Christmas Markets of Poland, Prague and Germany (Classic, 8 Days)

Upon arrival at Kraków airport, transfer to your hotel. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers at 17:00 for a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant. Experience the old-world charm of Kraków with a walk around the magnificent Cloth Hall in the Market Square. The festive Christmas Market stalls offer a Disneyesque dream, featuring delicacies and delights from Highland woollen slippers to amber jewellery from the Baltic. Perhaps try the traditional oscypek cheese with cranberries, a delicacy from the Tatra mountains.

Ascend Wawel Hill with your Local Expert to see the Renaissance castle and visit the cathedral, the final resting place of the Kings of Poland. Cross the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz to Old Podgórze, the Old Town, to see Ghetto Square and remains of the Ghetto Wall. The rest of the day is at leisure, with an optional visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Explore the traditional Christmas Market in the Old Town's historic district, immersing yourself in the festive spirit as you shop for authentic Christmas decorations, gifts, toys, and tasty treats.

Visit Auschwitz before journeying to the city of Wrocław, known as the Venice of Poland, with its five rivers, 12 islands, and over 150 bridges. Wrocław’s Christmas Market, rated as one of the finest in Europe, offers a delightful, fairy-tale charm. Enjoy an orientation of the market located in Rynek, the historic main square surrounded by Baroque splendour and adorned with thousands of twinkling lights. Participate in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience by tasting delicious gingerbread made with local ingredients and traditional recipes of the Lower Silesia region. Spend time exploring the vast array of stalls bursting with local crafts and tasty treats.

Leave your hotel in Wrocław and cross the Czech border, continuing your travels to the historic capital of Prague. Enjoy the scenic journey and prepare for the enchanting experiences that await you in this beautiful city.

Explore Prague with Insight Choice. Choose to walk the courtyards of the Castle and visit the imposing St. Vitus Cathedral. Alternatively, join your Local Expert through the Jewish Quarter and hear about the history, traditions, and legends of the Jewish people. Down at the Old Town Square, Prague’s colourful Christmas Market contrasts with the Gothic skyline. Beneath a giant Christmas tree draped in a blaze of lights, locals browse the decorative wooden stalls. Meet a local stallholder and savour a glass of Svařák, traditional mulled wine, along with the local Trdelník pastry.

Cross the German border to Dresden. Gaze up at the Frauenkirche, risen once again from wartime ashes. Your guided exploration with a Local Expert will continue past the colossal 'Procession of the Dukes' mosaic, the cathedral, Semper Opera House, and Zwinger Palace. During your free time, perhaps seek out the delicious Christstollen, a Christmas cake recipe dating back to medieval times, or shop for a traditional Christmas pyramid. Then journey on to Berlin.

Join a Local Expert to see the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House, remnants of the Berlin Wall, Unter den Linden, and the beautifully-restored Reichstag building. Feel free to soak up the Weihnachtszauber, or Christmas magic, at the Gendarmenmarkt, which is Berlin’s most magnificent square. In the evening, join your friends for a festive Celebration Dinner with wine and good cheer at a local restaurant.

Your journey draws to a close after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Berlin airport, marking the end of your enchanting multi-day tour through Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany.