Christmas Market Magic with Feli from Germany

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant is included. Dinner tonight will be a 2-course set menu of either a starter and main or main and dessert. Drinks are not included. Final meal and restaurant will be determined closer to the travel date.

If you've never been to Berlin 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). Ben and I will be there a couple days early too! 😊 Here are some suggestions of things to see in Berlin that we won't cover on our tour: • Visit the Reichstag building (do a guided tour or just walk up the dome! You'll need to book a slot in advance) & explore the government district • Holocaust Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe • Alexanderplatz with the famous TV tower (you can go up for a view of the city) • Berlin Wall & East Side Gallery • Kurfürstendamm promenade • KaDeWe Department Store • Berlin Cathedral, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (+ many other churches) • Charlottenburg Palace • Museums: e.g. Museum Island (hosts 5 different museums), Wall Museum - Checkpoint Charlie, Stasi Museum, DDR Museum, Topography of Terror etc.

Overnight in Berlin.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical hotel breakfast is either continental or served buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

On our way to the Christmas Market, our tour leader will give us a quick introduction to Berlin. Berlin is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city that offers something for everyone. Whether you are interested in history, culture, art, nightlife, or nature, you will find it in Berlin. You can explore the iconic landmarks, such as the Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall, or discover hidden gems, such as the urban gardens and the street art. Berlin is a city that celebrates diversity and creativity. Please wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk up to 3 miles on paved streets.

Our tour leader will take us on a journey to explore two of Berlin's Christmas markets. We’ll visit the elegant Christmas Market at Gendarmenmarkt. Afterward, we’ll take public transportation to a more traditional market in the Spandau neighborhood.

If you want to, join Ben and me for dinner at the Italian restaurant right by our hotel! If you're too exhausted or would rather have dinner on your own, that's totally fine too. P.S. This applies to all nights of the trip! 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.

Explore Berlin on your own or spend more time at Christmas Markets! Ben and I will head to Brandenburg Gate which is also close to the Reichstag and government district, as well as the Holocaust Memorial. You’re more than welcome to join us if you want! If you’d like to go up to the dome of the Reichstag building, be sure to book a slot in advance. Other places to see (a lot of these spots will have Christmas Markets set up): Alexanderplatz with the famous TV tower (you can go up for a view of the city) • Berlin Wall & East Side Gallery • Kurfürstendamm promenade • KaDeWe Department Store • Berlin Cathedral, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (+ many other churches) • Charlottenburg Palace • Museums: e.g. Museum Island (hosts 5 different museums), Wall Museum - Checkpoint Charlie, Stasi Museum, DDR Museum, Topography of Terror etc.

Overnight in Berlin.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical hotel breakfast is either continental or served buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

From our Berlin hotel, we will head to the train station. In case the hotel is more than a 15-minute walk, a private transfer will be provided. A 2-hour train ride will take us to the beautiful city of Dresden. Your ticket is included. There are bathrooms and a snack cart on board. After arriving in Dresden, we will head to our new accommodation.

We will walk 10 minutes to the tram station and take a 15-minute tram ride to the historic center to begin our tour. Dresden is a city famous for its rich cultural and historical heritage, including majestic palaces, royal buildings, gardens, music venues, and more. Our tour leader will give us an orientation walk through the city, passing landmarks such as the Semperoper Opera House, the Church of Our Lady, Brühl's Terrace, and the Royal Palace. We will have time to return and explore these sights on our free afternoon tomorrow. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and expect to walk up to 2 miles on cobblestone streets and alleys.

Dresden is known as the Christmas capital of Europe! Not only does it host Germany’s oldest Christmas Market (Striezelmarkt) but it’s also home to the famous Dresdner Christ Stollen, which is a delicious sweet bread filled with spices, dried fruits, and raisins and covered in powdered sugar. At the Christmas markets, you can find traditional crafts, delicious treats, and sparkling lights in every corner of the city. Whether you want to admire the world's largest nutcracker, enjoy a mug of mulled wine, try some Stollen, or listen to live music, there is something for everyone at the Dresden Christmas markets! Together with our tour leader, we will visit the Striezelmarkt, which has been around since 1434. Afterward, we’ll stroll along the "Christmas mile" that stretches through the historic center of the city. Please wear comfortable walking shoes and expect to walk up to 2 miles on cobblestone streets.

Overnight in Dresden

Breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical hotel breakfast is either continental or served buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

From our hotel, we will walk 10 minutes to the tram station and take a 15-minute ride to Zwinger Palace, the perfect image of Dresden. Zwinger Palace is a magnificent baroque complex that was built in the 18th century as a venue for royal festivities. It houses several museums, such as the Old Masters Gallery, the Porcelain Collection, and the Royal Cabinet of Mathematical and Physical Instruments. You can admire the stunning architecture, the exquisite works of art, and the fascinating exhibits that showcase the cultural heritage of the region of Saxony. Please wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk up to 2 miles on a mix of paved and gravel pathways.

Enjoy a relaxed afternoon in Dresden or explore more of the city’s landmarks on your own. You could check out the Fürstenzug mural, take a guided tour of the Opera House, or visit the Grand Garden with the palace in the center.

Overnight in Dresden

Breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical hotel breakfast is either continental or served buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a private transfer to the town of Seiffen. No stops for bathrooms/snacks will be made.

Stop for a visit in Seiffen. This charming village in the heart of the Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge) is known for its wooden toy industry, and the historic center is filled with enchanting shops and workshops to discover – perfect for a Christmastime visit! Seiffen has been making toys since the 17th century, when former miners turned to wood carving as a way to survive. During this stop, we will also have time to grab some lunch before we continue our trip across the border to the Czech Republic.

We’re taking a private transfer to the town of Karlovy Vary. Stops for bathrooms/snacks will be made as needed.

Karlovy Vary is a beautiful spa town set in a stunning location. It has long been a choice destination for Europe's most influential people. Over the centuries, people like Napoleon Bonaparte, Peter the Great, Emperor Franz Josef I, Goethe, Beethoven, and Freud have stayed in the well-known spa town. Our tour leader will take us on a short orientation walk along the river to admire the elegant architecture and visit the town’s main Christmas market. Due to the small size of the town, we will be walking through Karlovy Vary, so please wear comfortable walking shoes.

From our hotel, we will walk about 20 minutes to the famous thermal baths of Karlovy Vary. Spend some time unwinding in the sauna and soaking in the warm waters. Please be sure to pack your bathing suit, a towel, sandals, and a change of clothes for after.

Overnight in Karlovy Vary

Breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical hotel breakfast is either continental or served buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a private transfer to the city of Prague. Stops for bathrooms/snacks will be made along the way.

Prague is a wonderful city that has a lot to offer, and especially during Christmas time, it is buzzing with life. On our orientation walk, we will explore the old town and pass the Astronomical Clock, one of the oldest working clocks in the world, and the Church of Our Lady before Týn, a Gothic masterpiece. We’ll head onwards to Wenceslas Square and learn about Czechia's more recent history from the 20th century, as the square has been the scene of many demonstrations, celebrations, and protests throughout history. We will end the tour with a stop on the Charles Bridge, the iconic landmark that connects the Old Town and the Lesser Town. Please wear comfortable walking shoes as we will be walking approximately 2.5- 3 miles on cobblestone roads and alleys. Please wear comfortable walking shoes as you will be walking approximately 2.5- 3 miles on cobblestone roads and alleys.

The streets of Prague are decorated with lights and ornaments, the markets are filled with festive goods and treats, and the atmosphere is cheerful and cozy. We’ll have the chance to admire the beautiful architecture of the Old Town Square, where a giant Christmas tree stands every year. Once we are done at the market, you can stay and explore more of the city or walk 15-20 minutes back to the hotel.

Overnight in Prague

Breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical hotel breakfast is either continental or served buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

For the beer lover, take a self-guided tour of the Pilsener brewery. You will walk 5 minutes to the tram station and take a 10 minute tram ride to the brewery. On this audio tour you will learn about the brewing process and different techniques that they've been using for over 180 years. Your tour concludes in the tap with with 2 beer tastings.

Farewell dinner at a local restaurant is included. Dinner tonight will be a 2-course set menu of either a starter and main or main and dessert. Drinks are not included. Final meal and restaurant will be determined closer to the travel date.

Overnight in Prague

Breakfast at the hotel is included. A typical hotel breakfast is either continental or served buffet style. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.