German Christmas Markets | Winter | 2025
German Christmas Markets | Winter | 2025
$1545
German Christmas Markets | Winter | 2025
7 Days Starting in Frankfurt, Germany and ending in Munich, Germany
Visiting: Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Munich
Tour operator:
Tour code:
WWCMA20
Specialist Group:
18-30 Somethings
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
18-35
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Experience the magic of Germany's Christmas markets on this enchanting winter tour in 2025. Begin your journey in Frankfurt, where the festive atmosphere and a glass of traditional gluhwein await. Cruise through the scenic Rhine Valley, savoring a wine tasting in St. Goar. Explore Cologne's iconic cathedral and vibrant Christmas markets, then stroll through Stuttgart's illuminated Christmas Garden. Discover Nuremberg's rich history and indulge in a gingerbread-making class. In Munich, visit the fairy-tale Neuschwanstein Castle and enjoy the city's festive markets. With comfortable accommodations and guided tours, this holiday promises a delightful blend of culture, history, and holiday cheer.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Start Frankfurt
Location: Frankfurt
Accommodation Name: Leonardo Hotel Offenbach Frankfurt (or similar)
Meals Included: Dinner
Wilkommen to Frankfurt, often described as a big city with a friendly village feel. We'll start off with an orientation tour before cutting to the main event, Frankfurt’s Christmas Market. With a glittering 30m tree and a vintage carousel, the town is like a snow-globe come to life. Countless stalls sell grilled sausages, roasted nuts, honey, candles and pretty ornaments as well as local jewellery, art and sculpture. You’ll even find an LGBTQ market with bright pink Christmas trees, glitzy purple lights, a laid back atmosphere and all the usual goodies. Be sure to sample Bethmaennchen, traditional marzipan cookies found only in Frankfurt, and enjoy a glass of glühwein on us.
Day 2: Frankfurt To Cologne
Location: Cologne
Accommodation Name: Mercure Hotel Severinshof (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
We bid Auf Wiedersehen to Frankfurt and make tracks to the Rhine Valley where we will relax on a sightseeing cruise before docking in Sankt Goar. Narrow canals, one sprawling river, & plenty of boats gliding to and fro. That's how you know you're in the oh-so-romantic Rhine Valley (the home of premium German wine). We'll spend the morning floating along the Rhine on a scenic cruise before visiting a local cellar to sample some of the delicious wine. Where the Rhine meets the Moselle, we’ll stop off for some free time in historic Koblenz, a charming city with plenty of quiet squares, quirky fountains and pavement cafes. Wine has been cultivated near Koblenz since Roman times, and we’ll learn all about it as we raise a glass at an included wine tasting in St Goar. Our final stop for the day is Cologne, where we’ll explore the breathtakingly huge cathedral, originally built to house the remains of the Three Wise Men! In its shadow we’ll gasp in delight at just one of the city’s celebrated Christmas Markets, with its glittering canopy of lights. A few steps further on we’ll find a spectacular ice skating rink and many, many more market areas promising Christmas paradise on earth. When we’ve shopped for gifts to our heart’s content let’s not forget to get a taste of all the local delicacies – Käsespätzle (tiny egg dumplings tossed in cheese) and Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancakes with sugar), plus churros, crepes and plenty of German craft beer!
Day 3: Cologne To Stuttgart Via Heidelberg
Location: Stuttgart
Accommodation Name: Vienna House Easy (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Another day, another bewitching market to visit. We leave Cologne after breakfast and head for Heidelberg.Covering seven different locations in the Old Town, Heidelberg’s Christmas Market radiates festive magic – the perfect blend of tradition and winter wonderland. We’ll tear ourselves away to also take in the romantic ruins of Heidelberg castle before making tracks for Stuttgart. Later today we’ll reach Stuttgart where, in the Christmas Garden, the magic begins after twilight falls. The Wilhelma (garden) is transformed into a fairy-tale landscape as ten million points of light illuminate a sparkling circular walk. Stuttgart Christmas market, one of Europe’s oldest and liveliest, will give us the chance to shop for wooden toys and antiques and to warm our bellies with mulled wine and fresh gingerbread – all to the festive sounds of local choir music. TEST
Day 4: Stuttgart To Nuremberg Via Rothenberg
Location: Nuremberg
Accommodation Name: Premier Inn Nuremberg City Opernhaus (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
See you later Stuttgart, after breakfast today we’ll set our sights for Rothenberg.Here in Rothenburg, Germany’s best-preserved walled town, we’ll sip some seasonal hot chocolate before continuing on to Nuremberg.Here we are in the heart of Bavaria for a walking tour that’ll fill us in on 1000 years of history, from emperors and Renaissance riches, to World Wars and Nazi trials.This evening we’ve another chance to thrill to enticing stalls, tinsel angels, wooden nutcrackers, coloured stars and lots more twinkling lights. Grab dinner on the move with the locals’ favourite grilled sausages, or maybe a crackling pork shoulder served with a dumpling.
Day 5: Nuremberg To Munich Via Dachau
Location: Munich
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Munich City West (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Nuremberg gingerbread is a centuries-old tradition – a delicious speciality made to carefully guarded family recipes. This morning we’ll get to see up close how the famous treat is made and pick up some tips and treats at an included gingerbread workshop, the perfect farewell before we make our way to Munich this afternoon, via Dachau. Moving on from Nuremburg, we’ll head on to Munich. But first, an important and sobering visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial, once the original working camp. You’ll be able to spend some time here to learn and reflect on a generation never to be forgotten. Munich may be famous for Oktoberfest festivities, but the vibes live here all year round. A tour of the sights will introduce you to the history and sights of this dynamic city including the main square and the famous Glockenspiel with its 32 dancing figurines and 43 chiming bells. This evening you’re free to make the most of your time in the city; with so many bars, clubs and beerhalls you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Day 6: Munich
Location: Munich
Accommodation Name: Holiday Inn Express Munich City West (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we begin with a visit to Neuschwanstein Castle, straight out of a storybook. Built by ‘mad King Ludwig’ it’s not only one of the most famous castles in Europe but said to be the inspiration for Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle too. Munich’s Christmas Markets are amongst the oldest in Germany. We’ll follow our noses as the tantalising scents of roasted almonds, doughnuts and mulled wine draw us to the old town for a final night of sparkly lights, traditional crafts and holiday cosiness. Dinner is included this evening, then get ready for a whirlwind of lederhosen, dirndls and steins as we continue the night at a traditional beerhall, where the oompah band will play and strangers will become friends. Prost!
Day 7: End Munich
Location: Munich
Meals Included: Breakfast
We don’t want the festivities to end but today’s the day we say “Auf Wiedersehen”. We’ll go our separate ways with Christmas lights sparkling in our eyes and cheer in our hearts, until our next Contiki adventure comes around.
What's Included
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Meals
2 dinners and 6 breakfasts are included.
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Accommodation
Accommodation is provided at Leonardo Hotel Offenbach Frankfurt, Mercure Hotel Severinshof, Vienna House Easy, Premier Inn Nuremberg City Opernhaus, and Holiday Inn Express Munich City West (or similar).
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Guided Tours
Guided walking tours in Nuremberg and Munich are included.
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Wine Tasting
Enjoy a wine tasting in the picturesque village of St. Goar, in the Rhine Valley.
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Gingerbread Workshop
Learn the secrets of Nuremberg’s local delicacy at an exclusive gingerbread-making class.
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Neuschwanstein Castle Tour
Tour the fairy-tale turrets of Neuschwanstein Castle.
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Christmas Market Visits
Visits to Christmas markets in Frankfurt, Cologne, Stuttgart, Nuremberg, and Munich are included.
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Sightseeing Cruise
A sightseeing cruise in the Rhine Valley is included.
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Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Visit
Visit the Dachau concentration camp memorial.
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Transportation
Travel through Germany in style with included transportation between cities, featuring a scenic Rhine Valley cruise and visits to various Christmas markets and historical sites.
What's Not Included
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Flights
Flights to and from Germany are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and must be purchased separately.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Optional Activities
Any optional activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.
Dining Summary
- 2 Dinner (D)
- 6 Breakfast (B)
Included Experience
- Frankfurt: Get together with your new Contiki fam and acquaint yourself with Germany’s most sophisticated city.
- Frankfurt: Drink in the festive atmosphere of Frankfurt’s Christmas market and enjoy a glass of traditional gluhwein
- Frankfurt: Go castle spotting as you ramble along the river. Or jog if you’re feeling energetic.
- Koblenz: Enjoy a wine tasting in the picturesque village of St.Goar, in the Rhine Valley
- Cologne Cathedral: Get to know the historical city. Climb the cathedral for panoramic views and then refresh with a beer on the ‘Party Mile’.
- Cologne: Browse amid the twinkling lights of Cologne’s Christmas Markets
- Stuttgart: Stroll the illuminated trail around Stuttgart’s Christmas Garden.
- Nuremberg: Discover Nuremberg’s history, heritage and hard times on a walking tour with a local guide.
- Nuremberg: Learn the secrets of Nuremberg’s local delicacy at an exclusive gingerbread-making class
- Munich: This guided walking tour will take you around all the highlights of this Bavarian city, including Marienplatz and Rathaus Glockenspiel.
- Stuttgart: Tour the fairy-tale turrets of Neuschwanstein Castle
- Munich: Dine on regional favourites at a local restaurant in Munich
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a variety of unique experiences such as a wine tasting in the picturesque village of St. Goar in the Rhine Valley, an exclusive gingerbread-making class in Nuremberg, and a tour of the fairy-tale turrets of Neuschwanstein Castle. Additionally, there is a sightseeing cruise in the Rhine Valley and visits to several Christmas markets across Germany.
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Are meals included during the tour?
Yes, the tour includes 2 dinners and 6 breakfasts. These meals are provided at various accommodations throughout the tour.
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What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?
Transportation between cities is included, featuring a scenic Rhine Valley cruise and visits to various Christmas markets and historical sites. This ensures comfortable travel throughout Germany.
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Will there be guided tours during the trip?
Yes, guided walking tours are included in Nuremberg and Munich, allowing you to explore the history and highlights of these cities with a local guide.
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What is the accommodation like on this tour?
Accommodation is provided at comfortable hotels such as the Leonardo Hotel Offenbach Frankfurt, Mercure Hotel Severinshof in Cologne, Vienna House Easy in Stuttgart, Premier Inn Nuremberg City Opernhaus, and Holiday Inn Express Munich City West, or similar accommodations.
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Is there a visit to any historical sites included in the tour?
Yes, the tour includes a visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial, providing an opportunity to learn and reflect on this significant historical site.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
In 1961, a guy called John Anderson founded Contiki in New Zealand. Whilst later bought by The Travel Corporation, the tour company had already been using the name ‘Contiki’ since its inception.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
Contiki trips are designed & operated exclusively for those aged 18-35 years. Your travelling companions will be like-minded adventurers within that age range. The age range is adhered to strictly.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® is our commitment to protect people, wildlife and the incredible planet we all share. Powered by The TreadRight Foundation, a non-profit organisation and Contiki’s guiding hand when it comes to making travel matter.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
All documentation will be sent via email around 21 days prior to your trip departure. You can also access information on your trip by signing up to My Contiki via the top right icon of the homepage.
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Barrhead Travel requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 98 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of barrhead travel charges.
Up to 98 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 97 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 75% of booking price.
At 28 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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