Karlsruhe/Baden/Black Forest

Decided to take a trip to Germany, cheap flights with Ryanair and the girlfriend has been to the area before and thought it was great.

Going on the 2nd of December staying for 5 nights. Most likely going to base ourselves in Karlsruhe and use the good German public transport to see some of the towns and sights in the area.

Anyone who's been before? Any must see/must do things in the area? Is it worth heading into Stuttgart for a day, or maybe even over the border into Strasbourg?

We left it to December because I hear the Christmas markets are great and they start first of December.

Any tips or advice appreciated.

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Originally Posted by passinginterest

Is it worth heading into Stuttgart for a day,

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I quite enjoyed it from what i seen but there are probably 12000 ish for who it is a bit of a blur last september

Basel is about 90 minutes south - nice town.

Heidleberg is quite close to the North of Karlruhe and has a very good Christmas Market and is worth a visit in general as it's a beautiful old German town.

went to the game last year , and met a frau the night before it, totally head over heals,(yes i am a sap but hey)!have been back 6or7 times since seriously recomend stuttgart for everything , and a little place just outside called Tubingen, a classic old town with magical xmas market, and a castle on the hill where i spent new years eve,under the fireworks and a panoramic view of all of stuttgart'. Heidelberg is beautiful to about 1 hr drive from Stuttgart watched us getting trounsed by cyprus!ryanscare cheap flights to baden baden and a great and cheap bus service from airport to Stuttgart. go my friend u wont want to come back.:)

Saw this thread and checked out Ryanair around December and just after booking return flights to Baden for 20euro. So keep the reviews coming:)

Anyone know of websites for cheapish German hotels? Stuttgart in particular.

Check www.Tripadvisor.com

booking.com is pretty good. I was in Karsruhe in July. It was a bit quiet then, but should be better with all the students around. Christmas markets are ace...nothing like a nice chilly evening with a currywurst and a mug of Gluhwein. Freiburg is worth a day from Karlsruhe.

Just back from Karlsruhe, would highly recommend it to anyone who likes a nice quiet, relaxing holiday. The Christmas markets are fantastic, the atmosphere is brilliant and the gluwhein, bratwurst and the like all go down very well. Didn't stay out beyond about 10 o'clock so can't really comment on the nightlife.
Loved the transport system, it made getting around so easy, trams, buses and trains all running regularly and on time. Was glad the girlfriend was with me, I have no German at all and her basic leaving cert German came in very handy.

Only really travelled as far as Baden-Baden, another lovely old town, more touristy that Karlsruhe and the Christmas market was more expensive and felt a bit more contrived and commercialised.
Wend to a place called Durlach to take a tram up a mountain only to discover that it only runs Friday to Sunday in the Winter. I was not a happy bunny. The palace in Karlsruhe has a great museum if your interested in that kind of thing.

would also recommend wurzburg and nurnberg, not to far from karlsruhe, nice spots