1. Nuremberg is a must. We loved the charming town, the large but condensed market with a great variety that never felt too crowded. And lebkuchen.
2. Strasbourg is a must. Seeing a French market expanded our horizons and refreshed our palates. The town has about seven markets (all with different themes) and exploring the very walkable city of tiny streets decorated with lights made exploring extra fun. And French pastries.
3. Esslingen or Rothenburg is a must just to see the difference in a small market. Esslingen has the medieval twist that gives it an entertaining edge but Rothenburg feels more like stepping into a fairy tale.
4. The markets are most beautiful at night but can get very crowded then, especially in larger towns. Since it gets dark around 4:30, we found heading to the markets at 4 or so gave us the opportunity to see the lights come on and we could make our way around before the crowds arrived at 7ish. Weekends are much more crowded, but that is also when more special concerts and events happen. We often toured the markets in daylight then returned at night for the gemutlichiet. The market hours generally run from 11 am - 8 or 9 pm.
5. Clothing. Dress for cold since you are walking at night in the snow or rain or both. Temps were in the low 30s. Warm and comfortable footwear is a must. Buildings, hotels, restaurants and trains are very warm so a lighter weight top and a very warm coat is the way to go so you don't have to strip layers off. Long underwear bottoms highly suggested.
6. Bring a water bottle since water is not served and water fountains are nowhere to be found. You are obviously supposed to be drinking glühwein or beer.
7. The markets only accept cash; small bills are easier to deal with.
8. We found group train/tram/bus tickets a very good deal: around $15 for all 4 of us to ride all day.
9. Bring a shoebox to pack and protect your ornaments and gluhwein cups. Bring a good-sized purse/tote bag.
10. Next time: Add Salzburg to see Austria's angle and maybe get a Krampus sighting.
11. No washcloths provided in hotels.
12. Staying close to the markets makes it easier to come and go. But easy access to public transport is almost as good. Though with four of us, it was nice to be staying close to the markets so we could reconvene at the hotel.
13. Restaurants near the markets are crowded at dinner time and we were often scolded for not making reservations. In France, restaurants are closed between 2-7 pm.
14. Always visit the Tourist Info for maps and details of the myriad events, tours, music, etc., happening—many of them are free. All the markets are free.
15. We noticed security and police presence and blockades at the entrances to the German markets. In France our bags were checked every time we crossed into the pedestrian streets or entered a cathedral and armed guards with automatic weapons patrolled the trains, stations, and markets.
16. Eat vegetables before you go. Aside from cucumbers, we didn't see many.
Great summary, Ann!
ReplyDelete