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Munich Beer Experience
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Munich History & Culture
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Andechs & Munich
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Munich Beer Garden - Dinner Evening
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Tours of Bavaria
Christmas Classic 2026
Bavaria's Best Christmas Markets
sold Out
03 Dec 2026 - 13 Dec 2026
Stops
Salzburg Berchtesgarden Salzburg Abensberg Regensburg Nuremberg Rothenburg ob der Tauber Ulm Munich Munich Munich
Everyone knows the famous Christmas Markets across Europe — and our tour highlights the very best in Austria’s Salzburg and the German state of Bavaria.
This is an intimate, personalized experience, limited to just 25 guests. We handle every detail and share the rich stories behind the culture, history, and traditions you’ll encounter. If you believe travel should offer more than sightseeing alone, this journey is made for you.
Consider staying on for our add-on trip to Vienna!
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$ 3750 p.p.
$ 4980 for single
$ 4980 for single
Everyone knows the famous Christmas Markets across Europe — and our tour highlights the very best in Austria’s Salzburg and the German state of Bavaria. This is an intimate, personalized experience, limited to just 25 guests. We handle every detail and share the rich stories behind the culture, history, and traditions you’ll encounter. If you believe travel should offer more than sightseeing alone, this journey is made for you. Consider staying on for our add-on trip to Vienna! **********************************
Enjoy the ease and insight that come from exploring with a local who brings the region’s history, culture, and traditions to life. With our expertise, you’ll see more in less time and experience the beauty of the Austrian and Bavarian cultures — all without the stress. We choose smaller, well-located hotels in the heart of each city to maximize your comfort and convenience. Our price includes daily breakfast and dinner, all tours as described, all ground transportation, and a drink with dinner. Airfare is not included; guests fly into Munich (MUC), where we meet and begin our journey together. Take a look at our itinerary below and discover what sets us apart. We’re proud to welcome back repeat guests — more than 35% return for another Bavarian adventure!
After meeting you at Munich Airport, we depart at 11:00 AM for a 70-minute drive to your first Christmas Market in the historic town of Altötting. Locals flock here not only for the festive market, but also to visit the famed “Black Madonna.” Two modern popes have visited the pilgrimage church, and the hearts of King Ludwig II, King Max II, and King Ludwig I are preserved in the chapel.
Take some time to enjoy a snack from one of the many food booths and stretch your legs before we continue—about 60 minutes—to the Silent Night Chapel. This small, iconic chapel stands on the site of the former Nikolauskirche, where the beloved Christmas carol was first performed in 1818.
A short 30-minute drive then brings us to Salzburg and our hotel, the four-star Imlauer. A traditional Austrian dinner is planned at the hotel so you can settle in comfortably and turn in early.
Our hotel lays out a wonderful Austrian breakfast with all the trimmings - fresh bread, local meats and cheeses, and strong coffee, and lots more!
We take our private bus about 45 minutes back to Germany and visit the quaint little town of Berchtesgaden, which is nesteled under the second highest mountain in Germany, the Watzmann. After strolling through the village and getting a snack, we head back to Austria to visit Schloss Hellbrunn, where another local Christmas Market is happening - and is also the home of the gazebo from the Sound of Music. This one is aimed at children and their families and boasts over 60 stalls and an extensive entertainment program.
In the evening, we have a buffet at the Augustiner zur Mülln, Austria's greatest beerhall and a magnet for the locals.
After another hearty breakfast, we venture into the old town past Mirabell Palace and into Salzburg's old town.
You'll have time to enjoy shopping and sightseeing in the old town, plus visit the main Christmas Market. We'll catch a late lunch near the old town so we can enjoy today's highlight: The Alpine tradition on the eve of St. Nicolaus Day. Hundreds of “Krampus” and “Perchten” gather in small alpine villages and run through the village scaring all the boy and girls. It’s all in good fun, but don’t be surprised if you get a lashing from one of the Krampus – they know who has been naughty!
After Krampus, catch a quick snack at the Christmas Market and we'll head back to the hotel.
After breakfast we depart Salzburg and drive just shy of three hours up to the small village of Abensberg. There we visit Kuchlbauer's Turmweihnacht. The artist-owner of the local brewery is a huge fan of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and he contracted to have a 112 foot tower built here to house the elves who brew his beer. Think Willy Wonka meets Dr. Seuss. The brewery hangs more than 400,000 LEDs to illuminate the Kuchlbauer Tower at Christmas. It's a small market, but features many local artisans gatehred under the tower.
From here it's just 40 km (25 Mi) to Hotel Rosi where we stay in Regensburg. An UNESCO World Heritage site, Regensburg was founded by the romans and is the northernmost point on the Danube River. After we stow our luggage we head to our favorite spot in Regensburg for an Oberpfalz dinner at Kneitinger am Arnulfsplatz.
After another great Bavarian breakfast, we explore the old town of Regensburg. Winding medieval streets, towering patrician houses, the Roman gate, a massive cathedral, and the stone bridge over the Danube are just some of the architectural highlights in this UNESCO World Heritage city.
We’ll see it all and then stop for lunch on the north side of the Danube at Spital, one of Regensburg’s many breweries, where the food is also excellent.
In the afternoon, you'll have plenty of free time to meander through the Christmas Market before meeting us at the Palace of Thurn & Taxis. This is our favorite Christmas Market. Set on the grounds of a palace larger than Buckingham, the duchess personally oversees many of the details, making this the finest of all the markets we visit. Plan on spending the evening here, snacking on the many delights—especially the Regensburger Knacker. There are firepits and champagne tents where you can warm yourself. When you’ve had your fill, your warm bed at Hotel Rosi is just 450 meters away!
Leaving Regensburg, we drive 115 km to Nuremberg. The capital of the "First Reich" sustained major damage in WWII, but the old town has largely been faithfully restored. We exit the bus at the Kaiserburg fortress which dominates on the hill overlooking the city. From there, we walk down to and grab some of the fmaous Nuremburg sausages.
With plenty of free time at the market, you may catch a glipse of the Christmas angel as you purchase your gingerbread and prune men, all while sipping on the local Glühwein.
After we rendevous with our bus, we drive 85 km more on to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Our hotel is located inside the city walls and directly next to the Plönlein tower. This historical family owned and operated hotel boasts an excellent kitchen and you'll experience the traditional franconian Sauerbraten, home-made dumplings and red cabbage. The owner also is a vintner and is reknown for bringing back several heirloom grape varities.
Top it all off with an hour walk with the village Night Watchman!
Sleep in and enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel. Following breakfast I'll offer an orientation to this small city. After our tour, you can visit St. Jakob church and its Tilman Riemenschneider Blood Altar, enjoy the small Christmas Market and the famous Christmas store of Käthe Wohlfahrt. Or, opt in for a visit to the Medieval Crime Museum or the Reichsstadt museum. In the evening, we will enjoy another great Franconian meal (Beef Roulade) at Hotel Glocke. After the meal, the hotel proprietor's husband will guide us through his Franconian wine selections. Herr Thürauf makes his own wine from the region's Silvaner grape and has made a name for himself by bring back hertitage grapes varieties. His passion for the craft is contagious and even an expert is sure to learn something new.
After another hearty breakfast we load our luggage and drive 140 kilometers to the Swabian city of Ulm, nestled on the Danube. Home to the world's largest church steeple, we'll have ample time for a lunch of Swabian specialities at the Zunfthaus and some browsing at Ulm's Christmas Market. This one features a live nativity scene and offers the best Feuerzangenbowle (a traditional drink for which a rum-soaked sugarloaf is set on fire and drips into mulled wine). Reboarding our bus, we head on to Munich. It's another 150 km before we arrive in Munich and check in at our well-situated hotel, Hotel am Viktualienmarkt.
Today we have the entire day to enjoy Munich! Founded in 1158, Munich has a rich history from the “First Reich, Second Reich” and was, of course, the birthplace of the infamous “Third Reich.” Our walk through Munich’s old town covers all these periods – medieval architecture, historical anecdotes and insights into the culture. The history and distinct culture of Munich will come alive!
For the evening, we’ll enjoy dinner at the Bier und Oktoberfest Museum. Loved by the locals, this place features hearty Bavarian dishes, fresh Augustiner beer, and is Munich's oldest surviving building. After dinner, it's just a short walk back to the hotel - or join us for one last Feuerzangenbowle!
After breakfast at the hotel, we will continue our walking tour of Munich's old town and take you to several other Christmas Markets. Near Odeonsplatz is the Medieval Market and one inside the Residenz, a favortite for the kids. Or we may head over to the English Garden and watch the action at the Eisstockschiessen lanes at Chinese Tower. That makes it also easy to catch the craft market in the district of Schwabing on our way back.
We finish up our evening with dinner at Schneider's storied Weisses Brauhaus.
Everything has an end - only the sausage has two, says the Bavarian. Today is departure day and you'll make your own way to the Munich airport. It's a direct train, and takes about 40 minutes. We recommend checking in at Munich airport 2.5 hours prior to departure. So, be sure to plan your departure flight properly!
Or, opt to join us for three nights in the Austrian Capital, Vienna!
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