Winter Tales on the Road: A Guide to Christmas Markets in Poland, the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria

A car trip to the Christmas towns can be a unique adventure, but the winter conditions and large number of attractions require good planning. Below are some tips to consider when planning your route, accommodation, driving in winter, and visiting the fairs to make your trip safe, comfortable, and memorable:

• Route planning: Plan your trip in advance to optimally visit the countries and cities you want. Estimate the distances – try not to drive too far per day so that you have time to enjoy the fairs in peace. For example, when traveling from Lithuania, you can first stop in Poland (Warsaw or Krakow), then go to Germany (e.g. Dresden), continue to the Czech Republic (Prague), visit Austria (Vienna, Salzburg), and return via Poland again. Of course, adjust the route according to your wishes – if you are more interested in a certain country, allocate more time to it. Check the road tolls: in Poland, some highways are paid for at separate points, in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria you need to purchase vignettes (electronic road tolls) for using highways. They are convenient to buy directly online or at gas stations near the border. Don’t forget that in winter, roads in mountain regions (e.g. in Austria or near the Slovak Tatras) may be covered in snow – monitor weather forecasts and plan alternative routes in case you have to bypass passes due to snow.
• Accommodation: During the peak Christmas market period (early December to New Year’s), hotels may be more popular, so book your accommodation in advance. Families with children may prefer apartments with kitchenettes – you can cook your own breakfast or dinner, save money and have more space. Couples will enjoy romantic stays in old towns, near the main squares – then you can walk to the market and enjoy the city in the evening without driving. However, city centers are often more expensive; if your budget is limited, choose hotels or guesthouses further from the center – for example, in the suburbs or on the road between cities. You can easily get there by car, and the price will be lower. Make sure that the hotel has parking (and find out if it is paid). In some big cities (e.g. Prague, Vienna), it may be worth leaving your car in a parking lot and continuing to move around by public transport or on foot to avoid congestion and expensive parking in the center.
• Driving in winter: Make sure that your car is properly prepared for winter. Winter tires are essential (in Lithuania and neighboring countries, their use is mandatory in winter). Check the resistance of the coolant and window washer fluid to frost, take an ice scraper, a brush for removing snow. On a longer trip, it is also a good idea to have a booster or cables and a small shovel – for unforeseen circumstances. When driving in mountainous areas (e.g. in the Austrian Alps or the approaches to the Slovak Tatras), it is advisable to have snow chains – in some high mountains they are even mandatory if there is a lot of snow. Plan your trips so that you get to another city during the day during daylight hours, if possible – winter days are short, and driving at night on unfamiliar roads can be difficult. Follow traffic information in your navigation: in winter, roads are closed due to blizzards or accidents. Always keep your car’s fuel tank at least half full – so you don’t run out of fuel if you have to wait in traffic or on a detour. Drive carefully, keep to a safe speed – there’s no point in rushing during the holidays, it’s more important to arrive safely everywhere.
• Behaviour in towns: The most popular fairs attract crowds of people, especially on weekends and in the evenings. Keep your belongings safe – as in any place with a lot of tourists, pickpockets can happen, so keep your wallets and phones in the inside pockets, use bags with a zipper. Agree with your children on a meeting place or what to do if they get lost in the crowd (e.g. go to the main Christmas tree or the stage, where they are easy to find). It may be more convenient to transport smaller children in a stroller – they will get less tired, but it may be more difficult to maneuver the stroller in the crowd, pay attention to the pavement (many places – old town pavements, stones). Be polite and patient – ​​the Christmas spirit fills people with goodwill, so a smile and greeting in the local language (Polish Dzień dobry, German Guten Tag, Czech Dobrý den, Slovak Dobrý deň) will help to win the sympathy of the locals. Also, be respectful of events held in places of worship – some fairs near churches or cathedrals stop the music during services.
• Food: One of the greatest joys of Christmas markets is the local food. Take the opportunity to try the traditional dishes in each country: in Germany, it’s sausages with cabbage, pretzels, mulled wine from decorated mugs (many collect them as souvenirs), as well as sweet pancakes and strudel. In Austria, in addition to strudel, there’s also hot fruit punch, roasted chestnuts, and a slice of Sachertorte in a café. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, there’s trdelník buns, grilled cheeses, honey mead, roasted almonds with spices. In Poland, there’s pierogi dumplings, biga stew, smoked oscypek cheese with cranberries, and of course, their mulled wine, called grzaniec. No matter how delicious everything looks, don’t forget about moderation – at fairs, portions are often large and high in calories. If you are traveling with children, have a bottle of water or their favorite snacks with you – lots of sweets can quickly make you thirsty or want to snack on something more neutral. Also, be aware that food stalls at the most popular fairs can get quite crowded in the evenings; if you want to try something special without the crowds, try to do so during the day when the crowds are smaller. Restaurants are also busier during the holiday season – you can plan your lunch at an off-peak time (e.g. around 3pm, when many people have already had lunch and the dinner crowd has not yet arrived). And be sure to enjoy your desserts al fresco, with a cup of hot chocolate in hand, while looking out over the bustling town – it’s one of those simple pleasures that makes traveling worth it.
• Shopping planning: At Christmas markets, your eyes are dazzled by the beautiful items on display – wooden toys, handmade candles, woolen socks, ceramic mugs, Christmas tree decorations… It’s easy to get caught up in a shopping frenzy, so it’s a good idea to set a budget for souvenirs. For example, decide that you will buy one small souvenir or gift for your loved ones in each city. You can also collect items of one type – many travelers collect Christmas market mugs (with the name of the city and the date of the year) or Christmas tree decorations from different countries. This will give your shopping a purpose and help you avoid buying too much. Paying at fairs – please note that not everywhere you can pay by card, especially in small towns or with small artisans. Have some cash in each country’s currency: in Poland – zlotys, in the Czech Republic – korunas, in Slovakia and Austria – euros. The exchange rates in tourist areas are not necessarily the most favorable, so exchange at least a small amount in advance or withdraw cash from ATMs. Bargaining is not common at most fairs in these countries – prices are usually fixed, unless some sellers apply a discount when buying more units. If you travel by car, you have an advantage – you don’t have to worry about the weight of your luggage, so you can buy more fragile or heavier items (e.g. a bottle of local wine, a ceramic candle holder, etc.), which would be inconvenient if you were traveling by plane. However, save some space in your car – shopping increases when you see so many goodies!
• Comfort and health: The most important thing in a winter trip is warmth and comfort. Equip yourself and your children with warm clothes: woolen socks, hats, gloves, a scarf – a must. It is best to dress in layers so that you can take off one layer when moving or entering the room. Don’t forget good, non-slip shoes that are resistant to moisture – at fairs you will have to walk and stand in one place a lot, your feet should not freeze. Many fairs have bonfire or heater areas where you can warm up (this is especially popular in Germany – they build barrel-shaped stoves). Always have cash with you for small expenses: for the toilet (often public toilets or biotoilets at fairs cost ~ €0.50), for a deposit for a cup (if you don’t want to keep a souvenir cup, you will get the deposit back when you return it), for a small item from street vendors. Speaking of toilets – visit in advance if you are planning a longer walk away from the cafes. In larger cities, mobile WC cabins are set up near the fairs or even supermarket toilets are opened nearby. If you are traveling with small children, have wet wipes, spare diapers – changing outside in cold weather is more difficult, but heated tents or childcare rooms may be set up nearby (especially at larger fairs in Germany or Austria). Finally – enjoy the moment. Take photos, taste something unexpected, listen to street musicians, talk to a market vendor about his goods – Christmas towns are meant to slow down and enjoy the festive mood with loved ones.