Bavaria & Austria
Christmas Market Tour

Vienna • Salzburg • Lake Wolfgang • Munich

Small Group Christmas Market Tour | November 2027

Tour Overview

9 day 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 12 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.

Austrian & Bavarian Advent

Vienna • Wolfgangsee • Salzburg • Munich

Experience the magic of Advent on a boutique small-group Christmas market journey through Austria and Bavaria.

Explore Vienna’s elegant Christmas markets, travel into the Austrian Alps for the lakeside Wolfgangsee Advent, experience Salzburg during the opening days of its historic Christkindlmarkt, and finish in festive Munich.

Along the way, enjoy centrally located hotels, regional food and tasting experiences, cultural sightseeing, and the freedom to explore without the crowds or rigid schedule of a large coach tour.

Tour Highlights

9 Days in Vienna, Salzburg and Munich
Christmas markets in Vienna, Wolfgangsee, Salzburg and Munich
8 breakfasts, 3 dinners and 2 tasting experiences
Belvedere Museum and Vienna’s Giant Ferris Wheel
Guided walks in Vienna and Salzburg
Hohensalzburg Salzburg Castle and Hellbrunn Palace
Travel by train, tram, subway and scenic ferry
Hosted throughout by Cindi & Bob Fries
Small group guided tour— maximum 12 people

2027 9 day Tour

2 Available Tour Dates, Nov. 15-23, 2027, or Nov. 22-30, 2027

Price (based on double hotel occupancy)

Classic — $3,958 per person
Signature — $4,320 per person (Upgraded hotel room accommodations)

Early Booking Discount (available through September 15, 2027)

Classic — $3,640 per person
Signature — $3,900 per person

Additional discount available - Save $125 on the second traveler when booking two guests together and share a room.

Tour departure will be confirmed no later than September 20, 2027, upon reaching the minimum group size.

Christmas Market Tour Details

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 Habsburg Hofburg palace.
Guided introduction on arrival.

Multiple beautiful and unique Christmas markets across Vienna
Schönbrunn Palace, St. Stephen Cathedral plaza, + smaller local Christmas markets
A culinary tour of the Christmas Markets
Max Travel “Sweet & Sorrowful” walking tour
Pre- and post-WWII Vienna, beginning with a 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.

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 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 season, 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 — lake side Christmas markets set among the village lanes with a signature illuminated lantern
St. Gilgen — Baroque-decorated stalls, Mozart family roots, and a quiet small Alpine 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

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 on the last day - After breakfast, the 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 and fluent German when translation is necessary.

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 dinners at selected local restaurants, featuring regional cuisine (food included; beverages separate)
2 Culinary tasting experiences featuring Austrian and Bavarian traditional Christmas sweet and savory treats
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.
Classic accommodations: Centrally located hotel rooms selected for comfort, convenience, and easy access to the tour itinerary.

Signature accommodations: Option to select upgraded room categories at the same hotels, offering additional space, views, or enhanced room features where available.
All tours, activities, meals, transportation, and hosted experiences are the same for Classic and Signature travelers.

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 12 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 to avoid large, crowded coach tours with strict schedules and an impersonal feel
Want guidance without a rigid, minute-by-minute schedule
Are interested in culture, food, and seasonal local traditions

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

Reserve Your Place

A $500 per-person deposit secures your place and applies toward your tour balance.

Space is limited and confirmed in the order deposits are received.

Reserve your place with a $500 per person deposit -and be sure to ask about the additional discount when two travelers book together and share a room.

Select your tour dates, either Nov. 15–23, or Nov. 22–30, 2027

Max Travel Abroad Classic from $3,640 pp with early booking *

or upgrade to Max Travel Abroad Signature from $3,900 pp with early booking*

*early booking discount available until Sept. 15, 2027

Based on double occupancy. Save an additional $125 on the second traveler when two guests book together and share a room.

Request Dates & Full Tour Details

Want more 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 tour dates
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

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