We have limited time and money but are thinking of splurging a bit and seeing a Christmas market in either Vienna or Munich or? over a long weekend in early December. The site should have easy connections from Rome (where we live)and be something our 8-year-old son would also enjoy (ice-skating? hot chocolate? buying decorations for the tree?). Any ideas/ suggestions?? We moved to Italy last year (from NY) but haven't been anywhere else in Europe yet!

Salzburg.

It has a beaútiful Christmas Market, one of the prettiest I have been to, and I have seen several throughout Germany. Salzburg is a very intimate city, very cosy, and a gorgeous place in the winter. I don't know about ice skating, but there are plenty of places to get a hot coco, christmas decorations and you can even take a horse and carriage ride through the historic center of the city.

You can rent a car at Munich Airport and be in Salzburg in less than an hour in a half. On the way back from Salzburg, you can leave enough time (if you have a late flight) and take a quick tour of the Munich city center "altstadt" or historic city center before heading out to the airport.

Thanks Diana for your suggestion.

Salzburg IS our first choice after reading all that others have said about it, but the idea of getting to Munich and then having to get to the train station and then taking a train didn't appeal. Renting a car didn't enter my mind, but it does sound like a possibility! I'm assuming the road is pretty easy to navigate?

Can/Should I arrange the car rental from Italy?

My first choice is Salzburg, but I also do think Munich is pretty special at Christmastime. The Christmas market there is in the big square by the town hall, and it's so festive... lots of little booths selling little Christmas ornaments, the smell of hot gluhvein.

We were in Munich in the week or so before Christmas the year our daughter was six or so. We had a great time. The Deutsches Museum has a lot to interest children. And if the weather is clear, Munich has an absolutely wonderful zoo.

Much as I love Salzburg, I think you would enjoy Munich too for the Christmas environment. And if it's easier, maybe that does make sense. (Take the train-- don't drive-- you wouldn't want to deal with a car in Munich, Salzburg or Vienna. And parking is expensive too.) But definitely put Salzburg on your list for another time.

Kathy

Kathy, I have to say, I have never minded taking the rental car from the Airport in Munich to Salzburg. Yes, parking is expensive, but for a weekend, I was thinking of the matter of convenience. Also, the car would enable a family to take an afternoon drive up into the Salzkammergut for a couple of hours and enjoy the gorgeous nature....I am thinking of Lake Wolfgang or the Moon Lake (mondsee)---such incredible beauty to pair off with the romance of Salzburg. That was my thinking.

deb, the roads are extremely easy to navigate. Germany is the best-signed country in Europe, in my opinion, making it almost hard to get lost.

Anyway, have a lovely trip. You won't go wrong with either Salzburg or Munich!!

If you do choose Salzburg, try to find one of the toboggan runs close by. Too much fun! I'll bet your 8 year old son would think that was a whole lot better than the markets!

We are considering the hotel room for three nights in Munich with a day trip to Salzburg..? We can take the train there in 90 minutes, so if we leave right after breakfast we can fit in a full day, returning after dinner (don't know how often the trains run, but I'm assuming fairly regularly).

Thanks for the tip about the toboggan--he'd LOVE it! Dad and son off to do that...and I can shop in peace!

I just checked on the Deutsche Bahn website. The last train out of Salzburg to Munich is at around quarter to midnight, with trains running at least ever hour, some time frames are even shorter. So your idea is absolutely doable.

I also agree that you just can't go wrong by visiting either Salzburg or Munich at Xmas. Most of the trains that come up from Rome go through Salzburg and than on to Munich.

My mother and I took the train from Rome to Salzburg in November, 2001, and the ride up was spectacular. I would say that you really can get around Salzburg/Munich without a car. Now I am certainly not up to date on transportation there, but as a university student in Salzburg, I took trains/buses everywhere. You should also look to see if they still have discounted tickets for same day travel between Munich/Salzburg. They had it in my day and so long as you came and went in same day, you received a discounted ticket.(cheaper than a round trip ticket)

I always lean towards Salzburg due to the charm and beauty, but I wish you wonderful visit and just make sure that you are on the right side of the train when coming/going out of Salzburg. The view looking up the Salzach river is awesome and hopefully you will have some snow!!!!

In Munich, make sure you hit the Deutches Museum. I use to go up there all the time fro Salzburg and the best time I ever had was in Munich during Fasching (Mardi Gras).

Thanks Diana for checking on the trains for us...and Pickett for the insider's tips!

I'm really starting to get excited about this trip. We now have our plane tickets reserved and I'm working on the hotel.

Deb, I'm glad you're going to get to visit both Munich and Salzburg-- great! I really hope you'll post back after your trip and tell us about your experiences.

Kathy

I visited Nurnberg's Christmas market a couple of years ago and I think it is regarded as one of the best in Germany. (It is north of Munich).We arrrived by car from Italy and I had previously booked a very central hotel within walking distance to the city centre. I have visited various Austrian Xmas markets but Nurnberg was by far I thought more traditional and had a wonderful Chritmas feel to it.Also Nurnberg is famous for its Annual Toy Exhibition and has several good toy shops - The Christmas market is held in the main market square of Hauptmarkt.

Erzi, you are right, Nürnberg has the reputation of being the best Kriskindl Markt in Germany, hands down. The fact that Lebkuchen come from Nürnberg, with many of the bakeries having secret recipes, is a yummy addition to the equation.

Unfortunately, though, for deb, who was the original poster, there are no direct flights from Rome to Nürnberg, because Nürnberg's airport is small. She would have had to flown into München and the driven to Nürnberg. I had thought about posting for the Nürnberg Markt, but after checking the flight situation, realized that she would have a lot more activity to choose from between Salzburg und Munich as a double destination, with less driving.

But, ja, Nürnberg Kriskindlmarkt ist wünderschön!!

Now I'm intrigued. Is there a train? How long would it take? I'll need to investigate and decide between Nurnberg and Strasberg!?!?

Last December we started our Christmas market trek in Vienna and then went on by train to Nurnberg (easy on the train). In Vienna we saw more glass and candles. In Nurnberg, more wooden ornaments. You can see our slide shows here at my travel photo website -- HOWEVER this website is still underconstruction and the side bar links don't work yet. Use the links below.
Vienna
Nurnberg

The Vienna markets (to me) seemed to have lots of activities for kids. But in Nurnburg there is a kid's market.

Thanks for the slideshow link. You have some beautiful images. I'm really looking forward to the Christmas markets, though I think we'll have to stick to our original plan. Nurnberg looks much farther away than Salzburg, and we do only have 3 days. I'd hate to lose another half a day to travl. I'm thinking we'll make this an annual tradition, choosing different towns every year!

We also did some Christmas markets in Beligum last year -- except for the chocolate they were only "okay." The food in Austria was wonderful, especially the hot chocolate. I know you will have a wonderful trip!

If your looking for train travel between Munich and Salzburg, try the Bayern Ticket. Its good for up to 5 people for a day of travel within Bavaria. I think is around 29 euro. You can get more info on it in English at http://www.toytowngermany.com/wiki/Bayern_ticket

Just a quick update...I LOVED both Munich and Salzburg! We had a great time, loved the Deutches museum, the Christmas markets, the food, the atmosphere. Unfortunately, it drizzled on and off during most of the three days we were there so there was no tobogganing, just about 1/2 inch on the ground in one area right outside Salzburg. Would definitely go again, maybe next year to Nurnberg...and Salzburg again! I'm also curious to see it in the warmer weather...and we didn't see a puppet show OR a classical concert! We MUST go back!! Thanks to all for your suggestions.

Deb, thanks so much for posting back to let us know about your trip to Munich and Salzburg. I'm so glad you enjoyed them both!

And yes-- you really do need to go back to Salzburg in warmer weather. After four winter visits, we had a chance to spend two weeks in July 2005. We based out in St. Gilgen near the lake and traveled in to Salzburg (30 easy minutes) a couple of times. There was so much to do there in summer and the scenery is absolutely breathtaking. See some photos here.

(They have a summer toboggan ride that our daughter loved.)

Kathy

Wonderful, Deb!!! So happy you enjoyed your trip!!

Kathy, your pictures are fabulous. We will be in Grundlsee for a week in May and absolutly want to vist the Mountain hut on the Schafberg. That picture is amazing. Where did you take that picture from? How do we get there? Did you take the train? Where is that train station? Must have lunch there. I know these are a lot of questions but I am going nuts by the beauty.

Frank-Sarasota, FL