Festive Travels: 5 Unforgettable European Christmas Market Tours

What do travelers love most about Christmas? Well, Europe’s Christmas markets certainly top the list! These magical destinations, filled with twinkling lights, handcrafted treasures and the scent of tasty treats (and even some mulled wine), offer a unique way to celebrate the season. Whether it’s checking out the best seasonal shopping as you cruise in luxury along the Rhine, or discovering holiday splendor in Switzerland, these 5 expertly led tours will put your holiday spirit in to overdrive.

Experience Europe’s Christmas Markets on a Floating Boutique Hotel

Celebrate the magic of some of the world’s best holiday markets with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. The company is offering a carefully curated Holiday Collection with eight enchanting itineraries that run through the month of December. These tours offer an appealing mix of world-famous markets, as well as hidden gems. Aboard a floating winter wonderland guests can sip on holiday-themed cocktails as they enjoy a multitude of festive programs in-between market stops.

One of the newest tours is ‘Belgian Holiday Markets’ which highlights some of Belgium’s lesser-known yet spectacular seasonal markets, and also includes stops in Germany and the Netherlands. Additional tours include the ‘Classic Christmas Markets’ that takes passengers along Germany’s Main River, and the ‘Rhine Holiday Markets,’ where travelers traverse Switzerland, France, and Germany.

A Magical Winter Getaway Across Germany’s Christmas Markets

Have some hard-to-buy-for loved ones on your holiday shopping list? Why not buy them a one-of-a-kind gift from Germany while on a 7-day German Christmas Markets tour with Contiki, the tour company with a focus on 18-35-year-olds. From the animated markets of Frankfurt, to the historic wonder of Nuremberg and Munich, meander through cobblestoned lane ways bathed in twinkling Christmas lights. Some of the main attractions include Cologne’s majestic cathedral, Stuttgart’s ancient architecture and one of the continent’s oldest markets that’s filled with lovely antiques and hand-crafted wooden toys. The tour features a gingerbread-making workshop and a trip to Neuschwanstein Castle, which looks like a fairy tale come to life.

Christmas Markets Across Vienna, Ljubljana and Zagreb

Visit the captivating (and less touristed) Christmas markets of Croatia, Slovenia and Austria with Insight Vacations’ Christmas Markets of Croatia Slovenia and Austria journey. Begin in Croatia’s capital city, Zagreb, where you’ll enjoy the bustling Christmas market, Zrinjevac Park and ride in a funicular to St. Marks’ Church and the Lotrščak Tower. The tour includes a trip to Slovenia’s legendary Postojna caves, famed for their awe-inspiring rock formations. Next, it’s on to discover the incredible medieval capital city of Ljubljana where you’ll visit Christmas markets and sample a plethora of palate-pleasing treats. In Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, guests will go on an enchanting Bratislava Christmas market food tour before traveling to Vienna to see the Ring Road and wander through numerous Christmas markets.

Discover Iconic Winter Wonderlands in Austria, Germany and Switzerland

Go on a spellbinding tour of some of the best Christmas market capitals of the world with visits to Vienna, Munich, Zurich on this Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland from Trafalgar. Explore the markets of Vienna with a local specialist where you’ll feast your eyes on a magical selection of handmade toys, presents, food and gorgeous decorations. Sip and savor local beers from a traditional Bavarian restaurant in Munich. Afterwards, hit the city’s dazzling holiday market. Next on the itinerary is the storybook town of Innsbruck, which comes complete with stunning mountain vistas and quaint Bavarian architecture. In Lucerne, you’ll be treated to lunch with a local family before heading off to the famous wooden market stalls and a lovely Christmas carousel all while sipping warm Glühwein.

Enjoy Central Europe’s Hidden Christmas Markets

Why not go on a once-in-a-lifetime tour with Unforgettable Travel, exploring the lesser-known Christmas Markets of Central Europe. The itinerary on this tour is customizable to the interests of the participants. Start in Munich, where you’ll experience first-hand the festive atmosphere of the city’s charming Christmas markets. Stroll through the market stalls, discovering unique, handcrafted treasures like sparkling ornaments, intricate wooden toys and exquisite jewelry. Then, move on to the celebrated cities of Prague and Vienna that offer the perfect combination of Old-World charm and modern luxuries. On top of visiting Christmas markets in each city, you’ll also be taken on a walking tour of Prague’s historic heart and, in Vienna, visit regal castles and palaces and get to experience an authentic Viennese concert.