Christmas Markets

Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest8 days

About

Explore the very best of central and east Europe’s festive market scene. Feel the bustling energy of Munich’s charismatic Christmas markets, savour the smell of spicy festive delights in Salzburg, see the sparkling lights and sights of vibrant Vienna, and take a glorious soak in the hot spring bathsof Budapest. From late November through December these cities turn into a magical world of lights, gingerbread, mulled wine and falling snow.

You should experience it because...

At these beautiful festive markets you will find an array of wonderful gifts, local handicrafts, seasonal treats, and traditional fare. With nutcrackers, advent calendars, decorations and delicious food, these markets become the focal point at Christmas time with decorations adorning restaurants, cafes, palaces, and streets.

Indulge the senses

There are more than 20 Christmas markets in and around the city of Munich – see if you can visit them all!

Salzburg’s Christmas market is a feast for all the senses – the delicious scent of mulled wine wafts around all the booths that are exquisitely adorned with beautiful decorations.

Combine your Budapest Christmas market experience with a 3-tier wine tasting in a private cellar and sip wines from Hungary such as Bull’s Blood and Tokaj.

Places covered 8 Days

Day 1 Arrive Munich, Germany, time for sightseeing
Day 2 Munich – city tour and Christmas market
Day 3 Munich – sightseeing and attractions
Day 4 Munich to Salzburg, Austria, time for sightseeing
Day 5 Salzburg – Christmas markets and sightseeing
Day 6 Salzburg to Vienna, time for sightseeing
Day 7 Vienna Christmas market and sightseeing
Day 8 Budapest – Christmas markets and sightseeing
Day 9 Depart

Days Details
1 Arrive Munich, Germany, time for sightseeing Munich is the dynamic capital of Bavaria and a wonderful city to visit at Christmas time. Begin your visit with a walk around the Old Town. See the famed Glockenspiel and watch its life-size mechanical figures dance and joust. Take in the neo-Gothic New Town Hall, festooned with gargoyles and statues, including a dragon scaling the turrets. The Residenz museum was home to Bavaria’s Wittelsbach rulers from 1508 until WW1. See some amazing treasures here, as well as all the trappings of their lifestyles over the centuries. Dine at the Oskar Maria brasserie (named after the 20thcentury Oskar Maria Graf) – the risotto here is delicious.
2 Munich – city tour and Christmas market Take a 3-hour walking tour and tick off all of Munich’s central landmarks in three hours. Or jump on a hop-on, hop-off tour and see the city in style. Dip in to Munich’s medieval history in the charming pedestrianised medieval streets that encircle Marienplatz and wind around churches, markets and cafes. Time to get really Christmassy and to visit Christkindl markt, the city’s oldest and largest Christmas market. Browse for handicrafts, admire traditional nativity scenes, and sample delicious festive treats. Soak up the atmosphere at the vibrant Toll wood Christmas Market and sing along to the festive tunes of the city’s alpine Christmas Market concert.
3 Munich – sightseeing and attractions Take a tour out to the Residenz (the former royal palace) which also hosts a fabulous Christmas village. Or take a private excursion to Nuremburg to visit the city’s world-famous Christmas Market on the Hauptmarkt square in the old quarter. About 180 wooden stalls, festooned with red and white cloth, havegiven this market its name of ‘Little Town from Wood and Cloth’. Here you can enjoy delicious Nuremberg spicy gingerbread, fruit loaves, sweets, and beautiful Christmas tree ornaments such as angels, candles, toys, and wooden decorations.
4 Munich to Salzburg, Austria, time for sightseeing Continue to Salzburg and magical markets set up in snow-dusted squares throughout the town. Enjoy cultural highlights such as the Cathedral, Mozart’s birthplace, and Mirabell Palace. Walk down Getreidegasse, Salzburg’s most famous shopping street, and visit shops selling local Christmassy items including decorations, gilded glass, and Mozartkugel chocolate pralines. Time to dip in to the atmospheric Christmas market in front of the city’s cathedral and enjoy the aromas of spicy Gluhwein, roasted chestnuts, toasted almonds, and cinnamon-brushed baked apples.
5 Salzburg – Christmas markets and sightseeing Visit the beautiful Christmas market at Schloss Hellbrunn, and really get in to the Christmas spirit with a reindeer-pulled sleigh ride. Why not meander side streets where classical music wafts from open windows, linger decadently over coffee and cake, and let Salzburg work its magic. Be overwhelmed by the Dom Cathedral with its bulbous copper dome and twin spires – a masterpiece of baroque art. And visit the Salzburg Museum housed in the baroque Neue Residenz palace and take a fascinating trip through Salzburg’s past. Or take a tour into the Salzkammergut, the wonderful region of mountains and lakes in the Austrian Alps and visit film sites from The Sound of Music. Visit the Silent Night Chapel in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, or explore one of Salzburg’s salt mines.
6 Salzburg to Vienna, time for sightseeing On to Vienna, the Imperial jewel in Austria’s crown where you will see the fruits of the city’s status everywhere, from the treasures of the cosmopolitan Ringstrasse (Ring Road) to the Hofburg, Emperor Franz Josef’s palace. Vienna’s Innere Stadt, the city’s medieval heart, is an ideal place to spend an afternoon. Explore the town’s twisting streets. See the iconic Stefansdom Cathedral, dating back to the 10thcentury, and the shops lining the pedestrian-only Graben. Indulge in some of the delicious festive food along the way, such as a savoury Kartoffelpuffer or spicy kirsch-gingerbread. In the evening, take a ride on the Prater Ferris Wheel to see the city from the sky.
7 Vienna Christmas market and sightseeing A local guide can take you on a tour of the city’s many Christmas markets including the market in front of Schonbrunn Palace, the market in the narrow streets of Spittelberg, and the Town Hall market that’s famous for its colourful lights. At Christmas time, Vienna springs to life with food markets, wonderful art, and culinary delights – particularly the local specialities in the enormous Naschmarkt food market. There will also be daily opportunities to visit Vienna’s leading coffee houses, and enjoy gingerbread, chocolate torte, and lots and lots of apple strudl.
8 Budapest – Christmas markets, spas, and sightseeing Admire this beautiful city while it’s lit up with fairy lights and sparkling decorations. Explore the city’s exquisite architecture, cross the Chain Bridge, and visit some of the top city sights such as Andrassy Boulevard, the Opera House and St. Stephen’s Basilica. After the guided tour, visit the biggest Budapest Christmas market to find Hungarian handicrafts, trinkets and souvenirs. Enjoy complimentary wine tastings in a private cellar, or purchase sweets from popular vendors at the Christmas markets. After a busy day exploring the city and the markets treatyourself to an amazing bath and spa experience. Try the Szechenyi Baths with its dozen thermal baths and five swimming pools. Or relax with a soak in the ‘cathedral like’ art nouveau Gellert Baths, open to both men and women in separate sections. Soothe those joints with the warm water that ranges in temperature from 26ºC to 38ºC. The Rudas Baths have recently been renovated and date back to 1566. Lie back and enjoy relaxing in the octagonal pool, looking up at the beautiful domed cupola with coloured glass and towering columns. Or ‘take to the waters’ at the Lukacs baths – housed in sprawling 19thcentury complex, these baths are popular with keen spa goers.
9 Depart

€ 1,850 per person	(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
Price Per Person in Twin Sharing Accomodation
(Prices are in Euros and exclude international flights)
All rates mentioned are an approximate price per person on a twin-sharing basis, and are based on a minimum of 4-6 adults travelling together. Rates are subject to change based on the number of passengers and the time of year. (Flights, visas, travel insurance, lunches & dinners, personal expenses not included. There may be some itinerary activities not included also – please ask). Inclusions : - Traditional ,Boutique or Heritage accommodation where possible or Quality accommodation (on a twin-sharing basis) in centrally located 4*Hotels . -Meals – breakfast in all destinations - Internal Travel by rail - ferries - coach as applicable -Guided sightseeing excursions as per the itinerary -First arrival and last departure transfers Most Holidays are based on Independent Travel . Holidays could be Customised to your requirements and you could choose to upgrade to Selfdrive or Exclusively Private basis .

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Capture summer magic in the lakes and mountains of Austria & Italy or take an iconic spring rail tour for a combination city and culture break. Walk in Slovenia’s Tatras mountains in the summer, and enjoy Slovakia’s rich medieval culture & charming rural landscapes from May to August. Not forgetting the stunning winter skiing in the Carpathian mountains as well as the magnificent Swiss & Austrian Alps. Add to this city breaks galore in Germany, Hungary & Poland, with spring Rhine cruises, year-round Budapest spas, and summer Polish cultural tours - central Europe is a must-visit destination all year-round.

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Freedom Holidays is passionate about creating inspirational tailor-made travel to Europe and beyond. Our business is your pleasure and our expert and dedicated team is here to listen to your travel needs down to the ‘nth’ degree, leaving you ‘free’ to enjoy your holiday of a lifetime with no gimmicks, no hassle, and no stress. What makes us different? With 14 years experience of providing quality tailor-made customised holidays with an ‘off-the beaten-track’ themed approach, we take you to well-known destinations as well as far flung locations (or a mixture of both), leaving you safe in the knowledge that you will be looked after every step of the way.

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