At the weekends in December, tourists flock to the Christmas markets held in Germany, Austria and other European countries. The markets are so popular because of the incredibly festive atmosphere and the fact that you can purchase Christmas-themed food, drink and gifts for affordable prices. I’ve recently come back from a weekend in Munich, which was my first Christmas market trip. To help fellow first timers, I thought I’d share some tips for making the most of your first Christmas Market trip today.
1. Research traditional Christmas market food before you go.
We found that the majority of market stall menus are written in the local language. It’s handy if you know what some of the food offerings are in advance, so that you don’t order something that you wouldn’t like.
2. Take a camera that captures photos well in the dark.
The markets are extra special in the evenings, but it’s harder to take photos then. Phone cameras don’t capture the markets well at night, so I highly recommend that you take a digital camera with you!
3. Wrap up warm and wear lots of layers.
December is a cold month and the markets are all outside, so scarves, hats and gloves are absolute necessities for a Christmas market trip.
4. Plan some other activities for during the day, as the markets are more of an evening activity.
During the day is when you should explore more of the particular city that you are visiting. The markets are best in the evening, so I’d recommend doing some sightseeing until it gets dark outside.
5. Take a map with you and mark on it all of the different Christmas markets that are scattered across the city centre.
The large markets are the most popular, but sometimes the smaller ones that are in different locations are the most authentic.
If you’ve never been to a Christmas market, I’d totally recommend it! The food is delicious, the festive atmosphere is infectious and there are so many unique gifts on the market stalls. Christmas is a huge deal in Germany, Austria and other central European countries, so you’re bound to have a festive experience like no other, if you take a trip to one of the Christmas markets!
Thanks for reading my blog today.
Love Kat xxxx
Aw what a lovely post! I've never been to a proper Christmas market, but we did see the Easter ones in Prague and I'm sure they're super magical at Christmastime. Those earmuffs look super comfy too!
Aww thanks Megan. 🙂 Oh wow, I bet the Prague Easter one was amazing! Was it in Old Town Square?
Merry Christmas!
Kat
xx