A Christmas Escape to Central Europe

Set off for your departure airport, ready to catch a flight to the Czech capital of Prague*. Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Arrival in the capital of the Czech Republic, known as the "City of a Hundred Towers" and famous for its fairytale-like old town and lively nightlife. Transfer to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to start exploring the city and enjoy the beautiful Christmas atmosphere. Overnight stay in Prague.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today enjoy a Panoramic walking tour of the city of Prague with an official English-speaking guide. We take a pleasant walk through the historic center, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, starting with the Municipal House, a majestic gem of Art Nouveau. We continue with the Gunpowder Tower and walk along Celetná Street until we reach the Old Town Square, an exhibition in itself of centuries of architecture, from gothic styles such as Our Lady of Tyn to the baroque of the Church of St. Nicholas. From there, we go to the foot of the famous Astronomical Clock to take in its beauty. We continue along Karlova Street before ending at the Charles Bridge, an emblematic site of the city. In addition, immerse yourself in the Prague Christmas Fair, one of the most famous in Europe thanks to its markets decorated with charming colorful lights, cheerful carols and wooden huts. Here, you’ll find Christmas-themed culinary specialties, decorations and gifts to bring back home! In the Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti) we stop at the largest Christmas market in the city, located at the foot of the Church of Our Lady of Tyn, surrounding the monument of Jan Hus—with a massive Christmas tree on display. You will then make your way to another popular market in Wenceslas Square, equally as charming and eye-catching. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you see fit. Overnight stay in Prague.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, take part in a guided tour of the Prague Castle grounds, where you will be able to see St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica, the Old Royal Palace and the Golden Alley (all entrance tickets included). Later, descend from this beautiful fortress through the famous Neruda Street, cross the Lesser Town Square in Malá Strana and finish the tour at the Church of Our Lady of Victory, which houses the Infant Jesus of Prague. You will then have the rest of the day free at your leisure. Perhaps you can use this time to take a last look at the city’s beautiful Christmas markets and do some holiday shopping. We recommend grabbing lunch in a traditional typical Czech brewery. Overnight stay in Prague.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the train station to make your way to Vienna. Travel through the beautiful landscapes of Bohemia and Moravia towards Austria. Arrive in Vienna, an imperial city famed for its artistic legacy and for being the hometown of Mozart and Beethoven. Transfer to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day exploring at your leisure. We recommend strolling through the historic center to relish the architecture coupled with the bundle of lights and decorations of the Christmas markets scattered throughout the city—a tradition that stems from the Middle Ages. Make sure you stop by Christkindlmarkt, the largest Christmas market in the city featuring an ice skating rink, where you can sample some holiday-themed foods and refreshments such as: goulash or meat stew, glühwein or hot spiced wine. Dinner and overnight stay in Vienna.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, discover the "City of Dreams" with a guided panoramic tour of the historic center. Begin your exploration on the Ring boulevard (Ringstrasse) to see some of the most important buildings, such as the State Opera, the Museums of Art History and Natural History, the Imperial Palace, which was the former winter residence of the Emperor, the Parliament, the City Hall and the National Theater or Burgtheater. Later, enjoy lunch in a traditional Austrian restaurant and make use of the subsequent free time you will have to visit the enchanting Christmas market in Schonbrunn Palace. This lively market, which post Christmas becomes a New Year's market with different products, offers traditional food and crafts, unique Christmas decorations, concerts and an extensive program of children's activities. Overnight stay in Vienna.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you have the day at leisure to continue visiting Vienna's Christmas markets, do some shopping and enjoy the atmosphere of its charming streets. We recommend visiting the Altwiener flea market on Freyung square—smaller but very cozy. There you can find lots of handicrafts, traditional nativity scenes and carol concerts. There is also the market overlooking the impressive Belvedere Palace, the Stephansplatz, with numerous stands located next to St. Stephen's Cathedral. Lastly, make sure to also check out the Karlskirche, in front of the church of St. Charles, arguably one of the most photographed Christmas-themed locations offering leather and wool craft stalls and, of course, hot drinks. Another option is to go to Spittelberg, the bohemian district of Vienna, where there is a market with handicrafts, gifts and the best of the local gastronomy in the form of cheeses, sweets and wines from famous local taverns, known as "heurigers". Overnight stay in Vienna.

Breakfast at the hotel. Catch a train this morning to transfer to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. After enjoying the changing landscapes of the Danube Delta, arrive in Budapest and transfer to the hotel. The city is famously divided in two by the River Danube, Buda and Pest, each with its own distinctive atmosphere. Enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure. Use this time to start discovering the capital at your own pace and feel the jolly spirit of Christmas in its festive markets, where hundreds go to fetch their gifts to the rhythm of Christmas carols, eating traditional sweets and drinking hot chocolate or mulled wine to keep warm from the cold. Overnight stay in Budapest.