European Christmas Markets

Day 1 | Tuesday 8 December
Arrival
We meet in the early afternoon at Zurich Airport, before a private group transfer brings us to our hotel in Bern. After checking in, we embark on an orientation stroll through the festively decorated streets of the UNESCO-listed Old Town. We then enjoy a welcome dinner in a local restaurant, followed by a special gluwein tasting to get us into the Christmas spirit. We return to the hotel, soaking up the festive atmosphere of the city enroute. Overnight Bern (D)

Day 2 | Wednesday 9 December
Festive Bern
The city of Bern, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has retained its historic charm through the centuries, boasting cobblestone streets, timbered buildings and one of the longest weather-sheltered shopping promenades in Europe, known as ‘Lauben’. After a talk in the hotel this morning, we embark on an in-depth exploration of key parts of the town, including its spectacular Gothic-style cathedral, or Bern Münster, which dates back to the 15th century and features the highest steeple in Switzerland. Lunch is then enjoyed in a local restaurant, followed by a visit to the Einstein Museum, part of the Bernisches Historisches Museum. The exhibits trace Albert Einstein’s years in Bern – where, while working at the Swiss Patent Office, he developed the revolutionary theories published in his ‘Annus Mirabilis’ papers of 1905. A final short walk through the Old Town then brings us to Münsterplatz Christmas markets, where dozens of artisans sell treats and gifts in the shadow of Bern Münster. Here we will indulge in some of the market’s mulled wine, rumoured to be the best in town, after which there will be free time to explore the various stalls at your leisure. Overnight Bern (B, L)

Day 3 | Thursday 10 December
Basel & Strasbourg
We depart by coach this morning for the French leg of our tour, stopping first in the picturesque town of Basel, with its Gothic cathedral, 16th-century town hall and a tumultuous history spanning almost 2,000 years. Basel is also renowned for its museums – hosting 37 in total – and we will explore the Kunstmuseum, home to the oldest public art collection in the world. Following our visit, we take a guided walking tour of the old town, including the Basel Münster, whose red sandstone towers rise above the Rhine and have defined the city’s skyline since the 12th century. From the cathedral precinct we continue through the historic centre, tracing Basel’s development as a centre of trade, scholarship and art. There will be free time for lunch at the Christmas markets before we continue across the border to Strasbourg and check into our hotel. Strasbourg, the capital of the Grand Est region, walks the tightrope between France and Germany and has changed hands many times over the centuries, developing a distinct identity of its own. After checking into our hotel, we complete the day with dinner in one of the city’s renowned brasseries. Overnight Strasbourg (B, D)

Day 4 | Friday 11 December
Strasbourg & Colmar
Strasbourg lies at the crossroads of Europe, its streets reflecting centuries of exchange between France and Germany. Medieval foundations sit alongside later civic monuments, revealing the city’s layered past. This morning, after a talk in our hotel, we set out on a walking tour with a local guide through the historic centre. We visit the Strasbourg Münster, whose intricate Gothic façade and soaring spire have long defined the skyline and which, for centuries, ranked among the tallest buildings in the world. Lunch is taken in a local restaurant before we board our coach for Colmar, a quintessential Alsatian town of winding laneways, canals and timber-framed houses, set amid vineyards and overlooked by medieval castles. On arrival, we embark on a walking tour of the old town before visiting the Musée Unterlinden, housed in a 13th-century Dominican convent and home to an important collection of medieval and Renaissance art. Among its treasures is the Isenheim Altarpiece by German Renaissance painter Matthias Grünewald. At this time of year, the festive season transforms Colmar into a Christmas wonderland, and we devote part of the afternoon to strolling its narrow streets, illuminated and animated by six individually themed Christmas markets. Returning to Strasbourg in the early evening, we visit the Alsatian Delicacies Market at Place du Marché-aux-Poissons, where waterside chalets offer regional specialities including vin chaud, mannele, local wines and craft beer. Overnight Strasbourg (B, L)

Day 5 | Saturday 12 December
Fine Art & Fine Wine
Strasbourg reveals its cultural and gastronomic character in equal measure today. We begin at the Museum of Fine Arts, housed in the elegant Baroque Palais Rohan. Its collection spans the Renaissance to the 19th century, with works by Botticelli and Raphael, as well as Rubens, Van Dyck, Delacroix and Courbet, offering a concise survey of European painting within a grand historic setting. There will be free time to explore the emblematic Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie. Established almost four centuries ago, it is the oldest Christmas market in France. As we meander through its wooden chalets, the atmosphere makes clear why Strasbourg is known as the Capital of Christmas. Later, we meet our coach and venture into the Alsatian countryside, where vineyards stretch along the lower slopes of the Vosges. This is a region shaped by its terroir and long wine-making tradition, particularly celebrated for its aromatic Gewurztraminer and structured Riesling. This evening we dine at L’Ami Fritz, an 18th-century winstub known for its timbered interiors and longstanding commitment to traditional Alsatian cuisine. A carefully composed menu is paired with local wines, reflecting the character of the surrounding vineyards. We return to our hotel in Strasbourg later in the evening. Overnight Strasbourg (B, D)

Day 6 | Sunday 13 December
Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Departing France this morning, we make our way into Germany, arriving in the medieval Bavarian town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in time for a break for lunch. We then proceed to a charming ochre facaded building in the centre where it is Christmas all year round – the Käthe Wohlfahrt German Christmas Museum. The museum showcases the timeline of Christmas decorations from the 19th century through to the 20th, and we will have time to purchase Christmas decorations from their vast range. Among other claims to fame, Rothenburg Ob der Tauber lies on the pilgrim trail of Santiago de Compostela, and we pay a visit to the 15th-century Lutheran Church of St James (or Jakob) which houses the Altar of the Holy Blood, named for the rare relic it is said to hold: a small sample of Christ’s blood. Quite apart from its contents, the intricately carved altar has a profound historical significance and is a sight to behold. We check into our hotel in the early afternoon, followed by dinner in a local restaurant. To round out our first evening in Germany, it is only fitting that we also enjoy a visit to Rothenburg’s Reiterlesmarkt. Dating back to the 15th century, this Christmas market is a testament to the town’s rich history, named after the “Reiterle,” a mythical figure from German folklore. Overnight Rothenburg ob der Tauber (B, D)

Day 7 | Monday 14 December
Würzburg
Today we enjoy a day trip to the Baroque city of Würzburg in Bavaria, at the northern end of the “Romantic Road” with impressive history spanning back to the time of ancient Celtic tribes. Enroute we visit the pilgrimage church Maria Limbach, considered the most beautiful sacred building of architect Balthasar Neumann. Stopping for lunch on arrival in Würzburg, we then embark on a guided walking tour of the city, renowned for its lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture and pastel facades in shades of pink and yellow. The highlight of the tour is undoubtedly our visit to the former residence of the Würzburg prince-bishops, one of the most important baroque palaces in Europe. Also designed by the then young and unknown architect Balthasar Neumann for Prince-Bishop Johann Philipp Franz von Schönborn in 1722, its lavish and ornate rooms reflect not only the various German baroque styles but also that of a French château and the traditional Viennese imperial baroque style. It is then a short walk into the town square, where outside the Marienkapelle Chapel the city’s Christmas Markets are on full display, a perfect way to end our day. We return to Rothenburg where the evening is at leisure. Overnight Rothenburg ob der Tauber (B)

Day 8 | Tuesday 15 December
Nuremberg & Salzburg
We depart Rothenburg this morning for the final leg of our tour as we make our way to the Austrian city of Salzburg. Just before we cross the border, our last destination in Bavaria is Nuremberg, a magnificent, well-preserved medieval town and the birthplace of the German painter and theorist of the Renaissance, Albrecht Dürer. We begin with a visit to the Germanisches National museum, which houses a collection showcasing the history and culture of the entire region, from the dawn of Germanic cultures to the present day. We then embark on a walking tour of the medieval old town, visiting key landmarks such as the Albrecht Dürer House, Saint Lawrence Church and Nuremberg Castle. We will also learn about its history through the ages, from a prosperous medieval walled city, to a centre of the Holy Roman Empire and a cradle of the German Renaissance. No visit to Nuremberg is complete without a stroll through the Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt, one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in the world. After free time for lunch, we then depart for our hotel in Salzburg, where after check in we will enjoy dinner in the hotel. Overnight Salzburg (B, D)

Day 9 | Wednesday 16 December
Salzburg’s Music Heritage
Salzburg’s identity is inseparable from music. From sacred hymnody to classical composition, the city and its surrounds have shaped some of Europe’s most enduring musical traditions. We begin with a short transfer to Oberndorf to visit the “Silent Night” Chapel and Museum. It was here, on Christmas Eve in 1818, that the carol Stille Nacht was first performed. The modest chapel now stands as a place of quiet reflection, while the adjoining museum traces the origins and global journey of this much-loved hymn. Returning to Salzburg, we enjoy lunch at M32, where sweeping views extend across the city’s Baroque skyline to the fortress above. The afternoon is devoted to a walking tour with a local guide through the medieval and Baroque heart of Salzburg. We explore the Mirabell Palace Gardens, the Getreidegasse – the historic commercial artery of the old town – and the ecclesiastical precinct shaped by the powerful Prince-Archbishops. We also visit Mozart’s birthplace, the vivid yellow Baroque house in which he was born in 1756, now a museum that traces his early life and musical formation. The day concludes at the historic Salzburg Christkindlmarkt, which extends from Residenzplatz to Domplatz beneath the cathedral arches, filling the old town with lights, craft stalls and seasonal fare. Overnight Salzburg (B, L)

Day 10 | Thursday 17 December
Salzkammergut Lake District & the Palace of Hellbrun
On our final day we travel to the town of Saint Gilgen, which sits on the shore of Lake Wolfgang in the breathtakingly beautiful Salzkammergut alpine lake district, synonymous with the Sound of Music. Saint Gilgen is also the birthplace of Mozart’s mother, Anna Maria Mozart, and we will have a short tour of the town before continuing through the scenic countryside to visit Saint Wolfgang. The Christmas Market here, located on the shores of Lake Wolfgang and enveloped by the Alps, is one of the most beautiful in the country. After enjoying lunch with fine views over the lake, we return to Salzburg with time to freshen up in our hotel, before reconvening for an evening visit to the 17th-century Hellbrun Palace – a remarkably extravagant and luxurious summer residence built for the prince Archbishops, which was made famous by The Sound of Music. Its grand Renaissance rooms rival the major palaces in Europe, but it is also famous for its Wasserspiele (Water Games), a whimsical water feature and the only one of its kind, originally designed to trick guests of the archbishop. We end the day with a farewell dinner in a local restaurant, before returning to our hotel. Overnight Salzburg (B, L, D)

Day 11 | Friday 18 December
Departure
Our tour ends today after breakfast, and there will be a group transfer arranged to Munich airport to meet departing flights. (B)