A winter Trip to Salzburg

Just before Christmas we set off for a new adventure and made our way to Salzburg to visit the Christmas Markets.

It’s become quite a tradition to visit the traditional markets every year and this year was no exception. Last year we went to Berlin and this year we decided to see what the Austrian markets had to offer.

Opting for Salzburg, the home of Mozart and The sound of Music we were excited to explore and see what it had in store for us.
Boarding an extremely early flight to Salzburg we landed at about 10am and were welcomed by a very cold, crisp wintery morning and bright blue skies.
Wrapped up warm we made our way to the hotel. 

One of the best things about travelling to Salzburg is not only is the flight quite short, the town is about 15 minutes from the airport. So for a weekend break, it’s perfect.

We stayed in the Crowne Plaza and after being surprised with a room upgrade, strawberries in the room and the biggest bathroom I have seen, we were ready to explore the town.

The town is extremely picturesque and when we went it was fairly quiet too. Which allowed us to happily wander through the cobbled streets admiring the views. It wasn't long before we started to crave something to keep us warm and what could be better than a glass of Gluhwein. 

Similar to Berlin you pay for a glass of Gluhwin and a small deposit for your cup which you can hand back afterwards or keep it if you wish. If you've read my Berlin posts from last year, I'm sure you'll have guessed by now that I kept quite a few.

We wandered around the pretty market stalls of which there were lots, offering all different kinds of trinkets and presents to take home to your loved ones. 

The toys above are what I call 'Smoking Men'. You fill them with incense and once lit the smoke starts to escape through their mouth or whatever instrument they made be holding. Very traditional and a great present, we spent a while picking out the best Australian looking figures. 

And of course, if food is something you are more interested in...then there is plently of that too. 

From fresh fruit to sausages and amazing sweet treats, there is something here for everyone. 

We were particularly keen to try the marshmallow filled pastries which seemed something of a tradition and unlike anything I had really tried before. 

My advice....share one. They are very filling. 

 Homemade warm bread with delicious raclette cheese topped with bacon and leaks. Exactly what you need to keep warm on a chilly evening. 

More on the Austrian food tomorrow. 

In the evening I was surprised to return to the hotel to receive a 'turn down service' I didn't really realise that this actually happened. Not only where our covers turned down but they left us mini chocolates and a Sudoku puzzle each.
Which naturally we raced each other to see who was the fastest.

Tucked up in the biggest and comfiest bed I've slept in in ages. We fell fast asleep ready for another day of adventuring.

Day 3 in Berlin

Our last day in Berlin had finally arrived and unlike yesterday, instead of lazing in bed, we ordered room service for breakfast and checked out fairly early so that we could enjoy our last day in Berlin.

I’ve never ordered room service before, mainly because I always thought it would be ridiculously expensive, which surprisingly enough, it wasn’t.

We ordered eggs benedict and a selection of croissants, bread rolls and jam.

After sadly packing up the room and checking out of the hotel we went for a stroll in the crisp morning air.

We wandered through many of shopping galleries, gazing at all the beautiful Christmas decorations and taking far too many photos before we made our way to the market I had saved for last.

I had heard the Gendarmenmarkt was one of the Berlin’ most traditional markets so naturally I was keen to end our German market experience on a good one…..and it didn’t disappoint.

One of the things that makes this market different is that all the tents are covered in fairy lights with a star sitting perfectly on the top, tempting you inside to view whatever treasures and treats are on offer. 

Set in a square at the site of the Konzerthaus, you have the French cathedral at one end and the German Cathedral at the other.

It is an especially beautiful sight at night time, when the lights glow against the Cathedral, making the atmosphere extremely warm and Christmassy.

It is a brilliant square which arguably hosts one of Berlin’s best markets.

The square is lined with symmetrical looking white tents that glow with a warm yellow/amber colour even in the day time.

You do have to pay 1 Euro to enter which isn’t really an issue but I wanted to mention it...just in case. 

It was at this market that I had one of my favourite things to eat.

In a little hut at the end of the market, the staff busy themselves making bread. Kneeding it, roling it out and then topping it with the most gorgeous tasting cheese. Not to mention is it then covered with bacon.

They then put it in a oven and the final product is amazing.

Warm, hot dough and cheese that simply just melts in your mouth.

It was so good, I even had two!

Berlin has been a wonderful trip and my first experience in Germany. 

I would highly recommend coming here for the Christmas markets but even if you don't come during the festive period, there is so much to do and see here. 

Arriving in Berlin

Having spent the last few years of December in Brussels, enjoying the Christmas markets, we decided to venture somewhere different this year.

With many Christmas markets in Europe to choose from, the choice was not easy.

After quite a lot of researching we finally decided that this year we would go to Berlin and I can tell you now, it is not a decision I regretted.

Having never been to Germany before, I was eager to explore and what better Christmas market to go to than a traditional German one. 

We stayed in Friedrichstrasse which was near what is supposed to be one of Berlin's best markets. 

This part of Germany was easy to get to, approximately a 30 minute train ride from the airport.

When we stepped into the hotel for the first time, I felt like I had walked into something quite magical. The hotel was beautiful. It exuded warm and I couldn't help but Christmassy all the way to my toes.

When you walked into the Hotel you couldn’t help but feel like you were on a ship, quite possibly the titanic. The grand staircase, lined with Christmas trees and the huge bell, covered in a hundred fairy lights that hung from the ceiling made you feel like you had walked into a Christmas paradise. You couldn't help but smile every time you walked into the foyer.

Once we had unpacked, we decided it was about time to explore and find something for lunch.

We had done a bit of research about the best Christmas markets to visit in Berlin and there were lots that we wanted to try and see in just 3 days.

For our first stop we headed over to Postdammer Platz. Not really for any particular reason, other than it was closest to our hotel (other than Glendarmenmarkt but we wanted to save that one for last) and the fact that we were pretty hungry.

   Berlin was cold but what else can you expect at the end of December.

We wrapped up warm which was probably for the best because the first thing we did when we got to the square was this...

You paid 1 euro and you got to sledge down the slide on a big rubber ring which actually made you go surprisingly fast.

Next on our list of things to do was of course….Gluhwein.

In Berlin, a cup of Gluhwein is about 3 Euros but the best part about it is that they serve it to you in mugs! Festive coloured mugs with the name of the market you were at and if you were lucky the date too.

You could either keep going back to refill your Gluhwein or if you’d had enough, you simply had to hand your mug back and you would get your deposit back. 

Wanted to keep your mug? Simply don't hand it back (hence the deposit you paid) That way, you get to keep a souvenir of your trip. 

I won’t tell you how many mugs I came home with but I’ll give you a clue and tell you we were into double figures. 

Postdamer market also featured an ice rink and you could even have a go at curling. Instead we ventured inside a beautiful arcade, filled to the brim with Christmas fairy lights for a spot of festive shopping. It really was beautiful as it looked.

In the evening, having gorged ourselves on multiple glasses of Gluhwein and a few Bratewerist, we made our way to another market slightly further out of town.

We picked up a magazine in Berlin, highlighting this years best Markets so we tried our best to visit the top 5/6.

At number 3 was the Charlottenberg Market.

It look us about 40 minutes to find and just as we decided to give in and go back to the Hotel, we saw lights in the distance. Having come all that way, we ventured on until finally we came to the market itself. 

Set in front of the beautiful palace, the atmosphere buzzed as people all around us laughed, chatted and tucked in to some delicious German Food.

The majority of the markets, sell the same kind of food. Bratwurst, Currywurst are amongst some of the things you will find all over Berlin. However, there are a few stalls that were a little bit more individual, so of course, we went to those ones first.

The first thing we tried was Raclette. Hot melted cheese poured deliciously over thin crispy toasted bread. Topped with chives and bacon, it made for an amazing snack. The cheese was so strong and warm, it was completely different to anything I’d tried before.

We tried Grog for the first time. Thinking this was Gluwhein with a shot of Rum. 
We were quite mistaken when we found how it is quite literally….just rum.

I think I’ll stick to the Gluhwein.

I tried my first savoury pancake. Unfortunately I didn’t take a picture of this one. Although I think I’ve decided to stick to sweet pancakes, so it’s probably for the best.

After many a Gluehwein later (and of course, a few mugs later). We strolled home on our first evening in Berlin.