Winter Wonderland with Christmas Markets
10 days, Priced from US$1378
Europe Winter/E.Med, Departs from & returns to Frankfurt
Tour code W600
Included Premium Highlights
- Visit Rothenburg to see its animated town clock
- Enjoy an exhilarating ride by cable-car to the summit of Mount Pilatus for stunning views over Lucerne
Included Personal Insights
- Learn about the poignant history of the Lion Monument in Lucerne
- Included Additional Excursions & Sights
- Drive along part of Germany's Romantic Road
- Visit Munich's Marienplatz and see the Olympic Stadium, Victory Arch and university
- Visit Salzburg's Old Town & see Mozart's birthplace
- Visit Innsbruck's Wilten Basilica & see the Golden Roof
- Drive through the Arlberg Tunnel and stop in Vaduz to see the Castle
- View the Jesuit Church & Chapel Bridge in Lucerne
- Visit the Rhine Falls and enjoy a scenic Black Forest drive
- See Heidelberg's ruined castle and visit the Old Town.
Included First Class Services
- Escorted by a professional Tour Director
- Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room and onboard restroom
- First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
- Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal and information pack
- Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 and Day 9. (Should your flights not coincide with these arrival and departure transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport or you can purchase a transfer)
Insight's First Class Services
- Escorted by a professional Tour Director
- Luxury 40 seat touring coach with extra legroom & onboard toilet
- First Class hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
- Insight Traveler document wallet, map book journal and information pack
- Airport Shuttle arrival and departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 2 and Day 10
Included Quality Dining
- Highlight Dinner in Innsbruck at a Tyrolean restaurant (HD)
- 8 Buffet breakfasts (BB), 3 three course table d'hôte dinners, or buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
- Departures on tour for Christmas & New Year's Eve, enjoy a festive celebration dinner
Festive highlights
- All departures offer you the opportunity to explore Christmas markets in Frankfurt, Rothenburg, Munich, Salzburg, Innsbruck & Lucerne.
- Xmas/New Year's Eve festive celebration dinner included
- Lucerne Christmas markets are closed on some departures, please ask when booking.
- ˆ All Christmas markets will be closed, please ask when booking.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - ARRIVE FRANKFURT |
Welcome to Germany! From the Rhine Valley to Alpine peaks, experience lively cosmopolitan cities, historic old towns, and breathtaking natural scenery. Your airport shuttle service from Frankfurt Airport to the tour hotel departs at 09:30 & 12:00. Later, an orientation tour shows you Frankfurt's Römerberg Square, St Paul's Church and the birthplace of German novelist, poet and playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Tonight, join your Tour Director for a Welcome Drink.
Hotel: Sheraton Offenbach. (D) |
Day 2 - FRANKFURT - ROTHENBURG - MUNICH |
Head to fortified Rothenburg, overlooking the winding Tauber River. Enter through medieval walls and immediately you are plunged back to the 16th century. Follow the cobblestone streets to the Market Square with its Town Hall. Perhaps visit Tilman Riemenschneider's 'Holy Blood' altarpiece in St Jakob's Church or pop into the Christmas Shop where you'll find the festive spirit all year round. Now follow the Romantic Road to fun loving Munich.
Hotel: Hilton Munich Park. (BB) |
Day 3 - MUNICH SIGHTSEEING |
Your orientation tour shows you the Olympic Stadium, Victory Arch and university concluding in the heart of Munich at the Marienplatz with its soaring Gothic Town Hall and colourful Glockenspiel. For those arriving before Christmas there is time to shop in the festive Christmas market. Tonight, why not join the locals and enjoy a foaming stein of beer at the world famous Hofbräuhaus? (BB) |
Day 4 - MUNICH - SALZBURG |
Drive past Lake Chiemsee and cross the Austrian border to Salzburg, 'alive with the sound of music'. Walk with your local guide through the gardens of Mirabell Palace to photograph the city skyline, crowned by the massive Hohensalzburg fortress. Then cross the Salzach River to see Mozart's birthplace on the Getreidegasse, a lively shopping street lined with attractive wrought iron signs. Now follow the narrow lanes to the Cathedral Square to view the ornate domed cathedral and the splendid Residenz Fountain. This afternoon is at leisure.
Hotel: Castellani Park Hotel. (BB) |
Day 5 - SALZBURG - INNSBRUCK |
A scenic drive takes you through snow capped mountains to Innsbruck. Visit the Wilten Basilica, its interior richly decorated with cherubs and angels, before continuing to Old Town to see the Imperial Palace and delightful Golden Roof. The rest of the afternoon you are at leisure among the cafés of the Old Quarter. Tonight enjoy a Highlight Dinner of traditional Tyrolean cuisine!
Hotel: Hilton Innsbruck. (BB,HD) |
Day 6 - INNSBRUCK - LIECHTENSTEIN - LUCERNE |
Delightful scenery abounds as you make your way to the Arlberg Tunnel. Stop in Vaduz, capital of the Principality of Liechtenstein, one of Europe's smallest countries. Cross the Swiss border and continue to lake-side Lucerne. Your Tour Director will show you the covered, wooden Chapel Bridge and you'll learn about the stirring and poignant history of the Lion Monument. Then you are at leisure to shop for Swiss watches and delicious chocolate.
Hotel: Astoria. (BB) |
Day 7 - LUCERNE SIGHTSEEING |
This morning take the cable car to the summit of impressive Mount Pilatus, offering stunning views of Lake Lucerne, the countryside and hills around. Later, back in Lucerne you are at leisure in this beautiful city. Admire the superb baroque Jesuit church, stroll along the lake side promenades, explore the old walls and watch towers of the medieval fortifications, or browse the excellent shops. (BB,D) |
Day 8 - LUCERNE - RHINE FALLS - HEIDELBERG - FRANKFURT |
First stop at Schaffhausen to see the Rhine River thundering over the Rhine Falls. Now cross the German border and drive deep into the Black Forest. Following the Rhine Valley north, head for the town of Heidelberg, dominated by its magnificent red sandstone castle. Stroll through the old town or perhaps see the old 'Student Prison'? After rejoining your coach, it's not far to your Frankfurt hotel where dinner awaits.
Hotel: Sheraton Offenbach. (BB,D) |
Day 9 - FRANKFURT |
After breakfast, the Airport shuttle to Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 1 arrives at 09.00 and Terminal 2 at 09:15. (BB) |
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