A Christmas Escape to Central Europe

Set off for your departure airport, ready to catch a flight to the Czech capital of Prague*. Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Arrival in the capital of the Czech Republic, known as the "City of a Hundred Towers" and famous for its fairytale-like old town and lively nightlife. Transfer to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to start exploring the city and enjoy the beautiful Christmas atmosphere. Overnight stay in Prague.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today enjoy a Panoramic walking tour of the city of Prague with an official English-speaking guide. We take a pleasant walk through the historic center, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992, starting with the Municipal House, a majestic gem of Art Nouveau. We continue with the Gunpowder Tower and walk along Celetná Street until we reach the Old Town Square, an exhibition in itself of centuries of architecture, from gothic styles such as Our Lady of Tyn to the baroque of the Church of St. Nicholas. From there, we go to the foot of the famous Astronomical Clock to take in its beauty. We continue along Karlova Street before ending at the Charles Bridge, an emblematic site of the city. In addition, immerse yourself in the Prague Christmas Fair, one of the most famous in Europe thanks to its markets decorated with charming colorful lights, cheerful carols and wooden huts. Here, you’ll find Christmas-themed culinary specialties, decorations and gifts to bring back home! In the Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti) we stop at the largest Christmas market in the city, located at the foot of the Church of Our Lady of Tyn, surrounding the monument of Jan Hus—with a massive Christmas tree on display. You will then make your way to another popular market in Wenceslas Square, equally as charming and eye-catching. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you see fit. Overnight stay in Prague.

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, take part in a guided tour of the Prague Castle grounds, where you will be able to see St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George's Basilica, the Old Royal Palace and the Golden Alley (all entrance tickets included). Later, descend from this beautiful fortress through the famous Neruda Street, cross the Lesser Town Square in Malá Strana and finish the tour at the Church of Our Lady of Victory, which houses the Infant Jesus of Prague. You will then have the rest of the day free at your leisure. Perhaps you can use this time to take a last look at the city’s beautiful Christmas markets and do some holiday shopping. We recommend grabbing lunch in a traditional typical Czech brewery. Overnight stay in Prague.

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the train station to make your way to Vienna. Travel through the beautiful landscapes of Bohemia and Moravia towards Austria. Arrive in Vienna, an imperial city famed for its artistic legacy and for being the hometown of Mozart and Beethoven. Transfer to the hotel and spend the remainder of the day exploring at your leisure. We recommend strolling through the historic center to relish the architecture coupled with the bundle of lights and decorations of the Christmas markets scattered throughout the city—a tradition that stems from the Middle Ages. Make sure you stop by Christkindlmarkt, the largest Christmas market in the city featuring an ice skating rink, where you can sample some holiday-themed foods and refreshments such as: goulash or meat stew, glühwein or hot spiced wine. Dinner and overnight stay in Vienna.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, discover the "City of Dreams" with a guided panoramic tour of the historic center. Begin your exploration on the Ring boulevard (Ringstrasse) to see some of the most important buildings, such as the State Opera, the Museums of Art History and Natural History, the Imperial Palace, which was the former winter residence of the Emperor, the Parliament, the City Hall and the National Theater or Burgtheater. Later, enjoy lunch in a traditional Austrian restaurant and make use of the subsequent free time you will have to visit the enchanting Christmas market in Schonbrunn Palace. This lively market, which post Christmas becomes a New Year's market with different products, offers traditional food and crafts, unique Christmas decorations, concerts and an extensive program of children's activities. Overnight stay in Vienna.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today you have the day at leisure to continue visiting Vienna's Christmas markets, do some shopping and enjoy the atmosphere of its charming streets. We recommend visiting the Altwiener flea market on Freyung square—smaller but very cozy. There you can find lots of handicrafts, traditional nativity scenes and carol concerts. There is also the market overlooking the impressive Belvedere Palace, the Stephansplatz, with numerous stands located next to St. Stephen's Cathedral. Lastly, make sure to also check out the Karlskirche, in front of the church of St. Charles, arguably one of the most photographed Christmas-themed locations offering leather and wool craft stalls and, of course, hot drinks. Another option is to go to Spittelberg, the bohemian district of Vienna, where there is a market with handicrafts, gifts and the best of the local gastronomy in the form of cheeses, sweets and wines from famous local taverns, known as "heurigers". Overnight stay in Vienna.

Breakfast at the hotel. Catch a train this morning to transfer to Budapest, the capital of Hungary. After enjoying the changing landscapes of the Danube Delta, arrive in Budapest and transfer to the hotel. The city is famously divided in two by the River Danube, Buda and Pest, each with its own distinctive atmosphere. Enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure. Use this time to start discovering the capital at your own pace and feel the jolly spirit of Christmas in its festive markets, where hundreds go to fetch their gifts to the rhythm of Christmas carols, eating traditional sweets and drinking hot chocolate or mulled wine to keep warm from the cold. Overnight stay in Budapest.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, embark on a fantastic panoramic guided tour of the beautiful city of Budapest. Start the tour at Heroes' Square, the largest and most impressive square in the city and emblem of the Golden Age of Pest. Pass by the spectacular neo-Renaissance theater of the National Opera and the imposing Budapest Parliament, one of the tallest and most iconic buildings in the city. Arrive at the banks of the mighty Danube, where you can appreciate a spectacular panoramic view of the part of Buda, the former capital of Hungary until unification in 1873. See the famous Castle Hill, the Buda Castle and the amazing neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque architecture of the Fisherman's Bastion are located. Finally, enjoy a magnificent view of the oldest and most photographed bridge in the city, the glorious Chain Bridge. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Why not sip on some delicious mulled wine while relishing the beauty of one of the city’s magical Christmas Markets. Overnight stay in Budapest.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy this morning at leisure to continue discovering the city at your own pace . In the afternoon, hop on a pleasant cruise on the Danube to see the impressive and emblematic buildings of the capital from another perspective, such as the imposing Parliament and the bridges and the Walls of the Royal Palace. The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the Hungarian capital during Advent, where the spirit of Christmas reigns and the streets are transformed into fairy tales. Overnight stay in Budapest.

Breakfast at the hotel*. It's time to bring your journey through Central Europe to an end. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to Canada. Arrive in Canada and end your trip.** * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day. ** Depending on your flight schedule, you may arrive in Canada on the following day.