German Christmas Markets for 7 Days

Frankfurt, a major metropolis with a rural vibe, welcomes you. After an orientation tour, we’ll visit Frankfurt’s Christmas Market. A 30m tree and ancient carousel make the town look like a snow globe. Many kiosks sell grilled sausages, roasted nuts, honey, candles, attractive ornaments, and local jewellery, art, and sculpture. Even an LGBTQ market has pink Christmas trees, purple lights, a laid-back attitude, and all the typical delights. Try Frankfurt’s only marzipan cookies, Bethmaennchen, and drink glühwein with us.

We say goodbye to Frankfurt and head to the Rhine Valley for a scenic cruise before arriving in Sankt Goar. Narrow canals, a large river, and many boats. That marks your arrival in the picturesque Rhine Valley, home to premium German wine. Enjoy a gorgeous Rhine sail in the morning before tasting some wonderful wine at a nearby cellar. We’ll spend some time in Koblenz, a charming city with peaceful squares, eccentric fountains, and pavement cafes, where the Rhine and Moselle meet. An included wine tasting in St Goar will teach us about wine cultivation around Koblenz since Roman times. We’ll finish the day in Cologne, where we’ll see the massive cathedral that formerly housed the Three Wise Men! With its brilliant canopy of lights, we’ll marvel at one of the city’s famous Christmas Markets. A stunning ice skating rink and many more market places promise Christmas bliss on earth a few feet away. After shopping for gifts, let’s try regional specialities like Käsespätzle (cheese-stuffed egg dumplings), Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancakes with sugar), churros, crepes, and German craft beer!

Another day, another magical market. After breakfast, we depart Cologne for Heidelberg. Heidelberg’s Christmas Market is truly magical, blending history with winter splendour in seven Old Town locations. Before heading to Stuttgart, we’ll see Heidelberg Castle’s lovely ruins. After sunset, the Christmas Garden in Stuttgart becomes magical. Ten million light points illuminate a glittering circular promenade in the Wilhelma (garden), creating a fairytale landscape. Stuttgart’s Christmas market, one of Europe’s oldest and liveliest, will let us shop for wooden toys and antiques and eat mulled wine and gingerbread to local choir music.

After breakfast in Stuttgart, we’ll head to Rothenberg. We’ll have seasonal hot chocolate at Rothenberg, Germany’s best-preserved walled town, before heading to Nuremberg. We’re in central Bavaria for a walking tour of 1000 years of history, from monarchs and Renaissance splendour to World Wars and Nazi trials. Another night of tempting kiosks, tinsel angels, wooden nutcrackers, coloured stars, and dazzling lights awaits us. Locals love grilled sausages or crackling pork shoulder with dumplings for meals on the go.

Nuremberg gingerbread, a centuries-old delicacy, is produced to family recipes. A gingerbread workshop this morning will show us how the famed confection is prepared and give us some advice and sweets. It’s the ideal farewell before we head to Munich via Dachau this afternoon. First, a sombre visit to Dachau, the original working camp. You can learn and reflect on a never-forgotten generation here.

Munich is known for Oktoberfest, but the vibes last year-round. Explore this lively city’s history and sights, including the main square and the Glockenspiel with its 32 dancing figurines and 43 ringing bells. You’ll have plenty of bars, clubs, and beerhalls to enjoy this evening in the city.

Our day begins with a fairytale visit to Neuschwanstein Castle. One of Europe’s most iconic castles, built by “mad King Ludwig,” inspired Disney’s Sleeping Beauty castle. Munich has among of Germany’s oldest Christmas markets. We’ll follow the scents of roasted almonds, doughnuts, and mulled wine to the old town for a final night of sparkles, crafts, and festive cosiness. Dinner is included tonight, then get ready for a night of lederhosen, dirndls, and steins at a traditional beerhall with an oompah band and strangers becoming friends.

We hate to say goodbye, but today is the last day of festivities. We’ll part with Christmas lights in our eyes and gladness in our hearts until our next Contiki voyage.