Christmas Markets of Europe

Vienna and Bruges are two of the most spectacular European cities year round but at Christmas they are transformed into magical winter wonderlands. These historic cities decorate stunning squares and quaint streets with trees, lights and chalet-styled market stalls. The surrounding medieval towers, gingerbread houses and palaces create the perfect backdrop for you to get a glimpse of Christmas in a time gone by. 

Can you hear the music and smell the mulled wine? 

Could there be a more festive way to start the Christmas season than to experience the Christmas Markets of Europe?

Centuries of traditions and history set in breathtaking old cities give the most idyllic setting for a one of a kind getaway.

Join me as we visit some of the best rated Christmas Markets in Europe. 

I have planned an experience that will allow you to relax and enjoy the highlights of these cities along with the best markets, restaurants, activities and places to stay. Let me take care of the details of navigating these European cities and the travel between so you can enjoy it all without any of the stress. We will be traveling across Europe by plane and private shuttles so even your luggage will be handled!

Together we will explore some of the highlights of the beautiful and elegant city of Vienna. Known as the “City of Music” and called "home" by classic musicians such as Mozart and Beethoven, a visit wouldn’t be complete without a Christmas concert. 

 And of course we will shop at the world famous Christmas markets under the twinkling lights. Around the corner from the former home of Vivaldi you can sample a piece of sachertorte at the beautiful Sacher Hotel. I’m already looking forward to that! 

Our charming and classically Viennese hotel offers delicious food, elegant bedrooms and will serve as a relaxing base for our four nights in Vienna. 

On Wednesday morning we will fly to Brussels then travel on to Bruges, Belgium. This ancient canal city is known as the “ Venice of the North” and is filled with medieval architecture. Bruges is home to another of the oldest and best Christmas Market in Europe. The cozy chocolate shops and picturesque canals surround the market square where you will find everything from Belgian lace to handmade clocks. 
Bruges is a UNESCO World Heritage site and its history stretches back to the 9th century. Many of the medieval buildings survived both WW1 and WW2 which adds to its charm and distinctiveness.

We will spend three nights in a luxurious  and centrally located hotel, spend our days exploring, sampling the local festive foods and wandering the cute squares and markets. 

Sunday will come too soon but you will fly home refreshed, with all kinds of treasures in your suitcase, so many pictures of these amazing cities and a renewed excitement for Christmas. 

Christmas is so often a busy time where we create magical times for our families. This year you have the opportunity to recapture some of that magic for yourself. Rediscover the wonder of the Christmas season in these postcard-like settings in a week carved out just for you! 

This trip is ideal for friends, sisters, mothers and daughters, couples as well as single travelers who would love to be part of a small group of fun people. 

WHAT'S INCLUDED: 

* All hotel rooms for 7 nights. Price is based on double occupancy unless you chose the single room ticket. 

* Traditional breakfast each morning. 

* All tours and activities on my schedule. 

* Flights between cities. 

* Private shuttles between our hotel in Vienna, the airport, from Brussels airport to our hotel in Bruges. 

* Private shuttles from Bruges to Ghent and then on to our hotel in Brussels.

* History, cultural information and guidance to the best hidden gems of these cities. 

*Up-to-date travel information and advice on travel details such as chargers, currency, language and customs.

* Much more which will be detailed in our itinerary.

NOT INCLUDED:

* Flights to Vienna and home from Brussels or Amsterdam ( 2-3hr train ride from Bruges but may have better flight options).

* Travel and health insurance (I recommend both) .

* Some meals. 

* Activities you choose in free time. 

* Public transportation or taxis we may choose to use along the way. 

Daily Schedule:

Sunday 29th

Meet in hotel for a quick meet and greet. This will be a great time to meet each other and go over some of the details for our time together. Following our get together I’ll take you on a short walk through the famous Naschmarkt which is only steps away from our boutique hotel. This is the perfect place to wander the street market and enjoy an early dinner at one of the sit down cafes that line the market or pick up a meal to eat as you go. 

Monday 30th

A relaxing start to our day begins with breakfast in the hotel. You are going to love the fresh pastries and huge selection of foods offered on the buffet. We will meet in the hotel lobby after breakfast then take the tram to the incredible Schonbrunn Palace. As we explore the grandeur of the palace and learn of the history, the lifestyle of the Austrian royalty comes to life in a most unique way. Schonbrunn is the Versailles of Austria and is a breathtaking glimpse into an era gone by. 

The palace kitchens will be our next stop where the chefs will give us a demonstration of their famous strudel with a hot chocolate or cappuccino. This is an entertaining show and you’ll even leave with the palace recipe. After the demonstration you can wander around the Christmas market in the palace grounds. This market has some of the best items of all of the markets in Vienna. 

Dinner will be at a traditional Viennese cafe close to our hotel then we’ll walk through some of the beautifully decorated streets of Vienna to a stunning old cathedral for a classical Christmas concert. The musicians and the surroundings along with the acoustics make for a perfect Christmas memory. 

Tuesday 1st

After another tasty breakfast in the hotel we will set off to explore the Sissy Museum and the Imperial Apartments. 

The walk through the beautiful architecture of Vienna on the way to the museum sets the stage for the extravagant furniture, clothing and tableware on display in the museum and apartments. Lunch will be our next stop at one of my favorite cafes, make sure you save room for dessert!

My last group had such a hard time deciding between desserts that several ordered three each! Let me just say, no judgement and it was worth it!

From here we’ll walk through the cobbled streets to the largest of Vienna’s markets, the Christkindlemarkt. Here you’re going to love some free time to shop, walk through the festively decorated park, ice skate through the glistening trees or sit with a hot gluhwein or spiced chocolate and people watch. 

Dinner tonight is at at the home of an Austrian favorite, Wiener schnitzel. One of the oldest restaurants in Vienna, it serves traditional schnitzel with a potato salad that had us googling copycat recipes. 

As we walk back to the hotel we will not only pass through more beautifully decorated streets but more markets with their specialty hot chocolates and handmade treats. 

Wednesday 2nd

An early breakfast will set us up for our journey to Belgium. Private vans will take us directly from the hotel to the airport terminal. After a  short flight to Brussels private vans and drivers will meet us at the airport and we will begin the next part of the adventure. We will stop for a walking tour and lunch in one of my favorite towns, Ghent. This medieval city has one of the most quaint town centers I have visited. 

Although you will wish you had more time here, you will not be disappointed by our next destination. Trust me! Bruges will be our home for the next three nights. It is like a fairytale town. Canals, cathedrals, medieval and Flemish architecture with the added sparkle of Christmas make Bruges a magical experience. Our luxury hotel is tucked away on a cobblestone street only steps away from all of the highlights.

After settling into your comfortable room we will take a short walk to a traditional Flemish restaurant. On the way you are going to want to stop to take pictures of everything but I will keep you moving with the promise of being able to enjoy this lovely town for the next few days. 

Thursday 3rd

The breakfast buffet is impressive and delicious and a great way to start your day. After this we will do a walking tour of Bruges, seeing some of the highlights and hearing stories and the history of the area. At lunchtime we’ll make a stop at my favorite Belgian Waffle stand before free time to browse the beautiful shops, boutiques and markets of Bruges. Keep your eye out as you wander for a restaurant that takes your fancy, as tonight is a free night. Make a reservation with a new friend, have a date night or join the locals at the markets for street food and drinks. 

Friday 4th

After another fabulous breakfast it will be time to get the aprons on and learn how to make some famous Belgian chocolate. Choose between white, milk and dark as a base and get creative with the huge selection of praline toppings. The hands on class is fun and you will leave with as many chocolate pralines as you create. 

Free time in the afternoon will allow you to revisit your favorite shops, explore another cobblestoned street in a horse drawn carriage or take a canal cruise to see this stunning town from the water.

We will meet up again to have dinner at one of my favorite traditional Belgian restaurants. 

Saturday 5th

After breakfast private vans and drivers will collect us from the hotel and we will journey through the countryside to Brussels, the capital of Belgium. After checking in to our hotel, which is at the airport, we will take the train from the airport terminal into the city center. We will do a walking tour of some of the highlights of the capital city then you are going to love exploring the huge squares, markets and historical sites. This is also a great place to pick up an extra holdall for the journey home if you have done a wee bit more shopping than you anticipated! 

We’ll meet again in this square for the light show then have a final dinner together in a lovely Belgian fondue restaurant. After dinner you can stay in the city center for more of the fun nightlife or take the short train ride back to the hotel if you have an early flight home from Brussels. 

Sunday 6th

If you have an earlier flight you will love the convenience of the hotel as it is right at the terminal. If you are flying home from Amsterdam or another European city the train station inside the airport terminal is an easy way to travel there. If your flight is later in the day it is very easy to take the short train ride back into the city center as there is lots more to see. 

Our time together will come to an end all too quickly but I know you will be going home ready for more Christmas celebrations, hundreds (or thousands!) of pictures, lots of fun treasures and memories for a lifetime!

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Things are returning to normal but I realize that we still need to be flexible. I will adjust our schedule, hotels and activities as needed.

The trip is refundable, minus a $500 deposit, until October 1st. I recommend buying trip insurance. 
If we need to cancel the entire trip due to an emergency situation out of my control you will receive a credit towards a future Christmas Markets trip or other Thistledown Way trip minus the $500 deposit. (This deposit is for the flights between market cities and most of the time non-refundable by the airlines) and some other non-refundable costs. If I am able to get a refund I will of course pass this on to you.

We need a minimum of 6 people to make this trip fun and viable. If this does not happen you will receive a full credit towards a future TDW trip.

F.A.Q’s:

*What is the weather like at this time of year?

Both cities see temperatures in the 40’s with lows in the mid 30’s overnight. We might see snow, which would add a bit of magic to our trip.

*Can I pay by Venmo to avoid the credit card transaction fee?

Yes! My Venmo account is @Kennedy-Hawkins-3

*What kind of clothes should I bring?

A warm coat with layers underneath, comfortable boots or shoes as we will do a fair bit of walking. Both cities are stylish and can be more formal than U.S. cities so if you love to dress up a bit, this is your chance! If you prefer to be casual this is fine too, you will see all types of dress in both cities. 

*How should I pack if I want room for the shopping I may do?

I pack all of my personal clothing and toiletries in a carryon sized bag which I put inside a full sized suitcase for check-in on the plane. If I shop along the way I then have room between the two cases for my goodies on the way home. Any breakables can go in my carryon and the rest I can check. Many places will offer shipping if you would prefer that option. 

*What if I’m not a big shopper?

The Christmas Markets offer a big variety of goods but they are also all about the experience. Strolling musicians, food, drinks, entertainment and the beautiful settings are worth seeing even if shopping isn’t high on your usual list of vacation activities. Both cities are also loaded with cultural attractions such as museums, art galleries and historical sites. 

*Will I have free time?

Yes. Each day I will have a schedule of planned activities but will build in some down time. If you prefer to keep going I will give you ideas and options for this time. All of the things I have planned are of course optional. It’s not a school field trip, you get to choose! 

*How much will we see in 7 nights/8 days?

I have planned each day to give you an opportunity to see some of the highlights of these incredible cities and soak up the Christmas spirit of the markets and entertainment. You will leave with a flavor of Austria and Belgium but I guarantee you will want to come back some day for more. 

*Why only 8 days?

I love to be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas so these dates help us to get the best of both. If you leave the U.S. on Friday November 29th after enjoying Thanksgiving at home, you will arrive in Vienna on Saturday November 30th to start our adventure. The markets will all be at their best and then you will be home again before most of the Christmas activities begin. You might even have all of your Christmas shopping done and stashed in your suitcase! 

*What if I want to stay longer?

If you decide to add on a few days and see more of Belgium or nearby Amsterdam, I’d be happy to help you plan an add-on trip. 


*Can I call you with more questions?

Of course! You can call or text me at 503~706~2587