If you like Christmas, you will be sure to enjoy the Christmas markets of Germany.  We will visit 13 cities on this trip, most of which have several markets.  Pack light so you can bring many treasures back home.

Day 1-We will arrive in Frankfurt, Germany this morning and take a train to Cologne to enjoy the first market.  Advent is the time for Christmas markets, and Cologne is no exception. From 23 November to 23 December 2023, the magic of Christmas will be felt throughout the festively decorated city. The aroma of baked apples, cinnamon biscuits and mulled wine will waft through the alleys, and many differently themed Christmas markets will invite people to stroll, shop and explore. Cologne’s Christmas markets attract millions of visitors from all over the world every year.  From past visits, this is the place we recommend for the best strudel in Germany.

Day 2- This morning we will depart for Dusseldorf.  Once the St. Martins parade has made its way through the streets of Düsseldorf in mid-November, the city gears up for Christmas. The traditional Christmas market of Düsseldorf is staged individually at various locations throughout the bustling city center. Around the Königsallee elaborately designed theme worlds are set to lead visitors on a real discovery tour. For five weeks, over 200 huts decorated in Christmas splendor transform the city into a winter wonderland for the whole family to enjoy. 

Midafternoon we will depart for the next city, Aachen.  Every year before Christmas the squares and streets round the Cathedral and the Aachen Town Hall are transformed into a paradise of lights and colors, festive sounds and seductive smells. The glorious fair in the Christmas City, which has been erected with great care and sentiment, fascinates both the young and the old.  The enormous choice between original, stylish and precious goods makes small and big dreams come true. You will be able to explore the goodies until you can’t anymore as we spend the overnight in this location.

Day 3- From Aachen we travel to Trier, considered by many to be the best market in Germany.  We will spend the entire day in this location and stay for the overnight.  Now in its 40th year, the Trier Christmas Market will again be one of the loveliest in all of Germany. Set on the medieval Main Market and in front of the imposing backdrop of Trier Cathedral, the 95 attractively decorated booths offer a fitting framework for this wonderful event.

Day 4- This morning we will take a train to the Rhein River and the city of Rudesheim. This city remains one of our favorites due to its location on the river.  The Drosselgasse is a short alleyway where there is always some ump-pa going on.  We expect nothing less during the festive season.  It is also home to a fantastic mechanical musical instrument museum that everyone would be sure to enjoy.

Day 5- We will leave Germany behind us for a day and head across the border into France to a beautiful city with a great market.  You may think you are in Holland with all of the canals and half-timbered houses in this city.  It was in Strasbourg in 1570 that the very first edition of the oldest Christmas market in Europe took place, then called the “Christkindelsmärkt” (market of the Infant Jesus).  Since this time, Strasbourg has continued the tradition of a traditional, authentic, warm and generous Alsatian Christmas and these are all the reasons why “Strasbourg, the Capital of Christmas” continues to enjoy repeated success.  You may choose to take a short side trip to Colmar from here (a 30 min ride) to view another market.  We will overnight in this city so that you can enjoy the markets for as long as you desire.

Day 6- On the road again (or the tracks as we will be doing), we will head to Stuttgart.  During the weeks of Advent the Stuttgart Region is bathed in a special yuletide glow. Nearly 300 nostalgic Christmas markets attract visitors to enjoy a leisurely stroll around. With its 287 stalls and a tradition of more than 300 years, the Stuttgart Christmas Market is one of the loveliest in Germany and one of the oldest and largest of its kind in Europe. 

After spending the majority of the day here, we will head to Nuremberg for our overnight. The enticing aroma of gingerbread, mulled wine and grilled sausage hangs in the air at the Nuremberg Christkindelsmarkt. First mentioned in 1628, its roots probably go back to the time of Luther, when the tradition of giving children presents at Christmas evolved. Ever since then traditional wares such as handmade Christmas decorations and culinary treats have been offered by the 180 wooden stalls, decorated with red and white canvas.

Day 7-This morning you will be able to continue to enjoy the markets or you may choose to see some of the historical sights of this city.  Nuremberg is the city where the Nazi War Crime trials were held.  It also is one of the bases that Hitler used for training his soldiers.  We will be able to walk to the actual podium that is so familiar to all as Hitler speaks to the troops.  There also is a fantastic Document Museum there showing many videos and explaining that whole era.  After sufficient time to take all of this in, we will head to Leipzig for the overnight.

Day 8- We will take the day for a side trip to Dresden.  This is one of our favorite markets and quite popular with the Germans.  If you like Christmas, you’ll love Dresden. A grand total of eleven completely different Christmas markets, from the by no means Dark Ages to the après ski charm of alpine huts, makes for wonderfully conflicting decisions.  Holiday sounds fill the air throughout the city from the many oratorios, Advent, organ and gospel concerts, Dresden’s churches brim with festive insider tips. 

Near the end of the day, we will head back to our hotel in Leipzig.  If not too tired, we will head to the market here.  Leipzig Christmas market dates all the way back to 1458. Its six areas are set in chime with the fascinating historical scenery of the Leipzig city center. With more than 250 twinkling stalls embedded harmoniously in the historic center, Leipzig Christmas market is not only one of the oldest but also one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany. Traditionally, the main area of the Christmas market is Marktplatz (market square) where visitors can marvel at a Saxon spruce Christmas tree as high as twenty meters, and enjoy a wide variety of performances at the market square stage.

Day 9- Today will be a solemn day as we will take time to visit a concentration camp that is in the area.  We will drop our luggage in Erfurt and then continue on to Weimar to catch a bus to Buchenwald.  Set up in 1937, this camp complimented the concentration camps of Sachsenhausen to the north and Dachau to the south and initially housed political prisoners and other targeted groups, including Jews.  All prisoners worked primarily as forced labor in local armaments factories. The insufficient food and poor conditions, as well as deliberate executions, led to 56,545 deaths at Buchenwald of the 280,000 prisoners who passed through the camp.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer was one of the better -known prisoners at this camp.  The camp gained notoriety when it was liberated by the United States Army in April 1945.  From August 1945 to March 1950, the camp was used by the Soviet occupation authorities as an internment camp, NKVD special camp Nr. 2, where 28,455 prisoners were held and 7,113 of whom died. 

After this experience, we need to return to the festive Christmas markets, thus to Erfurt we go to enjoy the last market on the trip.  Erfurt’s Christmas Market is one of the Most Beautiful Christmas Markets in Europe and one of the Best Christmas Markets in Germany.  Erfurt’s Christmas Market is located in the medieval town of Erfurt and is undoubtedly one of the loveliest in Germany. The Cathedral Square area is the perfect setting for a magical Advent atmosphere.

Day 10- We will take our last train ride from Erfurt to Frankfurt Airport for our return flight home.  We hope everyone is now ready to share the Christmas spirit (and maybe a few gifts).

The cost of the tour is $ 2950 per person, based on double occupancy.  Supplement for a single traveler is $500.  Children staying in a room with a parent will be at a reduced rate.

More for Le$$ Value with everything below included:

• Roundtrip transportation from MSP
• 9 nights at personally selected hotels
• All transportation during the trip
• Some hotels will provide breakfast
• Personal tour leader to accompany you from start to finish

More for Le$$ Value all-inclusive tours and activities included:

• Christmas Markets at Cologne
• Christmas Markets at Dusseldorf
• Christmas Markets at Aachen
• Christmas Markets at Trier
• Christmas Markets at Rudesheim
• Christmas Markets at Strasbourg
• Christmas Markets at Stuttgart
• Christmas Markets at Nuremberg
• Christmas Markets at Leipzig
• Christmas Markets at Dresden
• Christmas Markets at Erfurt
• Christmas Markets at Weimar
• Nuremberg Hitler Grounds
• Nuremberg Document Museum
• Buchenwald Concentration Camp

More for Le$$ Tours Terms and Conditions

To maintain our lower level of overhead, please read and agree to the following conditions for our tours.  Our goal is to provide you with more sights, better accommodations, and the best tour available at less cost to you.

Prices
Prices shown are per person, double occupancy, stated in US Dollars.  Single supplements are specified.

Deposits of $1000 per person are due upon reservation.  
Please send check to address on payment page or pay by credit card.  Payments made by credit card will be charged 2% convenience fee to cover half of our cost for that.

Final payment of $1950 per person will be due Nov. 1, 2024.

Deposit and payments indicate that you have read and
consent to the provisions contained within this terms and conditions section.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation in writing prior to Oct 1, 2024, will receive payment refund less non-refundable portion of deposit of $500.  Nov 1, 2024, initial deposit will be withheld if replacement is found or entire cost will be non-refundable.

Air fares will become an additional portion of non-refundable funds once they have been purchased.

If the minimum required number of participants is not met for any given tour, all money will be refunded to all registered participants.

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance with cancellation coverage to protect yourself in case you need to cancel. 
We recommend Travel Guard Insurance, as they have competitive rates.  Since I am a registered insurance agent, I would be able to assist you with that purchase if desired.

The tour does not include:

*Alcoholic Beverages and Specialty Drinks
* Luggage fees on flights
* Most meals to allow enjoying the flavors of Christmas
*Personal expenditures, such as room service, tour manager, restaurant or driver gratuities.

Special Requests

Additional days may be added at registration time.  If there are special medical or dietary requests, please inform us of the specifics at the time of registration to allow us time to try to accommodate for these requests.

Smoking Policy

We operate with a no smoking policy on the tour bus and at the sites for the comfort of everyone on the tour.

Liability Issues

Neither we nor any other vendor or person connected with this tour shall be liable to the participant directly or indirectly for any accident, damage, delay, or injury caused to the participant, including, but not limited to, acts of war, malfunctions of equipment, strikes, theft, weather, quarantines, or change of itinerary.  If additional costs are incurred due to any unforeseen reason, such as hotels, meals, and transportation, these costs will be the participant’s responsibility. Itinerary is subject to change due to circumstances that might arise.

Send payment to:        More for Le$$ Tours
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For more information call (507) 456-6611 or see
www.moreforlesstours.com         OR
diana@moreforlesstours.com

 

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