Hi all thanks so much for the comments and always happy to have more insights. I think I am okay with skipping Frankfurt this year. It’s a bit out of the way.

My first 5 are set for those days but I think the second five I will just do my best in the dusseldorf region. I found a website called
https://www.nrw-tourism.com/christmas-markets

And it gives a ton of many kinds of Christmas markets so I will pick a few and do those.

—original post

Hi. I love Christmas markets. I wanted some advice for whether I could skip Frankfurt this year.

Last year I visited the following:
1. Warsaw (not Germany I know)
2. 6 in Berlin
3. Dresden
4. Nuremberg
5. Fürth
6. Baden baden

This year I am planning the following
1. Venice
2. Padova
3. Milan
4. Basel
5. Strasbourg
6. Frankfurt****
7. Dusseldorf****(base)
8. Cologne
9. Aachen
10. Essen****

I will be taking the train. The first five I want to visit because I have never been to northern italy and and basel and strasbourg markets are quite famous. I already pulled out zurich. I am looking at the itinerary and only have about ten days. I’m wondering if I should skip Frankfurt so that I can make sure I’m really appreciating all the markets and would love opinions from other people who have seen them and could give feedback.

I will be in the nrw area for the rest of the holiday season and I had wanted to see more but I don’t have enough holidays saved and also need to take some other days off in the new year for family obligations.

Maybe next year I will have my own independent business and can do a 4 week trip without worrying about expense and holidays lol.

by riseabovepoison

6 comments

  1. The best, most authentic, loveliest and warmest Christmas markets, hands down, are the kind of markets that only happen on weekends, often times only on one or two of the four advent weekends. Tendency is that the farther you get away from the local metropolitan centre, the lovlier and more authentic they become.

    Take Alsace because you plan to go to Strassbourg: Strassbourg < Colmar < Neuf -Brisach or Ribeauvillé

    Frankfurt a.M. < Würzburg < Sommerhausen some 10 km along the Main from Würzburg.

    Freiburg < Ravennaschlucht

    That’s my two cents as a complete Christmas fanatic.

    The bigger the cities and the more central the Christmas markets within that city, the more standardized and watered down the Christmas market is.

    I always recommend to go for one region and scout out all the smaller Christmas Market there instead to go for the biggest one just because they are in big cities.

    Probably not fitting your journey plans but something maybe you can factor in here and there: If you are in a big city anyway, you can google what is up in the region around that city.

    If you are in bigger cities, look for the specialised ones. Like the gay Christmas Market or the medieval Christmas Market in Munich. The ones with special themes going on to get a bit more worthwhile experience out of your time.

  2. IF you’re willing, Luxembourg has a really pretty one right above the valley where you can take the ferris wheel. Its smaller but really pretty.

  3. Dortmund Has a nice one. Which you could skip Frankfurt for as if your base is in Düsseldorf the travel to Dortmund is much closer as well.

  4. City Christmas markets are all more or less the same. Special ones are usually outside of cities.

  5. I think it might not be the best year for Essen – they have a lot of construction going on, so the Christmas market is smaller than usual. But if i may suggest something: Try Dortmund instead. Their Christmas market is very nice and most of the stalls have individual decorations on them. And it’s a good market to shop for gifts. Just don’t go on the weekend, because it gets awfully crowded.

  6. in the southwest you should try Ludwigsburg (Baroque) and Esslingen (Medieval, but gets VERY busy)

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