Europe Christmas Markets: Budapest to Zagreb

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Description

Summary

Starts
Budapest
Duration
8 days
Languages
English

Description

Embark on a magical 8-day journey through the heart of Europe, immersing yourself in the festive spirit of Christmas. This multi-day tour takes you through the enchanting cities of Budapest, Graz, Ljubljana, Bled, and Zagreb, each adorned with twinkling lights and bustling Christmas markets. Experience the intoxicating mix of Roman, Gothic, and Turkish architecture in Budapest, explore the 14 Christmas markets in Graz, and marvel at the fairy-tale-like scenery of Bled. From tasting traditional Hungarian pastries to soaking in the Budapest baths, and from riding a funicular to Schlosberg Castle to enjoying a traditional Croatian lunch, this tour is packed with unique experiences that will make your Christmas unforgettable.

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Included

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch

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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

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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);

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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.

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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

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Map

Attractions

 Aerial view of beautiful Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria on a small island at Lake Bled (Blejsko Jezero) and lots of Pletna boats on the lake at summer time with blue skyBled Castle
Mariatrost Basilica, Mariatrost, Graz, Styria, AustriaMariatrost Basilica
Ljubljana. Beautiful cities of Europe - charming, capital of Slovenia, panoramic view with old town and castle.Ljubljana Castle
Ski resort Sljeme
Photo of Fisherman's bastion in Budapest, Hungary. Fisherman's Bastion
Zagreb Central Mosque
Budapest History Museum / Castle Museum, Castle District, 1st district, Budapest, Central Hungary, HungaryBudapest History Museum / Castle Museum
photo of view of Schlossbergbahn,Graz Austria.Schlossbergbahn

Daily Itinerary

Day 1

Day 1 – Day 1: Arrival in Budapest

  • Budapest - Arrival day
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  • Fisherman's Bastion
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Welcome to Budapest, the intoxicating capital of Hungary! Your journey begins with a welcome meeting at your hotel at 6 pm. If you arrive early, explore the city's charming mix of Roman, Gothic, and Turkish architecture, or visit the fairy-tale-like Fishermen’s Bastion for the best view of Budapest. After the meeting, you may choose to have dinner with your new travel buddies and tour leader, followed by a night walk along the Danube River to see the city's stunning lights.

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Day 2

Day 2 – Day 2: Exploring Budapest

  • Budapest
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  • Budapest History Museum / Castle Museum
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Start your day with a morning orientation walk in Budapest, ending with a visit to the Budapest Christmas Fair at Vorosmarty Square. Enjoy a food tasting and a warming glass of mulled wine in the market. In the afternoon, you have free time to explore the city further. You might want to check out some of the smaller markets scattered around the city or make your way to City Park for outdoor ice skating in front of the gorgeous Vajdahunyad Castle.

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Day 3

Day 3 – Day 3: Journey to Graz

  • Graz
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  • Mariatrost Basilica
  • Schlossbergbahn
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Travel by train to Graz, Austria's second-largest city. Start your exploration with a visit to the Hauptplatz Christmas market, followed by a funicular ride up to the Schlosberg Castle. In the evening, enjoy the spectacle of an advent calendar projected on the town hall and explore more of the city's 14 Christmas markets, all within easy walking distance.

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Day 4

Day 4 – Day 4: Arrival in Ljubljana

  • Ljubljana
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  • Ljubljana Castle
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Travel by train to Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital. Upon arrival, explore the town with your leader and visit the main Christmas market on the banks of the Ljubljanica river. In the evening, experience the local nightlife at Metelkova Mesto.

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Day 5

Day 5 – Day 5: Day Trip to Bled

  • Ljubljana
  • Bled
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  • Bled Castle
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Take a one-hour bus ride to the picturesque town of Bled. Depending on the weather, you can choose to visit Bled Castle, join your leader on a walk around the lake, or climb to Ojstrica viewpoint for some amazing vistas. Warm up with coffee or hot chocolate and a slice of kremsnita (Bled’s famous cream cake) before returning to Ljubljana.

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Day 6

Day 6 – Day 6: Journey to Zagreb

  • Zagreb
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  • Zagreb Central Mosque
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Travel to Zagreb, Croatia's thriving capital. Upon arrival, explore the city's Christmas market, considered among the best in Europe. In the evening, join a walking tour to see the city in full Christmas splendour and learn about Croatian Christmas traditions.

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Day 7

Day 7 – Day 7: Exploring Zagreb

  • Zagreb
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  • Ski resort Sljeme
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Take a cable car ride to Sljeme, the summit of Medvednica mountain. Enjoy a short walk with your tour leader, taking in the snow-covered sights, before enjoying a traditional Croatian lunch. Return to Zagreb for your final night.

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Day 8

Day 8 – Day 8: Departure from Zagreb

  • Zagreb - Departure day
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Your festive adventure comes to an end after breakfast. There are no planned activities for today.

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