What makes a city a good choice to visit during the holiday season?  History, aesthetic beauty, and culture make the top of my list. One thing many people may not be aware of happens every December and is a rich European tradition.  Each and every year, many cities in Europe host Christmas Markets. Themed around the holiday season, with decor, lights, and nativity scenes, markets traditionally include vendor stalls filled with all kinds of arts and crafts. Here are some cities that are known to hold some of Europe’s most popular Christmas Markets!

Nuremberg
For hundreds of years, Christmas markets have been one of the most popular German traditions, held right alongside Munich’s famous Oktoberfest. German cities such as Stuttgart, Munich, and Hamburg hold world famous Christmas markets; but one that stands out is held in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg. Nearly two million visitors flock to this beautiful city to observe the nearly 400 year old tradition of the Christmas market that is held there. One of the great things about the Nuremberg market is that the city has made a serious stance against the commercialization of the month long event, keeping the focus on family activities and displays. There are usually around 200 candlelit booths where local vendors display their holiday oriented food, crafts, and gifts. If you have a sweet tooth you won’t be disappointed, as you will find an ample variety of ginger bread men, sweet mulled wine, and German chocolate. There is even a special children’s market with some old fashioned rides for the kids to enjoy, while parents can partake in baking, candle making, and wreath making demonstrations.

Vienna
As if the city of Vienna needed an excuse to be more beautiful, every year they host one of the most popular Christmas markets. You will find a cornucopia of wooden toys, delicious treats, as well as the delicious traditional Christmas punch. Like most cities with Christmas markets, you will find many fine musical performances throughout the festival. This world famous market is not open as long as others, beginning December 12th and ending on the 22nd. Try taking your car rental in Vienna over to some of the surrounding towns, as they offer smaller versions of these beautiful festive decorative celebrations.

Brussels
Every December Brussels’ Grand Place, (main square, where the town hall is located) is decorated in beautiful lights and the central plaza is filled with lighted trees and an original animated nativity scene. The market contains more than 200 stalls and has more of an international flair than other Christmas markets. While you can get your fill of all kinds of food from around the world,  the traditional Belgian food is what many come for. Things like Belgian chocolate, Belgian waffles, gingerbread, cookies and beer keep visitors flocking back year after year. Once you have had your fill of delicious decadent treats, you can visit the skating rinks. There is even a kids rink to keep parents happy. A car rental in Brussels is a great way to get where you need to be this Christmas season.

Prague
Prague’s Christmas market definitely takes has a more laid-back approach to this celebration. Peruse the intimate market in search of homemade Czech-made products like wooden toys, beautiful crystals mined nearby, custom jewelry, as well as traditional European sweets. You can even purchase live fish, which is the traditional cooked up fresh for Christmas Eve dinner in the Czech Republic. The songs of Czech school children fill your ears and laughter fills the air at the petting zoo for children.  The city of Prague is a great place to spend the holidays!

Whichever city you decide to travel to, a car rental in Europe is a great way to get around and see the sights at your own pace!  Do you have a favorite Christmas city?  Leave a comment and let us know!

The city of Florence has a dangerous amount of art. Really, there is so much art that the city has been known to cause Stendhal syndrome in some of the people who visit there. It happens so much that the nickname for Stendhal’s syndrome is Florence syndrome. It is said to cause rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and even hallucinations amongst other things when a person is exposed to a large amount of beautiful art. Seriously, the city is so beautiful, that while your body may be walking around, your mind will expand into a colorful wonderland you never knew existed, kind of like being at a Grateful Dead show.

Florence has long been referred to as the “cradle of Renaissance” due to the number of its amazingly beautiful monuments, statues, and architecture. The most popular destination and most well known site in Florence is by far the Santa Maria del Fiore, also known as The Duomo. To be quite fair, the Duomo is far too beautiful for me to even begin to describe. Feel free to look it up, and try to imagine being there. It’s overwhelming, and that is only one of the many beautiful buildings in the city.

The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of the city of Florence, and is another building that will impress. There is a perfect replica of Michelangelo’s David in the front of the building. After checking out that, you can head on over the Academia Gallery and see the real thing! Also don’t forget to walk across the Ponte Vecchio which is an old bridge. The most incredible thing about the Ponte Vecchio is the stores that are built on its edges. They are held up over the river Arno by some very well designed stilts. It’s quite a sight.

Florence is a centrally located city. This is great, because once you’ve had your fill of the city, you can take advantage of the area with a rental car in Florence. In just an hour and a half drive, you may find yourself relaxing on a beach on the Adriatic Sea, near the city of Livorno. Maybe you will head south and find yourself cruising in a sailboat on Lake Trasimeno. Whatever you decide to do while on vacation, you can always see more with a car rental in Italy!

I could tell you more about Florence, but I’m beginning to get dizzy, so I must digress.

One of my favorite German cities is Stuttgart. Less than an hour from the Black Forest, vineyards once lined the entire lush valley where the city now lays, and some still function today. Fantastic castles and palaces still fill the area, and many are open to tour for your enjoyment and educational purposes. While in the Stuttgart region the sheer Gothic beauty of the city will entice you to take walks, cycle tours and boat trips up and down the Neckar River.

Fans of driving, history, automobiles, and engineering will love the Mercedes-Benz and Porsche museums. At both of these places visitors are treated on a chronological journey through time, all the way up to the cars of tomorrow. This pair of German car museums is a must see for car buffs.

Stuttgart is also home to the very unique Wilhelma Zoological and Botanical Garden. It is without a doubt, one of the finest gardens in the world, and you will want to make a day of it. Built from 1842 – 1853, the Wilhelma Gardens feature around 9,000 animals of almost 1,000 species, an aquarium with crocodile hall as well as a beautiful coral fish collection. There is also a monkey house, some wacky fun bears, and a petting zoo! Around 2 million people visit each year, making it a must see for any tourist. It’s so big; you will want to bring your GPS rental with you to navigate around!

Take your rental car in Stuttgart over to the Fernsehenturm, a giant television antenna. It has a delightful observation deck where viewers can snap photos of the entire city. It is open to the public and runs nearly all day. The Fernsehenturm is a pretty fun destination for those who are unafraid of heights. The reception should be pretty good too!

Right now however, the number one best reason to be in Stuttgart is the Christmas Fair. The Christmas Fair begins the second week of November, and runs through Christmas. Each year, the event attracts around 3.5 million visitors, who come to gaze at the cities beautiful decorations, peruse the 200 vendor stands selling various trinkets and homemade crafts, as well fill up on as delicious Christmas culinary delights. The Christmas Fair has been a world class festive celebration, since at least 1692, and the city keeps tradition alive and well during the season each and every year.

A car rental in Stuttgart is a great way to get around, and see all that this marvelous city has to offer. Don’t forget to check out the Opera House!

For more about what’s happening in Germany, check out our events calendar. If you have a suggestion on something I missed, please leave a comment!

Fall is a great time to travel as costs are lower, temperatures are cooler, and lines to see the local attractions are always shorter.  It is also the time of year when many European cities hold food and wine festivals. They range in variety from general culinary delights, to specific ingredients, such as Chocolate.  While in Europe this fall, you won’t want to miss these delightful festivals.  Take a break from the norms, and you might end up trying something new that you didn’t even know about!

Truffle Festival, Alba, Italy
4 October-9 November
White truffle season begins at the beginning of October. For the next six weeks, you can learn all you want to about the mysterious truffle, as well as sample some of the finest available . See some of the world’s most famous chefs salivating at the invitation-only truffle auction, where some of these fungi will sell for up to $3000 per kilo! The Truffle Market, which takes place each weekend, offers stalls selling all kinds of truffle-related products. Most restaurants in the area will allow you to take a fresh truffle with you to dinner, and they will grate it onto your meal.  Many consider this the preferred way to consume and enjoy these tasty morsels.

Paris Chocolate Festival, Paris, France
29 October-2 November
Chocoholics rejoice! Paris’ Chocolate Festival is just around the corner, and will be held in the large convention center beneath the Louvre. This years event will feature over 400 exhibitors from throughout the world. Visitors will have the chance to learn about the cocoa-producing lifestyles of countries such as Venezuela and Mexico as well as view delicious chocolate demonstrations from top chefs.   If you miss it in Paris, the traveling chocolate show also makes stops in New York, Tokyo, Beijing and Moscow.  There was something about there being lots of samples available, but I was too busy day-dreaming about the land of chocolate to read any further.

Envies Culinaires, Lille, France
31 October-3 November
Lille has long been known as a great place to enjoy world class cuisine, with its fabulous restaurants and weekly markets. The Envies Culinaires brings it to a whole new level, with a four-day expo celebration to all things gourmet. Held annually at Lille’s Grand Palace, attendees can sample treats of all kinds, from snails to fresh lobster. There are desert and international stalls available to sample a wide range of food. Wine tastings, cooking demonstrations and conversation can be found all weekend, throughout the Grand Palace.

Wine Fair, Munich, Germany
7 November-9 November
This weekend is all about wine in the Bavarian capital. A month after Oktoberfest ends, Munich celebrates the regional wine with a preview of what’s to come in the new year. Wineries from all over come to showcase their wines, sparkling wines, spirits, specialties, delicacies, chocolate, cheeses, cellar equipment, accessories, literature and online services. During the Wine Fair, you can meet up with some of Europe’s most notable wine intellectuals, for tastings, seminars, and discussions. Prost!

Merano Wine Festival, Merano, Italy
8 November-10 November
The South Tyrol, with its mixed Italian and Austrian heritage, is a great place for a food fiend to visit at any time of year and if you read my last blog, you will know I am a huge fan of this region. This festival showcases traditional alpine noodle dishes, such as dumplings and strudel, as well as delicious hand-made pastas and strong cheeses. Different regions have different booths, and major wine producers from all over Italy use this festival as an excuse break out the good stuff. Ah, to be in Italy with a plate of lamb, veal, and some good old wine; that is the life for me!

Whatever your taste, Europe in the fall has much to offer and can be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys food. Whatever region you plan on traveling into, you won’t be disappointed with the culinary delights.

Congratulations to Emilie for getting last weeks Travel Trivia question right! The image contained The Sydney Harbor Bridge and the Sydney Opera House. The performance at the grand opening was Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.

For this weeks travel trivia, this image contains a building over 600 years old, that has survived at least two major political uprisings.

Can you name this building and the city in which it is located?

Good luck!

Hans Ericsson

Each year millions of people from all walks of life travel to see festivals throughout the world. Many of us are familiar with these unique opportunities for tradesman, artists, actors and musicians to showcase talents, and offer hand made products and demonstrations. Of course we all know about Oktoberfest, but here are some of the upcoming festivals you might find of interest, and can be driven to easily while on vacation in Europe.

Libro Balloon Cup September- 19th-26th
The skies above the town of Kirchberg, Austria fill with color during this European Festival. Learn about the history of ballooning or take a ride in one if you have the courage! Be check out the Night Glow when hundreds of balloons take off in the evening, and illuminate the Austrian skyline.

Montmartre Grape Harvest Festival October 4th
This large annual wine celebration showcases wine from the grapes grown in Paris. Local and national musicians frequent this festival, performing in the evening. Local produce and craft tables are also available for shopping and there will be short film screenings all day long. It all leads up to the fireworks display from the Sacre-Coeur Gardens, in Paris France.

British National Ploughing Championships- October 11th & 12th
Watch as over 150 of the United Kingdom’s toughest ploughmen leave it all out on the field (literally) using everything from horses to modern equipment. This festival will offer a variety of crafts, displays and shopping. Bring the kids and head out to Marden, near Tonbridge in Kent, England.

Slieve Bloom Storytelling Festival- October 16th- 18th
Storytelling is alive and well at the Slieve Bloom Storytelling Festival, This Irish festival is a fun chance for adults and children alike to hear some of Ireland’s best story tellers passing on tall tales and legends passed on for generations. The storytellers of the region manage to keep history alive with their entertaining renditions of ancient events, local haunting tales and comedic adventures.

Berlin Tattoo Convention- December 1st- 30th
Tattoo enthusiasts of all shapes and sizes gather at the Berlin Arena in Germany to celebrate tattoo culture of the world. Tattoo competitions draw in a large crowd here in Berlin. Get inked or just watch the tattooing and art exhibits set up by vendors and artists from all over the world.

These are just a few of the upcoming festivals in Europe. I would love to hear about your festival experiences, so please leave a comment!

I love wine. This is why, when asked the best time to travel to Germany, I often reply, “Mosel Weinfest!” Maybe I’m just a bit thirsty, but I believe that the wine fest is one of the best reasons to travel to Germany. It is my firm belief that celebrations and festivals make excellent travel memories. I find that visiting a place during a celebration brings out the best in locals. They are showing off what they do best, and are doing it not only for tourists, but for each other. The Mosel Weinfest – which takes place from May all the way through October – is no exception. The long date range makes the Mosel Weinfest perfect for busy travelers who have a hard time scheduling their summer travel plans.

Throughout the summer, hundreds of wine festivals are held across the Mosel River Valley in celebration of the region’s wine producing culture. (Hint: don’t miss the most famous of the region’s varietals: the Riesling). But these festivals don’t only focus on wine; they also feature live music, food and locally produced arts and craft sales. I find there’s no better place to buy thoughtful gifts or one-of -a-kind home decorations than in festivals like this. You’re sure to discover something that no one else you know will have.

Another reason I recommend visiting Germany during the Mosel Weinfest is that it is a fun, beautiful, “off the beaten path” destination. Small, romantic towns dot the river banks and friendly faces pour liberal glasses of wine. There are amazing castles (don’t miss the Eltz Castle) and other historic landmarks to visit along the way. Best of all, it is a place where you can create a vacation that is all yours – no official itinerary necessary. Just make sure to pack a handy language translator, as fewer locals speak fluent English in the Mosel Valley than they do in larger metropolitan areas.

No matter where or when you visit Germany, be sure to raise a glass of fine German wine to your lips and heartily declare, in the spirit of the locals, “prost!”

(That’s like “cheers!” …didn’t I say to remember your translator?)

Isabel

The Travel Guide

Each year I get more and more calls from customers wanting to know about Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany. I thought I might put a post up relaying what I know about the festival.

If you decide to go to the annual Oktoberfest gathering, you will have the opportunity to take part in one of the largest parties / festivals the world has ever seen. I have to say, my own visit to Oktoberfest years ago was definitely one of my more fun traveling experiences.

Every year from mid-September until the first Sunday of October Munich, Germany hosts the 16 day gathering for Oktoberfest. The festival has been in existence for almost 200 years, and over 6 million people attend the festival every year. Visitors to Oktoberfest generally spend their time in large tents full of tables. Servers bring beer to patrons in giant glass mugs called “biersteins.” These humongous tents hold thousands of people, and one particularly large tent seats as many as 8,450. For me, the size and volume of the tent was truly an impressive sight to see.

Oktoberfest is definitely the place to go for great food and drink. In addition to the 6.1 million liters of beer that are served, plenty of Oktoberfest food is available. Popular dishes are sausage, chicken (hendl), cheese noodles, sauerkraut, and even roasted ox tail. The sheer amount of food consumed is mind boggling. In previous years attendees of Oktoberfest consumed 102 roasted oxen, 438,884 sausages, and 459,279 roasted chickens! I have to say, the cheese noodles and the roasted chicken were my favorites. I wasn’t feeling bold enough to try the roasted ox tail, but maybe next time!

If you can, check out Munich, Germany for Oktoberfest this year, it’s an experience that you will never forget, unless of course, you drink too much of the beer (believe me, it’s much stronger than American beer).

I would definitely enjoy hearing your comments, or stories from your own Oktoberfest experiences!

Safe travels,

“Ted on The Travel Desk”

Ted Phelps, Customer Travel Consultant