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Celebrate the Christmas season in traditional German style.
Begin your adventure in artsy, edgy Berlin, reunited Germany’s political and cultural capital. Stop at the historic outpost of Potsdam, then continue on to Dresden, home of the country’s oldest Christmas market. Take a step back in time as you wander along the medieval streets of Bamberg before ending in Munich, the capital of Bavarian food and culture.
Your tour package includes
10 nights in handpicked hotels
10 breakfasts
4 dinners with beer or wine
7 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
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Included highlights
Berlin Wall
Zwinger Palace
Striezelmarkt—Germany’s oldest Christmas market
Potsdam
Weimar
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Start planning today
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Welcome to Germany! Gather with your fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.
Day 3: 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 in Berlin or add an excursion.
World War II Walking Tour
From $75 per person
Day 4: Potsdam
Included meal: Breakfast
Travel to Potsdam, where American, British, and Soviet leaders drew up plans for the postwar administration of Germany at the Potsdam Conference.
Explore the historic town center, New Garden, and Dutch Quarter with a guide
Step inside Cecilienhof Palace, site of the Potsdam Conference’s iconic photo
Dresden2 nights
Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Dresden
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Leave Berlin for a guided tour of Dresden, once considered to be the most beautiful city in the world.
Stroll through the Old Town and pass the renovated Semper Opera House, site of the Saxon State Orchestra
Admire the Dresden Frauenkirche and statue of Martin Luther
See the Zwinger Palace, a striking example of Baroque architecture
Visit the historic Striezelmarkt and enjoy a tasting of traditional mulled wine and pastries
This evening, sit down to an included dinner with your group.
Day 6: Free day in Dresden
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend a full free day in Dresden or add an excursion.
Görlitz
From $109 per person
Bamberg2 nights
Day 7: Bamberg via Weimar
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to Bamberg by way of Weimar, the intellectual hub that nurtured the genius of Goethe, Nietzsche, and Schiller.
Learn about the city’s literary history on a walking tour through the Old Town
See remnants of the Bauhaus architectural movement
Discover the National Theater and its monument to Goethe and Schiller
Then, continue on to Bamberg where you'll enjoy an included dinner this evening.
(Please note: Some departures may overnight in Würzburg, Bayreuth, or Coburg instead of Bamberg.)
Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Bamberg
Included meal: Breakfast
Set off with a local guide on a walking tour through Bamberg, a city built on seven hills.
Enter the towering Bamberg Cathedral and surrounding square
Pass the Baroque New Palace
Stand in awe of Old Town Hall, built in the middle of Regnitz River
Visit the quaint fisherman’s village of Little Venice
Enjoy a free afternoon in Bamberg or add an excursion.
Historic Nuremberg
From $99 per person
Munich3 nights
Day 9: Munich via Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Included meal: Breakfast
Set off for Munich today. En route, stop in Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a sightseeing tour of the town's picturesque squares. After, enjoy free time to explore the local Christmas Market before continuing on to Munich.
Enjoy a free evening in Munich or add an excursion.
Bavarian Brewery & Beer Tasting
From $99 per person
Day 10: Sightseeing tour of Munich
Included meal: Breakfast
Get to know the Bavarian capital on a guided tour.
Travel past the Englischer Garten and fashionable Schwabing district
Enter the Nymphenburg Palace, the Baroque home to past Bavarian royalty
Walk from Odeonsplatz through the nearby Hofgarten to view the Residenz, once home to the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria
Explore Marienplatz, Munich’s medieval heart, and see the famed Glockenspiel
Celebrate the season at the city's festive Christmas markets
Enjoy a free afternoon in Munich or add an excursion.
Dachau
From $55 per person
Day 11: Free day in Munich
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Spend a full free day in Munich or add an excursion.
Tonight, join your group at a farewell dinner.
Bavarian Alps Castle Visit
From $89 per person
Flight Home
Day 12: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to Vienna.
Extension to Vienna
Vienna is famous for its musical history, beautiful Baroque architecture, and coffeehouse culture (three things that make it one amazing place). Continue your trip to explore the Austrian capital on a sightseeing tour, and soak it all in for yourself.
Vienna3 nights
Day 12: Vienna via Salzburg
Included meal: Breakfast
Pass through the Austrian countryside, stopping for free time to explore Salzburg en route to Vienna.
Upon arrival in Vienna, set off with your Tour Director to uncover some of the city’s festive Christmas markets.
Day 13: Sightseeing tour of Vienna
Included meal: Breakfast
Get transported back to the Age of Empires on a guided tour of Vienna.
Travel down the Ringstrasse to the Parliament building and the Vienna State Opera
View the impressive art collection inside the Kunsthistorisches Museum
See the grand Hofburg Palace, the Hapsburg’s preferred winter residence
Visit the city’s festive Christmas market
Enjoy a free afternoon in Vienna or add an excursion.
Traditional Viennese Heurigen Evening
From $115 per person
Day 14: Free day in Vienna
Included meal: Breakfast
Spend the day exploring Vienna on your own.
This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Flight Home
Day 15: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
This tour was the perfect combination of history, castles, churches and Christmas markets. Lala is a first class tour guide. The local guides she arranged were very knowledgeable and fun. Highly recommend.
5.0 star rating
12/2/22 by 1st-time traveler Jared
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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.
Abba Berlin Hotel
This contemporary hotel is located in Berlin center. Guests enjoy a restaurant, lounge-bar, and fitness room. Nearby, you'll find exclusive boutiques ...
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NH Dresden
This modern hotel is located in the Leipziger Vorstadt neighborhood, north of the Dresden city center. Guests enjoy a fitness room, bar, and restauran...
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Hotel Europa Bamberg
This Venetian-inspired hotel is centrally located at the Chain Bridge in Bamberg. Guests enjoy free Wi-Fi, plus an on-site restaurant and bar. Nearby,...
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NYX Hotel Munich
This artsy hotel is located in the Obersendling district. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and sauna. Nearby you’ll find the Hellabrunn Zoo, the Theres...
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MAXX by Steigenberger Hotel Vienna
This convenient hotel is located in the city center of Vienna, Austria. Guests enjoy the fitness area, on-site bar and restaurant, and spa. Nearby you...
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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
This tour visits Germany (plus Austria 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.
Beginning in 2024, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2024, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code GMC.
You will walk for about 1 hour daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with few hills.
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 baggage at times.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Berlin and depart from Munich (or Vienna for 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.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
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.
Winters in Germany are generally cold. To ensure you’re comfortable for outdoor sightseeing and Christmas market visits, we recommend packing a coat, hat, and gloves, as well as rainwear.
We also suggest packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes, sneakers, or winter boots is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
At least 60 days prior to departure, 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.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code GMC.
German food 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 white German wines are exceptionally good.
On the tour extension, 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 and elegant chocolate cakes, such as the world-famous Sachertorte.
Germany (plus Austria on the tour extension) operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C or F plugs with two 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.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
You will use the euro in Germany (and in Austria on the tour extension).
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.
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 $8USD 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.
Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on your 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.
International travel is, by its very nature, unpredictable. We must therefore reserve the right to change this itinerary, without advance notice, to meet with local conditions at the time of travel. We appreciate your understanding. Please refer to our website for Terms & Conditions, dates, and prices.
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