Alpine Christmas Markets - Classic Group

Alpine Christmas Markets - Classic Group

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9 Days From

$2660

Alpine Christmas Markets - Classic Group

9 Days Starting in Munich, Germany and ending in Zurich, Switzerland

Visiting: Munich, Residenz, Munich, Bavarian Alps, Lake Chiemsee, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Lindau, Black Forest, Freiburg im Breisgau, Münster, Strasbourg, Lorrach, Zürich

Tour operator:

Insight Vacations

Tour code:

W550N26

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Low

Tour operated in:

English

Trip Styles:

Special Events

Activities:

Sightseeing, Walking

From: $2660 (USD)

NB: Prices correct on 12-Mar-2025 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Embark on a magical journey through the heart of Europe with the "Alpine Christmas Markets - Classic Group" tour. This enchanting adventure takes you through Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland, immersing you in the festive spirit of the season. Begin in Munich, where you'll explore iconic landmarks and enjoy a warm welcome dinner. Discover the charm of Salzburg's Christmas Market and Innsbruck's stunning architecture, including a visit to Swarovski Crystal Worlds. Experience the medieval allure of Lindau and the Black Forest, and wander through the historic streets of Freiburg. In Strasbourg, explore France's oldest Christmas Market, and conclude your journey in Zurich, where you'll enjoy a festive dinner and a meaningful walking tour highlighting social issues. With authentic dining experiences and insightful local guides, this tour offers a delightful blend of culture, history, and holiday cheer.

Highlights

  • Munich: Explore the city's major sights including Marienplatz and the Christkindlmarkt.

  • Salzburg: Visit Mozart's family home and the 500-year-old Christmas Market.

  • Innsbruck: Discover the picturesque Old Town and visit Swarovski Crystal Worlds.

  • Lorrach: Explore the town and see the ruins of Rotteln Castle.

  • Lindau: Walk the medieval streets and visit the Harbor and Old City Hall.

  • Freiburg im Breisgau: Enjoy a romantic walk through the medieval cobbled streets and Christmas Markets.

  • Strasbourg: Experience France's oldest Christmas Markets and the charming La Petite France neighborhood.

  • Zurich: Enjoy the traditional Christmas Markets in Zurich's Old Town.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in Munich

Munich, Germany

Location: Munich

Accommodation Name: Munich Marriott

Meals Included: Dinner

Welcome to Germany.  Meet your Travel Director this afternoon for an orientation of the city that will show you some of the city’s major sights, culminating in the Marienplatz, with its soaring Town Hall and Glockenspiel. Here, the Christkindlmarkt will be in full swing, an entrancing festival of light and music. In the evening, join your Travel Director and fellow guests for a welcome dinner with wine.

Day 2: Free Time in the Bavarian Capital Relaxed Start

Munich, Germany

Location: Munich, Residenz, Munich, Bavarian Alps

Accommodation Name: Munich Marriott

Meals Included: Breakfast

Explore Munich with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert for a foodie walking tour in the city center. Alternatively, visit the famous Residenz, and see its museum and Treasury. This afternoon, consider joining an optional experience to explore the romantic royal palaces of the Bavarian Alps.

Day 3: Lake Chiemsee, Salzburg and Innsbruck

Salzburg, Austria
Innsbruck, Austria

Location: Lake Chiemsee, Salzburg, Innsbruck

Accommodation Name: AC, Innsbruck

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel alongside the tranquil waters of Lake Chiemsee on your way to Salzburg in Austria, where the spires and domes of the Old Town are often draped in snow in December. Visit Mozart's birthplace to learn more about his life, and sit down to a musical demonstration on his original pianoforte. Enjoy a visit to Swarovski in the afternoon followed by a highlight dinner. Head through the mountains to your Innsbruck hotel.

Day 4: Innsbruck at Leisure Relaxed Start

Innsbruck, Austria

Location: Innsbruck

Accommodation Name: AC, Innsbruck, Hotel Grauer Bär, Innsbruck

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a horse & carriage ride in the morning. Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of the Old Town and Christmas Markets, set in front of the Golden Roof, graced by beautifully preserved medieval facades.

Day 5: The Black Forest via Lindau

Black Forest, Germany

Location: Lindau, Black Forest

Accommodation Name: Hotel Stadt Lörrach, Loerrach.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel through the Alberg tunnel, Austria’s longest road tunnel, as you return to Germany and pause in the tiny island-town of Lindau. Walk through the maze of ancient streets down to the harbor. Across the lake, often shrouded in mist, look for the rising silhouette of snow-capped peaks. After time to explore, continue along the shores of the Bodensee to your hotel in the Black Forest.

Day 6: Freiburg Sightseeing

Location: Freiburg im Breisgau, Münster

Accommodation Name: Hotel Stadt Lörrach, Loerrach.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Visit Freiburg in the morning, a lively university city with a charming Christmas atmosphere. Walk from the medieval Münster through the heart of the historic old quarter, past colorful stalls offering a range of festive goodies from the Black Forest.

Day 7: Strasbourg and Alsace Experience Relaxed Start

Strasbourg

Location: Strasbourg, Lorrach

Accommodation Name: Hotel Stadt Lörrach, Loerrach.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Cross the Rhine to the region of Alsace, wedged between the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains. This area has changed nationality four times since 1870! Arrive in Strasbourg, the City at the Crossroads, where the Christmas Market is the oldest and one of the largest in France. Spend time in a cozy neighborhood of timbered fairy-tale buildings, with Christmas shops and a gingerbread bakery, warm with fragrant promise. Return to Germany and venture to a local restaurant for a delightful dinner of local specialties, accompanied by wine.

Day 8: The Swiss City of Zürich Relaxed Start

Location: Zürich

Accommodation Name: Mövenpick Hotel Zürich-Airport.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Cross the Swiss border and head for Zurich where a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® visit takes you through the streets of Zurich. Enjoy the traditional Christmas Markets in Zurich's Old Town. Toast to the culmination of your Yuletide journey during a festive dinner with wine at a local restaurant with its own microbrewery.

Day 9: Depart Zürich Relaxed Start

Location: Zürich

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast before checking out. Transfers are available from your hotel to Zürich Airport.Transfers are available from your hotel to Zurich Airport every 20 minutes between 4:00am and noon and from 4:00pm to 11:30pm.

What's Included

  • Munich Orientation

    Enjoy an orientation of Munich with your Travel Director, including sights like Feldherrnhalle, the Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, and Marienplatz.

  • Salzburg Tour

    With a Local Expert, visit Mozart's family home and the 500-year-old Christmas Market in Salzburg.

  • Innsbruck Exploration

    Stroll through Innsbruck's Old Town with your Travel Director and visit the Swarovski Crystal Worlds.

  • Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride

    Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride in Innsbruck, surrounded by the mountains and valleys of Tyrol.

  • Lorrach Exploration

    Explore Lorrach and see the ruins of Rotteln Castle.

  • Lindau Visit

    Visit Lindau's Harbor and Old City Hall with your Travel Director.

  • Freiburg Walk

    Enjoy a romantic walk through Freiburg's medieval cobbled streets and Christmas Markets.

  • Strasbourg Christmas Markets

    Visit France's oldest Christmas Markets in Strasbourg, set in front of the Cathedral.

  • Zurich Christmas Markets

    Enjoy the traditional Christmas Markets in Zurich's Old Town.

  • Mozart's Birthplace

    Experience a musical demonstration at Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg.

show more

What's Not Included

Optional Experiences

Optional experiences such as exploring the romantic royal palaces of the Bavarian Alps are not included.

Mode of Transport

Travel in style and comfort aboard a luxurious, air-conditioned 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom, ensuring a relaxing journey through the scenic landscapes of Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland.

Accommodation

Stay in comfort at the Munich Marriott, AC Innsbruck, Hotel Grauer Bär, Hotel Stadt Lorrach, and Movenpick Hotel Zurich-Airport, offering a blend of modern amenities and traditional charm throughout your journey.

Dining Summary

  • 5 Dinner (D)
  • 8 Breakfast (B)

Additional Included Highlights

  • Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
  • Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
  • We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
  • From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
  • Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
  • If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Insight Experiences

  • Experience a musical demonstration at Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg.
  • Salzburg: Visit the house where Mozart was born in 1756. Enjoy a pianoforte demonstration and examine letters, memorabilia, and musical instruments of the great composer, plus a fascinating collection of portraits.

Well-being

  • Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
  • Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.

Check out our Q&As

  • What unique experiences are included in the tour?

    The tour includes a variety of unique experiences such as a musical demonstration at Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg, a visit to Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Innsbruck, and a horse-drawn carriage ride in the Tyrolean mountains. Additionally, there is a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience in Zurich that focuses on social issues and community support.

  • What kind of dining experiences can I expect on this tour?

    The tour offers several authentic dining experiences, including a welcome dinner with wine in Munich, tasting gingerbread and Glühwein at the Salzburg Christmas Market, a special dinner at Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Innsbruck, and a dinner of local German specialties in the Black Forest. In Zurich, you'll enjoy a cozy dinner with a touch of Grossmünster charm.

  • Are there any special activities related to Christmas markets during the tour?

    Yes, the tour includes visits to several Christmas markets, such as the Christkindlmarkt in Munich, the 500-year-old Christmas Market in Salzburg, the Christmas Markets in Innsbruck, the medieval Christmas Markets in Freiburg, France's oldest Christmas Markets in Strasbourg, and the traditional Christmas Markets in Zurich's Old Town.

  • What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?

    The tour provides transportation in a luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and an onboard washroom. The coaches are sanitized before the start of the tour and maintained to high standards, with physical distancing measures implemented.

  • Is there any focus on sustainability or community support during the tour?

    Yes, the tour includes a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience in Zurich, which involves a walking tour that raises awareness on social issues such as food insecurity and supports the community. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 12: Reduced Inequalities & Responsible Consumption and Production.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1978.

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

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1 Select your preferred date

Monday - Tuesday

Nov 24, 2025 - Dec 02, 2025
$3795 $3529 (USD)

Operator discount: -$90 (USD)

Travel Club discount: -$176 (USD)

Tuesday - Wednesday

Nov 24, 2026 - Dec 02, 2026
$2660 (USD)

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Monday - Tuesday

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Dec 10, 2026 - Dec 18, 2026
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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.

    Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.

    At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.