Experience the magic of Switzerland at Christmas, journeying from Lucerne to Grindelwald, and on to Geneva. Start your Swiss adventure in Lucerne, a stunning 14th-century fortress city sitting on a lakeshore and surrounded by snow-capped forests. Voyage through the frosted peaks and frozen waterfalls of the Grisons Alps to the Alpine ski resort of St. Moritz, a retreat frequented by royalty and James Bond, famously featured in The Spy Who Loved Me. Take a scenic rail journey to Andermatt and travel through the heart of the Swiss Alps in the Albula Pass tunnel, before crossing the skyscraping Landwasser Viaduct and descending through the Rhône Valley. In Geneva, you'll enjoy a sumptuous fondue dinner.
There is nothing quite like Christmas among the Alps with the festive Munich Christmas Market, Salzburg’s snow-capped spires and an indulgent cup of Glühwein. Your Local Expert brings Mozart’s history to life before a visit to Salzburg's Christmas market. After tasting the festive treats, the culinary delights continue with a traditional dining experience at Swarovski Crystal Worlds. If that is not enough to summon your holiday spirit, a stroll through the medieval cobbled streets of Freiburg will certainly do the trick, not to mention the fairytale surroundings of Strasbourg, where the sweet scent of cinnamon is carried on the breeze at the oldest Christmas market in France.
Take a once-in-a-lifetime trip across Germany, sipping beer in Munich, dining on German delicacies in Berlin and experiencing the Christmas pyramids in Dresden. This immersive Christmastime tour highlights the delights of the Nuremberg Market’s Christkindlmarkt stalls—with the chance to sample authentic German Rostbratwürste, and the musical surrounds of the Leipzig Market, where locals gather to sing and celebrate the festive season. On your Local Expert Tour of Dresden, see iconic city sights like the enormous Procession of the Dukes mosaic, Zwinger Palace and the Semper Opera House. Dresden is also home to Germany’s oldest Christmas market where you can taste Christstollen—a traditional Christmas cake recipe dating back to medieval times.
Experience the winter wonderlands of Europe like never before, with stunning views of Lake Lucerne from the peak of Mt. Pilatus and immersive tours of Munich and Salzburg. An Insight Choice experience in Innsbruck lets you choose between a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Alpine scenery or a visit to the world of Swarovski Crystal. Your Austrian adventure continues with an exclusive Salzburg market tasting experience, where locals serve goblets of Glühwein and freshly baked Lebkuchen, fragrant with ginger and cocoa. Across the border in Germany, Rothenburg, nestled alongside the River Tauber, offers an abundance of 16th-century charm, while in Munich, foaming steins of beer beckon at the city’s famous beer halls.
Take your taste buds on a tour of the Czech Republic, discover the food markets of Prague, explore the Kraków Christmas Market in the city’s Old Town district, and indulge in Berlin. Setting out from Kraków, get a sense of Poland’s old-world charm with your Local Expert as you ascend Wawel Hill to the Renaissance castle and cathedral—the final resting place of the Kings of Poland. Known as the Venice of Poland, Wrocław is a wonder to behold with its 150 bridges spanning five rivers and twelve islands, not to mention the Baroque grandeur of the Rynek Christmas markets. In the German capital, see what remains of the Berlin Wall, admire the painstakingly restored Reichstag and soak up the festive magic among the market stalls of Gendarmenmarkt Square.