Alpine Christmas Markets - Small Group
Alpine Christmas Markets - Small 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, Strasbourg, Lorrach, Zürich
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SW550N26
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a magical journey through the Alpine Christmas Markets with this small group tour, exploring the festive charm of Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland. Begin in Munich, where you'll discover iconic landmarks and the enchanting Christkindlmarkt. In Salzburg, visit Mozart's birthplace and enjoy the historic Christmas Market. Experience the beauty of Innsbruck with a horse-drawn carriage ride and a visit to Swarovski Crystal Worlds. Wander through the medieval streets of Lindau and the Black Forest, savoring local specialties. In Strasbourg, explore France's oldest Christmas Market, and conclude your adventure in Zurich, where you'll enjoy a festive dinner and a walking tour highlighting social issues. This tour offers a delightful blend of cultural experiences, authentic dining, and the enchanting atmosphere of Europe's most charming Christmas Markets.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Munich
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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Munich Orientation
Enjoy an orientation of Munich with your Travel Director, including visits to Feldherrnhalle, the Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, the English Garden, the Hofbräuhaus, St. Peter's Church, and Marienplatz.
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Salzburg Tour
Explore Salzburg with a Local Expert, visiting Mozart's family home and the 500-year-old Christmas Market in front of the cathedral.
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Innsbruck Exploration
Stroll through Innsbruck's picturesque Old Town with your Travel Director, learning about its history and admiring Baroque and Gothic architecture.
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Swarovski Crystal Worlds Visit
Visit the magical Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Innsbruck, featuring installations by international artists, designers, and architects.
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Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
Enjoy a delightful horse-drawn carriage ride in Innsbruck, surrounded by the mountains and valleys of Tyrol.
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Lorrach Exploration
Explore Lorrach, located on the borders of Germany, France, and Switzerland, and see the ruins of Rotteln Castle.
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Lindau Tour
Visit Lindau with your Travel Director, exploring the Harbor and Old City Hall, and walking the medieval streets of this island-town.
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Freiburg Walk
Enjoy a romantic walk through the medieval cobbled streets of Freiburg and soak in the magic of its Christmas Markets.
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Strasbourg Christmas Markets
Explore France's oldest Christmas Markets in Strasbourg, set in front of the Cathedral, and spend time in the atmospheric neighborhood of La Petite France.
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Zurich Christmas Markets
Enjoy the traditional Christmas Markets in Zurich's Old Town.
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 smooth journey through the scenic landscapes of Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland.
Accommodation
Stay in comfort at the Munich Marriott, AC Innsbruck, Hotel Stadt Lorrach, and Movenpick Hotel Zurich-Airport, offering a blend of modern amenities and local charm, ensuring a relaxing retreat after exploring the festive Christmas markets.
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
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes 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.
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What kind of dining experiences can I expect on this tour?
You will enjoy a variety of 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 will have a cozy dinner with a touch of Grossmünster charm.
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What are some of the highlights of the Christmas Markets visited on this tour?
The tour visits several renowned Christmas Markets, including the Christkindlmarkt in Munich, the 500-year-old market in Salzburg, the markets in Innsbruck's Old Town, the romantic markets in Freiburg, France's oldest Christmas Markets in Strasbourg, and the traditional markets in Zurich's Old Town.
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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 coach is sanitized before the start of the tour and maintained to high standards, with physical distancing measures implemented.
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Are there any special activities related to Mozart included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes a visit to Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg where you will experience a musical demonstration on his original pianoforte and explore a collection of his letters, memorabilia, and musical instruments.
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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.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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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.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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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.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Monday - Tuesday
Nov 30, 2026 - Dec 08, 2026Friday - Saturday
Dec 04, 2026 - Dec 12, 2026Book with Confidence
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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.
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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.
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Terms and Conditions