We are looking at going to Germany to see the Christmas Markets and then up to Lappland, any suggestions?

Question

We have two small boys (under six) and want to spend Christmas day in Lappland. We are after suggestions on where to stay in Germany to get the best access to the Christmas Markets. Also any other suggestions of places to go with small children in Germany. Thanks!

Answer 1

Bernds answer is correct! Nürnberg and Dresden are the best x-mas markets.

@Janine H

Legoland in Denmark is as far as 1500 km from Lappland.

1000miles

There is also a Legoland in Germany, not to far away from Nürnberg but it's closed in wintertime!!

Answer 2

after i asked my boyfriend about your question he told me that the best christmas markets here in germany are those in nuernberg and dresden. they are the biggest ones in germany and very famous.....i have also heard about legoland in denmark if you want to go to lappland. i think this is not so far from your destination lappland. its a nice thing for children, maybe you will get a little information about it at the german tourism office or maybe at google legoland, i am sure they have an internet account.

Answer 3

the best well known X-Mas market is in the City of Nürnberg (100km north of Munich).

There are a lot of x-mas markets before x-mas, each town got one.

If you travel north of Nürnberg into the former eastern german region, they have nice x-mas markets. Dresden,Leipzig,Erfurth,Jena,Wittenberg and many more. Most of the citys have some nice castles as well.

Wittenberg, the town where Martin Luther lived and invented the lutheran church rules is interesting to see.

In Nürnberg is also much more to see for families with little children.

They got the manufactory where they make PLAYMOBILE, you can go there and your children can play with all the toys they make (and of cause buy them), a beatiful castle in the city center, the biggest railway museum on earth with the first german train and also a very large playtrain ground (model train).

Answer 4

As the first one already mentioned the Nuremberg (Nürnberg) Christmas Market is the most popular one in Germany.

But the most colourful one and one of the biggest at all  is the Stuttgart Christmas Market (Stuttgarter Weihnachtsmarkt). It always lasts from end of November to December 23rd (27th November this year) and is spread on the Market Square, Schiller Square, and Schloss Square (Marktplatz, Schillerplatz, Schlossplatz). On the Schloss Square there is even a lovely Xmas Market especially for children your age with a miniature steam locomotion, a ferris wheel, and carrousel. You also can let your kids make own xmas cookies and candles. There's also an ice rink where you can go ice skating. Eateries are located everywhere so you certainly won't starve either. And if you're lucky you also will find Santa....

Go to www.stuttgart-tourist.de, chose your language and find out. Welcome to Stuttgart and have lots of fun.

Answer 5

I'm native German and I can really recommend the Christmas market in Salzburg.

Your boys will also love the castle there - it is one of the best preserved in Europe from the Middle Age and the perfect place to dream about being a knight in shining armour.

But if you choose to go to Dresden, a sight you should not miss with your kids is Festung Koenigsstein.

http://www.festung-koenigstein.de/museum...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6nigs...

Also see

http://www.dresden.de/dwt/en/experience_...

http://wikitravel.org/en/Dresden