Picture this: You, sipping mulled wine from a handcrafted mug and strolling through a twinkling winter wonderland, the smells of freshly baked gingerbread wafting through the air as you browse handcrafted baubles and gifts. Traditional holiday music fills the air, a Christmas tree glimmers across cobblestone streets and lights dance over the festivities. It’s a cozy evening in a medieval square at one of Europe’s legendary Christmas markets, and around you, stalls abound with artisans, vendors, and good cheer.
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Now imagine that instead of choosing between the thousands of Christmas markets found throughout countries like Germany, Austria, Hungary, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, you join a guided tour that will zip you between towns to markets across Europe. Whether you want to travel by barge or river cruise, train or bus, there are amazing multi-day Christmas market tours.
Here are 10 exceptional tours sure to inspire your next trip to Europe’s iconic Christmas markets. (Act fast if you want to travel this holiday season; at press time, there were still discounts available on 2024 departures.)
1. Adventures by Disney
Itinerary: Rhine River Cruise: Christmas Markets
Countries: Switzerland, France, Germany and The Netherlands
If there was ever a chance to step inside a magical fairy tale, it’s on a trip curated by Adventures by Disney. On the picturesque eight-day Rhine River Cruise: Christmas Markets aboard AmaWaterways’ vessel the AmaLucia, guests visit renowned Christmas markets in three countries and tour Germany’s majestic Heidelberg Castle. With plenty of curated activities, participants can also take a sightseeing cruise to see the historic castles that dot the Rhine Gorge’s shoreline and visit Germany’s Europa-Park.
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2. Intrepid Travel
Itinerary: Europe Christmas Markets: Budapest to Zagreb
Countries: Hungary, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia
Train fans, check out Intrepid Travel’s eight-day adventure Europe Christmas Markets: Budapest to Zagreb, a mostly by-train tour to Christmas markets in cities across central Europe. On the tour, you can wander between 14 Austrian Christmas markets in Graz, join a tour with a local guide through Croatian Christmas markets in Zagreb, sip forralt bor at Hungarian markets in Budapest, and wander a vibrant market lit up by a special Slovenian holiday light display in Ljubljana.
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3. Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Itinerary: Belgian Holiday Markets
Countries: Belgium and The Netherlands (with an optional excursion to Germany)
Perfect for seasoned Christmas market-goers, award-winning Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ eight-day Belgian Holiday Markets river journey ferries guests along the Rhine River to Belgian Christmas markets in the car-free historic center of Ghent, the French-speaking town of Liège, and in beautiful Bruges. A stop in The Netherlands brings the chance to ice skate at the Christmas market rink in Maastricht, visit the famous underground Christmas market of Valkenburg (held in the city’s atmospheric caves), or venture into Germany for the Aachen Christmas Market.
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4. Exodus Adventure Travels
Itinerary: Winter in the Baltics, Helsinki and Stockholm
Countries: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden
If your holiday dreams include sipping glögg plus a healthy dose of Baltic and Nordic culture, you want adventure-focused tour company Exodus Adventure Travels’ 10-day tour Winter in the Baltics, Helsinki and Stockholm. This journey by bus and ferry stops in five European capitals: Vilnius in Lithuania, Riga in Latvia, Tallinn in Estonia, Helsinki in Finland, and Stockholm in Sweden. Travelers revel at traditional Christmas markets in each city, visit stunning castles and churches, and learn about different traditions on each stop.
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5. Tauck
Itinerary: Christmas Markets Along the Danube
Countries: Germany and Austria
For a foray to beloved German and Austrian markets along the Danube river, luxury tour company Tauck’s eight-day river cruise Christmas Markets Along the Danube delivers guests to historic markets in Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, Passau, Regensburg, and Nuremberg. Highlights include a visit to the private German Christmas market at Saint Emmeram’s Palace, a stop at Austria’s baroque Melk Abbey, and the chance to experience Germany’s Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, one of the oldest and most famous Christmas markets in the world.
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6. Viking
Itinerary: Christmas Along the Elbe
Countries: Germany and the Czech Republic
The best of Christmas market touring by land and river come together with Viking’s 10-day cruisetour Christmas Along the Elbe, featuring time-honored European holiday traditions in cities in Germany and the Czech Republic. Traveling by river cruise, guests will discover the secrets to baking traditional Christstollen in Dresden, learn about the craftsmanship of Meissen’s famous porcelain, and in Prague, visit Hradčany Castle and learn about the city’s rich Jewish history. In addition to the voyage, the trip includes two-night hotel stays in both Berlin and Prague.
7. Kensington
Itinerary: Winter Wonders: London and Cotswold Christmas Markets
Country: United Kingdom
To experience the holiday enchantment of the United Kingdom, luxury tour operator Kensington’s eight-day Winter Wonders: London and Cotswold Christmas Markets takes guests on a wondrous journey through London’s light displays and Christmas markets, Kew Gardens in Sussex, Oxford’s markets, and the festive light show at Blenheim Palace. But this is only a starting point; with a private driver and boutique hotels included in both London and the Cotswolds, the trip’s itinerary is fully customizable and based on interests, tastes, and budget.
8. Expat Explore
Itinerary: Europe Highlights Christmas Tour
Countries: Italy, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Switzerland
For an affordable land tour option that covers seven countries, Expat Explore’s 10-day Europe Highlights Christmas Tour takes guests on a whirlwind tour of Christmas festivities across Europe via private coach bus. Starting and ending in Rome, travelers join holiday celebrations across Italy, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, France, and Switzerland. Highlights include browsing Murano glass pieces at Christmas markets in Venice, snacking on Lebkuchen at Bavarian markets in Munich, and sipping vin chaud at the Christmas markets of Paris.
9. Travel Talk Tours
Itinerary: Best of Transylvanian Christmas Markets
Country: Romania
An off-the-beaten-path land tour awaits with Travel Talk Tours’ eight-day Best of Transylvanian Christmas Markets. Stopping at Christmas markets across central Romania by coach bus, this engaging tour offers the chance to sample seasonal delicacies at the traditional Christmas markets of Sibiu Old Town, visit the magnificent Bran Castle and Peleș Castle, and explore the charming medieval architecture of Sighișoara. Known for its breathtaking scenery and rich history, Transylvania at Christmastime offers unforgettable music, dance, and culinary traditions.
10. European Waterways
Itinerary: Classic Christmas Markets Cruise: Alsace & Lorraine
Country: France
If you love the slower pace and relaxed vibe of barge cruising, European Waterways’ seven-day, 12-passenger Classic Christmas Markets Cruise: Alsace & Lorraine cruise aboard the hotel barge Panache is for you. This all-inclusive tour transports guests to Christmas markets across northeast France, including the 13 markets found in Strasbourg’s historic center and in the colorful towns of Riquewihr and Colmar. Excursions include getting to watch craftspeople in Meisenthal creating Christmas ornaments and journeying to the 12th century hilltop Château du Haut-Barr to soak up sweeping views of Saverne.
