Driving from the UK to German Christmas Markets

Travel by Car from England to Weihnachtsmärkte in Germany

Oct 7, 2009

Driving by car from England (UK) to Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) in western Germany is easy especially for travelers living near Britain's car ferry ports.

Christmas markets in Germany are easily reached by car from the British Isles. Driving from the UK through France, Belgium, or the Netherlands to Germany has many advantages for visitors to Christmas markets (Weihnachtsmärkte). Travelers with their own cars are free to explore more areas and easier visit lesser-known, and often more romantically located, Christmas markets in smaller towns. Cities such as Cologne (Köln), Aachen, and Düsseldorf have famous Christmas markets but many other towns in western Germany have Weihnachtsmärkte worth exploring too.

Driving from the UK to Christmas Markets in Germany

Traveling from the UK by car to Germany presents no major hassles other than having to drive on the opposite side of the road. Roads are generally in very good condition and apart from highways in France mostly free from tolls.

Traveling by car to Christmas markets in Germany has the convenience of being able to travel to small towns with ease. Shoppers will enjoy no luggage charges and no restrictions on carrying liquids, glass, and other sharp objects back home.

However, drivers to larger German cities have to note that foreign cars are not exempt from the requirement to display a Feinstaubplaketten (sticker) when entering a Low-Emission Zone (LEZ / Umweltzone). The centers of Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt am Main for example have such zones while Aachen and towns along the Mosel River do not.

Driving from Calais to German Christmas Markets

Calais is the European port of entry for most British drivers arriving on the European continent. Driving times and distances in kilometer (miles) from Calais to major German cities with Christmas markets in the western parts of Germany include:

Passengers on the Hull to Zeebrugge (Belgium) ferries can reduce the above driving times by almost an hour and 100 km (60 miles).

Driving through the Netherland to German Christmas Markets

Car ferries to the Netherlands are also useful to British travelers, especially those traveling from regions to the north of London. The car ferry from Harwich to the Hook of Holland (Hoek van Holland) is also useful for rail travelers from London and the overnight service is particularly popular with children and families.

Driving times and distances in kilometer (miles) from the Hook of Holland to major German cities with Christmas markets in the western parts of Germany include:

Further car ferries arrive in the Netherlands at Ijmuiden (Amsterdam) from Newcastle and Rotterdam from Hull. Driving times and distances from these ports to Christmas markets in Germany are practically the same as from the Hook of Holland.

Many alternative transportation options are available from the UK to Christmas markets in Germany. Buses and coaches are often the cheapest but trains are faster and generally more comfortable. Cheap flights to Germany are available from various airports in the UK and are particularly useful when visiting German Christmas markets not located in the Rhinelands.

The copyright of the article Driving from the UK to German Christmas Markets in Germany Travel is owned by Henk Bekker. Permission to republish Driving from the UK to German Christmas Markets in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.