Christmas Markets

Example for a christmas market tour

Day 1 – Thursday:
Your journey towards Austria and the Dirndltal begins. The first night you will spend in Stuttgart, Germany.

Day 2 – Friday
On the next day the trip continues to Austria where you reach the 4 star hotel Wildkraeuterhotel Steinschaler Hof which is situated in Lower Austria – your home for the following four nights. The hotel owner Mr. Johann Weiss will welcome you with storytelling about the region “Dirndltal” and introduces " Mariazellerbahn" the train which you take on the next day. Halfboard at the hotel.

Day 3 – Saturday
After breakfast enjoy your "trainride to Heaven" to Mariazell starts today, following breakfast. Departure at 09.19 hrs to Mariazell where you will arrive at 11.00 hrs.

The town Mariazell is situated on a hill where you have an impressive view of the Alps and the River Salza. Since 1330 – until now – Mariazell and afterwards its basilica have been an official place of pilgrimage. After gathering first impressions about this unique town you will enjoy lunch in the hotel “Drei Hasen” in Mariazell.

In the afternoon experience a guided tour through the Lebkuchen Museum Pirker where one of the most famous Lebkuchen (ginger bread) in Austria gets produced. Find out how many different things can be made from Lebkuchen and honey. The tour will last for about 1.30 hrs including a Lebkuchen heart decoration and beeswax candle rolling.

Afterwards enjoy a guided tour in the famous and impressive basilica of Mariazell before driving back towards the hotel - with a stop in Rabenstein - where the evening ends with dinner and traditional Christmas carols music from the region.

Day 4 – Sunday
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before starting your Danube Valley Tour. A guide at the Abbey Melk introduces you to the history. Afterwards you can enjoy lunch in one of the restaurants. The journey carries on to Emmersdorf from where you take the train Wachbahn at 14.45 hrs to Krems where you arrive at 15.45 hrs.

Afterwards, you will visit a traditional “Garden” Christmas market in Lower Austria. The Kittenberger Christmas market impresses with unforgettable Christmas lights, a culinary experience with regional specialities and decoration ideas from all over the world. With the spirit of Christmas you drive back to the hotel where mulled wine and “Turmblaeser” welcome you in the wintry garden.

Day 5 – Monday
After breakfast enjoy a trip to the capital of Austria – Vienna where a local guide shows you the impressive and most important sights of the town, for example the Schönbrunn Palace. In front of the beautiful Schönbrunn Palace, the former imperial residence of the Habsburgs, you will find one of Vienna’s most impressive Christmas Markets. Have a look at traditional handicrafts, Christmas decorations and culinary specialties from all over Austria. Enjoy a Christmas snack and take home one of the special Schönbrunn Christmas market mugs as a souvenir.

Explore the shops, cafes and restaurants in the inner city afterwards on your own. In the evening, indulge dinner at a traditional restaurant “Heuriger” in Vienna before going back to the hotel Steinschalerhof.

Day 6 – Tuesday
After breakfast enjoy a train ride on "Semmering Bahn" from Wiener Neustadt to the spa town Semmering where you enjoy lunch in the restaurant Seewirtshaus. Thereafter, the journey carries on to the Christmas market at Baden bei Wien: http://www.baden.at/advent/

Drive back to the hotel and indulge a regional dinner.

Day 7 – Wednesday
Departure after breakfast. Enjoy a last glass of Most in the Dirndltal and take home a farewell gift from Lower Austria which reminds you of the trip you’ve just had. Overnight stay in a hotel in Germany.

Day 8 – Thursday
Travel to Belgium for an overnight stay