Germany: Attractions

Photo Essay: Christmas Markets in Austria and Germany, 2022 Edition

Christmas markets across the globe – with their colorful booths and glittering lights on charming cobblestone streets – are back, if perhaps a bit subdued due to both the ongoing pandemic, rising energy costs, and a continued global supply chain crisis.
Glühwein, roasted chestnuts, and gingerbread beckon and small wooden figurines and tree ornaments are yours for the taking.
Here are photos from our favorite Christkindlmärkte, or Christmas markets.
Indeed, just three years …

Oktoberfest 2022 Opens in Munich with Parades and Ceremony After Pandemic Pause

Oktoberfest 2022 Opens in Munich with Parades and Ceremony After Pandemic Pause

MUNICH—After multiple cancellations amidst the first years of the pandemic, Bürgermeister Dieter Reiter opened the 187th Oktoberfest on Saturday with the exclamation “O’zapft is” (“it’s tapped”) after tapping the first keg with three knocks of a mallet.
The opening was heralded by a 12-gun salute and, as tradition demands, the Bürgermeister handed the first Maß – literally a measure but also a liter – of beer to Bavarian Ministerpräsident Markus Söder.
Prior …

Photo Essay: Christmas Markets in Austria and Germany

Since most Christmas markets across the globe are dark this year amidst the coronavirus pandemic, the staff at Frequent Business Traveler wanted to celebrate the holiday by sharing photos from markets we visited in past years.
Indeed, just last year, we went to over a dozen markets on the Continent, including the Münchner Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz and the Christkindlmarkt at Sendlinger Tor, both in Munich Germany; the Weihnachtsmarkt at Mirabellplatz and …

Keeping Europe’s Ski Slopes Open Gets a Frosty Reception in Some Quarters

“To ski, or not to ski,” that is the question that multiple European nations are asking themselves with the ski season just around the corner, as the coronavirus pandemic shows no sign of relenting. If you are in France, Germany, and Italy, the answer at the moment is the latter, but Austria and Switzerland have other plans in mind.
It’s a stark reminder that the first clusters of the coronavirus were …

Photo Essay: Christmas Markets in Austria, France, Germany, and the United States

You haven’t truly experienced Christmas unless you’ve been to a Christmas market in Europe. They are an excellent source for traditional gifts, mugs of Glühwein, and an unparalleled festive feeling.
Christmas markets can be found in every major city and town in many countries and the best are found in Austria, France, and Germany.
We went to over a dozen markets on the Continent, including the Münchner Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz and the …

Oktoberfest 2019 Opens in Munich with Parades and Ceremony

MUNICH—The first keg was tapped with the words “O’zapft is” (“it’s tapped”) accompanied by a 12-gun salute as Bürgermeister Dieter Reiter opened the 186th Oktoberfest on Saturday.  As tradition demands, the Bürgermeister handed the first Maß – literally a measure but also a liter – of beer to Bavarian Ministerpräsident Markus Söder.
The opening was preceded by a Festzug, a parade, starting in the city center, which was led by the …

Review: ‘Let It Be’ at the Deutsches Theater

Review: ‘Let It Be’ at the Deutsches Theater

As the lights dimmed in the recently renovated Deutsches Theater and the four principal actors in the West End musical “Let It Be” took their places, one thought crossed my mind: Why do they all look like Paul?
Indeed, for most of the first half of the Beatles tribute, three of the actors looked like they were all trying out for the role of Mr. McCartney.  Perhaps it was the instrument, …