Europe Christmas Markets: Budapest to Zagreb
Description
Summary
Description
Embark on an enchanting multi-day tour through the heart of Central Europe, where festive markets, historical landmarks, and winter wonderlands await. Begin your journey in Budapest, Hungary's captivating capital, and traverse through Austria's Graz, Slovenia's Ljubljana and Bled, and finally, Croatia's vibrant Zagreb. Each day offers a blend of guided tours, free time to explore, and unique local experiences, ensuring a memorable holiday season. From the magical Christmas markets to the snow-covered landscapes, this tour promises an unforgettable festive adventure.
Included
7 breakfasts, 1 lunch
TRANSPORT IN EUROPE:
Half the fun of travel is the travelling itself, that's why we like to travel the local way – whether that means mingling with commuters on a local train, watching the scenery roll by from the window of a long distance bus, arriving on a high speed train in the city centre of your next destination, or navigating each city's public transport system. In Europe, you are guaranteed to travel by genuine local public transport wherever possible, which puts you right in the centre of the action.
Train , Public bus , Taxi
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION:
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS:
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on different Intrepid trips than your own.
CHECK-IN TIME:
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION:
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES:
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Hotel (7 nights)
hotel: 7 night(s);
All Intrepid group trips in Europe are accompanied by one of our local European group leaders. ’Local’ in this context means a leader who is European or lives in Europe. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader takes care of logistics, will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects.
At Intrepid we also aim to support local guides in the individual cities or locations we travel to. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend an optional local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Budapest - Christmas Snacks and Mulled Wine Tasting
Budapest - Leader-led orientation walk
Budapest - Christmas Market
Graz - Christmas Market Visit
Graz - Schlosberg Castle Visit and Funicular Ride
Ljubljana - Christmas Market
Bled - Day Trip to Lake Bled
Zagreb - Walking Tour of Christmas Markets with Local Guide
Zagreb - Cable car to Sljeme
Destinations
Map
Attractions
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 – Day 1: Budapest
- Budapest - Arrival day
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- Fisherman's Bastion
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Welcome to Budapest, the enchanting capital of Hungary. After settling into your hotel, join your group for a 6 pm welcome meeting. If you arrive early, explore the city's blend of Roman, Gothic, and Turkish architecture. Visit the fairy tale-like Fishermen’s Bastion for panoramic views of Budapest. In the evening, stroll along the illuminated Danube River and perhaps experience the unique vibe of Budapest's ruin pubs. Accommodation: Hotel (or similar).
Day 2 – Day 2: Budapest
- Budapest
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- Vajdahunyad Castle
- City Park
- Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden
- Thermes Szent Lukács
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Start your day with an orientation walk around Budapest, concluding at the Budapest Christmas Fair in Vorosmarty Square. Savor local delicacies like chimney cakes and goulash, and enjoy a food tasting and mulled wine. Spend your afternoon exploring more markets or head to City Park for ice skating in front of Vajdahunyad Castle. End your day with a relaxing soak in the Budapest baths. Accommodation: Hotel (or similar).
Day 3 – Day 3: Budapest to Graz
- Graz
- Budapest
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- Freiheitsplatz Graz
- Schlossbergbahn
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Travel by train to Graz, Austria's second-largest city, known for its 14 Christmas markets. Begin at Hauptplatz square, where you can shop for traditional Austrian crafts and treats. Take a funicular ride to Schlosberg Castle for high-altitude markets and perhaps try the world's tallest indoor slide. In the evening, enjoy the advent calendar projection on the town hall and explore more markets. Accommodation: Hotel (or similar).
Day 4 – Day 4: Graz to Ljubljana
- Ljubljana
- Graz
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- Metelkova Art Center
- Ljubljanica
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Journey by train to Ljubljana, Slovenia's charming capital. Surrounded by lakes and mountains, the town becomes even more picturesque in winter. Explore the main Christmas market along the Ljubljanica River with your guide. In the evening, discover the vibrant nightlife at Metelkova Mesto. Accommodation: Hotel (or similar).
Day 5 – Day 5: Ljubljana to Bled
- Ljubljana
- Bled
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- Bled Castle
- Love bench - Ojstrica
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Take a short bus ride to Bled, a lakeside town renowned for its stunning alpine scenery. Depending on the weather, visit Bled Castle, walk around Lake Bled, or hike to Ojstrica viewpoint for breathtaking views. Warm up with a slice of Bled's famous cream cake before returning to Ljubljana. Accommodation: Hotel (or similar).
Day 6 – Day 6: Ljubljana to Zagreb
- Zagreb
- Ljubljana
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- Meštrović Atelier
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Travel to Zagreb, Croatia's vibrant capital, nestled below Mt Medvednica. The city's Advent festival transforms it into a winter wonderland with lights, Christmas trees, and festive markets. Join an evening walking tour to learn about Croatian Christmas traditions and soak in the festive atmosphere. Accommodation: Hostel (or similar).
Day 7 – Day 7: Zagreb
- Zagreb
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- Medvednica Nature Park
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Take a cable car ride to Sljeme, the summit of Medvednica mountain, for a panoramic view of Zagreb. Enjoy a short walk in the snow-covered landscape, followed by a traditional Croatian lunch featuring local specialties. Return to Zagreb for your final night. Accommodation: Hostel (or similar).
Day 8 – Day 8: Zagreb
- Zagreb - Departure day
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Your festive adventure concludes after breakfast. There are no planned activities for today, allowing you to depart at your leisure.
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