Embrace the magic of Christmas on a seasonal journey through Bavaria’s beloved festive markets, based in the charming city of Nuremberg.

Your festive holiday begins this morning by meeting the Tour Manager and travelling group at London St Pancras, joining the Eurostar to Brussels and enjoying a light meal at our Plus class seats. In the Belgian capital, we change trains to travel via Frankfurt to Nuremberg, one of Germany's most magical cities at Christmastime.

Upon arrival in Bavaria this evening, we walk the short distance to our modern hotel and get ready to immerse ourselves in the magic of Christmas at one of Europe's oldest and most popular markets. Tonight is free to explore the wonderful market stalls and dine independently. The aroma of grilled sausage, mulled wine and Nuremberg's famous gingerbread is sure to entice you.

Waking in the historic city of Nuremberg, our day begins with a guided walking tour. Among other landmarks, we see the imperial Kaiserburg castle, which overlooks the Altstadt marketplace. There's a unique charm to the city, from the quaint traditional figurines lining the market stalls to the striking stone sculptures and murals that vividly depict the city's rich medieval history.

The rest of the day is yours to explore the Christmas markets, where you can wander through twinkling lights, savour mulled wine and delicious treats, and soak up the seasonal atmosphere. You may also like to explore the castle or visit the German Railway Museum (both payable on entry). It is also possible to take a special exploration of the Old Town, on a beautifully restored and comfortable stagecoach, once used to deliver post. These delightful horse-drawn tours can be booked online.

Eating out in Nuremberg is a treat. Besides the tasty offerings in the marketplace, there is a range of cuisine to choose from in the restaurants in and around the Old Town - from traditional German food to Italian, French and vegetarian dishes.

Today, we visit another inviting Christmas market. After breakfast at the hotel, an hour's rail journey transports us to the picturesque Bavarian town of Regensburg. Renowned for its charming medieval architecture and festive markets, you're free to explore, sample the local cuisine and enjoy the holiday spirit. As you're browsing the markets this afternoon, a local speciality you may like to try is mulled wine made from blueberries or apples.

Regensburg provides an enchanting setting for strolling, especially at this time of the year. Among the historic streets is St Peter's Cathedral, a grand 13th-century building with stunning stained-glass windows. Nestled beside the banks of the Danube is the Wurstkuchl (Sausage Kitchen), which can trace its history of feeding hungry locals back to the 12th century, just after the construction of the nearby Stone Bridge.

In the afternoon, we return to our hotel where your evening is free to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of Nuremberg.

We drive along the picturesque Romantic Road to the charming town of Rothenburg today. The road's name stems from the atmosphere it evokes as we pass rolling hills, lush forests, and quaint hamlets, experiencing wonderful views of the countryside and fairytale towns.

After our scenic journey, we arrive in the historic walled town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. This small picture-book town, often referred to as the 'Jewel of Germany', is filled with perfectly preserved half-timbered buildings and a charming main square. Keep an eye on the chiming clock tower that reenacts a medieval legend each hour. You are free to take in the city's sights and the festive atmosphere of the town's magical Christmas market - or maybe try a sweet local speciality, the schneeballe. Translating as 'snowball', these fried dough confections are filled with a variety of delicious flavours, including marzipan. 

At the end of the afternoon, we are transferred back to Nuremberg by coach. This evening, we enjoy dinner together at our hotel.

Bavaria brims with festive charm, where picture-perfect squares filled with scents of the season are surrounded by charming half-timbered buildings. Twinkling lights, handcrafted gifts and the Christmas markets' warming food and drink add to the cheerful atmosphere. From Nuremberg to Regensburg and Rothenburg, these three historic and idyllic towns have epitomised the joy of the holidays.

This morning, after our final hotel breakfast, your discovery of Bavaria's Christmas markets draws to a close as we take the train from Nuremberg to Cologne. From here, we continue to Brussels, where we join the Eurostar back to London St Pancras.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

Step aboard the high-speed international rail service, linking London St Pancras to Paris and Lille in France, Brussels in Belgium and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

Eurostar's Standard Class coaches feature two seats on either side of the central aisle, most of which are arranged in an 'airline' seating configuration with drop-down tray tables. There are two tables for four per carriage. Passengers travelling in Eurostar Standard Class coaches can take advantage of the Bar-Buffet which sells a range of snacks, meals, and hot and cold drinks - including Champagne!

The highest class of Eurostar travel available for leisure customers is Plus class. In your dedicated Plus carriage you'll find a less dense seat configuration, meaning the seats are larger and you have ample space to relax and stretch out. As part of the service, you'll enjoy complimentary drinks and refreshments, served at your seat by friendly, helpful waiting staff.

For the class of travel used on your chosen tour, please refer to the 'What's Included' section of the tour page.

This 4-Star hotel near Nuremberg's station makes exploring the city's history and culture easy. Guests can dine in the hotel's on-site restaurant, which serves a variety of international and regional cuisine. The hotel also features a fitness centre, sauna, and spa for relaxation and rejuvenation. Air-conditioned guest rooms are equipped with free Wi-Fi, flatscreen TV, safety deposit box, minibar, ironing equipment, tea & coffee-making facilities, hairdryer and complimentary toiletries

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We can book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick, or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels, please contact us on 01904 734 805.

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.