2009 Christmas Market Tour Planning

December 4, 2009 - December 16, 2009

Here are pictures from our last trip and other inspiration...

Viking River Cruises Danube Holiday Delight

Vienna Christmas Market

1. Hop on Hop Off Tour

2. Hop on Hop off Tour

Other Tours (events): Vienna Tours

Cafe Schwarzenberg

Vienna City Card - (€ 18,50) as of 8/3/08

Old City Map of Vienna

Hotels:

Best Western Premier Hotel Am Parkring

Cruise to Bratislava (12/8)

Slideshow of Travelers' Pictures - Travelers Videos

Gerbeaud Café

But Gerbeaud is not known just for its pastries, it is one of the oldest and largest cafés in Europe. Since opening in 1858, it has expanded and now includes a full restaurant, catering and banquet hall, pub, confectionary, and coffeehouse--all together spanning the width of a city block (Gerbeaud Ház). Indoors you are surrounded by cultured nostalgia, but a seat outdoors may give you free entertainment. The café is in the wide open Vörösmarty tér at the end of Vaci utca (or the other end of the shopping street from the Central Market) which is often the stage for musicians, events, and dance groups. If no entertainers are on hand you can people watch as the café is right by the Földalatti station (M1 Metro) and across the tér is a lovely statue and small park that is also a tourist draw. Of course being in the heart of the city and surrounded by other tourist attractions, this is not the cheapest place for a bit of refreshment, (coffee drinks range from 610 - 1,900 HUF, desserts 300 - 800 HUF), but still a must at least once if you can afford it.

Christmas Market

The Christmas Market in Budapest is not only a tradition, but an event of high standard, which is very popular among Hungarians and by foreign visitors as well. Budapest’s official Christmas Market promises to again be an atmospheric special occasion for the people of Budapest and visitors from outside the city and from abroad in 2007, well worthy of the Christmas spirit. The market, which is the main out-of-season tourist event, is equally popular amongst Hungarian visitors and foreign tourists, who often travel to Budapest specifically to visit the Christmas raft Market. By keeping standards high and maintaining a wide and expanding variety of programs it can now be said that one of the largest events in Budapest in December has grown to become internationally well-known and respected. The location is very attractive, Vörösmarty Square lies in the heart of Budapest. Traditional Hungarian craftsmen show their talents and sell their hand made products. Only the top Hungarian craftspeople are invited to Budapest's Christmas Market, so the intricate porcelain, cut glass and leather goods, for instance, are of the highest quality. All products are hand-made and the Hungarian Society of Folk Arts guarantees their quality. The market also has a gastronomic side. Don't forget to taste traditional Hungarian food and cakes: strudel, grilled sasuges and meat, Christmas cookies, kürtös kalács (hollow, cylinder-shaped pastry with different coatings: sugar, walnut). If you get tired, have a cup of coffee with a delicious Hungarian cake in Gerbeaud Café.

T he festive atmosphere of the Christmas Fair is due to the unique pavilions and the exclusive goods available in them: almost 100 craft stands offer goods, special gifts and folk art and craft decorations certified by the panel of experts of the Association Of Hungarian Folk Artists.

For visitors who have a taste for traditional gastronomic delights the city centre location of the fair is a real heaven: the smell of the fresh bread “lángos” baked in the traditional “Töki” clay oven, the stands of caramelised pastry horn makers and strudel makers, traditional country food baked in clay ovens, friendly meat grills attract anybody walking near the fair.

If you like good mulled wine, you should also be there in the Vörösmarty square: after drinking it, you can take home the special mug it was served in: the “Christmas Fair Mug” gets a new design every year.

Visitors are continuously entertained by cavalcade of Hungarian folk music, folk dance, classical music, children’s programmes and concerts.

On the windows of the Gerbaud House facade, one of the most beautiful buildings of the square, is the Advent Calendar is where the calendar is represented, in which 24 contemporary artists exhibit theirpaintings, and every day a new window opens, accompanied by a fanfare.

The city’s other Christmas market is on Vaci Utca (the main shopping street)

The organizers are preparing special surprises and accompanying events for the anniversary year, making this year’s Christmas in Budapest a truly unforgettable experience.

Other Sites

Salzburg Christmas Market

Travelers' Photos - Travelers Videos

Christmas Market

Official Nuremberg Christmas Market Site

Holiday Inn Nuremberg

Travelers Photos

Nuremberg to Munich Train - every 1/2 hour - 1h 2m - $134

Courtyard Marriott City Center - near train station.

Best Western Hotel Crystal- near train station - includes breakfast

Hop on Hop off Tour - map

Christmas Market

Munich Christmas Market

Travelers Photos - Travelers Videos