European Christmas Markets

Ancient landmarks and medieval architecture. You've arrived in Prague, the "City of 100 Spires." With no scheduled activities throughout the day, spend the day as you wish, exploring the city independently.

This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D) Stay: Grandior Hotel (3 Nights)

Feel the magic and wonder of Prague during the holiday season. Your introduction to this fairy-tale city begins with a panoramic tour. Explore the “Castle District,” including the gothic St. Vitus Cathedral and the majestic Prague Castle. Marvel at the iconic, statue-lined Charles Bridge, a picturesque structure stretching over the Vltava River. Spend the rest of the day taking in the best Prague has to offer independently. Don't miss the famous Christmas market in Prague's Old Town Square, where brightly decorated wooden huts are filled with the work of local artisans, and traditional food and drink are prepared right in front of you. (B)

Travel to Dresden, Germany, known as “Florence on the Elbe.” Meet a local guide for a tour highlighting its baroque splendor and architectural treasures such as Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) and the Royal Palace. Visit the world's oldest Christmas market — the Striezelmarkt — which has been delighting travelers and locals alike since 1434. Take time to explore the stalls overflowing with ornaments, sample local sweets and get lunch on your own before returning to Prague later in the afternoon. (B)

Depart Prague and travel through the scenic countryside on your way to Vienna, Austria. En route, stop in the medieval town of Ceský Krumlov. Lined with towering Baroque architecture including a 13th century castle, explore the quaint, cobblestoned streets independently and take time for lunch on your own.

Continue to the one-of-a-kind Marchfelderhof Restaurant — a favorite of locals, visitors, and the famous alike since the 1800s. Indulge in dinner and admire the restaurant's plentiful, eclectic décor which tells Vienna's story everywhere you look. Arrive in the grand city of Vienna, capital of Austria, aglow with holiday lights. Perhaps you'll join your Tour Manager for an evening stroll. (B/D) Stay: Imperial Riding School Autograph Collection (2 Nights)

This morning, meet your local guide on a scenic bus ride and walking tour to Vienna's city center and behold the beautiful architecture, scenic parks, and gothic spires that fill the city. Get a taste of Vienna's sweet confectionary history when you visit a family-owned candy workshop. See where candies are still being made according to traditional recipes dating back over 150 years. With an afternoon of free time, you can visit the Christkindlmarkt. Perhaps the biggest and most famous in the city, it is set at the neo-gothic Rathaus City Hall.

Tonight, you may choose an option to explore the Christmas market and the interiors at the magnificent Schönbrunn Palace, together with a classical music performance at the famous Orangerie. (B)

Hop aboard a train to Bratislava, the former Imperial capital of the Habsburg Empire. Spend your free time having lunch and retracing some of the city's 4,000-year-old history independently. And don't miss the charming Christmas markets! Continue through the Hungarian countryside to spend an afternoon at a rustic local restaurant that highlights 200 years of Hungarian cultural and architectural traditions. Learn how to make traditional strudel before indulging in typical Hungarian fare for dinner.

Later this evening, arrive in Budapest, the "Queen of the Danube," and your home for the next 2 nights. Enjoy the evening on your own or join your Tour Manager for an evening walk. (B/D) Stay: Up Hotel (2 Nights)

This morning, choose how you want to experience Budapest with an expert local guide because it's your choice! Embark on a classic Budapest city tour, where you'll visit highlights like the Fisherman's Bastion and pass the historic Old Buda -OR- retrace Budapest's musical history throughout the city before visiting The House of Music Hungary.

This afternoon, explore Budapest on your own with free time. Perhaps you will visit the cozy Christmas market at St. Stephen's Basilica with its ice rink and striking Christmas tree, or head to the city's largest market at Vörösmarty Square brimming with food and crafts stalls where local musicians often perform.

This evening, join your fellow travelers to toast the end of a festive trip at a farewell dinner. (B/D)

Say goodbye to these regal cities as your spirited holiday tour wraps up today. (B)