There is nothing quite like Christmas among the Alps with the festive Munich Christmas Market, Salzburg’s snow-capped spires and an indulgent cup of Glühwein. Your Local Expert brings Mozart’s history to life before a visit to Salzburg's Christmas market. After tasting the festive treats, the culinary delights continue with a traditional dining experience at Swarovski Crystal Worlds. If that is not enough to summon your holiday spirit, a stroll through the medieval cobbled streets of Freiburg will certainly do the trick, not to mention the fairytale surroundings of Strasbourg, where the sweet scent of cinnamon is carried on the breeze at the oldest Christmas market in France.
Length
9 days
Route
Munich to Zürich
Meals
8 breakfasts, 5 dinners
Style
Regional
Group size
40
Watch this price
Highlights
Experience a musical demonstration at Mozart's birthplace in Salzburg.
Business class coach with extended leg room
Top-rated dining, from farm-to-table to local restaurants
4 & 5-star stays
Itinerary
MunichDays 1–2
InnsbruckDays 3–4
LorrachDay 5
Freiburg im BreisgauDay 6
StrasbourgDay 7
ZürichDays 8–9
Day 1Arrive in MunichMunich
Welcome to Germany. Meet your Travel Director this afternoon for an orientation of the city that will show you some of the city’s major sights, culminating in the Marienplatz, with its soaring Town Hall and Glockenspiel. Here, the Christkindlmarkt will be in full swing, an entrancing festival of light and music. In the evening, join your Travel Director and fellow guests for a dinner with wine.
Munich Orientation
Munich Welcome Dinner
Meals: Dinner
Stay: Munich Marriott Hotel, Munich
Day 2Free Time in the Bavarian CapitalMunich
Explore Munich with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert for a foodie walking tour in the city centre. Alternatively, visit the famous Residenz, and see its museum and Treasury. This afternoon, consider joining an optional experience to explore the romantic royal palaces of the Bavarian Alps.
Munich Culinary Walking Tour
Munich Residenz Visit
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: Munich Marriott Hotel, Munich
Day 3Lake Chiemsee, Salzburg and InnsbruckMunich · Salzburg · Innsbruck
Travel past Lake Chiemsee, often called the Bavarian Sea, en route to Salzburg. With your Local Expert, stroll through the baroque Old Town and visit Mozart’s Birthplace on Getreidegasse. Inside, enjoy a rare musical demonstration on his original pianoforte, a moment that brings Salzburg’s most famous son vividly to life. Afterwards, explore the city’s renowned Christmas markets and enjoy a warming Glühwein, a traditional mulled wine dating back to the 15th century, with your Travel Director. Explore the market with your free time where you can browse handcrafted decorations and shop for local delicacies. Continue to Swarovski Crystal World, a visionary museum and art space conceived by André Heller to celebrate the artisanship and creativity of the Swarovski legacy.
Experience a Musical Demonstration at Mozart's Birthplace in Salzburg
Salzburg City Tour
Salzburg Glühwein Tasting
Innsbruck Orientation
Innsbruck Swarovski Crystal Worlds Visit
Innsbruck Restaurant Dinner at Swarovski
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: AC Hotel Innsbruck, Innsbruck
Day 4Innsbruck at LeisureInnsbruck
Enjoy a horse & carriage ride in the morning. Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere of the Old Town and Christmas Markets, set in front of the Golden Roof, graced by beautifully preserved medieval facades.
Innsbruck Horse-Drawn Carriage Ride
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: AC Hotel Innsbruck, Innsbruck
Day 5The Black Forest via LindauInnsbruck · Lindau · Lorrach
Travel through the Alberg tunnel, Austria’s longest road tunnel, as you return to Germany and pause in the tiny island-town of Lindau. Walk through the maze of ancient streets down to the harbour. Across the lake, often shrouded in mist, look for the rising silhouette of snow-capped peaks. After time to explore, continue along the shores of the Bodensee to your hotel in the Black Forest.
Lorrach Orientation
Walk the Medieval Streets of Lindau
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6Freiburg SightseeingLorrach · Freiburg im Breisgau
Visit Freiburg in the morning, a lively university city with a charming Christmas atmosphere. Walk from the medieval Münster through the heart of the historic old quarter, past colourful stalls offering a range of festive goodies from the Black Forest.
Walk the Cobbled Streets of Freiburg
Meals: Breakfast
Stay: Hotel Stadt Lörrach, Loerrach
Day 7Strasbourg and Alsace ExperienceLorrach · Strasbourg
Cross the Rhine to the region of Alsace, wedged between the Black Forest and the Vosges Mountains. This area has changed nationality four times since 1870! Arrive in Strasbourg, the City at the Crossroads, where the Christmas Market is the oldest and one of the largest in France. Spend time in a cosy neighbourhood of timbered fairy-tale buildings, with Christmas shops and a gingerbread bakery, warm with fragrant promise. Return to Germany and venture to a local restaurant for a delightful dinner of local specialties, accompanied by wine.
Visit Strasbourg's Christmas Markets
Restaurant Dinner in the Black Forest
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Hotel Stadt Lörrach, Loerrach
Day 8The Swiss City of ZürichLorrach · Zürich
Cross the Swiss border and head for Zurich where a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® visit takes you through the streets of Zurich. Enjoy the traditional Christmas Markets in Zurich's Old Town. Toast to the culmination of your Yuletide journey during a festive dinner with wine at a local restaurant with its own microbrewery.
Walking Tour with a Local Change Maker
Zürich Celebration Dinner
Visit the Zürich Christmas Market
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stay: Hyatt Regency Zürich Airport, Zürich
Day 9Depart ZürichZürich
Say a fond farewell to Switzerland and your newfound friends at the end of an unforgettable journey. Your final hotel is located at the airport, just a short walk from the terminal, so there’s no need to arrange a transfer.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotels
Munich, Germany
2 nights
Munich Marriott Hotel
TripAdvisor 4.0Traditional
Perfectly located for your two night stay, away from the hustle and bustle and with direct access to the city centre, the Munich Marriott Hotel features modern designed rooms with comfortable furnishings.
Hotel and room features
Hotel Restaurant, Bar, Concierge, Room Service, Business Centre, Laundry, Gym, Pool, Foreign Currency Exchange, 24-hour Front Desk
Room Air Conditioning, Safe, TV, Tea & coffee facilities, Wi-Fi
Innsbruck, Austria
2 nights
AC Hotel Innsbruck
TripAdvisor 4.5Contemporary
The AC Hotel Innsbruck is centrally located and just a few minutes walk from the Old Town. It was originally built in 1972 for the Winter Olympic games and has since been completely refurbished and upgraded to offer comfortable, sleek-designed rooms, each with views of the surrounding Alps.
Hotel and room features
Hotel Restaurant, Bar, Laundry, Gym, Business Centre
Room Air Conditioning, Safe, TV, Wi-Fi
Loerrach, Germany
2 nights
Hotel Stadt Lörrach
TripAdvisor 4.5Traditional
The Hotel Stadt Lörrach is perfectly set at the heart of Lörrach, within Germany's Black Forest region. Furnishings throughout the hotel are contemporary and welcoming, ensuring your stay is relaxed and comfortable. Your spacious room is the perfect retreat after a day of sightseeing and complimentary WiFi means you'll be connected to friends and family back home during your stay.
Hotel and room features
Hotel Restaurant, Bar, Laundry, Room Service, Gym, 24-hour Front Desk
Room Air Conditioning, Safe, TV, Tea & coffee facilities, Wi-Fi
Zürich, Switzerland
1 night
Hyatt Regency Zürich Airport
Hotel
Welcome to Hyatt Place Zürich Airport, located in The Circle district and within walking distance of the terminals. Enjoy modern Zurich design and 24/7 services at your convenience. Find exclusive shops, the unique Convention Centre and relaxation in the spacious park right outside the front door.
Hotel and room features
Hotel Restaurant, Bar, Business Centre, Room Service, Gym