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Christmas Markets of Eastern Europe

with Berlin extension

Duration: 15 or 18 days
Group size: 15-38
Reviews: 1

Celebrate the holiday season among Eastern Europe’s joyous markets.

Each winter, the cities of Eastern Europe burst into celebration as artisans, crafters, and other vendors take to the streets with their festive wares. You’ll take in the sparkling atmosphere as you journey along the Danube from the two-sided city of Budapest to Vienna, unrivaled for its beauty and majesty. Then, visit the castles and cathedrals of Prague and explore medieval Kraków before ending in modern Warsaw.

Your tour package includes

13 nights in handpicked hotels
13 breakfasts
5 dinners with beer or wine
1 wine tasting
6 guided sightseeing tours

Included highlights

Eastern European Christmas markets
Hungarian Parliament Building
Matthias Church
Schönbrunn Palace
Ringstrasse

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Day-by-day itinerary

Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Budapest.

Budapest3 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Budapest

Included meal: Dinner

Welcome to Hungary! Meet your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Budapest & Christmas market visit

Included meal: Breakfast

Discover the major landmarks of the city that straddles east and west.

• Trace this nation’s stormy history at Heroes' Square• Tour the lavishly decorated Hungarian Parliament building

• Cross the Danube and ascend Castle Hill

• Take in the breathtaking views from Fisherman’s Bastion

• Visit the medieval Matthias Church, once the site of Hapsburg coronations

• Get an introduction to Budapest’s lively Christmas markets and explore the bustling stalls on your own

Enjoy a free evening in Budapest or add an excursion.

Wine Cellar Dinner & Unicum Liqueur Tasting

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 4: Free day in Budapest

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend the day exploring Budapest on your own or add an excursion.

Budapest Bath & Spa Visit

Excursion (additional cost)

Vienna3 nights

Day 5: Travel to Vienna

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel to Vienna today, home of chocolates, cafes, parks, and pastries. When you arrive, enjoy free time to explore the Christmas market at Hundertwasserhause.

Later, enjoy dinner in Vienna with your fellow travelers followed by a mulled wine tasting at another of the city’s Christmas markets.

Day 6: Sightseeing tour of Vienna

Included meal: Breakfast

Get transported back to the Age of Empires on a guided tour of Vienna.

• Enter Schönbrunn Palace, the Rococo Hapsburg home with impressive gardens

• Travel down the Ringstrasse, Vienna’s tree-lined thoroughfare

• See the Parliament building, the Vienna State Opera, and the grand Hofburg Palace

Enjoy a free afternoon or add an excursion.

Traditional Viennese Heurigen Evening

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 7: Free day in Vienna

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend the day exploring Vienna or add an excursion.

Bratislava

Excursion (additional cost)

Prague3 nights

Day 8: Prague via Lednice Castle

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive through the pastoral landscapes of Bohemia on your way to Prague, one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. En route, stop in Moravia to enter Chateau Lednice, a gorgeous chateau on the Austrian border.

In Prague, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Prague & Christmas market visit

Included meal: Breakfast

Discover why Prague is known as "the City of One Hundred Spires” on a guided tour.

• Visit Prague Castle, from which Charles IV governed the Holy Roman Empire

• Admire the soaring Gothic vaults of St. Vitus Cathedral

• Walk down to the Malá Strana district to sip a coffee at a local cafe

• Cross the elegant Charles Bridge for breathtaking views of the city

• Stroll through Old Town Square to view the 15th-century Astronomical Clock

Then, learn about the city’s Christmas markets from your local guide before taking time to explore on your own.

Enjoy a free afternoon or add an excursion.

Walking Tour of Prague's Jewish Quarter

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 10: Free day in Prague

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend the day exploring Prague on your own or add an excursion.

Château Sychrov

Excursion (additional cost)

Kraków2 nights

Day 11: Travel to Kraków

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Pass through the dramatic landscapes of Moravia before reaching the historic Polish city of Kraków.

Sit down to an included dinner with your group this evening.

Day 12: Sightseeing tour of Kraków & Christmas market visit

Included meal: Breakfast

Meet your local guide for a tour of Kraków, Poland’s former royal capital.

• Discover Wawel Hill, perched high above the Vistula River

• Visit Wawel Cathedral, where Polish kings were crowned

• Stroll through Glowny Square

• Pass beautiful Sukiennice Cloth Hall, the Jagiellonian University, and Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory

• Get an orientation to Poland’s best Christmas markets and take free time to explore

Enjoy a free afternoon or add an excursion.

Auschwitz

Excursion (additional cost)

Warsaw2 nights

Day 13: Travel to Warsaw

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Enjoy a free morning to explore Kraków before setting off for Warsaw, Poland’s capital city.

In Warsaw, sit down to an included dinner with your group.

Day 14: Sightseeing tour of Warsaw & Christmas market visit

Included meal: Breakfast

On a guided tour, get to know Warsaw, a city all but destroyed during World War II and painstakingly rebuilt since 1944.

• Enter the Palace of Culture and Science, Poland’s tallest building, and take in sweeping views of the surrounding city

• See the Chopin monument at Lazienki Park and walk through the Old Town

• Visit the Jewish Ghetto and the Jewish Memorial• Discover Starego Miasta Square’s Renaissance facades and Baroque townhouses

• Walk through the Old Town

• Enjoy Warsaw’s best Christmas markets in your free time

This afternoon, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members. Then, spend free time in Warsaw or add an excursion.

Chopin Recital & Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 15: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or extend your stay to explore Berlin.

Extension to Berlin

Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, this city pulses with life. The cobbled streets of the German capital date back 750 years; yet a fresh vibrancy pervades the boulevards, the markets, the hundreds of trendy night spots, and the thousands of pubs and restaurants. This revitalized Berlin—also known as "the New York City" of Europe—is an essential destination for every traveler.

Berlin4 nights

Day 15: Travel to Berlin

Included meal: Breakfast

Make your way to Berlin, once the gateway to Eastern Europe and now capital of reunified Germany. En route, stop in the Polish city of Poznan for free time.

Day 16: Sightseeing tour of Berlin

Included meal: Breakfast

A local guide introduces you to the monuments of Berlin’s intricate past as well as the signs of its re-emergence as a vibrant cultural center.

• Discover the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of a reunited Berlin

• See the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall's East Side Gallery

• Journey down Unter den Linden, the city’s most elegant boulevard, passing the Reichstag and Museum Island

Enjoy a free afternoon or add an excursion.

World War II Walking Tour

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 17: Free day in Berlin

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend the day exploring Berlin on your own or add an excursion.

This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members. Then, enjoy a free evening or add an excursion.

Potsdam

Excursion (additional cost)

Berlin Home-Hosted Dinner

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 18: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

5 average

Christmas Markets

01/08/2018 by 8th time traveler Ron W.

This was an exceptional tour, no question ! The tour guide Lala is a superb, and exceptional director, always thinking of everything she can to make the tour enjoyable and interesting. She was our guide for our first tour of Europe and we were delighted to see her again to say the least. My only neg...

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Go Ahead Tours replied on 01/08/2018

Hi Ron, Thank you so much for your review of you...

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Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

Hotels, flights, & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Mercure Warszawa Grand

This contemporary hotel is located in the city center. Guests enjoy two on-site restaurants, a gym, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find the Fryderyk C...

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Qubus Hotel Kraków

This modern hotel is located in the Kazimierz district of Krakow. Guests enjoy a jazz club, Turkish bath, and boat cruises. Nearby, you’ll find the Gh...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

Passport & visa requirements

This tour visits Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland (and Germany on the tour extension). In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for about 2.5 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with few hills or stairs.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own luggage at times.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Relations Team at 800.597.0350.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Budapest and depart from Warsaw (or Berlin on the tour extension).A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
A train ride from Warsaw to Berlin is included with the tour extension.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Airlines have varying weight restrictions on baggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage; be advised that you are responsible for any such costs.
Contact your airline for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flight, but please note that our travelers are restricted to one checked bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
One carry-on bag of 45 total inches (length + width + height) is also permitted.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

To ensure you’re comfortable for outdoor sightseeing and celebrations, we recommend packing a warm coat, hat, and gloves, as well as rainwear.
We also suggest packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can easily be layered.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or boots is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or special performance.

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to any of the countries on this tour.
Check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.* If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

Hungary claims goulash as its national dish, but also is known for excellent salamis, cheeses, nut-flavored pancakes, freshwater fish and preserved fruits.
Austria is known for its savory Wiener schnitzel and excellent wild trout, carp and crayfish. Save room for dessert—especially the strudels of fruit and nuts elegant chocolate cakes, such as the world-famous Sachertorte.
Czech food is hearty, and you’ll find large portions of veal, beef, and potato dishes. Some of the world’s finest beers are produced here, including the original Budweiser and Pils.
When in Poland, fill up on favorites like kielbasa and pierogi. Don’t miss out on trying the bagels—they were born here.
German food, on the tour extension, is hearty and substantial. Among the specialties are dumpling stews, sauerkraut, sausages, smoked cheeses, and dark breads. Bavaria produces some of the world’s purest beers and exceptional white wines.

Electricity

All countries on this tour operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C, E, or F plugs with two or three small, round pins.
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
Your hotels on this tour may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time Zones

The countries on this tour are one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the Polish złoty, Czech crown, Hungarian forint, and the euro in Austria, as well as Germany on extension.
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks, as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.