There isn’t really a more festive way to enjoy the holiday season than by wandering through the wooden stalls of century old markets as music plays and snow falls. Sip hot mugs of gluhwein in the cold air, shop for hand-crafted ornaments or gifts, and snack on some classic treats as you explore some of the best Christmas markets in Europe.
We'll have a private guide for the entire trip, so we'll be well taken care of. The itinerary is below. Please reach out if you have questions.
The map on the left shows our proposed route.
You'll have most of the day to yourself, and the activities start in the evening with a welcome meeting at the hotel.
During the evening meeting, we will meet our Chief Experience Officer (our local guide) and fellow travelers, and we'll learn more about the coming week. It will last about one hour. After the meeting, the group will go out to dinner together, which is optional.
We'll set out on an orientation walk with our CEO to get to know the city. We'll see famous sights like the Berlin Wall Memorial, Brandenburg Gate, and the historical Museum Island. Enjoy a Bratwurst or Currywurst tasting and do some shopping in Alexanderplatz. There will be some optional activities if you'd like to add one.
We'll end our day with a visit to the Christmas markets in Gendarmenmarkt square. Search for handmade souvenirs to bring home, try Glühwein (mulled wine) to warm yourself up as you wander through the little stalls.
Meals included: Breakfast
We'll travel by train to Nuremberg this morning to visit one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world and arguably the most famous. Make sure to try some Nuremberg Lebkuchen, a German cake or cookie that is similar to gingerbread, before wandering through this charming winter fairytale filled with wooden stalls, old-fashioned carousels.
In the late afternoon, we'll travel to Munich where we'll enjoy more markets with our CEO and then take advantage of free time to explore Bavaria’s capital on our own.
Meals included: Breakfast
We'll have some free time this morning to explore Munich on our own. View the streets from above with a climb up to the tower of Old St Peter’s Church, give ice skating a try at Karlsplatz, or join a curling match on the Nymphenburg Schlosskanal, which turns into Munich’s longest curling rink in the winter.
We'll depart for Salzburg in the afternoon and stop at the Hellbrunner Christmas Market. This especially atmospheric Christmas Market has been held here for almost 20 years and features over 700 conifers decorated with red Christmas balls and lights immersing the area in a warm glow. In the evening, we’ll have a chance to visit more of Salzburg’s markets with our guide.
Meals included: Breakfast
We'll have free time in the morning to walk the historic squares and quaint little side streets of Salzburg Old town. Climb Festungsberg Hill to visit Hohensalzburg Castle, or check out the birthplace of Mozart and visit the museum there.
Then we'll depart for Vienna, stopping at some local Christmas markets en route. This will be a long driving day with all of the stops.
In Vienna we'll have free time to get to know the city. Opt to explore Schönbrunn Palace which is like the Versailles of Vienna, or climb to the top of St. Stephen’s cathedral in the center of the city for unparalleled views.
Meals included: Breakfast
It’s all about Vienna today. Set out on a CEO led orientation walk around the city. Then, take a break and for some coffee and cake in one of the famous Viennese coffee houses. In the afternoon, wander around Vienna’s Christmas markets with your CEO and sip a warm mug of Glühwein for one last chance to experience the lively atmosphere of this European holiday tradition.
The rest of the day is yours. Choose to visit famous landmarks in the city like, The Vienna State Opera House, Belvedere Palace, the Kunsthistorisches Museum, or Vienna City Hall.
Meals included: Breakfast
Our tour ends this morning and you are welcome to catch a flight home anytime you'd like or stay for another night or two and continue to experience this incredible city. I can offer several options for day tours.
Meals included: Breakfast
On this seven-day adventure, you’ll tour the historic Christmas markets of not one but five different destinations. You’ll sip some warm Glühwein as you wander through Gendarmenmarkt square in Berlin, travel by train to Nuremberg, search for handmade ornaments in Munich, visit local Christmas markets just outside of Salzburg, and get into the festive cheer while you walk through the Viennese Christmas markets. So dig out your best scarves and start practicing your Yuletide carols, because no one does Christmas quite like Europe.
- Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group, Berlin
- Orientation walk in Berlin.
- Christmas markets visit Berlin.
- Train ride to Nuremberg.
- Christmas market visit Nuremberg.
- Hellbrunner Christmas Market visit.
- Salzburg Christmas market visits.
- Private transfer to Vienna with stops at smaller Christmas markets.
- CEO led orientation walk of Vienna.
- Coffee/pastry tasting Vienna.
- Mug of Glühwein (mulled wine).
- Free time in some of the cities.
- Incredible experiences with great people.
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.
- Some meals.
- All accommodations.
Accommodations
Hotels (6 nts)
Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.
Meals
6 breakfasts, 1 dinner
Transportation
Train, private vehicle, walking.
Staff & experts
Professional guide for the entire trip, professional tour guides for our walking tours.
PLEASE READ: I'm inviting people on this trip that will be good travel companions. We'll be spending 7 days together so flexibility in attitude and a "go-with-the-flow" mindset is crucial. We'll be on the move everyday and some of our days will be long. My ideal scene is that we're a supportive group that can have fun together.
Click here to schedule a consult with me about the trip after you've read through the information below:
I have two dates for this tour: Dec. 7-13 and Dec. 14-20, 2026.
- Dec. 7-13 tour has 10 spaces left.
- Dec. 14-20 tour has 2 spaces left.
$2199 per person, not including flights to and from Europe.
This is based on double occupancy. The tour company will pair you with another solo traveler of the same gender if you're traveling alone.
If you must have your own room, the single traveler supplement is $759/per person. There are 3 single spaces available.
Deposit is $350 to hold your space is due now. It is non-refundable, but it is transferrable or you can apply it towards another tour.
Final payment is due on or before Oct. 1, 2026.
We need at least 8 people for the trip to go, so please do not purchase flights until you hear from me. This trip is for people 18 years old and over only. Please contact me if you'd like to bring anyone under 18.
Optional Pre-trip and Post-trip hotel nights to add in Berlin and/or Vienna will be posted here as soon as I have that information.
Travel Insurance is required for this trip. I have two companies that I can recommend or you can purchase on your own.
A U.S. Passport with at least 6 months validity is required for this trip. If you don't have a passport, please start the process now. The passport office is receiving record numbers of applications, and your application can take longer than anticipated.
Please talk to your doctor about any possible medical considerations or vaccines needed for traveling to Germany and Vienna.
Fitness Level: 2 out of 5. Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels.
Cancellation Policy
- Cancellation 60 days or more prior to departure = Deposit paid will become a Lifetime Deposit (LTD) and stay on file in your name to use on a G Adventures trip in the future.
- Cancellation between 30 and 59 days prior to departure = LTD + 50% loss of final payment
- Cancellation within 30 days of departure = LTD + 100% loss of final payment
While it is our intention to adhere to the route outlined here, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document, which I will email you upon registration, is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
I'm partnering with G Adventures for this trip and they support Planeterra International Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to turning travel into impact by helping local communities earn an income from tourism. Planeterra connects underserved local communities to the benefits of tourism by developing and supporting small community-owned businesses. These businesses support Indigenous people, empower women, grant youth access to employment opportunities, and protect the environment. Planeterra also works to ensure these businesses have a thriving customer base by integrating their projects into G Adventures’ itineraries globally.
G Adventures also has a program called Trees for Days, and they will thoughtfully plant 9 trees for each person going on this trip.
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