Germany Xmas Markets this Year?

[lya]

My H and I have a trip planned to visit Christmas markets in Cologne, Germany the week of 16-20 Dec this year.  But I've been reading about heightened security concerns, like in this BBC article link. 
Would you still go?  Just avoid busier days, like Fri/Sat?  Reschedule for a different year?

[fryjack2]

My in-laws are currently in Germany at the Christmas markets and have not mentioned any fears.

[fernweh]

Honestly- I’m probably just jaded with all the mass shootings and everything we have in the US but I wouldn’t view this as any bigger of a risk that going in a crowded public place here.

I also check the government travel warnings but unless they rate an area as a 4 - I would still go.

ETA: the state dept current has Germany as a Level 2 travel advisory due to increased terrorism risk. Yes - I’d still go.

I think if you want to wait for the world to be safer to travel, you’ll never go anywhere again. Again super jaded right now so take what I say with a grain of salt.

[dulcemariamar]

I would definitely still go. I don’t think it makes a difference in terms of a certain day of the week as being safer. And there are loads of XMAS in pretty much every village in Germany. This alert isn’t specifically just for the most popular markets so while it could happen, it doesn’t mean that it will definitely happen or even happen at a famous market

[cattledogkisses]

Dec 5, 2023 16:01:01 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Honestly- I’m probably just jaded with all the mass shootings and everything we have in the US but I wouldn’t view this as any bigger of a risk that going in a crowded public place here.

I also check the government travel warnings but unless they rate an area as a 4 - I would still go.

ETA: the state dept current has Germany as a Level 2 travel advisory due to increased terrorism risk. Yes - I’d still go.

I think if you want to wait for the world to be safer to travel, you’ll never go anywhere again. Again super jaded right now so take what I say with a grain of salt.

I agree with this. 

Here's a link to the State Department travel advisory:  travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/germany-travel-advisory.html

The advice for travelers is essentially just to practice increased situational awareness. 

[mrsukyankee]

As someone who lives in London and has been here during terrorist attacks, there's little that stops me from doing fun stuff I want to do. This would not.

[fluffycookie]

My manager is over in Germany right now for the christmas markets and she said it's been fine.

[lya]

Thanks all, this is where I've been landing. That this isn't different from everyday in the US. But that BBC article made me pause.

[cattledogkisses]

Dec 5, 2023 19:53:05 GMT -5 lya said:

Thanks all, this is where I've been landing. That this isn't different from everyday in the US. But that BBC article made me pause.

FWIW, the US is also under an increased risk of terrorism right now. 

www.npr.org/2023/10/31/1209699057/wray-warns-of-increased-terrorist-threat-says-u-s-is-in-a-dangerous-period

[bugandbibs]

I don't think this is really any more dangerous than any event in the US. If there was a more specific threat, I would listen but we are all in danger of a mass shooting at anytime.