Germany German Christmas Markets - Itinerary
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Day 1: Munich's Old Town - Welcome Dinner Welcome to Christmastime in Germany! On your arrival in Bavaria's romantic capital of Munich, you will be met by a private chauffeur who will take you to our luxury hotel in the center of the city. After checking in and taking some time to refresh and rest, you'll meet other travelers and enjoy a leisurely guided walk through the winter wonderland of Munich's Old Town. With the background of the snow-capped Alps, the splendidly decorated medieval quarter and aromas of food wafting in the crisp air, Munich is a perfect setting to get in the spirit of Christmas. The walk will introduce us to the magic of the city at its most festive time and to its most celebrated sights. In the evening, we'll enjoy the welcome dinner at an atmospheric Bavarian restaurant. Day 2: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau This morning we'll leave the city, and travel towards the Alps and Germany's most spectacular castles: King Ludwig's Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. Dating back to the 12th century, these fairytale structures, some of the most photographed sights in the world and models for Cinderella's Castle at Disney World, are a sight to behold. Built by Bavarian king Maximilian and his son Ludwig II, the castles burst with whimsical turrets, domes and pinnacles. During the guided tours of both castles, we'll have a chance to marvel at the opulence of the era and King Ludwig's eclectic tastes, expressed in the stunning period furniture, paintings and wood carvings throughout these most famous castles in Germany. After the tour, we'll have a light lunch at a restaurant overlooking the peaceful Lake Alpsee, and we'll return to Munich in the evening. Day 3: Munich After a full breakfast, we'll start the day with a private tour of the medieval and baroque Munich. We'll start with a visit to the Wittelsbachs' elegant Residenz Palace surrounded by beautifully decorated gardens, where costumed candle makers and glass blowers demonstrate their skills. Then, we'll continue to Munich's medieval heart, Marienplatz, where a gigantic Christmas tree marks the celebrated Christkindlmarkt, an entrancing festival of lights and music, highlighted with the carillon, a brass band and Alpine choir pealing carols from the balcony of the Neo-Gothic Town Hall. The afternoon will be free to experience the vibrant atmosphere of Munich's Christmas markets, filled with the scents of gingerbread and roasted almonds, twinkling lights against the backdrop of the city's old architecture and the glittering stalls offering beautiful handicrafts, Bavarian delicacies and Gluhwein - hot spiced wine. In the evening, we'll dine at Munich's most famous beer hall: Hofbräuhaus, where we'll be entertained by seasonal revelry with traditional Bavarian dancing, alphorn blowing, yodeling and polka. Day 4: Munich - Dinkelsbuehl - Rothenburg Today, we'll leave Munich, and follow the meandering Romantic Road north to Rothenburg, a celebrated fairytale town, all the more picturesque during the Christmas Reiterlesmarkt, named after the Germanic god Wotan, who rode his horse distributing gifts to the poor every winter. Along the way, we'll stop at the perfect medieval village of Dinkelsbuehl in the idyllic Wörnitz Valley, which hosts one of the prettiest and most romantic Christmas markets along the Romantic Road. The town's medieval quarter, with its perfectly preserved walls and watchtowers, magnificent patrician houses and the quaint architecture around St. George's Minster, were the inspiration for the famous Christmas carol "O Come Little Children". Afterwards, we'll drive the short distance to Rothenburg and check into our medieval boutique hotel in the center of the Old Town. Day 5: Rothenburg We'll start the day with a privately guided tour of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Known for its medieval setting, Rothenburg is a walled city left untouched for hundreds of years, and visiting it is like stepping into a time warp. It stands exactly as it had in the 11th century, its steep-roofed gabled houses, balconies, soaring spires, narrow cobble streets, towers and city walls making up some of the most impressive medieval architecture in Europe. This medieval stage is home to the annual "Reiterlesmarkt" Christmas Market, a pageant-like extravaganza which will effortlessly take us back in time. Our tour of this beautifully preserved "Jewel of the Middle Ages", will include visits to several precious relics of bygone ages: St. Jacob's Church with the Holy Blood altar by Tilman Riemenschneider, the Spital Bastion at the town's Southern Gate, as well as the Christmas Museum, illustrating the history of Christmas traditions. The afternoon will be free to experience the special flair of this unique town, where at Christmastime children parade through the market carrying lanterns made especially for the occasion and where carolers join in spontaneous, joyous singing. In the evening, we'll celebrate the season with a special Christmas dinner. Day 6: Nuremberg This morning, we'll set off to Nuremberg, Franconia's biggest city. Surrounded by ancient ramparts and watchtowers, Nuremberg is known for its glorious medieval architecture and the biggest Christmas market in Germany. We'll tour Nuremberg's Old Town, decorated in Christmas regalia and permeated with the tempting aromas of mulled wine, sweet roasted almonds, Nuremberg sausages and gingerbread. Our tour of the city will also include a visit to Albrecht Durer House, the Craftsmen's Courtyard and St. Lawrence Church. After the tour, there will be free time to soak up more of the festive ambiance of the Christmas market, where uniquely decorated stalls offer unusual handicrafts and delicious worldly cuisine, alongside live shows and performances, stroll through Nuremberg's Englischer Gardens or explore the German Museum. In the evening, we'll drive back to Rothenburg, and dine on traditional German fare at an atmospheric restaurant featuring special holiday decorations and festivities. Day 7: Rothenburg - Munich Departure After an early breakfast, we'll leave Rothenburg and drive to Munich's International Airport. Please schedule your return flight no earlier than 12:30PM, otherwise we can help you with arranging an additional night's stay in Munich.
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