Luxembourg, Trier and Metz Christmas Markets

We depart St Pancras International by Eurostar to Brussels. Our journey continues by train to Luxembourg, where we spend four nights at the Novotel Luxembourg Kirchberg, situated in the Kirchberg area.

• Dinner

After a leisurely start we meet up in the Old Town for a guided walking tour of this lovely city, a UNESCO World Heritage site seated on top of a rocky promontory. The rest of the day is free to perhaps wander around the Christmas Market at the Place d'Armes, where the scent of mulled wine and baking fills the air. Here gift ideas and crafts line the stalls, set out under chestnut trees. You could also visit the smaller but charming market in the Place de Paris, where the illuminated chalets sit beneath the tallest Christmas tree in Luxembourg city.

• Breakfast

Today's excursion takes us into Germany by rail. We arrive in Trier, which at over 2,000 years old, claims to be the Germany's oldest city in Germany and is home to the UNESCO-listed Porta Nigra, the northern entrance to Trier, built by the Romans around 200 AD. Its name means 'Black Gate', a name it has retained since the Middle Ages, by which point the stone had become discoloured. In the 11th century, much of the gate was turned into a church. There is plenty to explore here, including the birthplace of Karl Marx, possibly Trier's most famous son, and the Roman Baths. At this time of year however, one of Trier's highlights has to be its annual Christmas Market, set against the idyllic backdrop of the city's turreted cathedral, which also boasts the title of Germany's oldest church. Here you can wander round the hundred or more festive traditional wooden chalets, beautifully decorated for the Christmas season.

• Breakfast

Today we take the train to France to visit Metz, one of France's greenest cities. The cathedral of Saint Etienne is renowned for its stained glass, which covers a surface of 21,312 sq ft. The diverse architecture, from its ancient Gallo-Roman remains to the futuristic Pompidou-Metz Centre, makes Metz a extremely interesting city. The Christmas Market in the impressive Place Saint Louis is charming and well worth a visit. We enjoy a farewell dinner tonight at the hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

We leave Luxembourg by train for Brussels. Here we join the Eurostar to London.

• Breakfast