Magical Christmas Markets of Austria and Germany

What's Included

• Visit to Oberammergau

  Visit the picture-perfect Bavarian Alpine village of Oberammergau.

• Tour of Munich

  Tour Munich to see the Glockenspiel and Olympic Park.

• Linderhof Palace Tour

  Walk the extraordinary halls of Linderhof Palace.

• Shopping in the Alps

  Unwind and shop for handmade crafts in the heart of the Alps.

• Horse-drawn Carriage Ride

  Enjoy an authentic horse-drawn carriage ride and a taste of schnapps.

• Christkindlesmarkt Experience

  Venture by train to Innsbruck and experience the 600-year-old holiday tradition of the Christkindlesmarkt.

• Strudel Demonstration

  Experience a strudel demonstration and learn the history behind the traditional dessert.

• Dinner at St. Peter's Restaurant

  Delight in dinner at the 1,200-year-old St. Peter's Restaurant, Austria's oldest.

What's Not Included

Optional Tyrolean Dinner and Folklore Show

The optional Tyrolean dinner and folklore show in Innsbruck is not included in the standard package.

Experiences

• Unwind and shop for handmade crafts in the heart of the Alps.
• Enjoy an authentic horse-drawn carriage ride and a taste of schnapps.
• Venture by train to Innsbruck and experience the 600-year-old holiday tradition of the Christkindlesmarkt.

Options

Innsbruck: Tyrolean Dinner & Folklore Show Experience the Tyrolean culture of Austria during a traditional dinner and show in Innsbruck. In Tyrol, a region of Austria that dates back millennia, cultural heritage is held strong and passed from generation to generation. During a three-course dinner, taste culinary specialties of the region. Then, witness the rich musical traditional of mountainous Austria during a Tyrolean folklore show hosted by a locally well-known musical family. The lively show will take you back in time through music, dance, and excitement. Duration approximately 3 hour(s). Transportation is included. A minimum of 1 passenger(s) is required to operate this option.


Dinner will begin at 7:00 p.m. The show will follow from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Culinaries

• Experience a strudel demonstration and learn the history behind the traditional dessert.
• Delight in dinner at the 1,200-year-old St. Peter's Restaurant, Austria's oldest.

Must See

• Visit the picture-perfect Bavarian Alpine village of Oberammergau.
• Tour Munich to see the Glockenspiel and Olympic Park.
• Walk the extraordinary halls of Linderhof Palace.

Choice Highlights

Seefeld Perched on a plateau high in the Alps is the charming Tyrolean town of Seefeld. Reminiscent of a fairy-tale Christmas village, this magical place offers a quintessential Austrian wintertime experience in one of the world's greatest ski resorts. The perfect location for snow sports, it has proudly hosted several Olympic and World Ski Championship competitions. It is particularly festive during the holiday season and is an ideal time to take in the crisp mountain air, epic views of villages covered in a white blanket of snow and the spectacular mountain scenery. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere in this Alpine setting with miles of walking trails, lakes, fine shopping, dining possibilities and pure, fresh air.

Innsbruck Cultural City Tour or Museum of Tyrolean Heritage Today in Innsbruck, it's your choice! Join a local guide as you discover the city's history, culture and popular attractions including Maria Theresien Strasse, the Hofburg Palace, and the "Golden Roof" -OR- visit the Museum of Tyrolean Regional Heritage, getting a glimpse into this historic region through traditional costumes and heritage.



Innsbruck Cultural City Tour

Activity Level: 2

Take a scenic drive through Innsbruck to the ski jump at Bergen Isel to view the ski jump from the outside. Drive along Maria Theresien Street and enjoy views of the Imperial Palace and Inn Bridge. Travelers will enjoy listening to a history presentation as they walk into the Old City and into St. Jacob's Cathedral, Hofburg Palace courtyard, Golden Roof, and the Golden Eagle restaurant.



Museum of Tyrolean Heritage

Activity Level: 2

Travelers will enjoy the museum on their own.

Innsbruck This is the capital of the state of Tyrol in the Alps of western Austria. Innsbruck is famous as a winter sports center and was the site of the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. It is beautifully situated in the valley of the Inn River, and its most famous sights are the Golden Roof (a structure made from 2,800 gilded copper tiles that was added in 1500 to a building to celebrate the marriage of Emperor Maximilian I), the beautifully preserved city center with buildings covered in traditional Christmas decorations in the season, and the surrounding mountains.

Carriage Ride Travel by train to Seefeld, where upon arrival you will be met by drivers and horse-drawn carriages. Choose to add a glass of schnapps to warm you up as you take a scenic carriage ride around the traditional ski-village, with a back drop of the Alps behind.

Salzburg The name of this city means “Salt Fortress” and it comes from the custom of taxing salt shipments down the Salzach River. It is the 4th largest city in Austria, and the capital of the state of Salzburg. The baroque Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the city sits in a valley surrounded by the Alps. Mozart was born here in the 18th century, and the city was the setting for “The Sound of Music”. Salzburg became part of Austria in the early 19th century, given by Bavaria. Some of the important sights are the Salzburg Castle, Salzburg Cathedral, Mirabell Gardens, the birthplace of Mozart and sites associated with “The Sound of Music.”

St. Peter's Restaurant Enjoy the 1,200-year-old St. Peter’s restaurant. Stiftskeller St. Peter is a restaurant within the monastery walls of St. Peter's Arch abbey in Salzburg, Austria. At the heart of Europe’s oldest restaurant, which dates back to 803, is Austrian culture, history and modernity. St. Peter Stiftskeller first built as inn, prospered into homes of the nobility including Austrian composer, Michael Haydn. It soon became the quarters for French troops during the Napoleonic wars in 1809. The culinary arts have flourished for centuries at St. Peter Stiftskeller and continue to evolve. Seasonal changes and sophisticated ingredients contribute to an ever-changing dining experience.

Linderhof Palace Inspired by Versailles and built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in 1886, Linderhof Palace has a Baroque facade with rich Rococco ornamentation inside. The Palace is an excellent way to see the incomparable artistry of the era’s craftspeople. Look for such lush decorations as a carpet made of ostrich plumes, an ivory candelabra and a table top inlayed with lapis-lazuli, amethyst and chalcedony.

Oberammergau This German town of 5,100 people is located in the Bavarian Alps, very close to the Austrian border. It is most famous for the Passion Play, which takes place here every 10 years. It was first held in 1634 to give thanks for escaping the Bubonic Plague and is performed only by inhabitants of Oberammergau. Almost half of the villagers took part in the last play in 2010. The town is also known for traditional Alpine woodcarving and frescoes on house facades, so walking through the center is like being in a museum. Many shops sell examples of the woodcraft. During WWII, Messerschmitt aircraft were built here, partly in tunnels in the mountain behind the town. Now the German Army and the NATO School occupy the former Nazi barracks here.

Munich This is the 3rd largest city in Germany and capital of Bavaria, population about 1.5 million in the city itself. It began as the site of a Benedictine monastery where the old city is today, and the name of the city comes from the word “monk”. It is famous today as the home of Oktoberfest and the Hofbrauhaus, the Glockenspiel clock in the Old Town Hall, its Christmas Market and the headquarters of BMW and Siemens. There are several universities there and it was the site of the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Christmas Markets The Christmas Markets in Europe typically open the last week of November and close on Christmas Eve. The tradition began in the Middle Ages in Central Europe, what is now Germany, eastern France and Austria, and now there are markets in many European countries. There is usually a Christmas tree, a nativity scene and many booths selling traditional regional toys and foods, and also beer and gluhwein or vin chaud (hot mulled wine). Some famous markets are in Nuremberg, Cologne, Frankfurt, Strasbourg (France) and Rothenberg. As many as 3 million people will visit each one every year.

Mode of Transport

Travel through Austria and Germany by train, enjoying scenic views and convenient access to charming towns and Christmas markets.

Accommodation

Stay at the charming Hotel Seelos in Innsbruck and the Movenpick Hotel Munich Airport, offering comfortable accommodations amidst picturesque Alpine settings.