If you love Christmas markets then I can heartily recommend a visit to Cologne
I've visited many Christmas markets over the years in Austria, the UK and Germany and can honestly say that Cologne is by far the best one I've ever been to. Actually, that's not quite true....Cologne doesn't have just one market....it has 6
of varying sizes and each one is has it's own unique atmosphere. My second choice would be Vienna, sadly the UK ones pale in comparison.
Thanks, we haven't been to Cologne, but that's how we found Munich - several different markets and each with their own theme (big traditional market, a couple of smaller traditional ones, a medieval market, a same-sex oriented market, etc). We've been to the markets in Munich three times, I think, and our favorite one is there - nothing particular to recommend it except that it's a traditional market, has everything the main one downtown has, just on a smaller scale, and is right around the corner from our usual hotel. It's the one in the Haidhausen neighborhood.
We've been to two in Vienna, those were fine, and two in Prague, and two (I think) in Salzburg. We've also been to markets in Passau, Bratislava, Linz, Krems (unexpectedly charming), Budapest, London, Chicago, Carmel Indiana (which is as good as any, minus the fact that it's not in Europe
, and the two we have in Cincinnati (only one this year
)
As much as I love the UK, I do have to say that the two markets we've been to in London (two different years as well), didn't quite scratch the itch. They were ok, but lacking a certain "old world" charm, I guess. Rather bland and blah, really. Maybe that's intentional, sort of as a way to differentiate from the German ones (meaning, they didn't look like German ones and maybe that's what they were going for as a way to stand out).
I'd like to see the ones in Paris, as they're supposed to be unique that way as well, and up until several days ago, we were planning to go, but with all the striking going on in Paris, we backed out and now are glad we did. The wife had a couple of clients there and it's been a mess getting them home.
You know I'd totally forgotten about Prague! We had a lovely time there 10 years or so ago, but I think I prefer their Easter market than the Christmas one - similar kind of setup (if a little smaller) but much more relaxed and less crowded. The main difference is that the glühwein is replaced by pivo and the stalls sell Easter decorations rather than Christmas ones.
