Vacation Overview
Tour Details
Alpine Christmas Markets - Classic GroupThere 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.
Dining Summary- 5 Dinner (D)
- 8 Breakfast (B)
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.
How You'll Travel- Business class coach with extended leg room
- Top-rated dining, from farm-to-table to local restaurants
- 4 & 5-star stays
Top Rated Highlights- Munich: During your orientation of the city with your Travel Director, see Feldherrnhalle in the Odeonsplatz, the Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, the Hofbräuhaus, St. Peter's Church and the famous Marienplatz.
- Salzburg: With a Local Expert, see Mozart's family home and the 500-year-old Christmas market in front of the cathedral. You'll also view the Hohensalzburg fortress and see Residenz Fountain when you spend some time in the Old Town.
- Innsbruck: Nestled amidst majestic mountains, Innsbruck is a beautiful city offering a unique combination of nature, history, and culture. Stroll the streets of the picturesque Old Town, with your Travel Director, learn about its history and admire the Baroque and Gothic architecture.
- Innsbruck: Step into the wonder of Swarovski Crystal World, conceived by multimedia artist André Heller to mark the centenary of the Swarovski brand. Wander through the Chambers of Wonder, where international artists, designers and architects reinterpret crystal in spellbinding forms, from immersive light shows to kinetic sculptures, celebrating over 125 years of Austrian artisanship and innovation.
- Innsbruck: Meet your coachman and enjoy a delightful horse-drawn carriage ride, surrounded by the mountains and valleys of Tyrol.
- Lorrach: Explore the town located on the borders of Germany, France and Switzerland and see the ruins of Rotteln Castle.
- Lindau: Your Travel Director takes you to the Harbour and Old City Hall. Walk the medieval streets of this island-town and browse the shops on Maximillium Strasse.
- Freiburg im Breisgau: Enjoy a romantic walk through the medieval cobbled streets of Freiburg and soak in the magic of its Christmas Markets. See the medieval Münster and spend time in the historic old quarter.
- Strasbourg: Exploring the Christmas markets is like stepping directly into a fairytale, where glittering lights and the scent of cinnamon enchant your senses. Here you visit France's oldest Christmas Markets, set in front of the Cathedral. Spend time in the atmospheric neighbourhood of La Petite France.
- Zürich: Enjoy the traditional Christmas markets in Zürich's Old Town.
Authentic Dining- Munich: Join your Travel Director for a warm and friendly dinner, an opportunity to get to know each other over a meal with wine.
- Salzburg: Taste traditional Glühwein, a spiced wine recipe dating to the 15th century, in Salzburg’s Christmas market. With your Travel Director, learn how warming blends of cinnamon, clove and citrus have become a hallmark of Austria’s festive season, as you explore one of Europe’s oldest Advent markets.
- Innsbruck: Savour a special dinner at Swarovski Crystal World.
- Black Forest: Indulge in a delightful dinner of local German specialties, accompanied by wine.
- Zürich: You'll enjoy good food, wine and a well-laden table with a touch of Grossmünster charm during your cosy dinner.
Insight Choice- Munich: Embark on a culinary walking tour in the heart of the city.
- Munich: Visit the Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®- Zürich: Uncover the old town of Zürich during a fun and educational walking tour. Join Diana and her team who are raising awareness on social issues, such as food insecurity, and supporting the community. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Choice Highlights- Munich: Embark on a culinary walking tour in the heart of the city.
- Munich: Visit the Residenz, the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria.
Daily Itinerary
Insight Vacations: Alpine Christmas Markets - Classic Group
Day 1 - Arrive in Munich
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 dinner with wine.
Accommodations: Munich Marriott
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - Free Time in the Bavarian Capital
Explore Munich with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert for a foodie walking tour in the city centre. 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.
Accommodations: Munich Marriott
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Lake Chiemsee, Salzburg and Innsbruck
Travel past Lake Chiemsee, often called the Bavarian Sea, en route to Salzburg. With your Local Expert, stroll through the baroque Old Town and visit Mozart’s Birthplace on Getreidegasse. Inside, enjoy a rare musical demonstration on his original pianoforte, a moment that brings Salzburg’s most famous son vividly to life. Afterwards, explore the city’s renowned Christmas markets and enjoy a warming Glühwein, a traditional mulled wine dating back to the 15th century, with your Travel Director. Explore the market with your free time where you can browse handcrafted decorations and shop for local delicacies. Continue to Swarovski Crystal World, a visionary museum and art space conceived by André Heller to celebrate the artisanship and creativity of the Swarovski legacy.
Accommodations: AC, Innsbruck
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Innsbruck at Leisure
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.
Accommodations: AC, Innsbruck
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - The Black Forest via Lindau
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 harbour. 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.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Freiburg Sightseeing
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 colourful stalls offering a range of festive goodies from the Black Forest.
Accommodations: Hotel Stadt Lörrach, Loerrach.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Strasbourg and Alsace Experience
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 cosy neighbourhood 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.
Accommodations: Hotel Stadt Lörrach, Loerrach.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8 - The Swiss City of Zürich
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.
Accommodations: Hyatt Regency Zürich Airport
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - Depart Zürich
Say a fond farewell to Switzerland and your newfound friends at the end of an unforgettable journey. Your final hotel is located at the airport, just a short walk from the terminal, so there’s no need to arrange a transfer.
Meals: Breakfast