Bella Italia Tour
10 Days
from
$1849
Per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare
Take a journey you won’t forget! Enjoy an Italy vacation where you will visit site after legendary site all the way from Rome to Milan.
German Christmas Markets
Tour Starts:
Munich
Tour Ends:
Berlin
Day 1
Depart for Munich
Your trip to Germany begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Munich.
Day 2
Arrive in Munich
Arrive in Munich at the peak of the Christmas Market season. If you purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, a YMT representative will welcome you at the airport and transport you to your hotel. Today, relax on your own and then get to know your fellow travelers over a welcome dinner where you will learn about the exciting days ahead. (D)
Achat Munich Hotel or similar
Day 3
Munich City Tour & Christmas Market
Enjoy a city tour of Munich, known for its hearty German cuisine, beer specialties and the original Oktoberfest. Look forward to seeing iconic sites including the Olympic Park, Schwabing, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, and Glockenspiel. Much of city’s beautifully preserved architecture will be lit up in colorful Christmas lights. Afterward, spend some time in Munich’s Christmas Market. This festive event is full of music, colorful lights, and yuletide treats like f lavorful mulled gluhwein and gingerbread. The center of the action is in the Marienplatz, where you will see an enormous decorated fir tree. This evening, you can sit down for an optional dinner at a traditional beer tavern featuring authentic food. (B)
Achat Munich Hotel or similar
Day 4
Nuremberg City Tour & Christmas Market
Visit Nuremberg’s Christmas Market, Germany’s biggest. Set along the cobblestone streets of Old Town, this market is full of garland-lined wooden stalls, old-fashioned carousels, and sparkling white lights. Along the checkered red and white tables, you can shop for vintage toys and crafts, or snack on the roasted almonds whose sweet smells fill the crisp air. The market is presided over by a local student elected into the high office of Christkindl. It’s her job to recite the Christkindlesmarkt’s famous Christmas speech to open the market, and make appearances throughout the market’s run in her crown and flowing white and gold dress. Later that day, take an illuminating tour of the beloved historical village that was once the preferred seat of German kings. See the formidable Nuremberg castle, the magnificent 13th century St. Sebald Church, the stunning 14th century Schöner Brunnen fountain in Nuremberg’s Historical Mile, and important sites from WWII. (B)
Ramada by Windham Hotel or similar
OPTION: ROCK CUT CELLAR TOUR & DINNER AT ALSTADTHOF BREWERY
Join an evening tour of Nuremberg’s rock-cut cellars & enjoy a German dinner at “Hausbrauerei Altstadthof”. $69 p/p. Price varies by departure date. Please add this option at time of booking
Day 5
Dresden Via Erfurt Chrismas Market
En route to Dresden, visit the Erfurt Christmas Market. The delightful town is already one of the best-preserved medieval villages in all of Germany. Add to its charm a spectacularly lit Christmas tree, a giant Erzgebirge pyramid, and a Nativity scene with human-sized figures for a true Winter Wonderland! (B, D)
Radisson Blu Dresden Radebuel or similar
Day 6
Dresden City Tour & Christmas Market
On the banks of the swiftly flowing Elbe River, the city of Dresden is lushly green and filled with parks, forests, and splendid gardens. Dresden is also rich with cultural and artistic history, which you will learn about during today’s exciting city tour. Visit Frauenkirche, the beautiful Lutheran house of worship featuring one of the largest domes in all of Europe, and Hofkirche, an 18th century Baroque church. See the sprawling grounds of Dresden Castle and Zwinger Palace, an 18th century sandstone palace built for Augustus the Strong. After lunch on your own, visit Dresden’s Christmas Market. Opened in 1434, the Dresden Striezelmarkt is Germany’s oldest holiday market. It is centered around a 45-foot-tall Christmas pyramid, a huge carousel, and the world’s biggest nutcracker. Full of handicrafts, pottery, and handmade toys and ornaments, this market is a favorite of shoppers as well as foodies who cherish the seasonal specialties. (B)
Radisson Blu Dresden Radebeul or similar
Day 7
Berlin via Leipzig Christmas Market
Take a scenic drive to Berlin, stopping for lunch and free time at the Leipzig Christmas Market. This market dates back to the 15th century, and has over 200 stalls centered around the town’s historical square. Make sure to try apfelglühwein (hot cider spiked with apple brandy), fruit brandy liquors, grilled sausages, chocolate, gingerbread, and traditional mulled wine! (B)
Abba Hotel or similar
Day 8
Berlin City Tour and Christmas Market
This morning, enjoy a guided tour of Berlin. Discover the city’s vibrant culture, cutting-edge architecture, and tumultuous past. Your panoramic tour will take you past sites including the Brandenburg Gate, the Reischstag building, the Kurfürstendamm, remnants of the Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie. After lunch on your own, enjoy free time in the Berlin Christmas Market. In addition to its holiday decorations and food booths, the Berlin market also offers an outdoor winter sports center. Take a loop around the ice rink, or try your hand at the standout Olympic sport of curling. Spend your final evening at your leisure. (B, D)
Abba Hotel or similar
Day 9
Depart for Home
It’s time to say goodbye and to travel back home with plenty of memories from Germany’s breathtaking Christmas Market season. You’ll always remember the Weihnachtsfreude, or Christmas Joy, from your time in Deutschland! (B)
Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tour vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.
YMT Vacations itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute a recommendation nor an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently.
Inquire Now
9 Days
from
$1549
Per person, double occupancy, excludes roundtrip airfare. Passport required.
See Dates & Prices
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