Itinerary

Day 1 Frankfurt
Upon arrival in Frankfurt self transfer to your centrally located hotel. Remainder of the day is free to explore the charming Frankfurt Christmas Market located in the Town Square or visit one of the city’s many interesting museums. Overnight Hotel Intercity or similar.

Day 2 Frankfurt-Eisenach-Leipzig
After breakfast depart from Frankfurt and drive eastward to Eisenach, dominated by the Wartburg Castle. Visit one of the most important buildings of German history and see the room where Martin Luther in only eleven weeks translated the New Testament. Three hundred years before, St. Elizabeth of Thuringia spent almost all her life at Wartburg. Afterwards, continue to a cultural treasure, Weimar, where numerous famous persons like Goethe, Schiller, Liszt and Richard Strauss lived and worked. Afterwards head to today�s destination, Leipzig, check-in at your hotel and visit one of Germany�s largest Christmas markets. The main attraction is located on the historical market square in front of the ancient town hall, a 25yard Christmas tree with thousands of lights. Stroll along the stalls with handcrafted Christmas gifts from the region. You are invited to an informal but very typical German snack with Bratwurst and the hot spiced wine called Gluehwein. Overnight Hotel Seaside or similar.

Day 3 Leipzig-Meissen-Dresden
In the morning continue towards Meissen, where you will visit one of Germany’s oldest porcelain manufactures. Founded in the 18th century and being continuously in operation since then, the delicate always hand made products are found in royal courts and celebrities homes all around the world. Meissen is proud to be able to restore or re-manufacture on demand all the designs ever produced, as the plaster molds have been preserved throughout the centuries. You will visit the exhibition hall and the demonstration workshops were all the steps of the painting and glazing process will be explained. Afterward continue to Dresden where, after a city tour, highlighting all the major sights such as the Zwinger, Frauenkirche and the Semper Opera House, you will check into your hotel. In the evening you will visit the Christmas Market in Dresden, which is named “Striezelmarkt” after the local cake specialty, the “Christstollen” or “Striezel”. Highlights of the market are the very tall Christmas pyramid, and the many stalls, where you can sample the “Strietzel”. Overnight at the Park Inn Hotel or similar.

Day 4 Dresden-Annaberg-Schneeberg-Plauen
After breakfast you will head along country roads to visit two ancient mining-villages, named Annaberg and Schneeberg. These villages are typical of the Erzgebirge (ore-mountains) and are the home of the German tradition of woodcarving and Christmas-pyramids. In older times, light-represented by candles, was an important symbol of life and safety for the miners, who worked in the dark tunnels to retrieve the ore and coal. Thus the woodcarvers combined their deep religious beliefs and used candles to illuminate the pyramids with saints and symbols from the holy night such as the ox, mule and shepard. The Christmas Market in Annaberg dates back as far as 1510. In Schneeberg, the main attraction, aside from the Christmas Market is the St. Wolfgang Church with an alter from 1539, carved by Lucas Cranach, the elder. In the afternoon continue towards Plauen, a city famous for its handmade lace. Plauen was established in the 11th century and since the 1600’s has been an important place for cotton manufacturing. Dinner will be served at the hotel this evening. Overnight Hotel Domero or similar.

Day 5 Plauen-Bamberg-Frankfurt
After breakfast you will travel through the Franconian forest to the imperial city of Bamberg. The city, founded in the 9th century has a nicely preserved old town which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. You will walk through the old town and see the cathedral and the St. Benedict’s abbey Michaelsberg. Bamberg’s Christmas Market is located in the pedestrian zone around the cathedral. You will reach Frankfurt in the late afternoon. Overnight at the Hotel Intercity or similar.

Day 6 Frankfurt-End of Tour
After breakfast self transfer to the airport or continue to Berlin, Prague or Zurich.

Additional nights are available.