European Christmas markets with kids

[Anonymous]

If you traveled to European Christmas markets as a family, what ages were your kids? What ages would you recommend this for? Do you have favorites that were more kid friendly (ice skating, carousels, Santa, etc.) and/or recs for markets in cities that have museums and shows that kids will enjoy after we’ve had our fill of markets? Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I live in Europe and we have done countless Christmas markets. I can't think of one that didn't have a few things at least for kids, but usually there is a lot. Kids of all ages attend. If you have certain countries you are looking at, I can give you more details.

[Anonymous]

I've enjoyed Christmas markets in both Austria and Germany.

I think kids of any ages will enjoy them -- but I wouldn't expect them to enjoy going more than once or twice. For a kid, they will all be the same and they will get bored with it.

[Anonymous]

We did Strasbourg a few years ago, and while it was great and very Christmas-y, the kids were bored after a half day touring markets. They are very repetitive. The kids were 13, 13, 10, 4.

[Anonymous]

I see the markets as a fun add-on to the trip you would otherwise be taking, rather than a centerpiece. So go see what you want to see in Germany, and the markets will add a little Christmas-iness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see the markets as a fun add-on to the trip you would otherwise be taking, rather than a centerpiece. So go see what you want to see in Germany, and the markets will add a little Christmas-iness.

100% this. I got bored with the markets as an adult. Make it second to the sightseeling!!

[Anonymous]

Is this the era of all the white instagram girlies discovering Christmas markets?

Late-stage capitalism makes everything so predictable.

[Anonymous]

Agree that markets are get old real fast for kids. Pls they are crowded as hell and short kids get lost and pushed around. Its not that fun.

[Anonymous]

I doubt a kid younger than 4 would have a good time. There are crowds. Being shorter means it is harder to see things and little legs will tire quickly.

One caution - while the items sold at the Xmas markets often are wonderful, they have not been low cost in our experience.

[Anonymous]

My 12yo would enjoy a Christmas market for about an hour max. They’re crowded. I wouldn’t take a younger kid I need to watch constantly in a crowd.

[Anonymous]

We went when my son was 5 and he had a blast. Wants to go back now as a teen. We went to Rothenburg and Nuremberg with other stops along the way by car. Rothenburg felt like being in a fairytale to him. Highly recommend the nightwatchman tour. Nuremberg has several markets and one is a children's market with rides. They also have a train museum that he loved. He's a pretty seasoned traveler and just loves to eat, so as long as we fed him every two hours, which is easy to go at the markets, he was great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this the era of all the white instagram girlies discovering Christmas markets?

Late-stage capitalism makes everything so predictable.

OP here— I don’t know about the IG girlies. I’m just a well traveled Black woman trying to get perspectives on family trips that might be fun to try. Thanks for others who offered helpful feedback.

[Anonymous]

The thing I enjoy about the Christmas markets is the weird (to me) regional foods, Glühwein/kinderpunsch. I don’t think I enjoyed that kind of tourism as a kid—I didn’t like eating new foods. I think it depends on what your kids are like.

[Anonymous]

only an environmentally very harmful pastime and a waste of time

[Anonymous]

Just go earlier in the day, there is always kid stuff. You can combine with sights as well. I wouldn’t plan to do just Christmas markets…the internet is obsessed but I find them quite boring after an hour because I don’t like shopping. It would be more fun with kids to take ice skating and on the carousels.