If it’s your first time in a city or you don’t have a lot of time, a tour can be a great introduction to a city, enabling you to gain insight via a local guide.
City tours will give you an overview of everything the destination has to offer, while taking a food tour will introduce you to regional specialties and unique flavours you might not discover on your own.
You can find specialised tours like architecture, street art, photography, or history and war tours. Or choose a dedicated Christmas market tour.
Seasonal and holiday activities can also be a great way to learn about the local culture and people by experiencing customs, traditions, festivals and, of course, the Christmas markets.
Christmas Market Tours in Europe
I recommend joining an expertly guided city tour, food tour, or focused Christmas market tour in Europe. These are offered in small group settings, led by knowledgeable local guides.
Here’s a brief overview of the various types of Christmas tours available.
- City Tours: These tours focus on exploring a specific city’s major attractions and landmarks during the Christmas season. You’ll get to experience the festive atmosphere and see how the city is decorated for the holiday season.
- Food Tours: For those who love food, a food tour is a perfect way to discover the traditional Christmas specialties of a destination. You’ll get to sample a variety of local delicacies and learn about the local cuisine.
- Christmas Market Tours: Dedicated Christmas market tours are designed to take you to the best markets in a city or region. You’ll have the opportunity to shop for unique gifts, taste local foods, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
- Combination Tours: Some tours offer a combination of city and Christmas market visits, giving you the best of both worlds. You’ll get to see the sights and sounds of the city, as well as explore the Christmas markets.
- Skip the Line Tickets – Pre-booking tickets to popular events and museums at heavily visited destinations is highly recommended to make the most of your time and avoid long lines.
The Most Popular Tours
Here are some of the top Christmas market tours available in Europe in 2023.
Nuremberg: Christmas City Culinary Tour
On a guided tour, discover the enchanting city of Nuremberg during Christmas. Immerse yourself in the festive atmosphere, gain insight into the city’s rich history, learn about the traditional German Christmas markets, and savour delicious culinary treats.
Visit the Christmas markets in central Prague, including the city centre’s main market. Try traditional Czech snacks, mulled wine, and hot mead during this evening tour.
Take a walking tour of 4 of Vienna’s traditional Christmas markets. Drink hot rum, snack on market food and experience some of Vienna’s alternative districts.
Dresden Advent Tour with Stollen Tasting
This city tour includes stops at 3 Dresden Christmas markets, including the oldest Christmas market in the world, Striezelmarkt. Also, see Dresden’s Opera House, the incredible Zwinger museum and the famous Frauenkirche historic church. The tour includes tasting stollen, a Christmas snack unique to Dresden.
Strasbourg 7-hour Christmas Market Tour
Discover the Christmas markets in Alsace from Strasbourg, including the beautiful Colmar Christmas market. Visit multiple markets in different cities and villages during this one-day tour.
Berlin Christmas Lights by Trabi
One of the most unique tours you’ll ever experience. View Berlin’s Christmas lights from the comfort of a Trabi limousine. Enjoy sparkling wine as you’re driven around your chosen route.
As an experienced travel blogger, I’ve had the opportunity to experience various tours throughout my travels.
After thorough research and personal experiences, I’ve found that Get Your Guide is the most trustworthy, user-friendly, and secure platform to book tours through.
That’s why I’m now an affiliate of theirs. Being an affiliate means that if you book via my link, I get a small commission from any bookings at no extra cost to you.
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Food Tours in Europe
Brussels Chocolate Tasting Tour
Enjoy chocolate tastings as you are guided around the centre of Brussels on this tasty city tour. Learn about the history of chocolate in Belgium while experiencing the beautiful surroundings of Brussels in winter.
Bologna is the culinary capital of Italy’s incredible food scene. During this 3-hour food tour, you will experience the best the region has to offer, discovering local specialties, passionate food producers and delicious food.
A great tasting experience with Budapest’s famous Taste Hungary. Try cheese and charcuterie paired with 5 unique Hungarian wines.
Past Christmas Tours
These highly sought-after tours have been a hit among travelers in the past, but unfortunately, they were not available last year.
Here’s hoping they make a comeback this year as they bring a wealth of experiences and opportunities for those exploring the Christmas markets.
London Markets Tour
If you’ve never been to London during the Christmas season, it’s quite the experience. Decorations in the streets and squares are incredible, including central Christmas trees. This tour covers Christmas markets in Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden and more.
Warsaw Christmas Tour
Walk along Nowy Świat and the Royal Route to experience the Christmas lights and decorations in Warsaw’s old town. Try a traditional Polish doughnut and drink a shot of cherry liqueur.
Copenhagen Christmas Spirit
Experience the Danish Christmas season as you tour the Christmas markets and the pretty decorations and lights in Copenhagen.
Salzburg Christmas Tour
Tour the Salzburger Christmas market with a local guide. Drink mulled wine as you discover Austrian Christmas traditions under the lights and decorations of the old town.
Best of Rome Christmas Tour
Tour the sights of Rome with a local guide during the Christmas season. Experience the city at one of the most beautiful times of the year as you learn about its history and traditions.
Stockholm Old Town Christmas
Walk around Stockholm’s beautiful old town during winter and the Christmas season. Learn about Swedish history and Christmas traditions by lantern light.
Zagreb Christmas Tour
During this small group tour, a local guide will take you around Zagreb’s Christmas markets. Try Croatian Christmas treats, learn about local traditions and tour the best of the city’s 25 Christmas markets.
Bremen Christmas Market Tour
Wander through the winding streets of the old town and the beautifully decorated stalls at the Bremen Christmas market this November and December.
London Christmas Lights
Experience London’s Christmas lights from the comfort of an old-fashioned 1960s open-top bus. Drive under the lights of Oxford Street and past the beautiful decorations at Harrods on this popular tour.
