Germany Castle & Christmas Market Tour 24 November - 22 December 2024

Highlights:

• Munich Christmas Market & Sightseeing

• Neuschwanstein Castle

• Hohenschwangau Castle

• Füssen Christmas Market & Sightseeing

• Linderhof Palace

• Oberammergau Christmas Market & Sightseeing

• Steiff Toy Museum

• Rothenburg Christmas Market & Sightseeing

• Nuremberg Christmas Market & Sightseeing

• Regensburg Christmas Market & Sightseeing

• Ingolstadt Christmas Market & Sightseeing

We will pick you up at the airport in Munich. You will take a 2.5-hour walking tour through the historical city of Munich. With your experience guide, you will see top landmarks and discover the stories behind great sights such as The Glockenspiel, The Hofbräuhaus, (the world’s most famous beer hall), Frauenkirche, Viktualienmarkt (famous outdoor market), and The Royal Residence. You also see the New and Old Town Hall, The National Theater, The Feldherrnhalle (Memorial to Bavarian Generals), St. Jakobsplatz, and The Church of St. Peter. You will learn the real origins of Oktoberfest and the history of beer gardens in Germany.

Later in the evening, you will enjoy the Munich Christmas Market. Here you will find one of the best Christmas markets in Germany. Treat yourself to baked apples, gingerbread, grilled sausages, and marzipan, and warm up with a delicious mug of Glühwein, a German mulled hot wine spiced with cinnamon sticks, cloves, citrus, sugar, and vanilla. Enjoy shopping for beautiful handcrafted gifts and handmade candles while the smell of roasting chestnuts fills the air.

You will enjoy dinner at the famous beer hall Hofbräuhaus, where everyday seems like Octoberfest.

After breakfast, you will travel approximately 1.5 hours to the village of Schwangau. Our first castle tour of the day will be the Hohenschwangau Castle. The existence of the Hohenschwangau was documented in the 12th century. Until 1535 it remained in the possession of the Knights of Schwangau and due to successive wars over the centuries, left the castle in ruins. Crown Prince Maximilian of Bavaria had the ruin of Schwanstein Castle reconstructed according to the original neo-Gothic style from 1832-1836. The yellow Gothic castle is where King Ludwig II spent his childhood.

Afterward, you will take a 40 min walk or a horse-drawn wagon up to Neuschwanstein Castle, also known as "the castle of the fairy-tale king". This is the most popular castle in Europe and possibly the world, with over 1.5 million visitors yearly. Even though it looks medieval, Neuschwanstein was built between 1869 and 1886. Only a third of the castle’s interior was finished by the time of Ludwig’s mysterious death nearby in Lake Starnberg in 1886, at the age of 41. After touring both castles, you will walk to the Museum of the Bavarian Kings. You will enjoy a unique exhibition within a journey through time into the history of the Wittelsbach dynasty and their Bavarian Kings. You will experience the history of King Ludwig II and his family in the authentic vicinity of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau royal castles. Precious objects, fascinating stories, and interactive media stations will provide you with an extraordinary insight into the history of the former Royal Family. 

Later in the evening, we will visit the nearby village of Füssen. The Gothic castle, Hohes Schloss, houses a regional art museum. The St. Mang's Abbey Museum showcases Füssen's violin and lute-making industry. You will enjoy a wonderful Christmas market in this breathtaking village with narrow cobblestone streets.

Afterward, you will enjoy dinner and then have free time to walk the magical streets below the overlooking castles.

After breakfast, you will then travel approximately 45 minutes to Linderhof Palace in Ettal. It is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and the only one which he lived to see completed. Ludwig already knew the area around Linderhof from his youth when he had accompanied his father King Maximilian II on his hunting trips in the Bavarian Alps. When Ludwig II became King in 1864 he inherited the so-called King's Cottage from his father, and in 1869 began enlarging the building. Although Linderhof is much smaller than Versailles, it is evident that the palace of the French Sun-King Louis XIV (who was an idol for Ludwig) was its inspiration. The staircase is a reduction of the famous Ambassador's Staircase in Versailles. King Ludwig II was fascinated by the mystical world of the Orient and the romantic medieval age of chivalry, but above all by the splendor of the Bourbon court. At Linderhof, he set out to recreate the palace and gardens of Versailles, the magnificent former residence of the Sun King Louis XIV.

Then you can spend hours walking the landscape gardens that cover an area of about 125 acres (50 hectares) surrounded by beautiful Alpine pines. The entire Linderhof palace park is furnished with numerous buildings and follies. Exotic park structures include the Royal Cottage, the Moorish Kiosk, the Hundinghütte, the Gurnemanz Hermitage, and the Moroccan House. A special building is the artificial Venus Grotto, which is currently closed for renovation until 2024.

Following your Linderhof visit, you will drive to Oberammergau. A beautiful village that hosts the Passion Play once every 10 years. This is a tradition that derives from a vow made by the people of the village in 1633 that if God spared them from the effects of the bubonic plague, they would perform a passion play every ten years. Oberammergau is also known for its beautifully painted houses of religious and fairytale scenes. The Oberammergau-painted houses originated in the 18th century. You will enjoy the Christmas market which offers some of the most desired Christmas shopping.

The village of Ettal is most famous for Ettal Abbey, a Benedictine monastery with over 50 monks, making it one of the largest Benedictine houses! The Abbey is known for its beer and schnapps that are produced at the Abbey. 

Afterward, you will enjoy dinner and then have free time for the nighttime views of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau Castles.

Escorted 8-Day / 7-Night Castle & Christmas Market Tour

Cost:   Adults / $3,995*

            Students (ages 6-12) / $1,995

            Children 5 and under / Free

*Children under the age of 12 are required to share a room with an accompanying adult. There is a maximum of 2 children with 2 adults.

Prices are based on Double Adult Occupancy

Single room supplement of $750

Private Tour Supplement of up to $1,000 per person depending upon the tour requests and days.

The tour includes:

• All ground transportation from flight arrival and departure in Munich.

• Tour in private auto/minibus, with transportation to and from all tours and restaurants on the itinerary.

• All accommodations are in a clean comfortable hotel, bed & breakfast, or country inn. (German 3-5 star standards).

• Breakfast each morning.

• Dinner each evening with two free drinks (beer, wine, soda, juice, or water only).

• Free alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with European snacks are available while traveling between cities and tours.

• Entry and tour fees for all sights are mentioned in the itinerary.

The tour does NOT include:

• Airfare to and from Germany.

• Meals other than those indicated in the itinerary.

• Beverages other than those indicated in the itinerary.

• Free time transportation or sightseeing.

• Personal expenses for shopping, etc. 

Optional tours:

We have handpicked our tours to give you the must-see sites with a relaxed and enjoyable vacation. We understand that some people have different interests than others. We will try to accommodate special requests such as a special tour, a historical site, a river cruise, or just a special dinner. Please feel free to contact us.