Festive European Christmas Markets

Day 1 - Tuesday 12 December 2023

Melbourne - Prague (in flight meals)

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel.

Your tour hostess and fellow travellers will meet you at the designated departure point at Melbourne Airport for your flight to Prague. 

Sit back, relax and enjoy your flight.

Day 2 - Wednesday 13 December 2023

Prague (D)

Upon arrival into Prague, we will be met by our specialist tour guide who will be with us for the entire tour.  We’ll transfer to the hotel for check in before enjoying an afternoon walking tour of Prague including a river cruise, the Old Town is among the oldest and by far, the most beautiful district in the Czech Capital of Prague. The core of the historical centre is Old Town Square, which started as a marketplace in the 10th century and has been the site for many political and cultural events that have shaped the history of Prague.

Dinner tonight will be at a traditional Czech restaurant U Medvidku, a microbrewery from 1466.

After dinner feel free to visit the Christmas markets in Old Town Square in the centre of Prague which are the biggest in the Czech Republic. Set in the very heart of the city is a traditional Czech marketplace, where, in dozens of wooden stalls, merchants offer typical Christmas goods such as traditional Czech blown glass balls, products made of glass pearls or straw, hand-embroidered tablecloths, wooden toys, biscuit cutters and many other things.

Enjoy a mulled wine or some Christmas biscuits, hot roasted chestnuts, gingerbread biscuits or typical Czech grilled sausages and skewered foods.

Overnight - Hotel Metropol, Prague 

Day 3 - Thursday 14 December 2023

Prague (B, L, D)

Today we will do a day trip to including lunch to Karlovy Vary with the tour manager, where we will have some free time to explore the town famous for its numerous hot springs, museums and galleries. 

In the evening, we will return to Prague for dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight - Hotel Metropol, Prague 

Day 4 - Friday 15 December 2023

Prague (B)

This morning, we’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour of Prague with a local tour guide, including entrance to Prague Castle.  Prague Castle was most likely founded in around 880 by Prince Bořivoj of the Premyslid Dynasty (Přemyslovci). According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Prague Castle is the largest coherent castle complex in the world, with an area of almost 70,000 m². A UNESCO World Heritage site, it consists of a large-scale composition of palaces and ecclesiastical buildings of various architectural styles, from the remains of Romanesque-style buildings from the 10th century through Gothic modifications of the 14th century. 

Dinner at leisure tonight – a perfect opportunity to re-visit the Christmas Markets in the Old Square for a traditional Czech grilled sausage!

Overnight - Hotel Metropol, Prague 

Day 5 - Saturday 16 December 2023

Prague - Český Krumlov (B, D)

This morning, we will leave Prague and will be transferred to our hotel in Český Krumlov.

Situated on the banks of the Vltava River, the town was built around a 13th-century castle with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements. It is an outstanding example of a small central European medieval town whose architectural heritage has remained intact thanks to its peaceful evolution over more than five centuries.

The afternoon will be free at leisure in Český Krumlov.

Tonight, we have dinner in a local restaurant.

Overnight - Hotel Old Inn, Český Krumlov 

Day 6 - Sunday 17 December 2023

Český Krumlov (B)

In the morning, we will do a walking tour of Český Krumlov with a local tour guide to view the main sights and to visit Český Krumlov Castle Museum and Tower. 

On a rocky projection, fringed by the river Vltava, lies the second largest castle and chateau complex in the Czech Republic – the State Castle and Chateau Český Krumlov. Since 1992, this architectural gem has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the town’s historic centre.

The afternoon will be free at leisure.

The Christmas market has plenty of presents for your loved ones, mulled wine or hot punch, Christmas cookies and traditional Czech Christmas carols. Many different cultural events take place in the historical town centre: we can watch the Living Bethlehem – a biblical story narrated by local inhabitants through music and dancing or join in the singing of “Silent Night” in various languages. We can imbibe the Christmas spirit during one of many Christmas-themed concerts by leading Czech musicians or local children’s choirs.

Overnight - Hotel Old Inn, Český Krumlov 

Day 7 - Monday 18 December 2023

Český Krumlov - Vienna (B, L)

On this day we will depart Český Krumlov for Melk and visit the Melk Abbey on a guided tour.

Planned by the famous Austrian Baroque Architect Jakob Prandtauer in the first half of the 18th century, the Melk Abbey complex, where Benedictine monks still live and dedicate their work to culture and education, extends over 320 metres.

After lunch in Melk, we will continue to Vienna, arriving late in the afternoon to our hotel for check in.

Dinner at leisure tonight.

In the evening, perhaps visit the Christmas Market, the "Vienna Magic of Advent", which turns the City Hall Square into a shining fairytale land. Christmas gifts, tree decorations, sweets and warming drinks await as well as a carousel and craft fun Christmas Workshops for kids. The trees of the surrounding City Hall park are festively decorated and radiate in a sea of lights - a Viennese experience, you'll definitely don't want to miss! 

Overnight - Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier, Vienna 

Day 8 - Tuesday 19 December 2023

Vienna (B, D)

Today we will do a full sightseeing day tour in Vienna with a local tour guide where we will see the main sights of the city and visit the Vienna State Opera House, Hofburg Palace, one of the world's largest palace complexes.

The tour also includes the Schonbrunn Palace, one of the most impressive and well-preserved Baroque ensembles of its kind in Europe. Additionally, it is a potent material symbol of the power and influence of the House of Habsburg over a long period of European history, from the end of the 17th to the early 20th century.

Tonight, we have dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight - Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier, Vienna 

Day 9 - Wednesday 20 December 2023

Vienna (B, L, D)

This morning we will drive to Heiligenkreuz and visit the Cistercian Abbey Stift Heiligenkreuz, Europe’s largest Cistercian Monastery, which lies behind protective walls, less than half an hour’s drive from Vienna. With 900 years of uninterrupted history of monasticism, Heiligenkreuz is both a tourist attraction and a deeply spiritual experience.

After a lunch stop in Baden bei Wien we return to Vienna for an evening visit to the Hat Museum.

The Emperor Franz Josef Hat Museum is an event museum at the heart of 300-year-old monastery wine cellars. Apart from the valuable collectors' items on display in the cabinets, the hat collection also features exceptional models from the "good old days” which visitors can wear during a tour of this event museum.

Tonight, we have dinner at Hat’s Museum Restaurant Piaristenkeller

Overnight - Mercure Grand Hotel Biedermeier, Vienna 

Day 10 - Thursday 21 December 2023

Vienna - Salzburg (B, D)

In the morning we will depart Vienna for Salzburg with a stop in Steyr, the 1000-year-old city, to visit the Christkindl Post Office.

After leaving Steyr, we will make a stop at the Silent Night Memorial Chapel in Oberndorf, where on December 24 1818, the Christmas carol was performed for the first time. In order to commemorate that special night, today’s Silent Night Chapel was built and officially opened in 1937 on the very same site as the former St. Nicholas’ Church, where it was originally performed.

Afterwards, we will drive to our hotel in Salzburg. Dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

Overnight- Hotel am Mirabellplatz   

Day 11- Friday 22 December 2023

Salzburg (B, D)

This morning we will do a walking tour of the Old Town with a local tour guide to see the main sights and visit the Salzburg Cathedral, the city's most important sacred building. With its mighty dome and two towers, it leaves its own distinctive, and absolutely impressive stamp on the city skyline.

In the afternoon our tour guide will take us on a Sound of Music tour, to see the main filming locations around Salzburg.

Dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

Perhaps afterward, take a visit to the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt, which has existed since 1974. It is known for local folk customs and traditional decorations for the Christmas tree, gifts for big and small, incense to help conjure up a festive atmosphere in your own home, all kinds of delectable treats in the form of Austrian specialties, mulled wine and hot punch: At the Christmas market which has 100 stands on Salzburg’s Cathedral Square, you will discover practically everything you could possibly wish for. This famous Advent market draws countless visitors every Christmas season, and is also very popular with the locals, too. Not least because of the traditional huts and unique atmosphere, along with specially designed lighting that stretches above the market stands like romantic stars across the night sky.

Overnight - Hotel am Mirabellplatz   

Day 12 - Saturday 23 December 2023

Salzburg (B, L, D)

In the morning, we will do a horse drawn sleigh ride in St. Wolfgang, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

With an afternoon free to explore Salzburg before regrouping for dinner and a lovely Mozart Concert.

Overnight - Hotel am Mirabellplatz   

Day 13 - Sunday 24 December 2023

Salzburg - Innsbruck - Halblech (B, D)

On Christmas Eve day we depart Salzburg and visit the Swarovski Kristallwelten factory in Wattens with time to shop before being transferred to Innsbruck where we will have some free time to explore the city.

In the late afternoon we continue to our hotel in Halblech in the beautiful region of southern Bavaria, Germany.

Dinner tonight is a Christmas Dinner Buffet at our hotel.

Overnight - Hotel Bannwaldsee 

Day 14 - Monday 25 December 2023

Halblech (B, D)

Merry Christmas ~ This morning at breakfast to get into the festivities, we will exchange our Kris Christmas gifts with each other. 

We will then visit Oberammergau where we will enjoy a guided tour of the Passion Play theatre with free time to explore.

Dinner tonight in our hotel.

Overnight - Hotel Bannwaldsee 

Day 15 - Tuesday 26 December 2023

Halblech - Neuschwannstein Castle - Munich (B)

Today we will visit the picturesque Neuschwannstein Castle, the castle of the "fairy-tale King" on the way to Munich.

Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life – now vast numbers of people came to view his private refuge. Today Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.4 million people visit this well known castle, which is said to have inspired Walt Disney. In the summer around 6,000 visitors a day stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant.

The remainder of the day will be free at leisure in Munich.

Overnight - Eurostars Book Hotel 

Day 16 - Wednesday 27 December 2023

Munich (B,D)

Today we will have the whole day in Munich for sightseeing, using our 1 day Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket.

We'll regroup tonight for our Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate magical times with great friends.

Overnight - Eurostars Book Hotel 

Day 17 - Thursday 28 December 2023

Munich - Melbourne (B and in flight meals)

Our final morning in Munich we can explore at leisure until our transfer to the airport for your evening flight home.

Sit back, relax and reminise about great times shared with new friends.  

Day 18 - Friday 29 December 2023

In transit (in flight meals)

In transit

Day 19 - Saturday 30 December 2023

Welcome Home

Welcome Home.

We arrive home early in the morning.

Thank you for joining us for your lartest adventure and we look forward to welcoming you back.