Christmas Markets in Europe Podcast

In this podcast, learn more about Christmas Markets in Europe, and great nearby hotels in Munich, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and London.


MP3 File

Hello, and thanks for tuning into the latest Hotelbook® Podcast. 

On this episode, we will be going over a wide variety of Christmas Markets that characterize the spirit of the holiday season in Europe and the UK.  A tradition that was founded in 1434 in Germany, these markets are open-air events that typically last during the Advent, or the four weeks before Christmas Day.  Featuring authentic handicrafts like Nutcrackers, sculptures, toys, hand-woven clothing, and fantastic food and drink such as gingerbread and hot mulled wine, each market offers a little something different and provides a great window into its people’s way of life. 

To start off, we recommend exploring the Christmas Market of Munich, Germany.  After all, this is a country where this famous tradition began.  Taking place in the grand central square, Marienplatz, the Munich Christmas Market is a Bavarian affair, with traditional stalls offering wooden toys, glass baubles, chimney sweeps, Nativity Scene crafts, spiced wine, and stollen, a special bread prepared with egg and candied fruit.  An exciting celebration of the holiday season, the market takes place in the heart of the city and features a huge Christmas tree, traditional performances, carolers, and guided tours of the city’s holiday festivities.  Plus, being so close to the Alps, Munich is typically snow-covered around this time, and it’s a great place to experience a White Christmas.

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Munich, consider the Platzl Hotel, located in nearby Marienplatz - the historic Old Town of Munich.   Completely refurbished in 2007, the Platzl features 167 rooms and suites that combine a contemporary Bavarian design with old-world classicism.  As well, this 4-star property features great amenities like high speed internet access, flatscreen TVs, minibar, and the unique “Moorish Kiosk” which includes aroma steam bath, rainforest showers, sunbed, sauna, and top-of-the-line fitness equipment.

In Denmark, home of the “yuletide carol”, dive into Scandinavian Christmas pageantry at the Copenhagen Christmas Market which takes place at Tivoli Gardens, the city’s famous amusement park that epitomizes Denmark’s unique culture.   Having opened in 1843, Tivoli Gardens offer a distinctive “Christmas magic” theme, complete with musical performances, over 7,500 meters of lights adorning the trees and buildings surrounding Tivoli Lake, and nisser, the Danish elves who pop up all over town.  Plus, at the Tivoli Gardens market find great handcrafted gifts, candles, decorations, and delicacies like peppernødder (small round cookies with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg), brune kager (thin gingerbread with finely chopped nuts), and gløgg (Copenhagen’s own variant of mulled red wine with raisins, almonds, cinnamon sticks, and cloves).

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Copenhagen, the Admiral Hotel is a relaxing boutique property which maintains a unique Danish look and feel with teak wood furniture and rustic wooden beams that give each room an ambient golden glow.  While all of the rooms have the same great amenities like internet access, mini-bar, and state-of-the-art televisions, each room has a unique design scheme independent of all the others.  After experiencing the city’s culture at the Christmas market, sleep in comfort at the Admiral Hotel, conveniently located nearby the Opera House, Copenhagen Harbor, and Tivoli Gardens.

If you’re looking for another opportunity to discover a Scandinavian Christmas celebration, try a visit to Stockholm, Sweden, which is home to a variety of great Christmas markets.   For example, in the old town of the city, Gamla Stan, a brilliant market can be found at Stortorget Square featuring traditional handicrafts, unique decorations, seasonal delicacies, and the town’s unique version of gløgg, or hot spiced wine.  Also, be sure not to miss the world’s largest open-air museum Skansen on Durgarden Island, which has a large traditional market interwoven amidst all of the historical displays.  To top it off, visit Drottninggatan, one of the city’s longest pedestrian streets which features holiday handcrafts and a great amount of Christmas lights and decorations.

While visiting Stockholm, we suggest staying at the Berns Hotel, an intimate boutique hotel with an elegant and distinguished interior design with marble and cherry wood and 65 spacious rooms, ranging from single and doubles to suites and deluxe rooms with private balconies.  Plus, enjoy amenities like tea/coffee machine, complementary internet access, clothes press, and try the tasty cuisine at the highly-rated Asian restaurant.

In the UK, venture no further than London to find one of the best Christmas markets at the Bankside Frost Fair, famous for numerous traditional crafts stalls, giant hog roasts, ice bars serving mulled wine, frozen sculptures, and live music and entertainment.  While you’re in town, be sure not to miss the Regent’s Street Christmas lights, a spectacular display of high-tech lights that change their formation based on wind speed, sunlight levels, weather, and even the density of pedestrians nearby (thanks to motion sensor cameras).

Looking for a place to stay in London?  Consider the Bonnington London Bloomsbury, a 4-star historic property from the Edwardian era that has been newly renovated.  Conveniently located nearby the Bankside Frost Fair and the Regent Lights, this property has a unique relaxed atmosphere and excellent cuisine at the Waterfalls Restaurant, which offers a wide variety of delicacies from Europe and the UK.

Well, that’s all for this episode of the Hotelbook Podcast Series.  We hope you’ve enjoyed this look into the unique Christmas markets available throughout Europe and the UK, and that you get the opportunity to experience them for yourself. 

Also, if you venture to these markets, don’t forget our recommended hotels, the Platzl, Admiral, Berns, and the Bonnington London Bloomsbury hotels.  All of these properties will help you get the most out of your vacation, and help to keep your experience as authentic as possible. 

Thanks again for listening, and stay tuned to the next episode in the Hotelbook® Podcast series.

Comments

Thanks for the recommended hotels for the holiday. They are good to stay in during the season. the price is right, well some are not.