6 minute read
Festive St. Petersburg and Moscow, Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland, German Christmas Markets
Christmas Markets
Get swept up in the magic of Christmas as you visit Europe’s oldest and most enchanting Christmas Markets. From Salzburg to St. Petersburg, you’ll revel in local traditions as you wander through medieval squares, filled with twinkling lights, festive songs, and the warming notes of mulled wine and gingerbread in the air.
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More About Your Trip
* All prices are per person, twin share. Christmas Markets: Are generally open from the beginning of Advent until 24 December 2021. Trafalgar reserves the right to substitute sights and excursions in keeping with the events of the season. Important Visa Information: Visas are required for the trip to Russia. Please speak to your travel agent at the time of booking to assess your specific requirements. Visas cannot be issued at borders in Europe.
7 Days 8 Meals
from A$2695 PP*
Christmas Markets of Austria, Germany and Switzerland
8 Days 11 Meals
From A$2750 PP*
8 Days 11 Meals
From A$2725 PP*
Welcome to St. Petersburg St. Petersburg extends a warm welcome for a festive sojourn. But first, meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception and light dinner before an orientation drive.
(WR) Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott Vasilievsky
Discover Historic St. Petersburg Join your Local Specialist on a sightseeing tour that will take you past the Tsar’s regal Winter Palace, St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the grand avenue of Nevsky Prospekt. Included is a visit to the 18th-century Peter and Paul Fortress. Later, Connect With Locals and meet some of the students of St. Petersburg’s Theatre. (B, )
Explore the Spectacular Hermitage Museum Catherine the Great’s cherished collection of art takes centre stage today as we Dive Into Culture and enjoy a Small Group Sightseeing visit to the Hermitage Museum with a Local Specialist. Spend the rest of the day on your own exploring the grand boulevards and regal façades of this great city. (B, )
Journey By High-Speed Train to Moscow Tuck into a hearty breakfast of Russian fare before embarking on a high-speed train to Moscow. Follow the imposing red walls of the Kremlin on this exploration of Russia’s political, economic, religious and financial hub. (B)
Hotel: Marriott Tverskaya
Enjoy Moscow’s Stunning Christmas Markets An enchanting winter wonderland awaits as we admire the more than 400 dazzling light installations that illuminate the city for its annual Christmas Light festival. Stroll through city squares that come alive with Christmas market stalls, then join a Local Specialist on a sightseeing tour to see the vibrant façade of St. Basil’s Cathedral and visit the Kremlin. (B)
Moscow Your Way Spend your full day at leisure discovering the victories and tragedies that have shaped this magnificent city. Consider joining an Optional Experience to Sergiyev Posad, the largest religious and cultural centre in Russia. Later, you’ll join new friends for a Farewell Dinner. (B, FD)
Farewell Moscow For now it’s time to say a fond do svidaniya to two great Russian cities. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers. (B)
Trip code: WFSM
Departures: 13 December, 20 December, 27 December 2021 and 03 January 2022.
Festive Meals: Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners have been arranged for the 20 December and 27 December departures. Join us in Europe to celebrate the festive season. DAY
1 Welcome to Vienna Write your very own Christmas story on a festive foray beginning in Vienna. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers later for an orientation drive and Welcome Reception with drinks and a light meal. (WR) Hotel: Hilton Danube
Waterfront
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Discover Vienna’s Spectacular Christmas Markets
Join your Local Specialist for a sightseeing tour of the Austrian capital, from its Parliament and City Hall, to the grand State Opera House and Hofburg Palace. We feed our Christmas spirit with a visit to the enchanting Christkindlmarkt this afternoon and feast on delicious gingerbread and glühwein. (B)
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8 Journey to Munich Venture along the scenic Danube Valley to Mozart’s beloved Salzburg, where we’ll Dive Into Culture with a Local Specialist on a walking tour to see the Mirabell Gardens and other sights that featured in the ‘Sound of Music’. Later, travel to Munich. (B, D, ) Hotel: Holiday Inn Westpark
Enjoy Bavarian Munich’s Magical Christmas
Markets Bundle up warmly for an orientation tour of one of Germany’s liveliest cities. Embrace the festive cheer in Marienplatz with its ornate Glockenspiel. Then, spend the rest of your day at Munich’s Christmas market – a dazzling display of twinkling lights and a magnificent Christmas tree. (B)
Off to Innsbruck Travel through Bavaria to Oberammergau, which hosts the Passion Play every ten years. Admire the village’s intricate woodcarvings and elaborate frescoes before continuing to Innsbruck and maybe try delicious Kiachl doughnuts at the bustling Christmas market. (B, D) Hotel: Grauer Bär Venture to Lucerne A winter wonderland beckons as we see the ski jump that towers over Innsbruck. Continue to Vaduz to view its turreted castle then head to Lucerne for an orientation tour and sights of the sad Lion of Lucerne and famous wooden Chapel Bridge. (B) Hotel: Astoria Explore Lucerne’s Festive Glittering Lights Embrace the Yuletide cheer in true Swiss spirit during a visit to Lucerne’s Christmas market. Ramble past traditional wooden stalls, a warm mug of Glühwein in hand. Tonight, we celebrate our magical journey together during an exclusive Be My Guest experience and Farewell Dinner filled with Christmas cheer as you Connect With Locals in their home. (B, BMG, )
Journey Home We bid a festive farewell to our travel companions, returning home with magical Christmas memories. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers. (B)
Trip code: WCMA Departures: Frequent departures from 24 November to 13 December 2021 DAY
1 Welcome to Frankfurt Tame your festive wanderlust on this magical journey that begins in Frankfurt. After checking in, join your Travel Director on an orientation tour before a Welcome Reception with drinks and a light meal. (WR) Hotel: Sheraton Offenbach
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8 Venture to Nuremberg In the medieval walled town of Rothenburg, you’ll enjoy an orientation walk past picture-perfect half-timbered houses and the Old Town Hall. Continue to Nuremberg with its mighty ramparts and visit the famous Christkindlesmarkt where the famous Zwetschgenmännle prune men pose in all their Christmas splendour. (B, D) Hotel: Congress Mercure Off to Weimar Embrace hundreds of years of festive spirit at the Eisenach Christmas market* held in the UNESCO World Heritage Wartburg Castle. Next on our Christmas wish list is Erfurt’s medieval market – its Weinachtspyramiden is the gateway to delicious aromas of gingerbread and egg punch. Our final stop on our festive foray today is Weimar. (*Sat/Sun only). (B, D)
Hotel: Leonardo
Journey to Dresden Travel to Dresden, the ‘Florence on the Elbe’. Spend the day admiring the magnificent restoration of a city that was all but destroyed during World War II. (B) Hotel: Pullman Newa
Discover the Festive Atmosphere at Dresden
Christmas Markets Germany’s Christmas traditions take centre stage today as we Dive Into Culture and wander through Dresden’s Striezelmarkt, Germany’s oldest Christmas market. (B, )
Admire Magical Leipzig and on to Berlin Take a trip back in time at Leipzig’s Christmas market as you savour the scents of Glögi wine and admire the traditional crafts.
(B) Hotel: Sheraton Grand Esplanade
Explore Berlin Ascend hundreds of metres into the air and admire 360° views of the city from the Berlin TV Tower. Your Local Specialist will share insights into old East and West Berlin during a sightseeing tour including the Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden Boulevard, the Reichstag building and Kurfürstendamm. Spend your final evening at an exclusive Be My Guest experience and Farewell Dinner as you Connect With Locals in their home. (B, BMG, )
Farewell to Germany Bid a festive farewell to new friends as you return home filled with magical memories. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers. (B)
Trip code: WMAR
Departures: 29 November, 03 December, 05 December, 09 December, 11 December and 13 December 2021
