Christmas Market Tours w/ very close hotels

Jean--The girls and I did a Christmas Market trip in Dec. 2022. We were in Munich for a few days, then to Salzburg for a few days and then back to Munich for a night before we flew home. Both places were very nice and we loved the markets. In Munich, we stayed at Hotel Lux, which we adored, and then the last night it was Hotel am Viktualienmarkt. That one is good too, and we have stayed there on a prior trip, but it is more sterile atmosphere than the Lux. In Salzburg we stayed at the Alstadt Hotel Weisse Taube which is on a quiet street, but the markets are about a block away. Perfect location, IMO. We loved this hotel as well, FWIW. All of these hotels were in great locations for the markets, and we had wonderful stays. In Salzburg, we did a cooking class one day as well as a Sound of Music tour with Bob's Tours, both of which were a lot of fun.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/christmas-markets-switzerland-france-germany-2019

Jean, my trip was 2019, so hopefully the hotels are still open. I loved staying about a block from the center, and could return to the room and warm up and rest. I found some hotels were fully booked by June.

Salzburg and Vienna Xmas markets are on my bucket list.

Have a magical time!

Ahh...Christmas Markets!

I'm obsessed. I wish I was going this year.
I have done them by bus tour, river cruise and independently.
All have their advantages and disadvantages.

For the bus tour, I used an Australian tour company named Albatross Tours specifically because 1) their itineraries were a bit longer than stateside companies, 10 vs 7/8 days and 2) Aussies are fun to travel with! We stayed within walking distance of most markets, although a few we bussed in, stayed the day and moved on. It's the way it is when there's a schedule to keep. But, I never felt rushed or short of time. Evenings are magic, but it's not always possible to hit a market at night. Also, it can be unbelievably crowded. It was often a slow shuffle past booths, while crowd momentum made it hard to stop and shop! I rarely had that issue during the day.
Same holds true with a river cruise. While evenings at the market are lovely, you will forgo the (paid for) delicious dinner if you stay out. Ships travel at night and evening dockings are few, so lots of day markets. However, river cruises usually include a "city" walking tour, which takes up the majority of the morning, and visit the market afterwards. You can stay out for lunch and eat market delicacies or walk back to the ship. Your choice. Also, since it is darkish by 4, and you usually have to be back to the ship by 5 or 6, there's still plenty of twinkling lights to enjoy! In my experience, we almost always docked within walking distance of the market. I used Viking, but I suspect they are all the same.

Independant is just that. You choose, where, how long and what time. So, if you want to spend the day sightseeing, and the evenings at the market, DO IT! Big cities have multiple markets to choose from. In Vienna, for example, there are over 20 magical Christmas markets! You can stay anywhere and be within walking distance of one! in small Rottenburg, the market is in the town center, so staying in town, walking is a snap.

All in all, I think I liked the bus trip best. It had a little bit of everything. Not dealing with the logistics of travel gave me the opportunity to enjoy the season, meet new friends, and drink lots of Glühwein without worrying if I can find my way home!
I hope this helped.
Enjoy!

Mikliz97 & Pat, Salzburg & tiny nearby St. Wolfgang have both been on my mind for attending their Christmas Markets! I didn’t want to narrow down the options people mention here, so I didn’t include it in my post. Alstadt Hotel Weisse Taube is where my husband & I stayed last time we were in Salzburg, so that would be the special hotel I’d choose! (Heart). When we stayed in St. Wolfgang, I saw a winter photo on one of their signs and filed that away in my mind - seeing the village at winter.

We took an independent market trip in 2023 to Strasbourg and Cologne. We’re returning this year to visit Vienna, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich. In my experience, major cities have several markets. For example, Munich has over 20 markets spread all around the city. Markets are often directly above metro stops, if the city has that system.

We stayed in hotels either directly above markets, or within a block. The markets can get insanely crowded after dark. It was nice to stay close to the city center so we could shop in the morning, return to the hotel for a break and to warm up, then return to the markets in the evening for the atmosphere. We stayed 3+ nights at each city, and had no problem filling our time just with markets.

I had researched bus tours and river cruises. Neither appealed due to the limited time in the markets.

sdaley97, that is very helpful! Thank you for sharing those comparisons! The city walking tours feature (if it’s a large group) & eating on the boat are both something I’d probably avoid, when possible.

My closest hotel to a Christmas Market was in Cologne. The CityClass Hotel Europa am Dom is right across the street from the main market around the cathedral. It is a nice hotel and very individual, not like a business hotel.

VIENNA. Some of the best markets in Europe and some of the best support in the forum. Ask the question in the Austria forum and i bet we can help you find a hotel with a door onto the largest market.

Then 2.6 hours down the rail track to ....

BUDAPEST. Award winning markets. Wonderful atmodphere. A number of nice hotels near the markets and well situated for touring the city too. But we need to talk budget and style before recommending one.

Budapest Stuff
- Favorite Tourism Video of Budapest https://youtu.be/1nd5AtZIrTk?feature=shared
- Anthony Bourdain describing how visually pleasurable Budapest is https://youtu.be/0nd9DuDGCz0?si=aa0c19KaJHEtabkX
- Christmas Market Thread: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/the-christmas-markets-open-soon-in-budapest
(the dates are for 2024 but I think its pretty safe to assume the
same day of the week for the start, so where the Vorosmarty market
begain on Friday, 15 November in 2024 it should start on Friday, 14
November in 2025).
- Hotel Thread: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/rs-forum-favorite-hotels-and-their-cost
- Restaurant Thread: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/restaurants-in-budapest-revisited
- Things Going On Thread: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/list-of-budapest-events-july-through-october-25
- Concert Venue Thread: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/concerts-in-budapest

Oh Jean, how nice to have those memories from the Weisse Taube. I think you should go back just for that;) We we're supposed to do a big Christmas Market trip this past December, but when Delta mucked up the reservations so many times, it didd not resemble our trip at all so I just cancelled the whole thing. We are hoping to make it happen in Dec. 2026. Vienna is high on our list, and was to be the main focus of the cancelled trip. My daughter and I were talking about this just last week and saying we need to figure out exactly what we want to do and keep it easy.

Why a tour? It's not hard to plan a trip around specific markets, and it's not hard to figure out the transport to and from. Plus that way you can actually choose your lodging, and you don't have to make a timetable of the trip.

What markets do YOU want to see? i ask because there's a huge amount of experience with just about all of the major destinations available on this board, and usually you'll get more advice than you probably expect. If you're not sure where the markets are, here's a link to all of Europe: https://www.brunnvalla.ch/christmasmarkets/germany.html

Hi KGC, I am looking at tour options, first, because I thought it would be more fun to be at the markets with other people in a tour group. My husband died last year, and my daughters have family obligations that time of year, so a tour was my first thought. It would seem more festive if I’m not traveling solo. I am an experienced solo traveler in Europe, so the logistics aren’t an issue as long as the cities have train stations.

If my options are being on a boat instead of the city center at night or having lodging several blocks away from the purpose of the trip, I will definitely choose to go solo.

Mr. E, thank you so much for the details that will be very helpful! I am planning to be in your city - Budapest, next year. I signed up for the RS Prague/Budapest tour for May. I was there years ago in 1975 for a couple of days and remember it as a beautiful city with good food.

Jean, understood. But going back to what places / markets do you want to see? I ask because I know tours that go down the Rhine, or the Danube, others by bus, and the one I've been seriously considering for this year is a Baltic cruise that does places like Riga, and Oslo.

I've been to most of the major markets south of Cologne and north of Milan, between Vienna and Rouen. I usually stay in places central to the markets. But I usually don't do organized tours, because I go when I have free time, so that's how i look at the problem of the logistics.

There is a local tour company (RTT Travel) based out of Ramstein that mostly markets to the American community here that offers a number of tours to the various markets, local and further out, ranging from day trips to week long excursions. You might look them up, as they have good pricing and you'd be with a mostly English speaking group. It's kind of early for the Christmas stuff to get posted, but a number of my friends have used them and been very happy.

Other than London, Rome, Budapest, Vienna, Lviv, Moscow and a few Slovak and Romanian towns I am not going to be much help on Christmas markets. But out of that list the only one that came close to the fun and beauty of the one in Budapest was Vienna.

I signed up for the RS Prague/Budapest tour for May.

I understand it’s a good tour and you get three full days in Budapest and each day you get a half day tour.

Day 1 RS Tour: St. István's basilica, parliament building, M1 Metro and Heroes' Square. Free in the afternoon. The next logical stop might be the City Park for the Bathhouse, Hungarian House of Music, the Art Nouveau Zoo, then a magnificent walk down Andrassy ut. And you will still have hours left. Day 2 RS Tour: Hungarian State Opera, cooking class and lunch, Great Market Hall, Free in the afternoon. From the Great Market Hall a walk of District V would be the logical next step. Day 3 RS Tour: Castle Hill, Matthias Church, Fisherman's Bastion. Free in the afternoon. I would do the Castle Museum after lunch. It will take several hours, then walk down to the Várkert Bazár on the Danube. Day 4 RS Tour: None, breakfast and you are done. BUT, the RS tour skipped all of the Jewish Quarter and Budapest is so, so much about its Jewish history. Stay the day and the night and hire a good guide for the Jewish District in the morning and the whole day if the topic interests you or a half day and the second half a trip to Szentendre and the boat back into Budapest. You won’t forget that boat ride. Day 5 RS Tour: None, but yes, you could indeed have another day and not run out of things to do. Evenings: Dinner with a view, Dinner with live Hungarian music, The Opera, The Operett, Jazz ….. You might also get lucky with something special going on in town. These are 2025 dates but things generally track the same each year: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/hungary/when-are-you-going-to-budapest

Okay, well this is another thread. Sorry I got off topic.

Mr. E, wow, that is SO helpful. I was thinking the tour did go to the Jewish neighborhood, but maybe that’s the Prague part of the tour. I will look it up.

I am really wanting to combine this tour with a pre couple of weeks in Italy to attend the 4-day Calendimaggio festival in Assisi. But while I am in Budapest, a couple of extra days might make a lot of sense!

No worries of ”getting off topic” since you’re providing info to the original poster. : )

KGC, your link to the Christmas Markets is a fantastic source - thank you! And to answer your question about which cities I want to see, I really am open at this point. When I think of Christmas Markets, I am picturing Germany in my mind, but I realize there’s much more. My husband & I stayed in Salzburg a few times, and I do like that city, so I wouldn’t mind seeing it in winter, also. We also went to Vienna a few times, so it could be the location where I fly back unless I head towards Munich, instead. In Germany we have stayed at Munich, Mittenwald, St. Goar, & Baden Baden (our least favorite). So new cities would be preferred.

I am looking for the “quaint storybook picture” of Christmas Markets, along with experiencing some of the food. Music - traditional, classical concerts, carolers, etc. adds to the ambiance in my mind, and I usually try to find some type of traditional concert, when possible.

Typically I stay 1-2 nights in several locations about an hour from each other by train when I am traveling by myself and end with a larger city for 3 nights. For this time of year when the daylight is shorter, I would lean towards two nights per city.

Jean, I thought I would mention that the RS tour to Munich Salzburg and Vienna is only 8 days and they run well into December. I notice that in 2025 they have a tour that starts December 14 I think. The 2026 latest date is December 8 but I bet they will add another tour as they fill up. That might be a compromise to not go it completely solo, cover ground with shorter stops like you prefer and give you the option to hop somewhere else before or after.

I’ve been giving it a thought for myself too. I’ve never done the Christmas markets but I don’t think I’d like a trip where that’s all I would do as I’m just not a big shopper. But there’s a lot to see in Munich and Vienna isn’t there?

Hi Lyndash,

Yes, Munich & Vienna have a lot of options for sites and activities during the day. My last time at Vienna we stayed 5 nights, and you know that’s a lot for me! ; )

The timing & itinerary would be perfect except that my husband & I have been multiple times to Munich, Salzburg & Vienna, and we stayed overnight in Melk taking the boat down the river. I’m fine with a little repeat, but this one is almost entirely repeat activities. If you haven’t been, yes, that would be a great option! The RS Germany tour could be another choice, but they stop in October.

The most fun I have had at a Xmas market was the Middke Ages market in Esslingen, just outside Stuttgart. There was entertainment, dancing in the streets, parades , street performers ( fire jugglers, anyone?) and a kids area that was fun for adults to walk through. In addition, there was a section where all vendors are in period costumes and all lighting was supplied by candles and bonfires! We had a fantastic time.
And the Stuttgart markets, where the roofs of the huts are elaborately decorated, are also unique.
For overall magical decorations, there's is Strasbourg , where even this senior citizen felt like a wide- eyed child..
Have a great time!

Hi Jean, we have done the Christmas markets on our own and on a river cruise. As has been pointed out, it comes down to how much freedom do you want. On our first trip through the markets in 2016, we specifically went to see only the Christmas markets. We did a number of one nighters with train travel in between the towns. (We didn't get much support from the forum with that idea) We started in Heidelberg with a stay at the Holiday Inn. Next came Strasbourg which was our favorite by far. By sheer luck we were there on opening night. The opening ceremony was quite a spectacle. We stayed at the Hilton Strasbourg which was not far away. Onto Rothenburg which was a stopped I really wanted to see. Not worth the stop in hindsight. We stayed at a youth hostel in Rothenburg. Next was Nuremberg and a stay at the Hampton right next to the train tracks. Nuremberg was a good size Christmas market and worth a stop. Up until now, each stay was 1 night in each town. Prague was next with a bus ride from Nuremberg to Prague on DB bus. Prague was a beautiful city with a nice market. We spent 2 nights here with a stay at the Hilton. On the train once again to Vienna with a 2 night stay at the Hilton Plaza. Vienna was another large and amazing stop. Second to Strasbourg. Lastly was a 2 night stay in Budapest at a Hilton. Their Christmas market was another highlight. We were fortunate to have a friend there that showed us around. On our own we could do as we wanted and change our intended Itinerary if we so chose.
In 2022 we took a Viking Cruise with stops in the Christmas markets in Linz (nice), Vienna, still amazing and seen at night, Bratislava, and lastly Budapest, still very nice.
Each trip had its plus and minuses. I will say, my wife wants to do the cruise to the Christmas markets with her friends. We shall do another tour of different markets on our own sometime in the future.

Good luck with whatever you method that you choose.

UPDATE: My oldest daughter wants to go with me now, and she wants to do it this year instead of next year. So now, this will definitely be an independent trip - yeah!

LGC, your link will be very helpful!

John, thank you for ranking how you preferred specific markets! We very tentatively may fly to Vienna or Munich & end in Paris two weeks later.

Pat, oh that sounds so fun to attend one with traditional outfits! Thank you for that suggestion!

Excellent Jean. Vienna and Paris ... Great combo and both great in the winter.

I will quote myself:

Other than London, Rome, Budapest, Vienna, Lviv, Moscow, and a few
Slovak and Romanian towns I am not going to be much help on Christmas
markets. But out of that list, the only one that came close to the fun
and the beauty of the one in Budapest was Vienna.

And I might run into you. Vienna is starting to grow on me a bit, and since it's only two and a half hours and about 15 euro up the tracks, I suspect I will do a few days for the markets as well.

Hi again, since we’re late to the game for this December (my daughter wants to go this year instead of 2026), here’s what I quickly pulled together. I will begin making reservations tomorrow in case you have any last changes. My daughter is similar to me that she’s fine with 1-night stops. I want to keep all train travel to a direct train between cities. This is her first time to these three countries. Personally, I really want to go back to Salzburg, and I would like to attend the Strasbourg Christmas Market. This is a little sampling trip for her; I think her husband would love a Germany/Austria trip with her during the summer as his first European trip.

Fly into Vienna- 3 nights
Train to Salzburg- 2 nights
Train to Munich - 1 night
Train to Stuttgart/Esslingen - 2 nights
Train to Strasbourg- 1 night
Finale in Paris - 2 nights
Fly home from CDG.

Just in case this will help others during their timing of their planning, for reserving hotels in the city center near the markets, the inventory on Booking.com was gone for staying a block away from a market @July 22 for staying early December, but I found a hotel for each city within 6 blocks. Salzburg & Strasbourg are the most expensive to stay of these listed.

I love this Jean. I've discovered I really enjoy a few weeks in Europe in December. It's not as much the markets specifically that I enjoy, but rather the lights and the general atmosphere of holiday excitement. I'm spending some time in Florence and Lisbon this December, but I'm already thinking ahead to 2026. I'm looking forward to hearing about this trip and what works and doesn't work for you. I've already gotten so many ideas from you for my Puglia trip. Maybe I'll just let you plan my December 2026 trip too!

Jean, I'm jealous! When I planned our trip (pre- Covid, ) I found many hotels booked fully by early June. We were able to stay a block from the city centers, but again, booking in early June.
Where are you Dec 6? It's St. Nicholas Day in Germany, and we woke up with treats outside our doors, and Santa in the breakfast room handing out more goodies.
Also, our airlines supplied holiday treats. We went over (in Business Class) on Swiss Air and back on Lufthansa (ticketed by United.) One of the airlines actually had Xmas stockings hanging by our seats.
I need my granddaughter ( 20 months) to grow up a bit so our three generations of gals can go together!
Have a magical trip!

Hi Pat, we will be leaving Vienna on Dec. 6 and going to Salzburg. What a special treat to find “Santa” left you some goodies at your door!

”I'm looking forward to hearing about this trip and what works and doesn't work for you. I've already gotten so many ideas from you for my Puglia trip. Maybe I'll just let you plan my December 2026 trip too!”

KRS, I’m glad the Puglia info has been helpful!

The planning for this trip makes me laugh out loud, thinking about it! I considered going on a Christmas Markets Gate1 tour last year, but I was too raw to begin traveling alone again, so I flew over to a daughter’s family, instead.
This year I posted this to begin thinking about 2026. But, during a car ride over the weekend I mentioned Christmas Markets in passing to my older daughter - listing off my tentative plans for 2026, and suddenly she gets excited and says, “Let’s do it! But I need it to be this year.” Two days later, I made all of our reservations - whew! I am very happy & excited! The atmosphere of a Christmas Market at night just looks like it should be done with friends or family vs. traveling alone.

I probably would have selected more obscure small towns in Germany & Austria, plus Salzburg if I was going solo. My daughter hasn’t been to Germany, Austria or France, so this itinerary reflects my idea to give her a sampling of the more prominent cities in a Christmas setting. She really wants to go on a Sound of Music tour in Salzburg- her number one wish beyond the markets, and I haven’t done it during my stays in Salzburg previously. Something fun to experience together. : )

What an incredibly lucky daughter.... all that planning and knowledge with you already the expert! and taking care of all the bookings!! Will she be shocked when you show her how to pack?? lol.

”Will she be shocked when you show her how to pack?? lol.”

Laughing with you at your question, Sandancisco! ; ) She came with me to Italy in 2022 on full agreement to my two stipulations- wear a money belt & only bring a carry on suitcase, and she did a great job packing!

I stopped into the RS store in Edmonds last Saturday while I was at the Sketchfest with my younger daughter, and we both bought the silk moneybelt, so she’s on-board for our trip together in September. A trip with each daughter this year! Yeah!

Jean--You have taught the girls well:) When we took my mom to France, that was her first time with carryon only and it was quite the ordeal getting her to pare down. She was so thrilled with it though and talked about that for years. You will have such a great time on your trips!