What makes Christmas tours so special? We think everything’s a bit more magical around this time of year - and when you throw in the excitement of group travel and all the food, history and traditions that come with it, you’re left with an unforgettable cultural adventure. Trust us, you’ve not experienced the true meaning of Christmas until you’ve done some European Christmas market tours, sipping a steaming mug of mulled wine as twinkling lights guide your way. Check out our Christmas vacation packages below and book your favorite one!
Short Trips & Festivals
4 Days
5 Places
3 Countries
The one that shows you the magic of Christmas in Europe, complete with wintery canals
7 Days
10 Places
1 Country
The one that give you all the festive feels, in seven wonderful days exploring the Christmas Markets of Germany
7 Days
10 Places
1 Country
The one that explores the best Christmas markets in France
TRAVEL TOGETHER
Exclusively for 18-35 year olds
BOOK & GO
Stress free and flexible trips
UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Hand-picked by our expert guides
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
By TreadRight
Committed to responsible travel
"It was great seeing the lovely German Christmas markets! The food was good and we had a great trip manager! Pricing was reasonable and I highly recommend this trip! [...]”
Daniel D
“Amazing job planning out the trip. Trip managers were great & super helpful! Love, love, love! If you’re considering Contiki - DO IT. It is so worth it.”
Serena P.
“Paris for Christmas was a fantastic trip! This was my first Contiki tour and it definitely has set the bar high. It is a fast trip, but with all the free time we were given I still got to see almost everything I wanted to in Paris. [...]"
Shay B
It depends what type of traveler you are. New York always has something magical in the air during the holiday season; or if you don’t care for traditions and want to spend Christmas on a beach with a cocktail in hand, we recommend Australia or Asia. But if you’re looking for classic festive adventures, Europe will always rule the roost. Ski season in the Austrian Tyrol is perfect for those cosy winter vibes, while you can take some great cheap last minute Christmas trips in places like Prague, Budapest or even the Iberian Peninsula if you’re hunting some winter sun.
Whether you’re cruising down the Seine, or seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, you’ll be full of festive spirit on our Paris for Christmas trip. Amsterdam is all sprawling canals and charming gabled houses, with lively parties, vibrant markets and delicious food. Take our Amsterdam for Christmas tour and you’ll be admiring all that beauty from the water on an included canal cruise and eating cheese in the pretty district of Edam. Take advantage of our Christmas travel deals below and enjoy a festive winter holiday season with Contiki!
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clear searchThe most famous Christmas market in Germany is probably the one in Nuremberg, but there are also incredible Christmas markets to visit in Dresden, Cologne, Hamburg and of course Berlin. Germany arguably has the best Christmas markets in the world, where you can enjoy nourishing bratwursts, steaming mulled wine and hot chocolate, of course.
Our favorite Christmas market has to be Winterwelt in Berlin. Starting all the way back in November, this huge market transforms Berlin into a festive playground, alight with twinkling lights, nourishing food and steaming mugs of mulled wine or hot chocolate. And, because it's Berlin, the whole thing turns into a party in the evening.
Europe is the place to be when it comes to twinkling Christmas markets, but where to go in Europe is a more difficult choice to make. There's Vienna, Austria, which has the perfect regal architecture to buoy up that festive spirit. The first Viennese Christmas market took place in 1298 and to this day there are 20 beautiful markets to choose from. Germany is similarly famous for its Christmas markets, with particularly famous events taking place in Nuremberg and Berlin. Prague, Copenhagen and Stockholm all have wonderful markets of their own.
There are lots of incredible Christmas markets all across Europe, but for our money, the best ones are in Berlin and Vienna. These are authentic locations to experience twinkling Christmas lights, rich and nourishing food and hot mugs of hot chocolate or mulled wine, as well as live music and many different cultural quirks.
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