Transportation To And From The Markets
I am hoping someone who took this specific tour can answer the following for me:
(1) Are shuttles to and from the markets available throughout the day? If yes, at what intervals?
(2) Are there some markets within walking distance from where the boat is moored?
(3) Do the markets offer a variety of items for purchase other than items specifically for the Christmas holiday?
(4) Are cafes open for inside seating? I would like to be able to have a hot chocolate and, perhaps, a linzer torte.
Thank you for any assistance you can offer.
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Comments
We've done that tour twice, once with Tauck and once with Uniworld and we will be returning Dec of this year with Tauck for our third Xmas Market Danube Trip.
Seems Nuremberg did too - can't remember the timing, but it was fair. We always stayed till the last shuttle back.
Melk - no Xmas market there, only the Abbey and shops. We loved the Abbey. I think a shuttle did take us to the Abbey and we all walked thru town and back to the boat. Seems a shuttle did meet a few people at the foot of the bridge in town, but most of us walked as it wasn't that far and the town is worthwhile - but no Xmas market here.
Saltzburg is a pretty far bus ride, so no shuttles back and forth. You spend the whole day there and it is worth every second.
Regensburg - the boat docks in town and you walk into town and do a tour and see the local market - then late afternoon, they shuttle you from the town to a private Xmas Market and Castle tour which is one of the best markets you will see. They do shuttle you back as it is dark by the time you finish the castle tour and see the private market. So, you walk off the boat in the morning for a town tour and the local market. Then they shuttle you to Private market and Castle tour, and shuttle back to boat that evening.
Nuremberg was a bus ride from the boat. One of our fav towns. Seems there was a shuttle back, but you'll want to stay. We always stay another 3-4 days here - we LOVE it. We also didn't care for the Tauck hotel in Nuremberg as it's a little far from the markets and it's not in the OLDE TOWN or within the WALL. We love Hotel Victoria.
The market in Passau is great, but you'll see similar stuff in Vienna and Nuremberg. Nuremberg is the largest and you will see so much stuff. We love it.
Rick Steves has a great Xmas Market clip on Nuremburg that is very good - it is on YouTube.
Here is a photo of what the clip looks like - don’t know how to attach a link
Thank you so very, very much terrilynn. I was hoping you would respond. You answered all my questions, plus some!
Safe and happy travels!
Terilynn gave a very good overview. I did this trip in 2018 but my memory isn't quite as good. My only comment would be that I got gloves, socks, and some other things in the Passau market...not Christmas- specific. I like remembering where I got them whenever I wear them here at home.
We had lots of time in Salzburg. I was able to track down the Mozart Balls (candy) I had heard about before I went. We had some snow and ice so be prepared for anything, I almost killed myself slipping on the black ice at Melk Abbey. But it was beautiful.
Thank you for your feedback, Travelcrazy!
terrilynn,
I thought of another question for you--my personal travel advisor for all things related to holiday markets! Do the vendors accept credit cards? I'm thinking that some of the smaller, local artisans might only accept local currency. With the exchange rates being so favorable right now, I thought I would stock up on some euros for my upcoming trips.
As always, thank you!
kfnknfzk -- No, most of the vendors want cash - this is for both products and food/drinks -so we always keep lots of cash on us.
The smaller, quainter towns along the river are very hard to find banks/tellers in - so we stocked up on cash in the city the tour started in (Vienna, Nuremberg, Basel - as those are bigger towns with plenty of Teller/Banks around).
The higher end products/more expensive products will take a CC, esp the stores that sell Xmas stuff.
Most of the products on the actual markets are VERY reasonably priced anyway - so cash isn't difficult.
We did find the markets on the Danube better than the Rhine, but both trips are very good and worth doing - but the Danube remains our favorite.
We want to book the YuleTide one to compare, but we hear that there aren't many markets along that one.
The private markets in Vienna at the Schonbrunn and in Regensburg at the Thurn & Taxis Palace are amazing.
You are amazing! I'll be sure to have adequate cash. Thanks, again!