Celebrate the festive season in bucket-list European destinations including Munich, Prague & Vienna!
The many splendours of Eastern Europe await on this 11-day festive season tour. Celebrate Christmas Day in Prague and New Year's Eve in Ljubljana. Start in Munich and visit Budapest and Krakow, with free time to explore. Experience Nuremberg, Bratislava, Vienna and Salzburg at the most magical time of year!
Hotel in Munich
Hotel in Munich
10 Nights, (3 & 4 star hotels)
10 Nights
(3 & 4 star hotels)
10 Breakfasts | 5 Dinners
10 Breakfasts
5 Dinners
Air-conditioned coach
Air-conditioned coach
Fully-guided tour
Fully-guided tour
Hotel in Munich | 10:00 AM
Hotel in Munich | 10:00 AM
Welcome to Munich! Meet your tour leader at the hotel this morning. Embark on an orientation tour before enjoying free time. To experience the magic of Munich at Christmas, join today’s optional excursion which includes a tour and tasting through the city’s Christmas market and top sights! This evening, enjoy a delicious German welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Explore Munich with your tour leader. Learn more about this fascinating and beautiful Bavarian city and see highlights like Karlsplatz and Marienplatz.
Explore Munich with your tour leader. Learn more about this fascinating and beautiful Bavarian city and see highlights like Karlsplatz and Marienplatz.
Munich welcomes you with a delicious, three-course German dinner at a local restaurant. Indulge in traditional dishes like pork knuckle (eisbein). Vegetarian options available.
Munich welcomes you with a delicious, three-course German dinner at a local restaurant. Indulge in traditional dishes like pork knuckle (eisbein). Vegetarian options available.
Experience the magic of Munich at Christmas! See the city’s top sights, taste local festive food, visit a Christmas market and more.
Experience the magic of Munich at Christmas! See the city’s top sights, taste local festive food, visit a Christmas market and more.
Journey towards Prague, stopping off in Nuremberg on the way. Enjoy an orientation tour of this historic city before free time for lunch. Arrive in Prague this evening and discover elaborate Baroque, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Cubist architecture, as well as quirky bars, cobbled lanes and courtyards. Enjoy dinner tonight and get in the festive spirit, it's Christmas Eve!
Join your tour leader on an orientation tour of this historic Bavarian city’s top sights. Start at Kaiserburg and finish in Hauptmarkt.
Join your tour leader on an orientation tour of this historic Bavarian city’s top sights. Start at Kaiserburg and finish in Hauptmarkt.
Experience authentic Czech cuisine at the hotel on the first night in Prague. Take the option to try some famous Czech beer and toast to Christmas Eve on tour!
Experience authentic Czech cuisine at the hotel on the first night in Prague. Take the option to try some famous Czech beer and toast to Christmas Eve on tour!
Merry Christmas! Follow an expert local guide to see Prague’s must-see sights on a walking tour. The rest of the day is free. Join the Prague+ excursion to visit the Mala Strana neighbourhood, enjoy a lunch cruise on the Vltava River and tour Prague Castle! Tonight, celebrate Christmas with an optional four-course dinner and traditional Czech folk show!
Join a local guide and see highlights like Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square, and enjoy views of the iconic Prague Castle.
Join a local guide and see highlights like Old Town Square, Charles Bridge, Wenceslas Square, and enjoy views of the iconic Prague Castle.
Tour the incredible Prague Castle, wander through the charming Mala Strana neighbourhood, cruise the Vltava River, enjoy a buffet lunch and more!
Tour the incredible Prague Castle, wander through the charming Mala Strana neighbourhood, cruise the Vltava River, enjoy a buffet lunch and more!
Enjoy a delicious three-course Czech dinner with unlimited drinks while delighting in a traditional folk show complete with Czech music and dancing!
Enjoy a delicious three-course Czech dinner with unlimited drinks while delighting in a traditional folk show complete with Czech music and dancing!
Leaving Prague this morning, travel towards Krakow. The royal capital of Poland for centuries, today Krakow is home to some of Europe’s most impressive Gothic and Renaissance architecture – and over 2.3 million artworks to complement its historic buildings and monuments. Enjoy a walking tour of the city with your tour leader. Dinner will be served at the hotel tonight.
Take in some of Europe’s most impressive Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Explore landmarks including the Old town square, Kazimierz (Jewish district) and the Old Synagogue.
Take in some of Europe’s most impressive Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Explore landmarks including the Old town square, Kazimierz (Jewish district) and the Old Synagogue.
This morning, visit Auschwitz concentration camp. A guided tour will offer great insight into the atrocities committed on these grounds and the significance of this camp during WWII. After, join the optional excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Descending underground, walk through 2km of tunnels and admire freestanding sculptures carved from salt rock walls! Enjoy dinner at the hotel tonight.
Tour this concentration camp operated by Nazi Germany during WW2. Learn the history and see the sites of one of history’s most harrowing events.
Tour this concentration camp operated by Nazi Germany during WW2. Learn the history and see the sites of one of history’s most harrowing events.
Descend into the Wieliczka Salt Mine! With a depth of 327 metres and 300 km long passage, this is one of Krakow’s must-see attractions.
Descend into the Wieliczka Salt Mine! With a depth of 327 metres and 300 km long passage, this is one of Krakow’s must-see attractions.
On the way to Budapest, stop in Banska Bystrica in Slovakia, a picturesque town with beautiful buildings dating back to the late Middle Ages. Then it's off to Budapest, the Hungarian capital. Blessed with natural beauty as well as Baroque, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau architecture, this is a city to behold! Try some local Hungarian cuisine at dinner tonight.
Enjoy a comfort stop in Banska Bystrica in Slovakia. See the Old Town square and admire its historic architecture, some of which dates back to the late Middle Ages.
Enjoy a comfort stop in Banska Bystrica in Slovakia. See the Old Town square and admire its historic architecture, some of which dates back to the late Middle Ages.
Savour local Hungarian flavours at one of Budapest’s best restaurants!
Savour local Hungarian flavours at one of Budapest’s best restaurants!
Get an overview of beautiful Budapest on a driving tour this morning. See the Houses of Parliament and drive along the river. The rest of the day is free. Join the Budapest+ optional excursion to visit St. Stephen’s Basilica and indulge in a local food tasting! Tonight, see Budapest from the water on an optional Danube evening cruise.
Marvel at must-see attractions like Budapest Parliament, St Stephen's Basilica, the state opera and the castle district on this locally-guided driving tour.
Marvel at must-see attractions like Budapest Parliament, St Stephen's Basilica, the state opera and the castle district on this locally-guided driving tour.
Discover Budapest’s top sights, uncover its history and gain an insight into local culture on this locally guided tour!
Discover Budapest’s top sights, uncover its history and gain an insight into local culture on this locally guided tour!
Indulge in a traditional Hungarian feast as you admire Budapest’s top sights from the water with a nighttime cruise along the Danube River.
Indulge in a traditional Hungarian feast as you admire Budapest’s top sights from the water with a nighttime cruise along the Danube River.
Leave Budapest and head for Austria’s grand capital, stopping first in Bratislava. Enjoy an orientation tour and gaze up at Bratislava Castle which overlooks the city. On arrival in Vienna, embark on a driving tour followed by dinner in a Viennese wine cellar! Later, enjoy the option of attending a classical music concert at the Schönbrunn Palace Orangery.
Join your tour leader for an orientation tour of Bratislava’s charming and historic landmarks. Gaze up at Bratislava Castle which overlooks the city.
Join your tour leader for an orientation tour of Bratislava’s charming and historic landmarks. Gaze up at Bratislava Castle which overlooks the city.
Explore Vienna’s Golden Mile, discover the courtyards and passages around the Hofburg (Imperial Castle) and admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral with a local guide.
Explore Vienna’s Golden Mile, discover the courtyards and passages around the Hofburg (Imperial Castle) and admire St. Stephen’s Cathedral with a local guide.
Enjoy dinner in a special location tonight! Tuck into a delicious meal in a historic Viennese wine cellar.
Enjoy dinner in a special location tonight! Tuck into a delicious meal in a historic Viennese wine cellar.
Experience a Mozart and Strauss concert in the historic Schönbrunn Orangery. Explore the stunning Orangery Gardens during intermission!
Experience a Mozart and Strauss concert in the historic Schönbrunn Orangery. Explore the stunning Orangery Gardens during intermission!
Head for Ljubljana, stopping in the beautiful city of Graz en route. On arrival in Ljubljana, embark on a walking tour of this quaint European gem. Tonight, ring in the New Year! Ljubljana's celebrations are held throughout the city in public squares before a beautiful fireworks display is launched from the castle hill as the clock strikes midnight.
Enjoy an orientation tour of Austria’s second-largest city. Graz is home to a charming Old Town, palaces and forts coupled with intriguing contemporary art.
Enjoy an orientation tour of Austria’s second-largest city. Graz is home to a charming Old Town, palaces and forts coupled with intriguing contemporary art.
Join a local guide to explore Ljubljana’s old town, Preseren Square, the Riverfront, Dragon Bridge and more. Don’t miss St. Nicholas Church’s spectacular Baroque architecture!
Join a local guide to explore Ljubljana’s old town, Preseren Square, the Riverfront, Dragon Bridge and more. Don’t miss St. Nicholas Church’s spectacular Baroque architecture!
Visit the spectacular Lake Bled this morning. Wander around or try the famous Bled Cream Cake! Travel onwards to the picture-perfect city of Salzburg. Featuring gorgeous architecture, a cliff-top fortress and imposing cliffs in the distance, this is a true fairytale city. Arriving back in Munich, the evening is free. Why not arrange a farewell dinner with your group?
Discover this spectacular Alpine city where the UNESCO-listed Old City's medieval architecture faces the 19th-century New City, all overlooked by a fairytale castle.
Discover this spectacular Alpine city where the UNESCO-listed Old City's medieval architecture faces the 19th-century New City, all overlooked by a fairytale castle.
Situated in the Julian Alps, this dreamy lake surrounds Bled Island and is home to the medieval Bled Castle on the north shore.
Situated in the Julian Alps, this dreamy lake surrounds Bled Island and is home to the medieval Bled Castle on the north shore.
This Christmas and New Year adventure concludes in Munich after breakfast. Expat Explore hopes you've loved every minute of your Eastern Highlights tour, and wishes you a safe onward journey!
Descend into the Wieliczka Salt Mine! With a depth of 327 metres and 300 km long passage, this is one of Krakow’s must-see attractions.
Indulge in a traditional Hungarian feast as you admire Budapest’s top sights from the water with a nighttime cruise along the Danube River.
Take in some of Europe’s most impressive Gothic and Renaissance architecture. Explore landmarks including the Old town square, Kazimierz (Jewish district) and the Old Synagogue.
Tour this concentration camp operated by Nazi Germany during WW2. Learn the history and see the sites of one of history’s most harrowing events.
Marvel at must-see attractions like Budapest Parliament, St Stephen's Basilica, the state opera and the castle district on this locally-guided driving tour.
You'll Love
Enhance your tour with these carefully selected optional experiences. Each one is designed to add depth and excitement to your journey, allowing you to customize your adventure according to your interests.
Experience the magic of Munich at Christmas! See the city’s top sights, taste local festive food, visit a Christmas market and more.
Tour the incredible Prague Castle, wander through the charming Mala Strana neighbourhood, cruise the Vltava River, enjoy a buffet lunch and more!
Enjoy a delicious three-course Czech dinner with unlimited drinks while delighting in a traditional folk show complete with Czech music and dancing!
Descend into the Wieliczka Salt Mine! With a depth of 327 metres and 300 km long passage, this is one of Krakow’s must-see attractions.
Discover Budapest’s top sights, uncover its history and gain an insight into local culture on this locally guided tour!
Indulge in a traditional Hungarian feast as you admire Budapest’s top sights from the water with a nighttime cruise along the Danube River.
Experience a Mozart and Strauss concert in the historic Schönbrunn Orangery. Explore the stunning Orangery Gardens during intermission!
If you are planning to travel a different year, please select here to view the relevant itinerary:
Price is based on a sharing twin room. Single room (optional).
We partner with a range of hand-picked hotels in each destination. The hotels listed below are those we stay at most frequently. However, you may stay at different hotels of a similar standard.
A confirmed list of hotels is emailed to all travellers prior to their tour departure. To extend your stay in Munich, click here to book pre and post-tour accommodation through our partner Booking.com.
Our Eastern Europe tour was nothing short of extraordinary. From the vibrant streets of Prague, the beautiful castles to the historical charm of Budapest, every moment was a captiv...
My wife and I had a really enjoyed this trip! The itinerary was really good. We had a great time at all of the locations. We would be hard pressed to pick a favorite, they were al...
This was a well paced tour with plenty of flexibility to do your own thing. With two nights in most places there was time to get a sense of each and a good idea for spending more t...
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For pre-departure and visa information, as well as frequently asked questions regarding preparing for and travelling on this tour, please visit our Help Centre.
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting destination for the first day of your tour. Make sure you keep departure times and possible delays in mind when booking flights. Please click here to visit Skyscanner - a useful tool for comparing prices from the vast majority of airlines.
When you book for more than one person, we will by default group you together in the same room(s), unless you request single supplements or specifically request us not to.
If there are unequal numbers (3, 5, 7 etc.) then the remaining traveller will be roomed with another passenger of the same gender. Please note that minors under the age of 18 cannot share with another traveller outside of your group's booking.
If you are making separate bookings and would like to share the same room(s), please send us an email with the booking references for each of the travellers and the details of your preferred rooming allocation.
Yes, and you are responsible for arranging your own insurance. Passengers and their personal property travel with Expat Explore solely at their own risk. A suitable insurance policy should provide adequate cover for medical expenses arising through illness or accident prior to or during the holiday, and loss of holiday monies through cancellation or curtailment of the holiday or other insurable reasons. Clients should ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities in their tour.
For a relatively small price, travel insurance provides you with the peace of mind so that you can enjoy your tour without any worries. To receive a quote from our preferred travel insurance partner please visit World Nomads*.
For more information on what to look for in a travel insurance policy, click here.
While Expat Explore cannot assist with booking pre or post-tour accommodation, we have partnered with Booking.com for affordable accommodation options prior to and after the tour.
If you would like to receive the hotel list in advance so that you can book accommodation at or nearby the start hotel, please request this by sending an email to info@expatexplore.com with your booking reference.
Expat Explore can provide travellers requiring visas with visa support documents on a request basis. Please note that you are required to pay for your tour in full in order to receive the documents. This is an embassy/consulate requirement by law. Once you have received confirmation that your booking has been paid in full, you can request your visa support documents by emailing info@expatexplore.com - please allow up to 10 working days to receive these documents.
All travellers are required to carry their own bags. Our walking tours can last up to 3 hours and certain places involve walking up and down stairs. We want you to enjoy your tour, so read through the itinerary thoroughly and make your own conclusions as to whether you feel that you are fit and healthy enough.
Our tours are not suitable for young children, so we set a minimum age limit of 10 years old. However, at the discretion of Expat Explore we may consider younger children on certain tours if they meet certain criteria and a request is received in writing via email for consideration. Expat Explore reserves the absolute right to accept or decline a booking at our discretion.
Your deposit secures your spot on tour and locks in the price you pay. Although the deposit you pay at the time of booking is non-refundable, you're protected by our 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee – a full refund if you cancel within 10 days of making your booking.
For more information, please refer to the 10-Day Money-Back Guarantee in our Terms & Conditions.
Before the tour starts, you will receive an email from us requesting your dietary requirements. There is always a vegetarian option available. We try as much as we can to offer you the traditional local cuisine.
No, you will need to make your own arrangements to get to the meeting point for the first day of your tour. We have partnered with Welcome Pickups to secure a hassle-free service. You will be met at the arrivals gate by your driver. Your driver will track your flight, so they'll wait for you even if it's delayed. Please click here to book an airport transfer.
This is up to you and will vary depending on how much you wish to spend on snacks, drinks, souvenirs etc. We do not include entrance fees to attractions and museums. We do, however, provide you with free time to see everything you want, and our tour leaders will have all the information on pricing and locations so you can manage your own budget. Please refer to your tours specific pre-departure information and optional excursions guide for further details.