot of time at the eggnog and hot cider ones. It was only to warm myself up, well that was my excuse anyway.?

Went to Winchester market last year. I enjoyed looking around but I found it to be very expensive. Maybe that's how all Christmas markets are. Certainly couldn't afford to buy my Christmas presents there.

Have only been to german Christmas markets and they have all been very atmospheric with glue wein and choirs and some lovely hand made items and super food both to eat in pop up restaurants or to take away. The few British ones I have visited bear little comparison.

Bath has a great Christmas market.
Bruges is very good there’s a ice rink in the centre of town and it’s drivable.

Sadly the £ won't go far this winter at overseas Christmas markets so I'm going to the one in Bath which I always enjoy as although there is a lot of imported mass market stuff for sale there are genuine hand made artisan goods. Bath is beautiful and has many excellent places to dine

I had a Christmas in Zagreb, the Capital of Croatia, some years ago. Award winning Christmas market, lots of stalls selling little Christmas decorations and local foods, I loved it. Last year they had a "Christmas Tree Forest" going on - lots of trees decorated differently, Links to a YouTube vid www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_Znfk9Dqsw - someone on Heygo did a walk through last December, it was really good.

The year I went (2017) they had a huge outside ice skating rink - I say rink, a local park is transformed into a rink, where people can skate all the way around the perimeter of the park - with a live jazz band in the evenings. I think they do it every year but I'm not sure. There is a live Nativity held outside the Cathedral - I think that's every evening but it's worth doing some research. There's lots to look at in Zagreb too

British markets don't compare at all, in my opinion. I go for a look along the South Bank in London most years.