Sample the sights and smells of three Bavarian Christmas Markets
by train. Regensburg, Rothenburg and arguably Germany's most famous
Christmas Market, Nuremberg.
Highlights
Nuremberg and its Christkindlmarkt
Excursion to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Regensburg and its Christmas Markets
Guided walking tour of Nuremberg
Reiterlesmarkt
Stunning 4-Star Accommodation
What’s Included
Standard Class Rail
4* Hotel Accommodation Breakfast Every Day Selected Evening Meals
On arrival at St Pancras, we meet at our dedicated Departure
Office before taking the Eurostar to Brussels. We continue into
Germany and the medieval city of Nuremberg, where we spend four
nights at the Hotel Maritim.
After an introductory guided walking tour of Nuremberg, you are
free to visit the Christkindlmarkt, one of the most prestigious and
atmospheric Christmas Markets in the world. Its brightly coloured
stalls radiate from the Market Square in the Old Town with the
unmistakable aromas of Advent in Germany, filling the city with an
incredible festive atmosphere.
Also, be sure to admire the city's other attractions. These
include the Kaiserburg Fortress, which is the centrepiece of
Nuremberg's beautiful medieval architecture - encircled within the
city walls of the Old Town - and the Handwerkerhof, or Craftsmen's
Courtyard. Located in the middle of the city it is surrounded by
the towers and walls of the medieval fortifications. A little town
of its own, here you can discover workshops and shops from
craftsmen such as pewter workers, glassmakers, engravers, potters,
gold and silversmiths, and much more.
Today we travel by rail to Regensburg. Situated at the
confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, the town has one of the
best-preserved medieval centres in Europe - a UNESCO World Heritage
site. Your time here is free to explore and St Peter's Church,
Regensburg's landmark is truly unmissable. The church, with its
impressive stained-glass windows from the Middle Ages, is the
greatest Gothic cathedral in Bavaria and took over 600 years to
build. At this time of year, Regensburg also boasts three Christmas
Markets, which you are at leisure to explore.
Leaving Nuremberg by coach we head to the highlight of the
'Romantic Road' - Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Its Reiterlesmarkt is
set within a magical townscape of quaint alleys, cobbled squares,
half-timbered houses, city gates and medieval town walls. Marvel at
Rothenburg's stunning architecture, take a walk along the complete
town walls or visit the town's famous Christmas shop, which offers
more than 30,000 traditional German Christmas decorations. We enjoy
a farewell dinner at the hotel tonight.
Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be
found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices
& Availability' button. We write to all booked customers
approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise
the exact departure and return time for their particular group.
An escorted experience and all travel
arrangements
The services of a professional UK Tour Manager from start to
finish
Exclusive meeting point at our dedicated Departure Office in St
Pancras
Standard Class rail travel throughout
Comfortable accommodation in your
destination
4 nights' hotel accommodation at the 4-Star Maritim Hotel in
Nuremberg
Delicious meals included
5 meals, including 4 breakfasts and 1 dinners
Exciting excursions and free time to
explore
Introductory walking tour of Nuremburg
Excursion to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, with time to explore the
Christmas Market
Rail excursion to Regensburg, with time to explore the
Christmas Market
Enhancing your tour
Upgrade to Standard Premier Class on Eurostar journeys from
£75 per person per journey
What our customers think
We were dismayed at the absence of cold weather and snow, but in
all other respects were not disappointed. Pre-holiday
administration was professional and our Tour Manager, Alan, was
thoroughly competent throughout.
Happening upon Great Rail Journeys' web pages was, for us, a
revelation. There on the screen was the ideal short holiday
plan. Not only Nuremberg but Rothenburg ob der Tauber and
Regensburg Christmas Markets. We booked straight
away.
Each of the locations were special, but away from the markets
Regensburg got our vote. There was enough time to visit the
Dom and listen to the famous choir, see Germany's oldest sausage
kitchen, cross the fast-flowing Danube on the Old Stone Bridge and
enjoy, in Spitalgasse, what must rank as Germany's smallest
Christmas Market.
Nuremberg's Maritim Hotel is excellent. Close to everything,
it could not be better.
Mr and Mrs Careford
Nuremberg is medieval in the centre where the main market is; it
was a big market, at least 100 stalls and probably more. One
nice thing we found in Germany was that there are still lots of
independent shops and bakeries etc, so you saw all sorts of
different things for sale. All the stalls and shops are
decorated beautifully (not to mention shop windows -
gorgeous and really inventively done). Everywhere twinkled
like Fairyland! Their decorations and crafts are quite
different to what we have, so plenty to look at, and if you like
sausages and mulled wine there's lots to eat at the market
too. We stopped at a cafe mid-morning for Cerri to have a
crepe and me to have some juice, and did the first bout of
shopping: Christmas decorations, nice handmade soaps, sheepskin
slippers for Jeff, etc. We stopped for lunch at a little
indoor mall; we got fried fish and potatoes but not like our fish
& chips - delicious but different. Anyway, when we saw the
first plate loaded up we cancelled the second order and just shared
the one - we found the portions everywhere were huge so we tended
to share our meals. This also allowed us to visit pastry shops
to get goodies for in between meals - lots of apple strudel!
We were dismayed at the absence of cold weather and snow, but in all other respects were not disappointed. Pre-holiday administration was professional and our Tour Manager, Alan, was thoroughly competent throughout.
Happening upon Great Rail Journeys' web pages was, for us, a revelation. There on the screen was the ideal short holiday plan. Not only Nuremberg but Rothenburg ob der Tauber and Regensburg Christmas Markets. We booked straight away.
Each of the locations were special, but away from the markets Regensburg got our vote. There was enough time to visit the Dom and listen to the famous choir, see Germany's oldest sausage kitchen, cross the fast-flowing Danube on the Old Stone Bridge and enjoy, in Spitalgasse, what must rank as Germany's smallest Christmas Market.
Nuremberg's Maritim Hotel is excellent. Close to everything, it could not be better.