Bavaria & Austria
Christmas Market Tour

Vienna • Salzburg • Munich

Small Group Christmas Market Tour | November–December

Tour Overview

8-night small-group Christmas market tour through Vienna, Salzburg, Munich—and the Wolfgangsee lake villages

Travel between cities by train (no big coach tour)
Stay in central, walkable hotels
Visit multiple Christmas markets in each city
Excursion to the Wolfgangsee Alpine Advent region (lakeside villages with interconnected markets)
Guided introductions in each city + time to explore on your own
Daily breakfast + 3 group dinners
Fully hosted by two experienced guides with deep regional knowledge, fluent in German and English

Group size: Limited to 15 travelers

Everything is arranged. You just show up and experience it.

For Travelers Who Want a Smaller,
More Personal Christmas Market Experience

A small-group, fully guided journey through Europe’s most iconic Christmas markets—designed for travelers who want the experience without having to navigate it on their own. Travel between cities by high-speed trains. Stay in central, walkable hotels. Experience multiple Christmas markets in each destination—with the organization to make it easy and the freedom to explore at your own pace. No large group big bus tours. No group river cruises.

This is a well-paced, small-group European Christmas market tour experience.

Christmas Market Tour

Vienna, Austria

3 Nights in Vienna

Central boutique hotel in Vienna’s historic pedestrian zone, within walking distance of four Christmas markets, cafés, shopping, museums and the Hapsburg Hofburg palace.
Guided introduction on arrival.

Multiple Christmas markets across the city
Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen’s, Freyung, Am Hof + smaller local markets
A culinary tour of the Christmas Markets
Max Travel “Sweet & Sorrowful” walking tour
Pre- and post-WWII Vienna, beginning with sweet gelato
“Myths & Mozart” Old Town walk
Medieval Vienna, classical music, St. Stephens Cathedral and lesser-known history
Guided visit to Belvedere Palace museum and Christmas market
Evening group dinner at a traditional Viennese Keller restaurant
Featured Vienna evening: Winter market at the Vienna Prater followed by a private Giant Ferris Wheel cabin with drinks and light bites (Max Travel signature evening)

Travel by high-speed Railjet train to Salzburg (2 hrs 25 min)

Salzburg, Austria

3 nights in Salzburg

Hotel in Salzburg’s Old Town, with markets, restaurants, and major sites all within a short walking distance. Salzburg’s Christmas markets are centered in its UNESCO-listed Old Town, where the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt in Domplatz plaza and Residenzplatz plaza dates back to the 15th century.

The markets are woven into a network of cobblestone streets, narrow passageways, and historic squares, creating a romantic and intimate setting.

Across the Salzburg our tour will share with you:

Traditional wooden Christmas stalls set against baroque architecture
Visit to Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg hilltop castle and the courtyard Christmas market
Regional foods and seasonal specialties
Choirs and brass ensembles performing throughout the Advent season
The Advent market at Hellbrunn Palace set within the palace grounds, where decorated trees, courtyards, and pathways create an elaborate festive layout.
We will share elements of the real Von Trapp family story behind The Sound of Music movie and you how some Austrians were part of that broader WWII context.

Wolfgangsee - Alpine Christmas Lakeside villages

Full-day excursion from Salzburg to the Wolfgangsee Alpine lake region—one of Austria’s most beautiful regions—featuring three lakeside villages, each with its own Christmas market, open only during Advent seasion, set along the lake.

Set between mountain peaks and village harbors, this is a smaller-scale experience than the cities—less crowded, more spread out, and closely connected to the surrounding landscape.

3 Christmas Market villages:
St. Wolfgang — Largest market, set directly on the lake with its signature illuminated lantern and concentrated layout
St. Gilgen — Baroque-decorated stalls, Mozart family roots, and a quieter village setting
Strobl — Smallest and most traditional, centered around nativity displays and handcrafted scenes

How we will experience it:

Travel between the 3 lakeside villages by ferry, with views of the shoreline markets and surrounding Alps
Ride the historic Schafbergbahn Advent cog railway train up to the middle mountain station,1364 meters above the lake with wintery views.

Munich - Bavarian Christmas markets

2 nights in Munich

Hotel near the main train station for easy arrival and departure. On arrival, we’ll take a short subway orientation into the city center and begin at Marienplatz, where Munich’s main Christmas market fills the square beneath the town hall and extends into surrounding streets lined with shops, food stalls, and smaller markets.

What we'll do in Munich:

Visit the main Munich Christkindlmarkt at Marienplatz
Free time for shopping, food stalls, churches, and nearby market
Final full day with guided options based on interest
Farewell group dinner on the last evening

Final day options may include:
Motorworld Munich — free-entry automotive destination with classic cars, specialty vehicles, shops, and cafés
Additional Munich Christmas markets, such as the Medieval Market or Tollwood Winter Festival
Independent time for museums, shopping, churches, or cafés
Optional third-party guided walking tour focused on Munich’s WWII / Third Reich history
Tour ends after breakfast

After breakfast, the guided tour concludes in Munich. Travelers may fly home or continue independently, with optional help planning onward travel.

What’s Included

Our tour is designed to cover the core elements of your experience while allowing flexibility throughout the journey. We will make sure you are guided so you don't feel you are navigating Europe on your own—you’ll be traveling with experienced hosts with extensive local insider knowledge.

Included:

8 nights in centrally located hotel accommodations
Train travel between Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich and local transportation within each destination
Guided market visits and walking experiences
Daily breakfasts (8 breakfasts)
3 hosted group meals at selected local restaurants, featuring regional cuisine (food included; beverages separate)
Select hosted experiences throughout the trip
On-the-ground guidance from your Max Travel Abroad hosts, a husband-and-wife team with Austrian roots, fluent German, and extensive local knowledge that shapes the experience throughout the journey.

What’s Not Included

International airfare
Travel and health insurance
Some meals and personal expenses
Air travel arrangements can be coordinated independently or through your preferred travel advisor.

How This Tour Works

Small-group guided tour (maximum 15 travelers), designed for a more personal and flexible way to experience Europe.

Travel between Vienna, Salzburg, and Munich by high-speed efficient train
Centrally located, walkable hotels
Guided support and orientation throughout
Time built in for independent exploration

A strong fit for travelers who:

Prefer smaller groups and thoughtful planning
Want guidance without a rigid, minute-by-minute schedule
Are interested in culture, food, and seasonal traditions

Not designed for travelers seeking a large group tour or a fully escorted, step-by-step experiences

Request Dates & Full Tour Details

Want the Details?

If this trip sounds like something you’d actually enjoy, the next step is simple—just ask for the full details.

We’ll send you:

Available travel dates (third week of November through third week of December)
A day-by-day itinerary so you can see how it all flows
Hotel options and room details
Pricing and payment options (including interest-free monthly plans)

If you’re traveling with friends or family, we can also plan this as a private trip for groups of 6 or more.

From there, you can look it over and decide if it feels right for you.

Bavaria & Austria Christmas Market Tour