Christmas in Croatia, Austria, Hungary
per person
The best of wintertime travel – Winter Nights and Sparkly Lights visiting some of the best Christmas Markets in Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Bled Lake and Graz.
Experience some of the oldest Christmas Markets in the world, fulfill your travel wanderlust, and get some of your shopping done while you’re at it!
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Day 1: Arrival to Vienna
- Arrival to Vienna
- At the airport, you will be met by your chauffeur for a private transfer to your accommodation
- Check-in to the hotel in Vienna (4*)
- Free time and an overnight stay in Vienna
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Day 2: Vienna
- Meeting with your driver and an English speaking guide for a panoramic and walking city tour of Vienna with a visit to the Christmas market tour
- This tour will give you an overall impression of the most significant historical sights of Vienna. Along the Ringstrasse we show you numerous grand buildings, such as the MAK, the State Opera House, the magnificent Museum of Fine Arts with its world-famous art treasures of the Habsburgs and the Natural History Museum, the cultural district the Museums Quartier, the Hofburg (the former Habsburg winter residence), the Parliament, the City Hall, and the Burgtheater. The highlight of this tour will be a visit to the showrooms of Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the Habsburg family and home of Maria Theresia. Before the tour ends, we drive past the Belvedere Palace which houses the largest and most previous Gustav Klimt collection in the world
- Dinner with wine tasting at a local wine bar
- Museum tour
- Mozart and Strauss concerts by the Vienna Residence Orchestra
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Day 3: Vienna – Bratislava
- Meeting with your driver and a private transfer from Vienna to Bratislava with en-route stop on the way at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Parndorf, Austria (closed on Sundays)
- After shopping onward drive towards Bratislava
- Check into your Hotel in Bratislava (4* or above), meeting with your guide and an evening walking city tour
- Dinner with wine tasting followed by time at leisure and an overnight
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Day 4: Bratislava – Budapest
- Private transfer from Bratislava to Budapest
- Check into your hotel in Budapest (4* or above)
- If you want to see the most romantic face of Budapest take a night cruise on the Danube. Have a wonderful evening with a 4-course buffet dinner, live gypsy music, and admire the beautiful cityscape draped in warm colors by the setting sun
- The cruise starts at 7 pm, is one-and-a-half-hour-long, with a warm buffet dinner and live music on board
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Day 5: Budapest
- Meeting with your driver/guide for a panoramic and a walking city tour of Budapest
- During the half-day sightseeing tour, we visit the most remarkable and historical sightseeing spots of Pest and Buda. On the Pest side, we cover the Heroes' Square, the City Park behind the square has many sights as well: the picturesque Vajdahunyad Castle, Széchenyi Spa, Grand Circus, Zoo, Amusement Park and the most famous Restaurant of Hungary Gundel
- The Budapest sightseeing tour continues along the Andrássy Avenue (UNESCO World Heritage) where we pass by some mansions of former aristocrats, former Music Academy, and the Hungarian State Opera House. In the office quarter, we see the St Stephen's Cathedral and the magnificent neo-Gothic Parliament building
- After crossing the Danube River we arrive in the Castle District of Buda (UNESCO World Heritage), which used to be the capital of Hungary for several hundred years. In this historical part of Buda, you have the chance to visit the neo-Gothic Matthias Church and take a view of the Danube and the Pest side from the Fishermen's Bastion
- Return to your hotel, time at leisure
- Spend a pleasant evening in a traditional restaurant and enjoy a typical dinner with a folklore show. In the rustic restaurant after the welcome drink, you will be served a 3-course menu with wine. During the dinner, you can enjoy a folklore show accompanied by a gypsy band. After dinner, we will drive up to the Citadel to admire the breathtaking view of the illuminated Budapest
- Return to the hotel and an overnight
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Day 6: Budapest – Zagreb
- Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb
- Check into your hotel in Zagreb (4* or above)
- Meeting with your guide in a hotel lobby and a walking city tour of Old Town Zagreb with wine tasting
- Our wine tasting uncorks smells and tastes of Croatian continental wines produced by boutique, but prize-winning wineries (rarely sold in shops), accompanied by an introduction to the wines our sommeliers chose for you
- Return to the hotel for an overnight
- Nocturnal tour of Gornji Grad: Secrets of Grič
- Pub Crawl Zagreb
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Day 7: Zagreb
- Your guide will meet you in front of Gradska Kavana Restaurant & Café on the main city square and give you a short introduction in the city's cultural and gourmet background before you reach Dolac – the most picturesque open-air market in the city
- In just a few steps you will be in front of the Cathedral of St. Stephen and the Archbishop's towers and halls. Following the Kaptol Square and neighboring streets, you will get to the famous Tkalciceva Street – a pedestrian zone with plenty of cafés, restaurants, gourmet shops, and galleries. The route will lead you further to stone pebbled Radiceva Street and The Stone Gate - the remaining of strong city walls. Now, you will enter a different, enchanting Zagreb returning back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Step by step you will discover all major sights of Upper Town: St. Catherine's Square with the Baroque church, St. Mark's Square with House of Parliament, House of Government, and St. Mark's Church with its picturesque roof arriving panoramic spot beneath The Lotrscak Tower. Return to Lower Town by funicular
- Following the net of streets of Lower Town, passing Flower Square towards the Marshal Tito Square with three important landmarks of Zagreb: The Mimara Museum, Croatian National Theatre, and Zagreb University. You will follow the Lenuci's "green horse-shoe" – 3 impressive squares and parks, passing the building of State Archives in Art-Déco style, Botanical Garden, and the Zrinjevac Park with a lot of buildings representing the typical architecture of Central Europe from the edge of 19th and 20th century. Buildings of The Croatian Academy of Science and Arts and the neighboring Art Pavilion are the two finest examples
- Time at leisure and an overnight
- Zagreb Gourmet Walking City Tour
- Coffee break and sweet refreshment in Kraš Choco Bar – owned and managed by famous Croatian chocolate and sweets factory celebrating 100th anniversary
- For the end of the tour, you will taste famous Zagreb Strukli (a pastry filled with a mixture of cheese with eggs, sour cream, and salt, covered in clotted cream and baked in the oven) with a glass of wine in Le Bistro in The Regent Esplanade Hotel, a shining star at Zagreb gourmet scene
- Time at leisure
- Full day Plitvice Lakes National Park
- The Upper town witches
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Day 8: Zagreb – Ljubljana – Bled
- Private transfer from Zagreb to Bled with an en-route stop in Ljubljana
- Check-in to your hotel in Bled (4* or above) and a meeting with your guide for a walking tour of Bled
- Visit the charming lake resort of Bled, famous for a church on an island in the middle of a lake, a medieval castle perched on a cliff high above the lake, and splendid views of surrounding Alpine peaks
- Time at leisure and an overnight
- Private transfer from Zagreb to Bled with an en-route stop in Ljubljana
- Ljubljana walking city tour - visitors get to know the unique character of "Stara Ljubljana" (Ljubljana Old Town), where distinct Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture combines with masterly creations by the 20th-century architect Jože Plečnik
- Bled tour - Take a walk around the lake and taste the 'kremšnita' vanilla-custard-and-cream cake, one of the best known Slovenian desserts. Take a boat ride to Bled Island and visit the museum at Bled Castle
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Day 9: Ljubljana – Bled – Graz
Austria’s second-largest city is probably Austria’s most relaxed, and, after Vienna, it is also Austria’s liveliest for after-hours pursuits. It’s an attractive place with bristling green parkland, red rooftops, and a small, fast-flowing river gushing through its center. Architecturally, it has Renaissance courtyards and provincial baroque palaces complemented by innovative modern designs. Styria’s capital also has a very beautiful bluff connected to the center by steps, a funicular, and a glass lift. Last but not least, a large student population (some 50,000 in four universities) helps propel the nightlife and vibrant arts scene, creating a pleasant, lively and liveable city.
Itinerary
- Private transfer from Bled to Graz
- Check-in to your hotel in Graz (4* or above) and a meeting with your guide for a walking city tour of Old Town Graz
- Narrow, dimly lit alleyways, extravagant Christmas lights illuminating magnificent buildings and the colorful hustle and bustle of our Christmas markets: join us on a guided walk
- Time at leisure and an overnight
- A fascinating stroll through town exploring the city`s history and visiting the main sites - the Main Square, the Styrian Parliament, the Cathedral, the Emperor`s Mausoleum, the Kunsthaus, the Murinsel - the island of glass and steel - romantic arcaded courtyards and much more
- Admire the breathtaking scenery from the Castle Hill: red roofs, the River Mur, green hills and the projects of 2003, when Graz was the cultural capital of Europe. We can go up on foot, by elevator or by funicular
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Day 10: Graz – Vienna
- Private transfer from Graz to Vienna
- Check-in to your hotel in Vienna
- Overnight in Vienna and a farewell schnapps
- Christmas market tour
- Museum tour
- Mozart and Strauss concerts by the Vienna Residence Orchestra
- Etc.
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Day 11: Vienna - Departure day!
Private transfer from your hotel to the airport
This package includes:
- Private transfer from Vienna Airport to your centrally situated hotel in Vienna
- 40-minute horse-drawn carriage ride through the city center
- Dinner at with wine tasting at a traditional restaurant in Vienna
- 3 nights in Vienna, in a 4* hotel, centrally situated, double room, BB basis
- City tour of Vienna with Schönbrunn Palace and a Christmas market tour (driver/guide and entrance fees included)
- Coffee and a cake at the historic Café Sacher
- Dinner with wine tasting at a modern wine bar & a restaurant
- Private transfer from Vienna to Bratislava with an en-route stop in Parndorf, Austria
- 1 night in Bratislava, in a 4* hotel, centrally situated, double room, BB basis
- Bratislava by night tour walking city tour
- Dinner with wine tasting in a traditional Slovak restaurant
- Private transfer from Bratislava to Budapest
- 2 nights in Budapest, in a 4* hotel, centrally situated, double room, BB basis
- Danube cruise with music in Budapest
- Private city tour of Old Buda and Pest accompanied by an official English speaking guide
- Budapest by night with a dinner in a traditional restaurant and folklore program
- Private transfer from Budapest to Zagreb
- 2 nights in Zagreb, in a 4* centrally situated hotel, double room, BB basis
- Zagreb Uncorked tour
- Zagreb Gourmet Walking City Tour
- Private transfer from Zagreb to Bled with an en-route stop in Ljubljana
- Ljubljana walking city tour
- Bled tour
- 1 night in Bled, in a 4* centrally situated hotel, double room, BB basis
- Private transfer from Bled to Graz
- 1 night in Graz, in a 4* centrally situated hotel, double room, BB basis
- Private transfer from Graz to Vienna
- Private transfer from Vienna city center to Vienna Airport
- Museum tour of Vienna
- Mozart and Strauss concerts by the Vienna Residence Orchestra
- Nocturnal tour of Gornji Grad: Secrets of Grič
- Pub Crawl Zagreb
- Full day Plitvice Lakes National Park
- The Upper town witches
- Meals and drinks not mentioned above
- Airfare, Travel Insurance
- Additional excursions and/or services not mentioned in the program
- Personal expenses (internet, telephone, mini bar, etc.)
- Tips and porterage services
- Available dates upon request
- Travel between late May - October
- Double occupancy, Solo traveler with supplement
- Customizable! Make this your own, custom experience
- The 11-day tour, as listed, price starting at $3695 per person, double occupancy
- Price and availability are subject to change based on travel dates, availability, hotels