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Some craftsmen sell toys, such as dolls and marionettes, while others peddle their pottery and paintings at the Lucreziamarkt. While in Vienna, you’ll find a Christmas market seemingly around every corner. Finish the trip by exploring the beautiful markets of Budapest. Europe during winter is unlike anywhere else, with gingerbread stalls and twinkling fairy lights welcoming in the festive period. Discover the magic of a Christmas markets cruise, and celebrate Yuletide as the Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians do.
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This was our first trip with Gate 1 and it will definitely not be our last. We were impressed by the organization of the trip and how smoothly everything went. We also appreciate the affordability of traveling with Gate 1.The Gate 1 representative ,Mira, for the land portion in Prague was pleasant, easy to work with and very efficient. She gave us many helpful hints as we set out on own in the city.We can not say enough about our cruise director, Adrien. She worked tirelessly each and every day and was clearly visible at all hours. Her daily port talks were informative and easy to understand.
Three Rivers: Danube, Main & Rhine
For example, in Hungary, euros are not accepted anywhere, so I exchanged dollars for Hungarian forints to use at the Christmas market. For example, in Vienna, I spotted a gold beaded ornament that I loved, and I bought it for about 10 euros (about $10.86). I never saw any other beaded ornaments at the Christmas markets before or after Vienna, so I was glad I purchased it when I saw it.
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Every member of the wait staff was pleasant and attentive to details. They ,too, worked hard to make meal time a nice experience.This trip has convinced us to travel abroad more and to travel with Gate 1.Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to make such great memories. European river cruising has gained in popularity for very good reason.
Iconic Christmas Markets
Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey. Flights cannot be confirmed more than 11 months prior to the date of departure. Once flights are available, we will contact you to review itinerary options from your preferred gateway.
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France is known for some of the most photogenic Christmas markets in Europe, and you have the chance to see some of them on a five-night Christmas in the Seine Valley river cruise with CroisiEurope Cruises. These shorter cruises are great if you'd like to spend a few days in Paris before stepping onto the cruise ship and sailing to three other beautiful towns. Most European Christmas markets are open from the last week of November through December 22.
Christmas on the Rhine
Put the name of the city and the words "Christmas Market hours" into your preferred online search tool to get the operational hours for each market. Viking is known to be slower-paced than its competitors, with a relaxed vibe. Guest won't have as many choices of activities off or on the ship. Picking a river for your cruise can be a challenge, especially if you're not familiar with the destinations on the itinerary. Cruises on the Danube and Rhine are the most popular at this time of year because their ports of call are where most of our Christmas traditions were first created. One important thing to understand about river cruising is you don’t have to do every activity just because it’s included in your programme.
Viking Christmas market cruise on the Danube
If you want to support local artisans, ask the vendor or look for stickers that say where the products were made. The best way to ensure you get the type of cabin and sailing date that you want is to book early. No matter how carefully you choose your itinerary, there will almost certainly be a few things on it that don’t particularly interest you.
Most countries along Christmas market river cruise routes use the Euro, but some, like Hungary and Czechia, use their own unique currencies. Your cruise staff can help you suss out what kind of cash you'll need in each place, and they may even have a currency exchange office on board. Celebrate an Old World Christmas on one of Europe’s great rivers. Glittering cities across France, Germany, Austria and beyond light up with Christmas markets offering hand-carved toys and ornaments.
These river cruises only run seasonally while the markets are open, so they tend to book up quickly with passengers ranging from older adults to all types of families looking for a winter holiday filled with festive fun. Flowing through grand capital cities, including Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava, the Danube is another big Viking river cruise Christmas markets destination. So much so, the line has a pair of all-new week-long festive itineraries to choose from.
Festive Season: Cruising to Europe's Best Christmas Markets - Luxury Travel Advisor
Festive Season: Cruising to Europe's Best Christmas Markets.
Posted: Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas as you journey through storybook villages. Sample tasty yuletide treats and regional delicacies as you browse colorful stalls for handcrafted ornaments and unique gifts. Admire the twinkling lights of Cologne and revel in the merry atmosphere of the Rhine Valley, as storefront displays, wine cellars and markets embrace the holiday season.
You'll usually be able to slide one large suitcase under the bed or store it in the closet of your cabin so that it doesn't take up space in your room, but anything more than that could have you feeling cramped. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. The cruise continues to Belgrade, where you can wander around the city on your own, take a hike to Belgrade Fortress or put on a helmet and take a bike ride around town. Day five is exciting for nature enthusiasts as you sail through The Iron Gates, which is a series of gorges that mark the border between Serbia and Romania. In Vienna, Austria, the whole city comes alive with lights and a festive spirit.
The drink is normally served in cute mugs that you can keep as a fun and cheap souvenir. If you don't want to keep your mug, you can return it and get back a euro or two. Before you cruise, make a list of regional foods you wish to try in each market. Once at the market, look around to see which food stands are popular with locals.
We wanted them to travel Europe's rivers in the same beyond-the-ordinary Tauck style they experienced on our land trips. With that in mind, we searched to find a company to partner with that would share our values and our commitment to "do the right thing" by our guests... Together, we crafted a river cruise experience that was ahead of its time and inspired by the destinations we explore. You'll discover those local traditions… like the hot mulled wine known as glühwein, served in collectible mugs unique to each market… that have caught on to become an indispensable part of the holiday celebration.
Both Magna on the Danube and Christmas Markets on the Danube tours cruise through The Wachau Valley, where you can take a walking tour of Dürnstein. Award-winning European river cruises include everything you need for an exceptional experience. The cruise fare includes premium spirits and wine, access to bikes and walking sticks, fitness classes, Wi-Fi, enrichment lectures, and shore excursions in each port.
My favorite Christmas market was the one at City Hall in Vienna, which happens to be one of the most popular in Europe. It had everything from ice skating and photo-worthy backdrops to prepackaged sweets and plenty of Christmas decorations to try to fit into my already full suitcase. In Budapest, the Christmas market in the square in front of St. Stephen's Basilica was a good mix of crafts, decorations and tasty food to try. On the other hand, the Christmas market in Bratislava was more of a food market with just a few stalls for buying goodies to bring home with you.
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