Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You'll start with a transfer to your hotel and get settled in. Later this evening there's a welcome reception where you'll meet the rest of the group and get oriented for the trip ahead.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Westin Grand Berlin)
- Day 2
Berlin
Today you'll take a guided tour around Berlin, then wander through the Christmas markets this afternoon to get a feel for the season. Dinner brings everyone together this evening at a relaxed welcome meal.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Westin Grand Berlin)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Berlin
- Browse Christmas markets
- Day 3
Potsdam
After heading to Potsdam, you'll see Sanssouci, the former summer palace of Frederick the Great. Once back in Berlin, your evening is yours to spend however you'd like exploring the city at your own pace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (The Westin Grand Berlin)
Included Activities
- Guided discovery of Sanssouci Palace
Optional Activities
- Spree River Boat Ride - charming boat ride sipping mulled wine while viewing Berlin's major sites
- Charlottenburg Palace Christmas Market - browse vendors offering treats and souvenirs at one of Berlin's most beautiful Christmas markets
Landmarks Sanssouci Palace Charlottenburg Palace - Day 4
Berlin to Dresden
You're heading toward Dresden with a stop in Meissen along the way. There you get to choose your experience: either see Albrechtsburg Castle from the 15th century or check out the Meissen Porcelain Factory. Either way, you'll learn about regional history and craftsmanship.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Dresden)
Optional Activities
- Albrechtsburg Castle - visit the 15th century castle rising majestically above the Elbe River Valley
- Meissen Porcelain Factory - explore the world-famous factory showcasing its heritage of fine porcelain art
Landmarks Albrechtsburg Castle Meissen Porcelain Factory 
- Day 5
Dresden to Prague
This morning starts at Striezelmarkt, Germany's oldest Christmas market, where you can browse local goods and seasonal treats. You'll have a special signature experience planned, then later travel to Prague to arrive in this historic Czech capital.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Almanac X Alcron Prague)
Included Activities
- Visit Nutcracker workshop - enchanting workshop where you can try making famous wooden Christmas toys
Optional Activities
- Volkswagen Transparent Factory - guided tour of the facility in Dresden, learning about the future of electric mobility and seeing the production process
- Striezelmarkt Christmas Market - browse Germany's oldest Christmas market, founded in 1434, celebrating its 590th anniversary in 2025
Landmarks Striezelmarkt Volkswagen Transparent Factory 
- Day 6
Prague
A guided tour of Prague has you walking the old cobblestone streets of Old Town and crossing the famous Charles Bridge. By evening you'll have dinner at Alcron Restaurant, a fine dining spot that focuses on local Czech ingredients and traditional preparations.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at Alcron Restaurant, a fine dining establishment known for its use of local Czech produce)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Almanac X Alcron Prague)
Included Activities
- Guided discovery of Prague
- Explore Old Town and Charles Bridge
Landmarks Old Town Square Charles Bridge - Day 7
Chateau Jemniště
You're heading outside the city to Chateau Jemniště, where descendants of one of the Czech Republic's oldest aristocratic families will greet you. There's a private guided tour of the 18th century estate with its baroque architecture, lunch included, and a falconry display to watch.
- Meals
- Lunch (Delicious lunch at Chateau Jemniště)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Almanac X Alcron Prague)
Included Activities
- Private guided tour of Chateau Jemniště
- Lunch at Chateau Jemniště
- Falconry display
Landmarks Chateau Jemniště - Day 8
Prague to Budapest
You'll travel to historic Velké Bílovice and then continue on to Budapest where you board your river ship. This marks the beginning of your river cruise experience along this section of your journey.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (APT Solara or APT Ostara)
- Day 9
Budapest
In Budapest you can choose between a guided tour of the city's highlights, visiting thermal baths, or exploring Fisherman's Bastion. After that you'll check out two Christmas markets to try mulled wine and local food. Later this evening the ship sets sail for Vienna.
Optional Activities
- Budapest Highlights - city tour visiting Heroes' Square and St. Stephen's Basilica, stroll through Great Market Hall and savour tastings of local produce
- Fisherman's Bastion - funicular ride up to Castle Hill with sweeping views over the river, then walk to Fisherman's Bastion historical monument
- Budapest Thermal Baths - relax in the thermal springs of one of Budapest's popular thermal baths
- Visit two Christmas markets - sample mulled wine and local delicacies
Landmarks Heroes' Square St. Stephen's Basilica Great Market Hall Fisherman's Bastion - Day 10
Vienna
Vienna's day starts with the Ringstrasse and a visit to St Stephen's Cathedral. From there you'll walk through the Christmas markets picking up souvenirs while enjoying the festive setup with mulled wine and gingerbread around every corner.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Vienna's Ringstrasse
- Visit St Stephen's Cathedral
- Browse Christmas markets
Landmarks St. Stephen's Cathedral - Day 11
Vienna
This morning you pick what you'd like to do: explore Schönbrunn Palace and its Christmas market, visit Bratislava in Slovakia, or choose from other options available. By evening you'll head to a special signature experience with a cocktail party and private performance at Vienna's City Palace.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner before the cocktail party and private performance)
Included Activities
- Cocktail party and private classical performance at Vienna's City Palace - exclusive event featuring a full orchestra performing Mozart and Strauss masterpieces, plus an operatic recital
Optional Activities
- Explore Schönbrunn Palace - visit the 1,441-room palace and its gardens, including the traditional Christmas market in the Parade Court
- Visit Bratislava in Slovakia - journey to Slovakia's capital to see 18th-century rococo design and communist era architecture, including the UFO bridge, Slovak Radio building and Hotel Kyjev
Landmarks Schönbrunn Palace UFO Bridge - Day 12
Melk
You'll spend the morning in Dürnstein with free time to explore before cruising through the Wachau Valley to Melk. Once there, you'll see Melk Abbey, one of the finest Baroque buildings in the region.
Included Activities
- Cruise through Wachau Valley
- Visit Melk Abbey
Optional Activities
- Wachau Valley Scenic Cruise - admire stunning landscapes dotted with vineyards, charming villages and historic castles nestled amid lush hills
Landmarks Melk Abbey - Day 13
Salzburg
A guided tour takes you through Salzburg, then you head up Gaisberg Mountain for a signature experience. A traditional horn player welcomes you to a rustic restaurant with views over the city where you'll have a welcome drink, lunch, and a show featuring music from The Sound of Music.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch at traditional restaurant on Gaisberg mountain overlooking Salzburg)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Salzburg
- Gaisberg Mountain Lunch and Sound of Music Show - greeted by a hunting horn blower, enjoy a welcome drink and lunch at a traditional restaurant with views overlooking Salzburg, followed by a show featuring music from the classic film
- Day 14
Regensburg
You'll discover Regensburg and wander through its World Heritage-listed centre with Roman history dating back centuries. After that, you'll visit one of Bavaria's nicest Christmas markets at Thurn and Taxis Palace, browsing stalls with regional handicrafts and sampling local food and drink.
Included Activities
- Guided discovery of Regensburg
- Explore World Heritage-listed city centre
- Visit Thurn and Taxis Palace Christmas Market
Landmarks Thurn and Taxis Palace - Day 15
Nuremberg
A guided exploration of Nuremberg covers the city's history, including its Gothic churches and World War II sites. Then you'll check out the Christmas market, one of the oldest in Germany, and try glühwein, the traditional spiced wine that's popular throughout the season.
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Nuremberg
- Explore Gothic churches and World War II sites
- Visit Nuremberg Christmas Market
- Day 16
Bamberg
Once you arrive in Bamberg, a local expert will take you around to show everything this World Heritage-listed city has to offer. You'll get a real sense of the place from someone who knows it well.
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Bamberg with local expert
- Day 17
Würzburg
Today is yours to shape with a choice of activities. You can visit Würzburg Residence to see its architectural beauty and historic features, explore the walled medieval town of Rothenburg with its cobblestone streets and colourful houses, or hike up to Marienberg Fortress for views over the city.
Optional Activities
- Visit the Würzburg Residence - stroll through this 18th-century palace that once belonged to the Prince-Bishops of Würzburg, marvel at intricate tapestries, gilded stucco work and ceiling frescoes by Tiepolo
- Explore Rothenburg - wander the narrow cobblestone streets and admire the colourful houses; during free time, visit Käthe Wohlfahrt's Christmas Village which has the largest selection of German Christmas decorations in the world
- Hike to Marienberg Fortress - enjoy a hike to Würzburg's most visible landmark, an imposing castle overlooking the city with a fascinating history dating back many centuries
Landmarks Würzburg Residence Rothenburg ob der Tauber Marienberg Fortress - Day 18
Miltenberg
You'll dock in Miltenberg and go on a guided exploration of the town. After walking through the cobblestone streets and seeing the half-timbered houses, you'll have free time to explore more on your own and get a feel for the local atmosphere.
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Miltenberg
- Explore cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses
- Day 19
Rüdesheim
In Rüdesheim you'll pick an activity from a few options: take a gondola ride over the Rhine Valley vineyards, check out a museum full of unique mechanical musical instruments, or visit a historic wine cellar for tastings. After that, you have free time to enjoy the festive atmosphere or relax in a cosy cafe with local Rüdesheimer coffee.
Optional Activities
- Gondola Ride - glide over the emerald vineyards of the Rhine Valley enjoying stunning vistas, arriving at the Niederwald Monument commemorating Germany's 1871 unification
- Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum - tour of an eccentric and unique museum home to a beautiful collection of fascinating automated musical instruments from throughout history
- Visit a Historic Wine Cellar - wine tasting of Rhine Valley wines to discover why this location is one of Germany's most well-known wine regions
Landmarks Niederwald Monument - Day 20
Netherlands
You have a signature experience at Namedy Castle where Princess Heide von Hohenzollern welcomes you into her 14th-century home near the Rhine River. You'll wander through rooms and hidden spaces, explore the grounds, and have morning tea with classical piano music. The afternoon continues by ship toward the Netherlands.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Morning tea with classical piano music at Namedy Castle)
Included Activities
- Namedy Castle visit - guided tour of the 14th-century residence with welcome from Princess Heide von Hohenzollern, exploring rooms, hidden nooks and grounds
Landmarks Namedy Castle 
- Day 21
Amsterdam
After arriving in Amsterdam you can choose between a glass-top boat canal cruise to see the city's unique architecture and World Heritage-listed canals, or visiting the Old Amsterdam Cheese Store for a cheese tasting with wine. The evening brings a captain's farewell dinner to celebrate the end of the cruise.
- Meals
- Dinner (Captain's farewell dinner)
Optional Activities
- Glass-Top Boat Canal Cruise - peaceful journey viewing Amsterdam's unique architecture as you cruise the maze of World Heritage-listed canals
- Old Amsterdam Cheese Store Visit - cheese tasting perfectly matched with wine
- Day 22
Amsterdam to Ghent to Paris
You're traveling to Ghent, a Belgian town that not many people know about but should. There's a cruise through the maze of canals followed by a light lunch before you continue on to Paris.
- Meals
- Lunch (Light lunch)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Paris)
Included Activities
- Canal cruise of Ghent
- Light lunch
- Day 23
Paris
A local expert guides you through Paris, showing you the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower. This evening you'll head to the Moulin Rouge for a cabaret show to cap off your Paris experience.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner before the Moulin Rouge cabaret show)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Paris)
Included Activities
- Guided discovery of Paris
- See Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower
- Moulin Rouge cabaret show
Landmarks Avenue des Champs-Élysées Arc de Triomphe Eiffel Tower Moulin Rouge - Day 24
Paris
You have choices for how to spend your day in Paris. Go on a culinary walk exploring fine food hidden gems, take a journey in a vintage 2CV exploring backstreets and major attractions, or head to Montmartre to see the beautiful Sacré-Cœur Basilica with its panoramic views over the city.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Paris)
Optional Activities
- Culinary Walk - follow a trail of Paris' fine food discovering culinary hidden gems throughout the city not as well-known
- Citroën 2CV Drive - journey in a special 2CV vintage car, a national treasure first manufactured in 1948, driving around the sparkling cityscape and Paris' backstreets spotting the city's star attractions and Parisian icons
- Visit Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur Basilica - explore the charming hilltop district historically frequented by famous artists, admire the beautiful Roman Catholic church, explore the spectacular interior features including the grand pipe organ, and take in panoramic views of the city
Landmarks Sacré-Cœur Basilica Montmartre - Day 25
Departure
Your journey comes to an end today with a transfer to the airport, heading home with memories of your time across Central Europe and France.
