I couldn’t choose between which of my favorite Christmas markets to include so we are doing them all! This tour will be truly magical and leave you feeling like you just stepped into a Christmas fairytale complete with half timbered houses and a medieval castle!…with a relaxing spa day added for some luxury!
You’ll fly out Friday 27th of November, the day after thanksgiving, into Brussels (BRU). I recommend choosing the earliest possible arrival time so you can maximize your time in this beautiful city!
You’ll arrive in Brussels and make your way (via a local 20 min train ride or an uber) to our hotel in old town to drop your bags before heading out to explore the beautiful Christmas markets. Melissa will greet you at the hotel and you will be given a custom google map created just for our trip that lists each market location starting with the one right outside our hotel doors!
After enjoying the hotel breakfast we’ll travel together to nearby Ghent where you’ll have a bit of free time to either attend church or explore the charm & architecture of this medieval town. We will enjoy a picnic lunch aboard a private canal cruise while learning more about the history of Ghent. Afterwards there’ll be time explore the Christmas markets here before heading back to our hotel in Brussels.
After enjoying the hotel breakfast we’ll travel 90 minutes to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Brugge by private chartered bus where the time will be yours to explore. You may choose to climb the 15th century Belfry tower, take a canal cruise, check out the renaissance art in the Gruuthusemuseum and of course explore the Christmas markets. This is our last day in Belgium so be sure to get your full of Belgian chocolate, waffles and fries! We’ll head back together to our hotel in Brussels that evening.
After enjoying the hotel breakfast we’ll travel 2 hours by private chartered bus to Aachen. Aachen has a long history of being known as a spa town so we will head to the spa Carolus Thermen where we will be able to soak, steam and relax! Entrance to the spa and sauna is included in your package. Spa treatments (facials, wraps, massages, etc) are available for booking at travelers expense. After our relaxing time at the spa we will head to the old town area of Aachen to explore the Christmas markets there. Be sure to try some ‘Printen’, the gingerbread that this city is famous for! We will end our day with a short 30 min drive to our hotel in Cologne.
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel the day will be yours to choose how to spend! In addition to the seven themed Cologne Christmas Markets there’s also ice skating, a chocolate museum and the Cologne cathedral to explore.
After enjoying breakfast we’ll hop on the bus and drive to Strasbourg, also known as the capital of Christmas. We’ll stop along the way for lunch and a little christmas market shopping in a surprise bonus city! Once we get to Strasbourg and checked into our hotel you’ll be once again given a custom google map of all of the Strasbourg Christmas Markets. You’ll enjoy wandering around Petit France’s canals and the market surrounding the world renowned Strasbourg Cathedral.
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel we’ll head south together to explore my personal favorite castle in all of Europe – The Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg. This remarkably restored 12th century medieval Alsatian fortress offers breathtaking panoramic views and the chance to cross more than one drawbridge and moat! Afterwards we’ll continue on to the ‘Pearls of Alsace’. The half timbered, storybook villages such as Ribeauville, Riquewihr Kayersburg, and Colmar Christmas markets before heading home.
We’ll start the day off with a farewell breakfast together at the hotel before I head to the start of the next tour and everyone else heads out to spend our last day in one of the most beautiful cities in all of Europe. If you are feeling adventurous, for a few euros you can climb the 332 steps to the top of the platform of the Strasbourg Cathedral tower. There are several beautiful museums to visit and of course the Christmas markets! For a small fee there is a mini train ride that takes you on a 45 min ride around town. Enjoy your last night under the twinkling lights of the markets and scoop up those last minute purchases!
Unless you are extending your stay it’s time to fly home. Strasbourg does have an airport (SBX) but you may find less expensive flights out of the following cities:
**I highly recommend an afternoon or evening flight home. (if you book a morning flight home you’ll need to account for travel time to the airport in addition to arriving at the airport several hours ahead and so it may end up looking more like a middle of the night flight).
***Those continuing on to the next tour are invited to join Melissa via chartered bus from Strasbourg to Munich.
Early Bird Pricing valid until 4/30/26 | Book Now Below!
Pricing is based on double occupancy. If you come alone & choose this option a roommate may be assigned to you. The additional fee for a single room is $1200.
*All deposits & payments are non-refundable, but transferrable
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