Day 1: Arrive in Vienna, Austria

• Welcome to Vienna! Austria’s capital is best known as the home of Mozart and Beethoven, and its Baroque architecture is breathtaking. The city’s Christmas festivals are also justifiably famous. On your first evening, take a walking tour of several Christmas markets including the Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz, which offers almost unlimited shopping. Dinner is at the home of the world’s most celebrated schnitzel, Restaurant Figlmüller  
• InterContinental Vienna 4* or similar
• Meals included: Welcome dinner at Restaurant Figlmüller 

Day 2: Vienna 

• After a traditional Viennese breakfast, you’ll take a guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace, the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers. 
• The 1,441-room Rococo palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in the country. 
• After the tour, you’ll get to explore the Christmas Market located in the Palace courtyard  
• After lunch, you’ll have time to visit the city’s Christmas markets 
• InterContinental Vienna 4* or similar
• Meals included: Breakfast and lunch 

Day 3: Salzburg, and train to Munich

• After breakfast, board the high-speed train to Munich and make a stop in Salzburg. Our local tour guide Bernd will show us around Salzburg’s Christmas markets in the center of the old town. In the late afternoon, we’ll board the train to Munich. Bring your appetite—dinner in Munich is at the Augustiner-Keller
• Le Méridien Munich 5* or similar
• Meals included: Breakfast, dinner at the Augustiner-Keller 

Day 4: Munich

• Begin the morning with a visit to Residenz München. The Residenz in central Munich is the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria. The Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany, who’s lavish interior will astound you  
• Then we’ll walk to the world’s first Christmas market, Marienplatz in the heart of the city, where you’ll also see the world-famous Glockenspiel with its mechanical figurines. Spend the afternoon exploring the markets on your own  
• In the evening, we’ll return together to the main market when the entire town square is illuminated by brilliant, colored lights. At Christmas markets, it’s standard operating procedure to keep warm with an occasional cup of warm, spiced, red wine called “gluhwein”  
• Dinner is served at the lively Hofbrauhaus
• Le Méridien Munich 5*  or similar
• Meal: Breakfast, and dinner at Hofbrauhaus 
• Optional visit to Neuschwanstein Castle during the day 

    

Day 6: Zurich, Switzerland

• Among the Christmas markets in Zurich are Wienachtsdorf, the Zurich Old Town market, and the indoor market inside the city’s main train station with its towering Christmas tree adorned with thousands of Swarovksi crystals  
• Peek inside Zurich’s most prominent landmark, the Grossmunster Cathedral, and visit the Beyer Clock and Watch Museum 
• Dinner is at the famous Zeughauskeller, well known for its sausages and flank steak or pan-fried pork sausage served by the meter 
• Zurich Central Plaza 4* or similar
• Meals included: Breakfast, dinner at Zeughauskeller 

Day 7: Zurich, Switzerland 

• Enjoy a leisurely last breakfast before starting your journey back home.