Christmas Markets of Poland, Prague & Germany
These stunning cities of the east reveal their medieval charm, among the sparkle of twinkling lights and the magic of Christmas.
Overview
These stunning cities of the east reveal their medieval charm, among the sparkle of twinkling lights and the magic of Christmas.
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Day 1: Your Journey Begins
Board your overnight flight to Europe (not included).
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Day 2: Welcome to Kraków
Transfers for your hotel depart Kraków airport at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 3 pm. Meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers at 5 pm for a Welcome Dinner with wine at a local restaurant. Afterwards, get your first taste of Polish old-world charm with a walk around the magnificent Cloth Hall in the Market Square. Wrapped in romantic gabled townhouses and Gothic spires, the festive Christmas Market stalls are a Disneyesque dream, offering all sorts of delicacies and delights—from Highland woolen slippers to amber jewelry from the Baltic. Maybe try the traditional oscypek cheese with cranberries, a delicacy from the Tatra mountains.
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Day 3: Kraków
Perhaps spend some reflective moments during your free time and visit Auschwitz concentration camp. Later, ascend Wawel Hill with your Local Expert to see the Renaissance castle and visit the cathedral—the final resting place of the Kings of Poland. Then cross the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz to Old Podgórze, the Old Town, to see Ghetto Square and remains of the Ghetto Wall. The rest of the day is at leisure and allows you to explore the traditional Christmas Market located in the Old Town's historic district. You'll find yourself immersed in festive spirit as you shop for authentic Christmas decorations, gifts, toys and tasty treats.
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Day 4: Wrocław, the Venice of Poland
Enjoy your Relaxed Start and a free morning or why not visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine? Later, continue to the city of Wrocław, known as the Venice of Poland, made up of five rivers, 12 islands and over 150 bridges. Rated as one of the finest in Europe, Wrocław's Christmas Market offers a delightful, fairy-tale charm. Enjoy an orientation of the market, located in Rynek, the historic main square which is surrounded by Baroque splendor and adorned with thousands of twinkling lights. Spend time exploring the vast array of stalls bursting with local crafts and tasty treats.
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Day 5: Kutná Hora and Prague
Cross the Czech border and head for Kutná Hora, a town that flourished during the Middle Ages thanks to vast deposits of silver. At the Sedlec Chapel, step into a macabre world of sculptures, coats of arms and even a chandelier, made entirely out of human bones! Continue your travels to the Czech capital of Prague.
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Day 6: Prague, City of a Hundred Spires
With your Local Expert, look upon the Vltava River from the heights of Prague Castle, dominated by the soaring spires of St. Vitus Cathedral. Then, down at the Old Town Square, Prague's colorful Christmas Market contrasts with the Gothic skyline. Beneath a giant Christmas tree, draped in a blaze of lights, locals browse the decorative wooden stalls. Meet a local stallholder and savor a glass of Svařák, traditional mulled wine, along with the local Trdelník pastry.
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Day 7: Dresden and Berlin
Cross the German border to Dresden. Gaze up at the Frauenkirche, risen once again from wartime ashes. Your guided exploration with a Local Expert will continue past the colossal 'Procession of the Dukes' mosaic, the cathedral, Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace. During your free time perhaps seek out the delicious Christstollen, a Christmas cake recipe dating back to medieval times, or shop for a traditional Christmas pyramid. Then journey on to Berlin.
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Day 8: The Spirit of Berlin
Join a Local Expert to see the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House, remnants of the Berlin Wall, Unter den Linden, and the beautifully-restored Reichstag building. Feel free to soak up the Weihnachtszauber, or Christmas magic, at the Gendarmenmarkt, which is Berlin's most magnificent square. Alternatively, you are free to saunter through any of the Christmas Markets that are dotted around the city. For your Celebration Dinner, enjoy delightful German cuisine and wine at a local family-run restaurant, complete with music and Gemütlichkeit.
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Day 9: Auf Wiedersehen Berlin
Your journey draws to a close after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Berlin airport at 7 am and 10 am.
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
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Add air to your reservation
Let our Air Specialists handle your air reservations. We have direct access to the most current airfare routes and prices, so you’ll get the best value available when we book your flights. We never charge a booking fee and you’ll enjoy the flexibility to pay for air 60-90 days prior to departure.
Price is per person and is based on two people sharing a twin bedded room. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
Single Room Supplement: from $400 per person
Triple Room Discount: $10 per person
Gratuities: Option to pre-pay gratuities for Travel Director and Driver $92 per person.
Airport Transfers: On arrival at Kraków airport, transfers operate at 10:30 am, 12:30 pm and 3 pm. Return transfers on the last travel day arrive at Berlin airport at 7 am and 10 am.
AARP Members are entitled to an exclusive Member Benefit Discount on all Grand European Travel vacations. Plus receive a free travel gift! Call Toll Free: 1-866-847-3858 for details.
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Sightseeing with Local Experts
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Professional Travel Director
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WIFI on Coach and in Hotels
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VIP Access
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Personal Flight Options
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Most Meals
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Hotel Tips
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Expertly Selected Hotels
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Cultural Enrichment
Included Quality Dining
7 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners with Wine, all with tea or coffee.
Signature Experiences:
- Prague: With a Local Expert, look down on the Vltava River from the heights of Prague Castle, dominated by the soaring spires of St. Vitus Cathedral.
- Berlin: With a Local Expert, see the Brandenburg Gate, State Opera House, remnants of the Berlin Wall and the beautifully-restored Reichstag Building.
Top Rated Highlights:
- Visit the cathedral atop Wawel Hill • Sedlec Ossuary in Kutná Hora • Prague Castle
- City tours of Kraków, Prague and Berlin all with Local Experts
- See Kraków's Cloth Hall in the Market Square, Renaissance castle, Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz, Old Podgórze, Ghetto Square and remains of the Ghetto Wall • the main square of Rynek in Wrocław • St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague • Dresden's Frauenkirche, 'Procession of the Dukes' mosaic, Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace • Brandenburg Gate, remnants of the Berlin Wall and the Reichstag Building in Berlin.
- Christmas Markets: Lose yourself in the festive atmosphere of Christmas, where you can shop for local delicacies and try the heartwarming Glühwein, available on all departures.
- Kraków: Take in the ambiance with a walk around the magnificent Cloth Hall in the Market Square to see the Christmas Market.
- Kraków: Ascend Wawel Hill with a Local Expert to see the Renaissance castle and visit the historic cathedral.
- Kraków: Cross the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz to Old Podgórze to see Ghetto Square and remains of the Ghetto Wall.
- Wrocław: Be delighted with the thousands of twinkling lights adorning the market in the historic main square of Rynek.
- Kutná Hora: Step into the macabre world of the Sedlec Ossuary, also known as the Church of Bones—one of the most unusual chapels you will ever see!
- Dresden: Your guided tour shows you the Frauenkirche, the colossal 'Procession of the Dukes' mosaic, the cathedral, Semper Opera House and Zwinger Palace.
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
-
Add air to your reservation
Let our Air Specialists handle your air reservations. We have direct access to the most current airfare routes and prices, so you’ll get the best value available when we book your flights. We never charge a booking fee and you’ll enjoy the flexibility to pay for air 60-90 days prior to departure.
Reviews
Request a Quote
-
30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
-
Add air to your reservation
Let our Air Specialists handle your air reservations. We have direct access to the most current airfare routes and prices, so you’ll get the best value available when we book your flights. We never charge a booking fee and you’ll enjoy the flexibility to pay for air 60-90 days prior to departure.
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Passports and Visas
U.S. citizens traveling to the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany must have a current passport valid for six months beyond the conclusion of their trip. You can find information on how to apply for a passport here, and how to renew a passport here. No visa is required for U.S. citizens entering these countries.
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Currency
The currency in the Czech Republic is the Koruna, in Germany is the Euro, and in Poland is the Zloty. While it’s a good idea to bring some money for when you first arrive on your trip, you’ll usually find a better exchange rate in your destination. The most convenient way to obtain cash is to use your ATM card at local banks. We recommend you also bring a valid credit card for purchases while you are traveling. It is important that you inform your financial institutions of your travel plans before you leave home so they don’t flag your purchases as potentially fraudulent charges.
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Cuisine
If you like meat and potatoes, chances are you’ll love the food in the Czech Republic. The country is also known for its long-standing tradition for beer. Most towns have at least one brewery, so it’s no surprise that the Czech consume more beer per capita than any other country. Poland offers even more rich and hearty. Be sure to sample the variety of delicious Pierogi dumplings stuffed with potatoes and cheese, mushrooms, meat, and even fruit. And in Germany, don’t miss the variety of bratwurst with sauerkraut, cold cuts, spätzle, potato dumplings, and black forest cake.
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Packing
We suggest packing a variety of lightweight clothing items that can be layered to save space in your suitcase and give you more options for how to dress. It’s important to bring comfortable walking shoes and a waterproof jacket. For more helpful information please refer to our Packing Tips & Packing List.
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Tipping
When dining out it’s appropriate to leave up to 10 percent gratuity for good service at restaurants.
At the end of your guided vacation, it’s customary to offer your motor coach driver and Travel Director a gratuity. We recommend €3.00 per person/per day for your driver and €5.00 per person/per day for your Travel Director. Recommended gratuity for a Local Host and Local Specialist is 1-2 euros per person, paid at the conclusion of each guided visit. A convenient option is to prepay your tips before your departure
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Baggage
Baggage on our trips is restricted to one large suitcase per person with dimensions not exceeding 30x19x10 inches and a maximum weight of 50 pounds. You are also permitted one piece of hand luggage, which should be small enough to fit under your coach seat or on the small overhead shelf compartment. Please note that luggage with an adjustable handle and wheels will not fit in the overhead compartment of the coach. Hotel porterage is included in your vacation.
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Health and Fitness
You will need to be comfortable on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours in various weather conditions. All of our vacations involve walking, often on cobblestone and uneven surfaces in historic city centers. In order to get the most out of your vacation you need to be able to comfortably walk 1-3 miles unassisted in one day, be in good condition and be able to keep pace with the group.
If you need any medications, it is important that you bring enough to last you the whole trip and keep them in your carry-on bag while you travel.
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Insurance
We highly recommend our optional Travel Protection Plan, which allows you to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before departure. The plan also includes trip interruption, baggage loss or delay, and medical and emergency assistance. Click here for a summary of coverage details, terms and conditions.
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
-
Add air to your reservation
Let our Air Specialists handle your air reservations. We have direct access to the most current airfare routes and prices, so you’ll get the best value available when we book your flights. We never charge a booking fee and you’ll enjoy the flexibility to pay for air 60-90 days prior to departure.
