CHRISTMAS MARKETS - GERMANY, ITALY, & FRANCE in 8 days
Strasbourg - 2 nights
Freiburg - 1 night
Füssen - 1 night
Bolzano - 2 nights
Munich - 1 night
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$3789 + air
Single Supplement = $639
Christmas Markets pop up all over Europe during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Each year, we feature several winter wonderland tours during the holiday Christmas season. These outdoor markets feature unique decorations, beautiful, handcrafted arts, and endless opportunities to sample great food and countless varieties of glüwein, punch, and spiced drinks, served piping hot in souvenir mugs. This route features three contrasting cultures and languages. Plus, as a bonus, traveling “off-season” means easy access to the sights and markets in Heidelberg, Strasbourg, Freiburg, Füssen, Bolzano, and Munich.
Your Adventure Starts Here!
Day 1: Heidelberg and Strasbourg – Meet your Exploring Europe guide and driver at the Frankfurt (FRA) Airport around 10:30-11:00 a.m. Then, we will head south into Bavaria, making a stop in Heidelberg in time for lunch and exploring the town and its Christmas Market. Later, we will head across the Rhine River into France. Strasbourg is known as France’s Capitale de Noël, the Capital of Christmas. The entire old town is an island, surrounded by a tributary of the Rhine and decked out with at least six festive markets in its pedestrian squares. After setting up in our hotel, we’ll take an orientation walk visiting several markets and squares in town. Then, enjoy dinner together at a typical Alsatian restaurant. Driving: 2.5 hours. Walking: moderate. Sleep for 2 nights in Strasbourg. Dinner.
Day 2: Strasbourg – After breakfast, enjoy a guided walk and visit a historic church, the Cathedral, and the canal-laced, Le Petit France neighborhood. Then enjoy the remainder of the day and evening on your own, exploring and shopping in Strasbourg. Walking: light and level.
Day 3: The Black Forest and Freiburg – Heading back across the Rhine, we dive deep into Germany’s Black Forest. Enjoy a scenic drive on the “high road” through charming villages. We’ll make a few stops along the way for cuckoo clocks, beer steins, and Black Forest Cake. Later, arrive in Freiburg in plenty of time to experience the pedestrian town and the Christmas Markets. We’ll give you an orientation walk and set you free for the evening. Driving: 6 hours with stops. Walking: light. Sleep 1 night in Freiburg.
Day 4: Lindau & Schwangau - The Bodensee (Lake Constance in Switzerland) hugs the border between Germany and Switzerland. The little town of Lindau sits on an island in Lake Constance. We'll stop here to experience this unique village, its harborfront promenade, and the sweeping views of the lake and Swiss Alps. Up the hill, you'll find Maximillianstrasse, lined with restaurants and the picturesque Gothic Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) with an ornately painted facade. Then, if time and weather permits, visit the village of Schwangau, with views of two famous Wittelsbach castles. Later, we'll arrive in Breitenwang, a small community near Reutte, Austria. My friend, Hermann, will welcome us to his inn and restaurant for a hearty dinner and a good night's sleep. Driving: 6 hours with stops. Walking: light. Sleep 1 night near Füssen. Dinner.
Day 5: The Italian Dolomite Mountains – Today, we’ll drive across the mountains into Austria and then through the Alps to Italy. We’ll set up in the beautiful Tyrolean town of Bolzano, which is definitely Italian but with an Austrian influence. The Christmas Markets in and around Piazza Walther are loaded with food, drinks, local crafts, and a festive spirit. After an orientation walk around town, we’ll set you free to experience the town and dinner on your own, including admission to the South Tirol Museum of Archaeology and the 5,000-year-old Ötzi, The Iceman. Driving: 4 hours. Walking: light. Sleep for 2 nights in Bolzano (Bozen, in German).
Day 6: Alpine Villages, Funiculare, and “Snowball Express” Trains – After breakfast, let’s take a cable car up to the little resort village of Oberbozen. At an elevation of 4000 feet, it affords magnificent views of the Alps and Dolomites. Then we’ll board a narrow-gauge train to Klobenstein village. There are shops, stores, restaurants, and cafes to explore. Spend as much time up in the alpine villages as you like and take the train and cable car back to Bolzano at your leisure. Tonight, we’ll meet for dinner at a favorite restaurant in town. Walking: moderate. Dinner.
Day 7: Munich – Today, enjoy a scenic ride to Munich. Once in the city center, we’ll give you an orientation walk and set you free in Marienplatz, the main square and largest Christmas Market. Later, let’s meet for a grand farewell dinner, celebrating our tour successes and new friendships! Driving: 3.5 hours. Walking: light. Sleep 1 night in Munich. Dinner.
Day 8: Heading Home - Your tour ends today after breakfast at the hotel. The airport and train station are nearby, and your Exploring Europe guide will be happy to help you with your transfers. – Auf Wiedersehen!
Itinerary specifics are subject to change.
Transportation by coach and/or minibus from the airport in Frankfurt to your last hotel in Munich.
Seven night’s accommodation in traditional hotels, guesthouses, and B&B’s. All rooms have private ensuite baths.
Strictly Small Groups with 6-18 travelers.
All tips and gratuities to guides, drivers, restaurant, and hotel staff.
All breakfasts and four of your dinners.
Water is included with all group meals. Sodas, wine, beer, and other drinks are your responsibility.
Traditional dining experiences at some of David's personal favorite restaurants. Eating well is a priority and you’ll enjoy fine regional fare featuring the best the locale has to offer.
All tours and admissions, at no extra cost, as mentioned in the tour itinerary.
A full-time Exploring Europe guide dedicated to bringing to life the historical and cultural experience of the tour destinations.
David’s tour handouts are delivered electronically and detail each day’s historical and cultural experiences.
Free luggage tags and David’s custom-designed drawstring backpacks.
Our Unconditional Tour Price Guarantee, once locked in, will never change.
$50 Tour Alumni discount for each David McGuffin tour you’ve taken prior to this travel year.
Anything not listed above in the "inclusions" area is not included in the cost of your tour.
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Walking and Physical Activity: We have planned this trip to provide maximum tour experiences. The basic nature of Europe does require some degree of physical activity to get out and see the sights, especially in the big cities. To help you plan, we’ve included a daily projection of physical activity. Here is the key for our walking activity ratings:
Light – Walking done on level surfaces with some hills and elevation gains. Two miles or less of required walking during the day.
Moderate – Walking done on paved and gravel paths and cobbled city sidewalks. To enjoy the full tour experience, some uphill and downhill walking is expected, as is standing while viewing sights or museums. Four to six miles of walking per day.
Strenuous – Walking done on rugged and rocky paths and city-cobbled sidewalks. There will be steps and stairs. Up to three hours standing in museums or experience sites. Up to eight miles of walking per day.
Your Choice – No matter what your walking ability, we will help you find alternative ways to enjoy and experience all Europe has to offer. To get the most out of our tours, you should be able to operate at the light level every day with spurts of moderate and strenuous.
Now that you've decided to join this tour, we are sure you'll have some questions. Don't worry. We are here to help you through each aspect of your tour from start to finish.
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