Christmas Markets of Germany
Experience Overview
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 Rostbratwurste, 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.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 7 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Dinner (D)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Munich: Visit the Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria.
- Munich: Stop to taste seasonal treats as you discover the lost and forgotten Advent traditions that play a significant role in regional cultural revitalisation. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Authentic Dining
- Munich: Revel in the celebratory atmosphere of the city's famous markets as you enjoy a festive dinner with wine and good cheer.
Insight Choice
- Enjoy a Foodie Walking Tour or visit the Residenz and its Treasury in Munich.
- Munich: Visit the Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria.
- Munich: Stop to taste seasonal treats as you discover the lost and forgotten Advent traditions that play a significant role in regional cultural revitalisation. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Top Rated Highlights
- Berlin: You Local Expert provides a tour of this vibrant city. Drive along the Ku'Damm, passing the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and through Tiergarten to the Reichstag building. See the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House and visit Alexanderplatz.
- Leipzig: Renowned for its musical and culinary delights, the Leipzig Christmas Market is one of the most beautiful in Germany, with around 250 stalls located on the city’s historic market square. Enjoy its great traditions, which date back to the 15th century, on your orientation with your Travel Director.
- Leipzig: Visit Thomaskirche where Bach worked as a Kapellmeister, a conductor, and where his remains are now buried.
- Dresden: Your guided tour with a Local Expert shows you the Frauenkirche, the colossal 'Procession of the Dukes' mosaic, the cathedral, Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace. You'll also learn about the traditional German Christmas Pyramids.
- Nuremberg: In Nuremberg the Christkindlmarkt stalls are donned in traditional red and white cloth. Surrounded by ancient ramparts and watchtowers, look out for the Nuremberg Plum People while you explore or shop for local treats such as Rostbratwürste, Lebkuchen or Glühwein on your orientation with your Travel Director.
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Fortified by ancient walls, picturesque and unspoiled, Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a fairytale come true at any time of year. It dazzles in December, with its 500-year-old Reiterlesmarkt lending a festive air to the cobbled streets and medieval buildings.
- Munich: During your orientation of the city with your Travel Director, see Feldherrnhalle in the Odeonsplatz, the Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, the English Garden, the Hofbräuhaus, St. Peter's Church and the famous Marienplatz.
Trip Details
Product Code: 34123
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 23.58B
Starts: Berlin, Germany
Finishes: Munich, Germany
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,740 ($468 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to Germany. Airport transfers will be arranged from Berlin's Brandenburg Airport to your hotel. Join your Travel Director at 18:30 for a light dinner and the opportunity to mingle and get to know each other, over a delightful evening of good food and wine.
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Berlin Ku'damm
Join your Local Expert to see the highlights of Berlin. Your exploration includes the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House, remnants of the Berlin Wall, Unter den Linden and the restored Reichstag Building. Later on, feel free to soak up the Weihnachtszauber, or Christmas magic, at the Gendarmenmarkt, Berlin’s most magnificent square, framed by the Concert Hall and near identical French and German cathedrals.
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Berlin Ku'damm
Meals: Breakfast
Journey south to Leipzig to visit Bach’s Thomaskirche and the medieval market square behind it. Renowned for its musical and culinary delights, the Leipzig Christmas Market is one of the most beautiful in Germany, with around 250 stalls located on the city’s historic market square. Enjoy its great traditions, which date back to the 15th century, before continuing to Dresden.
Accommodation: Hilton Dresden
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Your guided tour with a Local Expert will continue past the colossal 'Procession of the Dukes' mosaic, the cathedral, Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace. Gaze in awe at the Frauenkirche, risen once again from wartime ashes. Join our Local Expert for an exploration of Dresden Christmas markets, to taste the local christstollen.
Accommodation: Townhouse Dresden.
Meals: Breakfast
Journey on to Nuremberg, where the Christkindlmarkt stalls are donned in traditional red and white cloth. Surrounded by ancient ramparts and watchtowers, look out for the Nuremberg Plum People while you explore or shop for local treats such as Rostbratwürste, Lebkuchen or Glühwein.
Accommodation: NH Collection Nürnberg City
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Venture through the heart of Germany to Rothenburg ob-der-Tauber, one of the best-preserved medieval towns in all of Europe. Why not stroll through the cobbled streets to the year-round Christmas Shop? Here it is Christmas 365 days of the year! Later, follow parts of the meandering Romantic Road to the Bavarian capital.
Accommodation: Munich Marriott
Meals: Breakfast
Explore Munich with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert for a unique guided journey through Munich’s Advent traditions on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Alternatively, visit the famous Residenz, and see its museum and Treasury. In Marienplatz beside the soaring Town Hall, see the famous Glockenspiel. Beneath the gigantic Christmas tree, Munich’s traditional Christmas Market is an entrancing festival of light and music. In the evening, join your friends for a festive dinner with wine and good cheer at a local gasthof.
Accommodation: Munich Marriott
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Auf Wiedersehen! After breakfast, your departure transfer arrives at Munich airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
Reviews
Don G. - Traveled, January 2025
The people; communication and vehicle were all first class - the updates were excellent and the Markets Tours are a great experience. The ‘set’ menus were not appropriate - there should have been a couple of choices & there was a lot of negative feedback from the group about this. The hotel in Munich was very pokey and very ordinary - not in keeping with Insight’s image - I know we have stayed there on previous trips but it is now outdated and lacking in the usual Insight standards. There was way too long allocated for us after being dropped off at the Leipzig market, and way too little amount of time for the Rottenberg visit - this is one of the best locations on the tour and it would have been nice to have much more time there. The Tour Director and the driver were outstanding and great assets to your organisation . A couple of other suggestions - there should be name tags provided so the tourists get to know each other quicker, and might also benefit with some better ‘get to know you’ sessions, and in previous trips, those that have travelled with Insight have received small gifts of appreciation, like travel wallets etc - there was nothing like that this time and it was our 4th markets tour. We enjoy the Christmas Markets Tours and would only go with Insight, so the comments provided are not meant to be derogatory, just some thoughts on making it even better. Thank you again for our experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/10/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, January 2025
Our guide was outstanding. Little touches each day, info & updates on what’s app kept us informed He was very very good. Hotel locations in each city were perfect. Allowing travelers to walk to various markets nearby. Hotels themselves were excellent. Proving a great place to settle in after markets restaurants & bars to visit with our friends All markets in each destination were varied and fun.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/10/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, February 2025
Tour Director was very knowledgeable, friendly, and organized.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, February 2025
A few initial issues with invoices and applying a credit. All sort before we started our tour. Good snapshot of the key Christmas Markets and winter activities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2025
Mary K. - Traveled, February 2025
Very well organized.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, February 2025
Easy to reach a representative. My only complaint was that originally the hotel in Berlin was a Marriott. I had booked a night there in advance of the trip. No one notified me that there had been a change so I had to cancel that reservation and try and get a night at the NH Hotel. Only rooms available were through Insight- not able to book independently. Wish someone would have notified us of that change. Added an additional charge. Also, they encourage you to come a day ahead but do not provide shuttle. You pay for service you do not get and pay again for private transportation. The NH hotel in Berlin did not provide a meeting room at the beginning of the trip. We had to stand for 45 minutes listening to instructions. Our room smelled of raw sewage and we had to ask 3 times(after spending one night breathing in the smell) to get the room changed. Tour guide was good, bus driver very good but we did not go into any significant historic places- we walked past them as on a school tour. Included dinners were only average and we found out the hard way that you need reservations for almost all restaurants when we had to dine on our own. Markets were great, additional excursions were good but of course they cost extra. Several times we were dropped off for 2+ hours and very few places to sit or come in out of the cold due to the restaurant situation and at some of the times the markets were not even open yet. Tour guide knowledgeable and treated us like adults. Insight policy on only 1 suitcase, no roller bags was a problem from an airport logistics and trying to pack winter clothes for a week and still have room for shopping!? We had done the Eastern European markets in 2019 and absolutely loved the trip. This one was disappointing.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2025
David D. - Traveled, February 2025
Details were very good timing was good. Liked staying in various locations and the local experts were really good. All the lodging was very nice as was the breakfast each day.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2025
Susan S. - Traveled, February 2025
Our guide and drover were fantastic. Never did we feel rushed or unsafe. We were treated as individuals with our needs being met and questions answered. We were not herded like cattle. This was my first tour in a 'group' setting and I was pleasantly surprised. Enjoyable pace with great tours. Guide was very knowledgeable. Took in all the iconic sights.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2025
Anonymous - Traveled, February 2025
It would have been nice to have our packet more than a couple days before we left. 2 weeks works be nice so not rushing at the last minute. Need more time in most of the markets. Maybe just another hour.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2025
Marianne G. - Traveled, February 2025
I thought the tour was perfect and would not change anything. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/10/2025
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