Willkommen in Deutschland!

Arrive at Berlin Airport all set for our spectacular tour of Germany’s Christmas markets and towns.

If you arrive by 11am, meet up with our tour host and the rest of our group at the airport. From here, we’ll be transported to Potsdam, ready to explore.

If you’re already in Berlin or arrive later, make your own way to Potsdam using a taxi or Uber to join us. Instructions will be given.

On arrival in Potsdam, we’ll see the top sites including the magnificent (and UNESCO World Heritage listed) Sanssouci Park and the Dutch Quarter with a quick introduction tour.

We’ll then check into our hotel, and you’ll have the rest of the day free to enjoy as you acclimatize.

You can take some time to nap or freshen up. Or you can wander around Potsdam’s Old Town and look inside Sanssouci Palace.

Of course, you can also make the short walk to the Blauer Lichterglanz (Blue Lights) Potsdam Christmas Market. As you sip on a cup of Glühwein (mulled wine) with a German Christmas cookie, you’ll know you’re on your dream Christmas vacation.

Two Nights at Hotel am Jägertor

You’ll love this 4-star hotel is in the center of Potsdam, just a short walk from Park Sanssouci, the Christmas market and opposite the oldest remaining city gate. Over the years, the building has been used as both a nursing home for officers and a guest house/hotel.

If you’re hungry after your journey, you can grab a snack and a drink at the hotel lounge or take a moment in the private garden.

Rooms are clean and comfortable with a complimentary minibar, espresso maker and premium bedding.

This is the perfect place to relax after the journey to Germany and be ready for all the amazing places ahead.

After a delicious breakfast (included) at our hotel, be ready for a fabulous day exploring Berlin. There is nowhere in the world like this amazing city.

Berlin is just a short drive away, and we’ll soon be meeting with our local Berlin expert who will shows us the main sites of the city as we both use our feet and the bus to explore famous sites such as the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdam Square, the Reichstag, the Jewish Memorial, East Side Gallery (Berlin Wall), Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island… and so much more! It’s going to be amazing!

We’ll stop for a delicious group welcome lunch (included). Lunch will be fabulous and authentic German food. Of course, you should also try the local beer (included) as we get to know each other.

We can’t leave Berlin without visiting its Christmas Markets. There are over 80 Christmas markets in Berlin alone, and we’ll visit the best one.

You’ll then have the time to explore (and shop!) alone.

In the evening, we’ll return to our hotel in Potsdam.

After a final breakfast (included), it’s time to say Auf Wiedersehen to Potsdam as we set off to explore more magical Christmas spots in Germany.

Our first stop today is the enchanted Spree Forest (Spreewald) river canals and villages where we’ll set out on a punt (boat) ride wrapped in blankets. This beautiful area in Germany is known for having more canals than roads and this is the perfect way to see the forest, farms and gorgeous scenery. Unfortunately, this is not so fun in the rain, so this activity is weather dependent.

We then drive on to wonderful Meissen. Over 1000 years old, we’ll be concentrating on learning more about its world famous porcelain. We’ll take a factory workshop tour for this “white gold”, and perhaps you’ll buy a piece of Meissen to take home.

Finally, we’ll drive on to Dresden where you optionally join the group for dinner. You could also sneak a peak at its famous Christmas markets.

Two Nights at Amedia Plaza

Locations don’t come better than this! Our 4-star hotel is in the center of Dresden within moments from Dresden’s oldest Christmas market and the other main sites and attractions.

The rooms are bright and modern and include coffee/tea making facilities and desk area. There’s also a bar and restaurant if you need anything.

There’s no better place to base ourselves. Our stay here will make exploring Dresden easy.

It’s time to explore Dresden with our local city guide after an easy breakfast (included) at our hotel.

Dresden is the perfect place to visit for Baroque beauty, interesting museums and lavish palaces. It’s also home to arguably the oldest Christmas market in the world so our spectacular Germany Christmas markets tour would not be complete without a visit here.

As we learn about Dresden’s past, present and Christmas traditions from our local guide, take note of the sites you want to visit again later – as you’ll have the afternoon free to wander and explore the many amazing places to visit here.

We highly recommend the Historic Green Vault which is home to over 3,000 treasures of the old Saxony Electors. Or you can take a cruise on the Elbe River which flows through the middle of Dresden.

You’ll definitely want to spend some time at the Striezelmarkt, Dresden’s Christmas market that started in 1434. Its name comes from a type of cake sold at the market. Today, it is called Stollen and is a light fruitcake. Make sure you try it!

With over 240 stalls, you’re sure to find some great Christmas gifts as well. You can also head to nearby Prager Straße which is known as a “Christmas mile” of stalls. Here, there is a 15 meter high Christmas tree, Christmas lights, ice skating and a nightly musical show.

Enjoy the lights, tastes and sounds as the day fades into night, and join us for an optional group dinner if you wish at a great local restaurant.

After breakfast (included), we’ll be sad to say goodbye to Dresden but that won’t last long as we’ll soon be in Seiffen!

Located in the Ore Mountains near the Czechia border, Seiffen is famous for its woodworks including nutcrackers and toys. With just a couple of thousand of inhabitants, this place feels like a little Christmas village in December.

We’ll visit the Christmas market and enjoy a nutcracker workshop tour. If you want to buy any wooden items when you’re in Germany, now is the time!

Lunch (not included) will be here in Seiffen.

We then have a longer drive onto Bayreuth. Famous for its Baroque architecture, palaces and for being the home of Richard Wagner, you can choose to explore the Christmas market here.

Our hotel is just a short walk from the Christmas market.

One Night at H4 Hotel Residenzschloss

This modern, centrally located hotel makes it super easy for us to have a taste of Bayreuth on this quick, overnight stop. Just 5 minutes walk from Bayreuth’s Christmas market, it’ll be easy to add this market to your list!

Rooms are clean and comfortable and come with everything you need including a coffee/espresso machine. If you just want to relax with a drink, there’s a hotel bar. There’s also a small sauna and gym.

This is the perfect place for our overnight stop so we’re all refreshed and ready for more adventure.

After our included breakfast, it’s time to head on to what must be Germany’s most photographed small town – Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

And you’re in for a treat. This incredibly picturesque, medieval town is simply wunderbar in December. You are going to love every moment.

After the morning drive to Rothenburg, our tour host will give us an orientation tour of the town so we’ll know exactly where to head to enjoy what Rothenburg offers.

You can then explore the town at your leisure. Make sure you take a walk around its medieval Town Walls, check out the open-year-round Christmas shop and, of course, visit the Rothenburg Christmas Market.

You’ll want to take a photo of the famous Plönlein scene, and it would be a crime not to try Rothenburg’s signature pastry, the Schneeball. You can find out what used to happen to criminals at the Medieval Crime Museum. Trust me, it’s better to eat the Schneeball!

Join us for an included group dinner to try the delicious local food and then meet us for the Night Watchman Tour (included).

In this tour, we are sent back to medieval times to accompany the Night Watchman as he walks around the town to keep it safe. While we do this, we won’t just learn what this job was like, but he’ll tell us the history of Rothenburg and stories of life back in medieval times. You’ll love this unique and entertaining walking tour.

Two Nights at Hotel Tilman Riemschneider

The perfect way to add even more magic to our Rothenburg stop is at this 4-star hotel. It’s been hosting guests since 1559! So they know what they are doing.

It’s housed in a traditional, 16th-century building in the center of Rothenburg. The best part is that it’s only a minute or two walk from Marktplatz, home to its Christmas market.

The rooms are clean and comfortable with traditional, handpainted furniture as well as modern fixtures such as a hairdryer and TV. There’s a restaurant on-site serving local food and beer.

Get ready to pull yourself away from Rothenburg. After our included breakfast, we are heading to amazing Nuremberg for the day.

Have your walking shoes on as we will be seeing and experiencing a lot today!

Once in Nuremberg, we’ll meet our local guide for a tour exploring the Old Town center, the Imperial Castle and the world famous Christmas Market.

This colorful Old Town is full of amazing sites, churches and underground adventure.

Of course, you won’t want to miss Nuremberg’s original Christmas market in Hauptmarket. It’s one of the world’s oldest being first mentioned in 1628. However, it’s suspected that markets were held here for around 100 years before this.

Nuremberg is famous for its gingerbread (lebkuchen), and this is a great time to try some along with a Nürnberger Bratwurst (sausage) and some blueberry Glühwein. In fact, this is all so delicious, we’ve included it in your tour cost.

After our tour, you’re free to spend the afternoon exploring Nuremberg visiting the sites that are of most interest and, of course, shopping at the Christmas market.

We’ll then travel back to Rothenburg with an optional group dinner to finish our stay in this gorgeous town.

This morning, we’ll make our final journey to Munich after our included breakfast. So be ready to explore this magnificent city!

After a quick check-in at our hotel, we’ll meet our local guide for a walking tour of the famous old town center with an introduction to Munich’s awesome Christmas markets.

We’ll then have a final late lunch together (included) to chat about all the fabulous places and experiences we’ve shared over the last eight days. Of course, no trip to Munich would be complete without trying some of its famous beer.

You’re then free to explore Munich for some final shopping or sightseeing. You could end the day with a drink at the rooftop bar of our hotel, soaking up Munich’s Old Town views.

One Night at Hotel Deutsche Eiche

You’ll love that this hotel is just a short walk from Marienplatz and the center of Munich. With its neoclassical façade dating back to 1864 and modern rooms, it’s a fabulous place to base ourselves.

The rooms come with comfortable bedding, complimentary minibar and a desk area. There’s also a restaurant on-site with traditional Bavarian dishes as well as contemporary twists on traditional cuisine.

My favorite part is the rooftop bar with views over Munich’s Old Town. It’s covered, partially heated and perfect for a sunset drink. I’m sure I’ll be having one!

It’s the perfect place to finish our spectacular Christmas markets tour.

On our final day, you’ll wake up in Munich ready to head back home or onto your next adventure with all the memories and amazing souvenirs from your time in Germany.

Breakfast is included and you can take a taxi, Uber or train to the airport at your leisure. Instructions will be given.

There are no organized activities for this day.