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At this sprawling market and festival, you can sip mulled wine or marshmallow-topped cocoa as you shop for candle votives, ornaments, crafts, and gourmet food. After you've checked out the stalls, you can take in a show, ride more than a dozen different roller coasters, and even meet Santa, all without leaving the park. Experience Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany (including the iconic capital cities of Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna). Peruse some of the best holiday markets in Europe, including Regensburg and Salzburg.
Danube Christmas Delights
This route cruises along the second-longest river in Europe through Austria, Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia, stopping in the capital cities of Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna, as well as Salzburg. Both Magna on the Danube and Christmas Markets on the Danube tours cruise through The Wachau Valley, where you can take a walking tour of Dürnstein. It's most important to choose a cruise based on which destinations you wish to visit and which travel dates and itinerary lengths work with your schedule. Day six brings the cruise to Strasbourg, France, where you can tour the La Petite France District and wander through the warm glow of the Christmas market. The cruise then heads back to Germany to visit the Black Forest, where you can learn about local traditions and German winemaking.
The 8 best Christmas market river cruises for 2024 - The Points Guy
The 8 best Christmas market river cruises for 2024.
Posted: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Day 8
You’ll need warming up after taking your skates for a spin on Bruges open-air Christmas ice rink or going for a romantic stroll around Minnewater (lake of love). If you head to The Vorst Winter Bar (which means “frost” in Dutch), you’ll be welcomed by local drinks and delicious snacks ready to melt off your icicles. Sit below the thousands of lights and watch your fellow ice skaters continue the festive fun for an unforgettable evening. Encompassing the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland, this fantastic Rhine River cruise offers fairytale castles and historic vineyards in addition to Christmas markets. Starting in canal-laden Amsterdam, this cruise winds its way through the German city of Cologne, where you can browse the city’s most impressive Christmas markets.
These Holiday Cruises Will Take You to Christmas Markets Around Europe
In my personal opinion, I find that French Christmas markets have this typically French “finesse”. Often, you can find seafood or champagne food stalls which give them a luxurious touch. Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace and also known as the “capital of Christmas” has one of the most important and quaintest Christmas markets in Europe. However, you might have a difficult time choosing which is the best German Christmas market. A German Christmas market cruise is thus the perfect solution to avoid this dilemma as it takes you to the most scenic ones.
Sample tasty yuletide treats and regional delicacies as you browse colorful stalls for handcrafted ornaments and unique gifts. Admire the twinkling lights of Cologne and revel in the merry atmosphere of the Rhine Valley, as storefront displays, wine cellars and markets embrace the holiday season. For 90+ years, the Tauck family has had a passion for sailing — aboard small ships and yachts at sea, riverboats along great inland waterways, and at home on the rivers and lakes of Connecticut and New York. When we began blending our land experience with our strong passion for cruising in our first European river cruise back in 1992, we knew that no "ordinary" river cruise experience would do for our guests. We wanted them to travel Europe's rivers in the same beyond-the-ordinary Tauck style they experienced on our land trips. With that in mind, we searched to find a company to partner with that would share our values and our commitment to "do the right thing" by our guests...
Christmas Markets Along the Rhine (Tauck River Cruising)
In the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague's fairy-story cobbled streets, decorative bridges and huge UNESCO World Heritage listed castle create a perfect festive setting. Nearly every Danube River cruise stops in Budapest, often as a port of embarkation or disembarkation. You'll have your choice of the full spectrum of European river cruise lines here.
The nine-day cruise starts in Germany in Munich and travels down through Salzburg, Linz, and Vienna, in Austria, before heading to Slovakia. The Danube Christmas market cruises take you, in general, to larger towns that are further away from each other such as Nürnberg, Vienna or Budapest. Please ask your cruise operator before leaving your cruise ship which is the regional typical food to try on the Christmas market you are about to visit.
This 7-day All-inclusive River Cruise Stops at Iconic Christmas Markets in Germany — But You Have to Act Fast - Travel + Leisure
This 7-day All-inclusive River Cruise Stops at Iconic Christmas Markets in Germany — But You Have to Act Fast.
Posted: Tue, 06 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
The 8 best Christmas market river cruises for 2024
The largest Christmas market on the Pest side takes place at Vorosmarty Square, which is considered one of the best Christmas markets in Europe and has more than 100 stalls, a giant tree and nativity scenes. The market on St. Stephen's Square, also on the Pest side, specializes in crafts made by skilled local artisans. If you're after something more local, you can also hop the river to the Buda side of the city to visit the Obuda Christmas Market.
The cruises hit some of Europe’s top markets in Austria, France, Germany and Hungary — as well as smaller markets in the Alsace region of France and Slovakia. Pass through Europe’s most enchanting countries, stopping to explore cultural capitals and fairy-tale villages. Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine, admire the Wachau Valley’s beauty and explore Central European cities. Take part in European holiday traditions and experience the region’s renowned Christmas markets. Breathe in the scents of traditional fare and admire the handiwork of local artisans—perfect for bringing home to your family and friends. Travelers looking to explore all of the Old World historic charm of Belgium will want to book Uniworld's Belgian Holiday Markets cruise.
Glittering cities across France, Germany, Austria and beyond light up with Christmas markets offering hand-carved toys and ornaments. This market is the biggest in the Paris area, with more than 350 chalets and thousands of square feet of merry decorations, all located underneath the Grande Arche de la Défense. Shop for handicrafts and souvenirs among the market's many stalls, or indulge in some of the cheese, chocolate, and mulled wine on offer — you are in France, after all. Marvel at the giant Christmas tree at the center of this historic market in Germany's capital city, where you can shop for traditional blown glass, wood carvings, and more. Head to the heated dining tents to fill up on German specialties like hearty spätzle and refreshing Kölsch beer. On New Year's Eve, ring in the new year at the market's annual party, which features everything from DJs and theatrical performances to food and firecrackers.
Indeed, a Rhine cruise takes you often to smaller villages such as in the romantic Rhine valley. Even though a Christmas market cruise is a very laid-back way to enjoy the festive season, you should ask yourself a few questions before booking. Indeed, there are plenty of Christmas cruises to choose from and it might be hard to decide on one. One of the most popular Christmas cruises is the Bruges Christmas market cruise. Indeed, Bruges is not only one of the most scenic towns in Belgium, but it’s also famous for boasting one of the prettiest Christmas markets in Europe.
However, also the Danube will take you to, particularly quaint Christmas markets of important German, Austrian, and Hungarian towns such as Nürnberg Christmas market, Regensburg, Vienna or Budapest. Always calculate enough time before the departure and after the arrival of the cruise. Generally speaking, Christmas market cruises on the Danube last longer than their Rhine counterpart. You can opt for a short Rhine cruise lasting only 5 days through the romantic Rhine valley.
Or, why not, if time and budget allow it, 15 days departing in Basel, Switzerland. Then, a European Christmas market cruise will be the best way to spend some quality time with your family while exploring the most emblematic Christmas markets in Europe. Many Danube sailings stop in Bratislava, the capitol of Slovakia, home to several markets, including one in the courtyard of the Old Town Hall and another one at Bratislava Castle, which overlooks the city. View the crystal-adorned Christmas tree and enjoy mulled wine at the Christkindlimarkt. Fares include meals, drinks during meals and happy hour, Wi-Fi, a library, excursions, bike rentals and a fitness center. Gratuity is not included for hotel stays and meals during the land portion of your trip.
Wander the stalls of the Weinachtsmarkt, brimming with tasty treats and festive handicrafts.
This "winter paradise" in Amsterdam is ideal for families — and anyone else who likes having plenty to do at a holiday market other than eat and shop. Here, you can play a game of curling, go for a ride on a snow tube, or have a no-gloves-required snowball fight with faux snow in the market's Snowgarden. Later, warm up by roasting marshmallows on one of the festival's fire pits or heading to the winter cinema for a nostalgic Christmas movie. Gaze up at the magnificent Duomo cathedral with a warm drink in hand as you browse the charming stalls and small huts of the Mercatini di Natale, a Christmas market held each year in Milan's Piazza del Duomo. Shop for Italian cheeses and Yuletide souvenirs as you take in the spirit of the city — the perfect way to cap off a day of sightseeing. Glittering fairy lights, gourmet treats, and handmade treasures for sale in a picturesque, historic setting — Europe's famous Christmas markets evoke a classic scene straight out of a Christmas card.
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