Compare Europe Christmas Markets: Munich to Budapest by Intrepid Travel vs The Ultimate Alps & Dolomites 2023 by Tauck

Day 1 Munich

Willkommen! Welcome to Munich, Germany. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. In the evening, head out for an included dinner with the rest of the group. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend the meeting. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Day 2 Munich

In the morning after breakfast, venture out with your leader for an orientation walk of Munich. This cosmopolitan metropolis houses an extraordinary array of sights for travellers more interested in art, architecture, history, music and, of course, Christmas markets. There are 20 different Christmas markets in Munich and you'll be introduced to the best of them. From the Kripperlmarkt, which has all you need to create an authentic manger, to the Tollwood Christmas Market, Munich's vibrant ethnic festival. Music lovers will be able to get into the festive spirit with a special alpine Christmas Market concert from the balcony of Munich's town hall, which takes places Sunday to Thursday while the Christmas markets are on. Sip on a mug of gluehwein, grab a grilled sausage and browse the markets full of toys, wood carvings, candles etc.

Day 3 Salzburg

Travel south-east into Austria by train to Salzburg today, which should take around one hour and forty five minutes. Built on the fortune of its famous salt mines, Salzburg is the birthplace of the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves legend, home to the hills from the Sound of Music and purveyor of absolutely everything Mozart. On arrival, check in to your hotel and then head out into the city for an orientation walk with your leader. The city will captivate with its history, as well as its cobblestone lanes, bubbling river and charmingly kitsch atmosphere. In the late afternoon, visit the atmospheric Christmas market in Cathedral Square. The smells of gluhwein, roasted chestnuts, toasted almonds and cinnamon brushed baked apples waft through the marketplace, while the sounds of traditional Salzburg choirs fill the air. Here your leader will take you on food crawl that may include such classics as Lebkuchen (gingerbread), Kasnock´n (cheese gnocchi), Bratwurst (sausage), Mozartkugel (marzipan-covered nougat in dark chocolate cover), Schwarzbrot (sourdough bread). Later on, jump in to a cable car and reach the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the city’s most visible landmark. This fully preserved castle hosts very small, intimate Christmas market and if you’re lucky, a Christmas themed live music.

Day 4 Salzburg

Today is free to explore Salzburg and the surrounding areas. Perhaps make your way to the salt mine in Berchtesgaden, situated in the German Alps. Otherwise, you may want to experience the life of the von Trapp family from the Sound of Music and visit movie scenes of the Mirabell Gardens and Pegasus Fountain, Leopoldskron Palace and Hellbrunn Palace. In the evening, why not head back to the Christmas markets to soak up even more of the blissful atmosphere?

Day 5 Vienna

Board a train bound for Vienna today (approximately 2.5 hours). On arrival, embark on a leader-led walking tour of Vienna, passing grand buildings and parks. You'll see many monuments dedicated to famous composers and historical figures. In your free time, perhaps visit the striking Hofburg Palace, the Leopold Museum or seek out exceptional city views on the Prater Ferris Wheel. Later in the afternoon, head to the Christmas markets in front of the City Hall. Browse the markets, sip on Christmas punch and snack on some freshly baked cinnamon biscuits.

Day 6 Vienna

You'll have the whole day to explore Vienna, so perhaps head to Schoenbrunn Palace, which was designed by Empress Maria Theresa herself. The gardens are free to all visitors but there is a charge for entrance and tours of the palace. Avoid long queues by pre-booking your tickets at schoenbrunn.at. Also, with over 12 Christmas markets to visit in the city, you'll be sure to find the perfect Christmas present.

Day 7 Budapest

Travel east from Vienna to Budapest by train (approximately 3 hours). Known as the 'Pearl of the Danube', Budapest's grand architecture and boulevards evoke a time gone by. With so much to see and do, hiring a bicycle is a great way to move between sights and attractions. After a short orientation walk around the city, it's time to visit the Christmas markets. With the main Christmas market being located in Vorosmarty Square, every street light, tree and market stall lit up it gives the area a real Christmas feel. There are plenty of stalls offering different Hungarian foods to try and buy. Experience these great markets of Budapest with a glass of mulled wine or shot of traditional Hungarian palinka. The combination of market cheer and Neo-Renaissance architecture is a charming one.

Day 8 Budapest

Your Christmas Market adventure comes to an end today. There are no more activities planned and you're free to depart the accommodation at any time after you check-out.

Day 1 Arrive Munich

Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski. A transfer is included from Munich International Airport to the city-center Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski. Please join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner this evening.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski

PORTOFCALL : Munich, Germany

Day 2 Discover Munich

A guided introductory tour of Munich reveals some of the must-see sights in the heart of the Bavarian capital this morning, including the celebrated Maximilianstrasse, the 17th-century Residenz, and the old town hall. Enjoy some time to explore more of this city as you please, before settling into your hotel for a two-night stay. Tonight, dinner is at your leisure at the hotel.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Althoff Seehotel Uberfahrt

PORTOFCALL : Munich, Germany

Day 3 Oberammergau - Home of the Passion Play

Wake up for an exclusive guided yoga experience or the opportunity to relax as you wish, before heading off to the Bavarian town of Oberammergau, famously known as the decennial host of the Passionsspiele. Occurring as each new decade begins, some 2,000 local residents of Oberammergau join forces to perform the Passionsspiele (Passion Play), a dramatic re-creation of Jesus Christ's last days on Earth. Your visit to Oberammergau is highlighted by a guided visit of the Passion Play Theater followed by lunch. The rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. 

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Althoff Seehotel Uberfahrt

PORTOFCALL : Oberammergau, Germany

Day 4 Innsbruck, a tour of Tratzberg & Salzburg

Late this morning, you're off to the city of Innsbruck. Green domes and red roofs welcome you to this Alpine city along the Inn River – twice the host city for the Winter Olympics; it's also home to one of the most beautiful medieval city centers in Austria (Gothic Old Town), and impressive imperial architecture that dates back to its days as the capital of late 15th-century Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I. After a walking tour with a local guide, you'll visit Schloss Tratzberg, on the slopes of the Karwendel Alps, where an entertaining private tour introduces the castle's five centuries of history, and medieval merriment reigns during a private wine reception featuring wines produced from the castle's own vineyards. Your final destination today is Salzburg, the beautiful Baroque hometown of composer W. A. Mozart, where you'll begin a three-night stay in the heart of the city.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Hotel Goldener Hirsch

PORTOFCALL : Innsbruck, Austria

Day 5 Salzburg sightseeing, the Eagle's Nest & Berchtesgaden's Salt Mines

A guided walking tour this morning introduces Salzburg, a city of intensive cultural traditions that took off with the career of its most famous resident, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. You'll see his birthplace and other local attractions, followed by lunch on your own and free time to explore the sights as you wish. This afternoon, depart for the Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle's Nest), a 6,000-ft. mountaintop tea house built in the 1930s. A special mountain coach takes us high up the Kehlstein road; blasted out of solid rock in just 13 months, it is considered a feat of engineering. This evening brings fascinating travel into mountain depths on a memorable visit to the Berchtesgaden Salt Mines. You'll don protective overalls (and perhaps a sweater) for an optional slide* down into this centuries-old miners' world, including an illuminated lake and an interactive chamber where you'll learn about the long history of salt mining in the Alps. A private dinner with entertainment follows.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Hotel Goldener Hirsch

PORTOFCALL : Salzburg, Austria

Day 6 Salzburg at leisure, then a trip to the beautiful Salzkammergut

Spend the morning as you please in Salzburg, a city divided into two halves by the Salzach River. The older half (on the left bank) consists of narrow streets, many pedestrian-only, lined with historic architecture that dates as far back as the Middle Ages, splendid squares and elegant burghers' houses. This afternoon, travel to St. Gilgen in the Salzkammergut, a region of peaceful lakes and craggy peaks that you might well recognize from film locations used in the movie version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music; you'll also stop in Mondsee for some picturesque views. Back in Salzburg, your evening is free.

MEALS : B

LODGING : Hotel Goldener Hirsch

PORTOFCALL : Salzburg, Austria

Day 7 Through Grossglockner Pass to the Dolomites & a schnapps tasting

Departing Salzburg, and weather and visibility permitting, find yourself on one of the most scenic roads in the world today as you travel through famed Grossglockner Pass. This is what you've come to the Alps to experience – a seemingly endless panorama of towering alpine peaks and mighty glaciers. Opened in 1935, Austria's Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse (High Alpine Road) paved the way to one of the most impressive and incomparable natural experiences on Earth. The road takes you up into the most spectacular Alpine scenery you could possibly imagine; from the highest point, you'll be able to see more than 30 mountains higher than 8,000 feet! Enjoy a lunch of East Tyrolean fare – along with a memorable schnapps tasting – at a 400-year-old family farm in Kuenz. Continue on to Cortina d'Ampezzo, a Dolomites resort town in northern Italy, famed in winter for skiing and in summer for mountain climbing, for a two-night stay; the town is both chic – and considered chic to be seen in.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Grand Hotel Savoia

PORTOFCALL : Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Day 8 A day in the Dolomites

From Cortina d'Ampezzo, head out with experienced mountain guides to spend a full day in the Dolomites, their sheer rock walls standing like silent stone sentinels against the sky. You'll have an opportunity this morning for in-depth exploration of this starkly beautiful region, which a century ago was the scene of harsh, bitter fighting between Italian and Austrian troops during World War I; the front line passed through the area you'll visit today. Your choices include a hike with a mountain guide around the Refuggio; a rock climbing session with an experienced climber; or time spent relaxing and taking in the spectacular views at the Refuggio. Lunch includess a Q&A session with a noted Italian mountain climber; return to your hotel in Cortina d'Ampezzo for an afternoon and evening spent as you wish.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Grand Hotel Savoia

PORTOFCALL : Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

Day 9 Via the South Tyrol to the Swiss Alps

Drive through the Dolomites this morning and into the South Tyrol (also known as the Alto Adige) in the Italian Alps, to its capital, Bolzano – a small, well-preserved city of mountain landscapes, medieval architecture and a fusion of Italian and Austrian cultural influences. After time to check out the town and have lunch on your own, our Swiss Alps tour travels this afternoon across the Italo-Swiss border and by train through the Flüela Pass (conditions permitting) and on to Davos, Switzerland for a two-night stay. Tonight, join us for a quintessential Swiss dinner with fondue and wine at your hotel.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Steigenberger Grandhotel Belevedere Davos

PORTOFCALL : Bolzano, Italy

Day 10 Alpine cheese, Monstein brews & more on your Swiss Alps tour

Like the Swiss farmers who bring their cows from the valleys up to Alpine pastures each summer, you'll find yourself in the mountains surrounding Davos this morning on the Clavadeler Alp for a cheese-making demonstration. From the locals, learn why Swiss cheeses, like gruyère, raclette and emmanthaler, are enriched when cows graze on summer's high grasslands, hear the resonating tones of an alphorn, once used by lone herdsmen to gather and calm their charges. In the village of Monstein, visit the highest brewery in Europe where beers are crafted with water sourced from mountain streams; enjoy a demonstration and tasting at the brewery, and a guided visit to the village. Return to your hotel in Davos to spend the rest of the day and evening as you please.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Steigenberger Grandhotel Belevedere Davos

PORTOFCALL : Davos, Switzerland

Day 11 Einsiedeln, ski jumping & William Tell

Travel from Davos to the Alpine town of Einsiedeln, known both for its Benedictine abbey dating to the 10th century (featuring some of the finest 18th-century Baroque buildings in Switzerland) and its state-of-the-art ski jumping complex, Schanzen Einsiedeln, whose first facilities were built in 2001. You'll learn the history of ski jumping and much more on a tour of the Einsideln jump complex – now Switzerland's national ski jumping venue, comprising four ultra-modern hills – which includes a chairlift ride and breathtaking views of Einsiedeln and environs. Later, meet "William Tell" himself, who recounts a story or two, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Brunnen. Continue on to Lucerne for a two-night stay; upon arrival this afternoon, join us for a guided walking tour of this historic Swiss city on Lake Lucerne, and have dinner at your leisure at the hotel tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne

PORTOFCALL : Lucerne, Switzerland

Day 12 Up to Mt. Titlis & a dinner cruise on Lake Lucerne

While a thoroughly modern, culturally rich city, lakeside Lucerne retains much of its old-world charm and a strong sense of its history, with its medieval covered wooden bridges and the many Renaissance and Baroque fountains that dot its landscape – along with many wonderful galleries, shops and cafés. After breakfast in Lucerne, drive to the vicinity of Mt. Titlis in the Uri Alps, site of the world's first rotating cable car in the 1960s. Today, your Mt. Titlis experience includes passage on the cable car system from Engelberg to Mt. Titlis, the Ice Flyer chairlift, and activities on the summit – including Glacier Park, the illuminated Glacier Cave, and the incredible Titlis Cliff Walk, Europe's highest suspension bridge, which opened in 2012. After lunch at Mt. Titlis, return to Lucerne for time on your own and this evening's farewell reception at your hotel, followed by a private farewell dinner cruise on Lake Lucerne – the perfect ending to your memorable Alpine adventure.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne

PORTOFCALL : Lucerne, Switzerland

Day 13 Journey home

Tour ends in Lucerne. A transfer is included from Bürgenstock Resort in Lucerne to Zurich Airport (approximately 41 miles). Allow a minimum of three hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Lucerne, Switzerland