Christmas in Germany & Austria with Feli from Germany

Let's raise a glass together to an exciting trip ahead during our welcome dinner! Tonight's dinner will be at a local restaurant, just a short walk from the hotel. It will feature a 2-course set menu or à la carte menu with a modern twist on traditional Bavarian cuisine. (Drinks are not included and will be at your own expense. The menu is subject to change based on the final restaurant selection.)

If you've never been to Munich before and you'd like to spend some more time in the city (there is a lot to see!), you can arrive a few days early and explore on your own before the group trip officially starts (at your own cost). Here are some suggestions of things to see in Munich that we won't cover on our tour: • Munich Residence • Olympic Park & BMW World • BMW Works Tour • NS Documentation Center • Hofbräuhaus • Allianz Arena (for all soccer fans!) • Deutsches Museum (world's largest technology & science museum) • art museums (e.g. Alte & Neue Pinakothek, Haus der Kunst, etc.) • Dachau Concentration Camp (you can book a bus tour or go by yourself) • Neuschwanstein Castle Tour (book a bus tour)

Overnight in Munich, Germany

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet-style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by our finalized hotel.

With our tour leader, we’ll head into the heart of Munich, either on foot or via public transportation. As we explore, we’ll get acquainted with the city’s rich culture and history. Surrounded by the Bavarian Alps, this cosmopolitan city, with its breathtaking architecture, is alive with art, history, and music, and its world-famous markets. Some highlights of the tour include seeing the Marienplatz, the Frauenkirche church, and City Hall. We’ll walk about 1–2 miles, so comfortable footwear is essential.

Using our public transportation tickets, which will be provided by our tour leader, we’ll take the tram and then walk for about 10 minutes to the palace. Nymphenburg Palace, built in the late 17th century, is an architectural masterpiece, with sprawling, beautifully manicured grounds. On this tour, we’ll learn about the history of the royal Wittelsbach family and get to explore their former home. The entrance ticket to the palace is included.

Munich Christmas Markets In the afternoon, we’ll soak in the festive spirit at several of Munich’s Christmas markets, including the Kripperlmarkt, where you can find everything from carved decorations to food and drink stalls, as well as all the materials you would need to create your own nativity scene. We’ll also explore the Tollwood Christmas Market, a vibrant market with more than 200 brightly colored stalls containing organic delicacies from all over the world. Music lovers will be able to get into the festive spirit with a special alpine Christmas market concert from the balcony of Munich's City Hall.

One mulled wine tasting is included on your Christmas market tour.

If you want to, join Ben and me for dinner at one of my favorite restaurants! We can still decide whether we're in the mood for traditional German cuisine, Italian, or if you'd like to give Munich's most successful burger joint a shot! If you're too exhausted or you'd rather have dinner on your own, that's totally fine too. P.S. This applies to all nights of the trip, by the way. If you guys want to have dinner with the group, Ben and I will always be up for that. If you'd rather do your own thing, that's perfectly okay as well. *Dinner is not included in trip cost*

Overnight in Munich, Germany

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet-style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by our finalized hotel.

From our hotel, we’ll either walk to the train station or—if the walk is over 15 minutes—get a private transfer. Then, we’ll take the train to Salzburg (~ 2 hours). Tickets are included. There are bathrooms and a snack cart on board. After arriving in Salzburg, we’ll walk to our new accommodation.

From our hotel, we’ll walk to the city center to begin our tour. With the Salzach River running through its center, we’ll see that Salzburg is an enchanting city surrounded by the Eastern Alps. We’ll meander through cobblestone alleys between centuries-old buildings and take in the atmosphere and magnificent views. Some highlights of the tour include seeing the Cathedral Square, Mozart's birthplace, the Salzach River promenade, and the famous Getreidegasse shopping street. We’ll be walking for roughly 1–2 miles, so please wear comfortable walking shoes.

Afterwards, we’ll take the cable car up to the stunning fortress of Hohensalzburg, one of Europe’s largest medieval castles. It’s situated on the Festungsberg, 1,660 feet above the city. The entrance ticket is included, and once inside the fortress, we’ll have time to explore on our own before we meet back at the cable car and head to the Christmas market.

As evening sets in, we’ll experience the festive magic of the Salzburg Christmas market. The aroma of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts and almonds, and cinnamon-brushed baked apples will waft through the marketplace as the beautiful sounds of traditional carols sung by the Salzburg Choir fill the air. Let’s browse through unique gifts and souvenirs handcrafted by local artisans, offering the perfect memento of your visit to this magical market.

Overnight in Salzburg.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

We’ll take a short walk to the bus stop at Main Station, where we’ll board a bus bound for St. Gilgen. Upon arrival, we’ll enter a shared boat and take a scenic ride across Wolfgangsee Lake to reach Strobl, followed by another boat ride to St. Wolfgang. In each village, we can immerse ourselves in the festive atmosphere of the Christmas markets, where an array of food stalls awaits. Lunch will be at your discretion, allowing flexibility in your exploration. After indulging in the delights of these charming towns, we’ll take the bus back to Salzburg. Although there will be breaks on the bus and boat, expect continuous walking, so comfortable footwear and warm clothing are recommended for today’s excursion.

Overnight in Salzburg.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet-style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by our finalized hotel.

From our hotel, we’ll either walk to the train station or—if the walk is over 15 minutes—get a private transfer. We’ll take the train to Vienna (2.5 hours). Tickets are included. There are bathrooms and a snack cart on board. After arriving in Vienna, we’ll walk to our new accommodations.

Our tour leader will take us on an orientation walk through the city to see the majestic architecture of St. Stephen's Cathedral, the bustling Graben, the historic Hofburg Palace, Karlsplatz, and the grand Vienna Opera House, as well as Vienna’s impressive City Hall. The orientation walk covers approximately 1–2 miles, so be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.

In the afternoon, we’ll explore Vienna’s magical Christmas markets. Set against the backdrop of magnificent Baroque architecture, the atmosphere is sure to enchant and delight all who visit.

Overnight in Vienna.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet-style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by our finalized hotel.

We’ll take public transportation to the palace. Entrance tickets are included. Once inside, we’ll take a self-guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace with its breathtaking architecture and beautifully manicured gardens. This magnificent Rococo-style palace has 1,441 rooms and was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. In 1786, Mozart performed in the palace Orangery. At the end of the tour, we’ll head back to town for the remainder of the day.

We’re ending our journey with a memorable farewell dinner to share laughter and memories with our newfound friends at a cozy local restaurant. Dinner will feature a 2-course set menu or à la carte options. (Drinks are not included and the final menu may vary.)

Explore Vienna on your own or spend more time at one of Vienna's many Christmas Markets! You could visit the Prater Park, visit the Hofburg (and the Sisi Museum which I loved), do a guided tour through the Opera House (book tickets in advance!), visit one of Vienna's famous coffeehouses, or just stroll through the pedestrian zone and shop for souvenirs.

Overnight in Vienna.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental, full/American, or buffet-style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by our finalized hotel.