European Christmas Markets

Upon arrival in Strasbourg, you’ll be picked up and transferred to our hotel, conveniently located near the city center and Christmas markets. After getting settled and having some time to rest, we’ll meet for an orientation before heading out for our welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Tonight’s meal will feature traditional Alsatian winter dishes, giving us our first taste of the regional flavors and festive traditions that make Strasbourg such a special place to begin the journey.

Strasbourg truly comes alive at Christmas, and today we’ll see exactly why it’s one of Europe’s most atmospheric places to experience the season. We’ll begin in Petite France, where timber-framed houses, narrow lanes, canals, and festive decorations make the old riverside quarter feel almost like a storybook. From there we’ll cross the covered bridges and continue into the Grande Île, Strasbourg’s historic center, where elegant squares and centuries-old streets lead us to the soaring Strasbourg Cathedral. Around it, medieval lanes glow with lights, decorated facades, and Christmas stalls filled with seasonal treats and handmade gifts. After some free time for lunch and a rest, we’ll meet again for a private ornament-making workshop, creating our own holiday decoration to take home. As evening falls, we’ll head back out together to enjoy the markets at their best, with plenty of time to wander between the wooden chalets, try Alsatian specialties, and browse for handmade pieces. Your tour leader will be there throughout the evening to help with recommendations and make it easy to enjoy every bit of Strasbourg’s Christmas atmosphere.

Today we’ll head into the Alsace countryside for a full day of villages, vineyards, and some of the region’s most beautiful scenery. After about 1 hour by road we’ll arrive in Riquewihr, a beautifully preserved medieval village surrounded by vineyards and known for its old wine houses, stone gateways, narrow lanes, and colorful facades. We’ll explore the village with our guide before visiting a nearby winery for a tasting of regional Alsatian wines and a closer look at the traditions behind this celebrated wine region. From there we’ll continue to Colmar, where we’ll stop for lunch and enjoy regional favorites such as tarte flambée, choucroute, and other classic Alsatian dishes. Afterwards we’ll wander through the old town and Little Venice, where canals wind past pastel-colored houses and small bridges, giving this part of town its distinctive charm. The rest of the afternoon will be yours to explore, browse local shops, stop for something sweet, or simply enjoy Colmar before we make our way back to Strasbourg.

We’ll leave France behind today and cross into Germany, continuing by train to Cologne, one of the country’s oldest cities and a fascinating stop along the Rhine. We’ll make one train change along the way before arriving in Cologne, where we’ll sit down for lunch and an introduction of German food. Afterwards we’ll check into our hotel and have some time to rest before heading back out. In the afternoon we’ll visit the historic home of Eau de Cologne, where this famous fragrance tradition began more than two centuries ago. During a private workshop, we’ll learn how different scents and notes are blended together, then each create our own personalized perfume to take home. In the evening we’ll head to a traditional Cologne brauhaus, where hearty regional dishes, long communal tables, and a lively local atmosphere will give us a fun introduction to the city and its food traditions.

This morning we’ll dive deeper into Cologne, beginning with a guided tour of the city and one of Germany’s most impressive buildings, the Cologne Cathedral. This enormous Gothic cathedral has dominated the skyline for centuries and is one of Germany’s most impressive buildings. From there we’ll wander through the Old Town, passing historic squares, colorful houses, and narrow streets before reaching the Rhine waterfront. Along the way, we’ll learn more about Cologne’s Roman roots and medieval past. After lunch, the rest of the day will be dedicated to the city’s Christmas markets. Cologne has several different markets spread throughout the center, each with its own look and atmosphere. You can start beneath the cathedral, where a huge Christmas tree glows under a canopy of lights, then continue to the Old Town’s Heinzels Winter Fairytale, with themed lanes, artisan stalls, and a large ice rink. There will be plenty to try along the way, including Reibekuchen potato pancakes, bratwurst, roasted almonds, gingerbread, and warm mulled wine. You can also browse handmade ornaments and gifts, or head toward the Rhine for the waterfront market and Ferris wheel. Your tour leader will help keep the evening easy to navigate so you can enjoy whichever markets interest you most!

Today we’ll say goodbye to Germany and continue by train into Belgium, arriving in Brussels for the final stop of our journey. After arrival, we’ll sit down for lunch and get our first taste of Belgian cuisine, with local favorites such as moules-frites, shrimp croquettes, or carbonnade flamande, a rich beef stew. We’ll then check into our hotel and have some time to settle in before heading out for an orientation walk through the city center. We’ll begin at Grand Place, Brussels’ magnificent central square, surrounded by ornate guild houses and the grand Gothic Town Hall. From there we’ll walk through the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries, a beautiful 19th-century glass-roofed arcade filled with chocolate shops, cafés, and boutiques. We’ll continue past the Bourse, into Sainte-Catherine, an old market and waterfront district now known for restaurants and lively squares, and make a quick stop at Manneken Pis, the tiny bronze statue that has become one of Brussels’ quirkiest symbols. As evening falls, we’ll move into the heart of Winter Wonders, Brussels’ huge Christmas celebration spread across several squares and streets in the historic center. The city fills with illuminated façades, wooden chalets, festive displays, seasonal sweets, Belgian chocolates, waffles, and food from across Europe. We’ll have time to wander through the celebration and take it all in before finishing the evening with a Belgian dinner near Sainte-Catherine.

For our final full day in Brussels, we’ll begin with one of Belgium’s most famous traditions during a hands-on chocolate workshop. We’ll learn how Belgian chocolates are made, work with different fillings and techniques, and of course taste plenty along the way before creating some of our own to take with us. Afterwards the afternoon will be completely free to enjoy Brussels one last time. You can return to Winter Wonders, shop for gifts and chocolates, relax at a café, or explore another part of the city at your own pace, with your tour leader available to help with ideas and recommendations. In the evening, we’ll come back together for our farewell dinner, featuring Belgian Christmas and winter favorites such as game or roast meats, potato croquettes, seasonal vegetables, and a traditional bûche de Noël for dessert. It’ll be a warm and festive final night together after our journey through France, Germany, and Belgium.

You will be picked up at the hotel by a private driver who will take you to the airport for your departing flight.