germany at advent - christmas markets

  crafts - art - culture - music
   GO EAST

Our escorted Advent Tours take you on a fascinating journey to Germany during the pre-Christmas season. Discover the magic spirit of the Advent time, explore traditional German handcraft and listen to the magnificent sounds of church music, choirs and organs. Germany's capital Berlin offers various Christmas Markets, both nostalgic and artistic. It's the perfect destination to explore German history, culture, classical music and arts - not to forget about all the fantastic shopping opportunities! Enjoy the still vivid charm of the old kingdom Prussia in Potsdam with its world famous palaces and gardens. Glass and porcelain manufacturers in the rural Thuringian Forest and woodcraft in the Saxon Ore Mountain region Erzgebirge are only two examples of lively German traditional handcraft. In  Thuringia's capital Erfurt the over 150-years old Christmas Market is located in the historic town at the foot of the magnificent cathedral. Leipzig's city center turns into one big Christmas Market and offers a unique selection of art and design. In the UNESCO world heritage city Dresden you will feel like traveling in a time machine – modern car production right next to Germany’s oldest Christmas market. The tours take you on romantic bus rides through the beauty of fairy-tale forests in Thuringia and Saxony as well as through the "land of lakes" Brandenburg. The Advent season in late November and December is also the perfect time to savor the many local culinary delights at family-run restaurants. We always travel in small groups of 4-6 or 10-18 guests in order to provide a flexible individual travel experience. The groups are escorted 24/7 by an English speaking guide. We consider your personal wishes and ideas.

Travel Impressions from our Christmas Market Tour 2009

Quote from one of our guests about the 2009 Christmas Market Tour: "Delightful Christmas Market Tour - lovely decorations and lights, great food and sights. Ute is ever attentive, efficient, and knowledgeable. I couldn't have enjoyed myself more." J.H. from NY 

   


Christmas Markets Tour - Itinerary for Download (PDF)

    

Christmas Markets in East Germany - Go East
Craft - Art - Music - Nostalgia

Berlin – Potsdam – Leipzig – Dresden – Erzgebirge – Erfurt – Thuringian Forest

Travel Dates 2010:

Tour 1: Nov 26 - Dec 05, 2010    (10 days, Fri-Sun)
Tour 2: Dec 10 - Dec 19, 2010    (10 days, Fri-Sun)

-----------------------------------------------------------------
10 day itinerary overview

Day 1 Friday:   Individual departure from the USA or elsewhere.

Day 2 Saturday:  Individual arrival in Berlin, the capital of Germany. At the hotel you will be greeted by your tour guide. You will have time to rest to get to know your fellow passengers, or go on individual excursions to Christmas Markets or museums (tips and maps will be provided). Later, we will have our welcome dinner together at the typical Berlin corner pub ”Sophienkeller”. Overnight Berlin.

Day 3 Sunday:    Today we will explore the centre of Berlin – one of the most vibrant cities in the world. On our sightseeing tour we will visit historic Berlin’s highlights and UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Museum Island with old master’s paintings collection, Berlin Cathedral, Hackescher Market and Courtyards with small art and fashion galleries, Promenade “Unter den Linden”, Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag building, Berlin Wall Museum, Gendarmenmarkt and much more. We will meet for individual lunch at the brewpub „Lindenbräu“ at Potsdamer Platz with its modern style Christmas Market. Later that day you have time to visit art and crafts museums, galleries or manufacturers of your choice – such as the New National Gallery or the Royal Prussian Porcelain Manufacturer KPM. In the evening we will visit Berlin's most magical Christmas Market with a special and acrobatic high-class stage program. Overnight Berlin.

Day 4 Monday:     In our private van/coach we will travel to the former capital of the kingdom Prussia, Potsdam. We will go on a guided tour to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Palace Cecilienhof, the Dutch Quarter Potsdam and more. We will have group lunch at the residential palace restaurant “Krongut Bornstedt” at a historic setting including its distillery, brewery and fine nostalgic Christmas Market. Afterwards we will proceed to Leipzig. Leipzig, the city of music, books and art presents itself with history and flair. First documented in 1015, Leipzig has always been known as a place of commerce. The Leipzig Trade Fair, which began in the Middle Ages, is the oldest remaining trade fair in the world. There is hardly another city with such a great musical tradition like Leipzig: Johann Sebastian Bach and Robert Schumann worked here and Richard Wagner was born here. After check-in, you have time to rest, to explore Leipzig on individual excursions or to go shopping in the Arcades. Overnight Leipzig.

Day 5 Tuesday:     On a guided walking tour we will experience history, culture and modern European lifestyle in Leipzig. The sightseeing tour include the old and the new town hall, market plaza, St. Thomas Church, St. Nicholas Church, Opera House, Gewandhaus, Auerbach’s Keller at the Arcades “Maedler Passage” and much more.  We will enjoy Leipzig coffee and cake specialties at the nostalgic coffee house “Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum” in a historic setting. In the afternoon we will explore Leipzig’s rich, young and dynamic art scene. Depending on your personal interest, you can visit the Museum of Fine Arts (opened in 2008), the Museums Grassi and/or the “Cotton Mill” Leipzig modern art centre or you can stroll the city in the footsteps of J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn and Schumann. Later that day we will attend Leipzig’s Christmas markets spread all over the historic town with its advent calendar and wind instrument concert – we will go there when the locals go. Overnight Leipzig. 

Day 6 Wednesday:    In our private van/coach we will travel to the former capital of the kingdom Saxony, Dresden. We will stop at the fairy-tale castle Moritzburg. We will go on a guided city tour in Dresden visiting the many historic sites of the former capital of the Saxon kingdom: Church of Our Lady, Semper Opera House, the palace “Zwinger”, the Bruehl Terrace, Altmarkt Square and much more. In an old gas-storage building, the artist Yadegar Asisi created an impressive 360°panoramic painting “Dresden 1756”. From an elevated viewing platform you can enjoy a magnificent view over the rooftops of baroque Dresden with light and sound effects.  You can visit the world-known Treasure Chamber “New Green Vault” with its unbelievably fantastic treasures of Saxon Kings. In Dresden, the oldest German Christmas market “Striezelmarkt” is centrally located. It has taken place since 1434, and presents the world’s tallest Christmas pyramid. We will have a group dinner at the one of the authentic restaurants with typical Saxon culinary delights and local wine. If available we will attend an Organ concert at a local church. Overnight Dresden.

Day 7 Thursday:    We continue our journey through the Saxon ore mountains Erzgebirge to the city Erfurt in Thuringia. On our way you will discover a hidden pearl of living German Christmas tradition, the toy-maker village Seiffen. Here the handcraft of manufacturing toys, wooden angels, pyramids, nutcrackers and smoking manikins was elevated to a unique local art, which you can still experience in its original active form. Today these charming and nostalgic Christmas decoration are famous all over the world. We will visit typical workshops and watch the making. The last stop before Erfurt will be in one of the unique and typical small miner's towns of the Erzgebirge region, Annaberg-Buchholz with its authentic Christmas Market and Saxony's biggest Gothic hall church. You will enjoy scenic rides through a romantic countryside with villages whose countless windows are lit up with traditional Christmas decoration. Overnight Erfurt.

Day 8 Friday:   This day we will spend in the Luther town and Thuringia’s capital Erfurt. The town's medieval heart that is one of the best preserved in Germany and here we will find Europe’s longest inhabited bridge housing small shops and handcraft workshops, aptly named The Merchants’ Bridge (Krämerbrücke). The magnificent St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Church of St. Severus and the Citadel Petersberg preside over Erfurt’s nostalgic Christmas market. We will explore the historic town on a guided sightseeing walking tour. We will enjoy Thuringian culinary specialties at our group lunch in one of the many traditional restaurants. Especially during Advent season you can enjoy numerous organ recitals, choral concerts and other musical performances. We will visit the unique exhibition “Floral Art” located in the cellars underneath the Cathedral Plaza – showing inspiring floral Christmas decoration made by local artists. We will visit the local Chocolate manufacturer including a fine tasting. Overnight Erfurt.

Day 9 Saturday:     Today we will explore the Thuringian village Lauscha, the historic centre of artistic glass-blowing manufacture. In 1847, the Christmas glitter ball was invented by a poor Thuringian glassblower who could not afford the original Christmas tree decoration: expensive walnuts and apples. But Lauscha is also well known for modern style glass art, such as vases, jewelry and glass decoration. You can not only buy the glassy art and watch the process of making, but you can also try to blow a glass ball or paint one yourself. On our way back to Berlin you will enjoy the scenic ride along the Transromanica route through the Thuringian forest – the home of the brothers Grimm’s fairy tales. In Berlin you will have some time left for individual activities. We will have out Farewell dinner together at a restaurant in the “scene district” Mitte in East Berlin – Bar crawl afterwards optional. Overnight Berlin.

Day 10 Sunday:    Individual departure for the USA or elsewhere and Arrival.

This Advent tour also includes local classical concerts and/or organ/choir performances at Christmas markets and/or in churches. We will provide more specific information with our detailed itinerary as soon as these information are available. 

Christmas Markets Tour - Itinerary for Download (PDF)

Route Christmas Markets East Germany - Google Maps


Registration Form for Christmas Market Tour 1 (Nov 26 - Dec 05, 2010) - DOC for Download

Terms and Conditions for Christmas Market Tour 1 (Nov 26 - Dec 05, 2010) - PDF for Download

Registration Form for Christmas Market Tour 2 (Dec 10 - Dec 19, 2010) - DOC for Download

Terms and Conditions for Christmas Market Tour 2 (Dec 10 - Dec 19, 2010) - PDF for Download

Creditcard Billing Authorization Form for Christmas Market Tours 2010 - DOC for Download

Travel Insurance information - PDF for Download

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In packages included service - see "Guided Theme Tours"

Tour price 2010* (air fare not included, ground package):
$2,389 USD per person (double occupancy)
+ $450 USD (single supplement)

For single travelers we offer the service to connect you with other single travelers who are interested in sharing a twin bed room in order to save the single supplement - if it's possible we make it happen.


* Price is subject to currency fluctuations. This preliminary tour price is based on a currency exchange rate 1 EUR = 1.40 USD.


Please contact us for itineraries, registration and questions.

Minimum participants:  4 persons for group size 4-6
Minimum participants:  10 persons for group size 10-18

Tour itinerary and accommodation are subject of change due to availability and/or seasonal changes.

Please make your reservations before August 10th for Tour 1 (Nov 26 - Dec 05) or before August 20th for Tour 2 (Dec 10 - 19).

      

The Advent and Christmas Market Tours to Germany include several local city/town sightseeing tours and Christmas Market visits on foot. Walks of around 1 hour up to 2 hours (including stops) might be involved at several occasions. For your purchases we can organize a shipping service to the USA.

                                                                                        

If you want to spend more time in Germany before or after the tour, we are happy to assist you planning your individual extensions: flight booking, hotel reservations, train tickets, car rental, tour lay-out and much more… Don't hesitate to contact us.