European Christmas Market Tour 2026
December 8, 2026 - December 19, 2026
This 10 day tour will be led by Ted Lange and a European tour company with 34 years experience and a European guide who will be with us the entire trip, from the time you land in Europe until it's time to head back home. Our trip will include many authentic European experiences and entertainment, but will also feature several performances by Ted Lange and Pete Schlegel, entertaining you with Christmas favorites, plus a mix of Classic Country and Polkas and your requests! In addition to the guided tours, you'll also enjoy having the freedom to explore these amazing big and small charming European cities on your own at our different stops.
The cost of the tour is $2995 USD per person, based on double occupancy, (not including flights). We will pick you up at the Krakow, Poland airport, and at the end of our journey, we will transport you to the Frankfurt, Germany airport. A single supplement is available for only $650 USD. Bring the whole family with you! Group rates start with parties of 4 or more people! Don't delay, as bookings are coming in quickly!
Departs December 8, 2026 and returns December 19, 2026. Pricing includes:
* 4 Star Hotel Accommodations for 10 Nights
* All transportation in Europe included in a Deluxe Motor Coach
* Includes 8 meals with drinks plus breakfast every day.
* Snacks and beverages including beer, pop and water available on the bus.
* Foreign Money Exchange on the tour with no transaction fee.
* Tickets to all our events/locations and visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE ITINERARY
Below is the itinerary for the tour:
Tuesday December 8
Depart from U.S. airports and fly into Krakow, Poland.
Wednesday December 9 - Day 1
Arrival in Krakow, Poland. The luxury bus with attendant team (including your tour guide) will be waiting for you at the airport and take you straight to our hotel which is situated in the center of historical Krakow. Check-in and free time to rest after the flight or explore one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Poland, situated on the banks of the Vistula River on your own. Enjoy a group dinner at the hotel in the evening.
Thursday December 10 - Day 2
We will start the day with a guided tour of the wonderful Wieliczka Salt Mine, located just a short distance from Krakow and includes some 205 miles of chambers on nine levels. The immense salt deposit was first mined around 1290. You will see several chapels and chambers decorated with sculptures carved in salt. Following this tour, we will take you back to the main square of the Old Town of Krakow which dates to the 13th century, and at 9.4 acres is the largest medieval town square in Europe! The main square is a square space surrounded by historic townhouses and churches. The center of the square in Krakow is dominated by the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), rebuilt in 1555 in the Renaissance style, topped by a beautiful attic or Polish parapet decorated with carved masks. Rising above the square are the Gothic towers of St. Mary's Basilica. In addition to other historical monuments on the square, you can admire the beautiful Christmas Markets for the rest of the afternoon or optionally take a trip to Oswiecim to tour the Auschwitz museum grounds, the largest concentration and extermination camp established by Nazi Germany during WWII, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner at our hotel in the evening.
Friday December 11 - Day 3
Enjoy the Christmas markets of Krakow in the morning and taste some Polish specialties for lunch, such as pierogi dumplings and traditional Polish soups. Vendors sell skewers of meat and delicious grilled sheep cheese…. there are waffles, gingerbread biscuits, and Eastern European pastries…or feel free to explore on your own before we get on the road towards Moravia in the Czech Republic after lunch. We will drive to Roznov pod Radhostem, the major city in the Wallachia region, situated in the southeastern area of Moravia, near the Slovak border. You can enjoy the views of the Beskydy mountains on the way with dense forests, green hills, rivers and mountain villages. This region is very well known for its culture and rich traditions. After we check-in at our resort hotel with a pool, sauna and hot tub, we will be treated with dinner and a party at the nearby Koliba authentic restaurant…
Saturday December 12 - Day 4
Today we will be on our way to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, situated in the west of the country. We’ll drive through the beautiful countryside of the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands and check-in our hotel in the downtown area, with leisure time to explore the surrounding area with Christmas markets within walking distance and shopping opportunities in the vicinity. Christmas markets here stand out for their scale and splendor. The Old Town Square market, with its towering Christmas tree, known for being one of the tallest in the Czech Republic measuring up to 85’ tall, draped in lights and ornaments, is a central attraction. Nearby, Wenceslas Square complements the festive offering with rows of stalls selling hand-blown glass baubles, painted marionette puppets, and traditional Czech delicacies like carp soup, roasted ham, and even the controversial trdelník (chimney cake). In the evening, we will be treated to dinner and a folklore show by U Marcanu with examples of typical dances and instruments…
Sunday December 13 - Day 5
In the morning, we will have a guided walking tour of Prague beginning with the Prague Castle and then on to St. Vitus Cathedral, in the Hradcany quarter, and the Church of Our Lady Victorious which houses the famous wax statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague. We will walk across the famous 14th century Charles Bridge and continue on to Old Town Square to see the Astronomical clock. After lunch, we will end the tour at Wenceslas Square, which has historically been the sight of many events including the 1989 Velvet Revolution demonstrations. You will have free time to enjoy the Christmas markets here or explore the sights you desire on your own. In the evening you will certainly enjoy a 2-hour boat cruise on the Vltava River including a buffet dinner and viewing all the beauties of Prague along the river by night.
Monday December 14 - Day 6
Leave in the morning for Salzburg, Austria. Drive towards the southern part of the Czech Republic and we will arrive in Ceske Budejovice. Founded in the mid-13th century as a royal city it boasts one of the largest squares in Europe and the famous Budvar brewery. We will fully enjoy its Christmas Market which transforms the historic Přemysl Otakar II Square into one of Europe's most enchanting winter destinations, ranked 9th among Europe's most beautiful Christmas markets. This spectacular advent celebration features around 100 wooden stalls arranged around the square's centerpiece - a unique ice-skating rink encircling the iconic Samson's Fountain, offering free skating daily throughout the season.
Visitors can explore the market's diverse offerings, from traditional Czech handicrafts and gifts in the Craft Alley to an impressive selection of over 60 types of punch at what's billed as Europe's largest punch kingdom. The festive atmosphere is enhanced by a hand-carved nativity scene in life-size, a viewing tower and Ferris wheel offering panoramic views of the illuminated market, and Ježíškova dílna (Baby Jesus Workshop) where not only children can create their own Christmas decorations. Continue on our way to Salzburg, check-in and have dinner at our hotel.
Tuesday December 15 - Day 7
After breakfast we will take a trip to one of the best holiday destinations in Austria – Wolfgangsee lake, surrounded by forests, meadows, and mountains. On its shores you’ll find fairytale villages such as St. Gilgen, St. Wolfgang, and Strobl. We will explore the biggest one, St. Wolfgang where old town houses alternate with colorful shops and welcoming inns. As soon as you arrive in the town you will realize that folk culture and traditions play a big role in everyday life of the locals. Advent on Lake Wolfgang is regarded as one of Austria's most beautiful Christmas Markets. Enjoy ambling through the market where Austrian Christmas
Traditions are alive and flourishing. Mulled wine and punch will get you in the Austrian Christmas spirit, while the hot chestnuts, gingerbread and baked apples on offer at the small stalls entice you with their Christmassy aroma. Traditional crafts are also characteristic for this town so be ready for shopping for some local souvenirs! In the afternoon drive back to enjoy Salzburg downtown with Christmas market too…. at Residenz Square where the Cathedral of Salzburg, palaces and medieval fortress Hohensalzburg overlooking the medieval city are located. This is where the Salzburg's Christmas Market, mentioned as far back as the 15th century, is located. Come back to our hotel in the evening.
Wednesday December 16 - Day 8
Today we will drive to another beautiful city, this time Nuremberg, Germany, with a stop enroute in Munich, the center of economic and cultural activity in southern Germany - it's one of Germany’s most attractive cities where every year the world’s largest beer festival known as “Oktoberfest” takes place. On our walking tour we will see the main square "Marienplatz" with a New Town Hall built in the Neo-Gothic style and possessing an animated carillon and Church of Our Lady, the vast Late Gothic hall-church which has become the symbol of the city. End up the tour at famous Munich´s Christmas Markets where you can shop for Christmas gifts and souvenirs, have a taste of Munich eating traditional Bratwurst or drinking Gluhwein, mulled wine. Beer lovers can continue with our tour guide to the famous beer house – The Hofbräuhaus which dates from 1589. This is a favorite place where every day 17500 mugs of beer in 1 liter tankards are served. Following this, we will depart for Nuremberg, Germany, which is what most people imagine when they think of a German city. The second biggest city in Bavaria, it has medieval heritage with its grand castle on the hill and encompassing city walls, its very own sausage, one of the best Christmas markets in the country, and even notorious reminders of Germany's National Socialist past.
Thursday December 17 - Day 9
This morning we will start the day on the bus with a tour of Nuremberg’s darkest chapter linked with the WWII. We will head to Nazi Party Rally grounds which showcase the grand plans Adolf Hitler had for the city and the country at large – the Zeppelin Field, marching grounds with the grandstand and never completed Congress Hall are still impressive. Walking the site is surreal, this is where Hitler pictured he would celebrate the Nazi’s victories and make plans for the future. Next we will experience the Memoriam Nuremberg Trials and the infamous courtroom 600 where the leaders of the Nazi party were prosecuted. We will end up our tour with the Old town and its Imperial Castle of Nuremberg which was the center of medieval world and is still one of the most important castles in Germany. You can walk through the courtyards of the castle and enjoy a magnificent view from there. Last but not least we will experience the Main Market Square where the famous Christkindlsmarkt (Christmas market) is organized every season and admire the wonderfully reconstructed buildings including the Church of Our Lady, and make sure you twist the copper ring at the Beautiful Fountain to make a wish… and mainly enjoy the great atmosphere of the local Christmas market recognized as one of the most beautiful in the world. The afternoon will be free for you to enjoy on your own.
Friday December 18 - Day 10
Time to leave Nuremberg for the quaint town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This town is perhaps the best known of all on the Romantic Roads. It is a prime example of a walled medieval town - one of the only ones left in Germany. Its beautiful buildings, walls and alleys have led to it becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bavaria. Käthe Wohlfahrt’s Christmas Village is located in the center of the town just off the Market Square. You will find the largest selection of German Christmas ornaments worldwide. Time to enjoy this beautiful city with cozy little streets and typical half-timbered houses, passing through one of the preserved Medieval town gates or visiting the wonderful churches, such as St. James´ Church with a stone carving depicting Christ and the sleeping apostles among others. We will have time to enjoy one of the most popular Advent markets in Germany. The market features over 60 stalls. Brass bands from the Rothenburg region perform daily on the stage and you will be enchanted by a romantic Christmas atmosphere you never dreamed of….Check-in our hotel in the Frankfurt area near the airport and get ready to go back home the next day…
Saturday December 19
Depart from Frankfurt airport early in the morning heading back to USA, HOME SWEET HOME!
* Itinerary subject to change depending on availability. *
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Wed, Thu December 9,10 POLAND Krakow
Friday December 11 CZECH REPUBLIC Roznov p. Radhostem
Sat, Sun December 12,13 CZECH REPUBLIC Prague
Mon, Tue December 14,15 AUSTRIA Salzburg
Wed, Thu December 16,17 GERMANY Nuremberg
Friday December 18 GERMANY Frankfurt airport