• 6 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Lunch (L)
• 1 Dinner (D)

• Frankfurt: Get together with your new Contiki fam and acquaint yourself with Germany’s most sophisticated city.
• Frankfurt: Drink in the festive atmosphere of Frankfurt’s Christmas market and enjoy a glass of traditional gluhwein
• Sankt Goar: Take a scenic glide down the river, past fairytale castles, Baroque spires and timbered German houses.  
• Koblenz: Enjoy a wine tasting in the picturesque village of St.Goar, in the Rhine Valley
• Cologne Cathedral: Get to know the historical city. Climb the cathedral for panoramic views and then refresh with a beer on the ‘Party Mile’.
• Cologne: Browse amid the twinkling lights of Cologne’s Christmas Markets
• Stuttgart: Stroll the illuminated trail around Stuttgart’s Christmas Garden.
• Nuremberg: Discover Nuremberg’s history, heritage and hard times on a walking tour with a local guide.
• Nuremberg: Learn the secrets of Nuremberg’s local delicacy at an exclusive gingerbread-making class
• Munich: Lace up your comfy boots, it’s time for a walking tour of Munich – with a local guide on hand to impart historical and cultural wisdom.
• Stuttgart: Tour the fairy-tale turrets of Neuschwanstein Castle
• Munich: Dine on regional favourites at a local restaurant in Munich

Visit the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site to learn about the persecution and imprisonment that took place here under the Nazi regime. Spend time with the memorial’s historical evidence and spaces for remembrance.

Opened in 1933, Dachau was the first regular concentration camp established by the Nazis. This is a sobering visit that offers space to reflect on those who suffered and died, and on the importance of preserving their history.

Contiki

Get acquainted with Frankfurt on an orientation tour of a city where modern towers rise alongside historic streets. See the contrast between its financial centre and the older quarters that give Frankfurt its village-like feel.

This introduction offers a sense of place before exploring the city’s festive stalls. Frankfurt’s long trading history still shapes its lively streets and public squares.

Browse Frankfurt’s Christmas Market beneath its towering tree and among stalls selling ornaments, candles, roasted nuts and grilled sausages. A glass of traditional gluhwein is included, offering a warming introduction to German market culture.

Look out for Bethmännchen, Frankfurt’s distinctive marzipan biscuits. The vintage carousel, glittering lights and smaller LGBTQ market add their own character to the city’s seasonal celebrations.

Cruise the Rhine Valley past steep vineyard slopes, riverside villages and castles overlooking the water. The journey offers an unhurried view of a landscape shaped by centuries of river trade and winemaking.

Watch for half-timbered houses and hilltop fortresses as the boat travels towards Sankt Goar. This stretch of the Rhine is celebrated for its concentration of historic landmarks and the close relationship between its towns and the river.

Visit a local cellar near Sankt Goar to sample wines from the Rhine Valley. Tasting where the wines are produced brings the region’s vineyard-covered hills into sharper focus.

Winemaking has deep roots along the Rhine, where slopes above the river provide distinctive growing conditions. Learn about local styles as you taste, with the valley’s castles and small wine towns forming the backdrop to this regional experience.

Explore Cologne Cathedral, the city’s immense Gothic landmark, and discover its connection to the relics traditionally associated with the Three Wise Men. Its twin spires dominate the skyline above the surrounding streets.

At the nearby Christmas market beneath a canopy of lights, browse festive stalls and choose from local treats such as cheesy Käsespätzle or sweet Kaiserschmarrn. The cathedral’s monumental stonework gives this market a setting unlike any other on the trip.

Explore Heidelberg’s Christmas Market, spread across several locations in the Old Town, where festive stalls sit among historic streets and squares. Browse seasonal gifts and soak up the atmosphere of this riverside university city.

Also take in the romantic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, set above the town. Its weathered stonework and hillside position help explain why Heidelberg became such an enduring image of German Romanticism.

Walk the illuminated trail through Stuttgart’s Christmas Garden at the Wilhelma. As darkness falls, light installations transform the grounds into a carefully staged winter landscape.

Follow the circular route through glowing displays and garden scenery, taking time to notice how the colours and reflections change from one section to another. This is a festive experience focused on light and atmosphere rather than market shopping.

Browse Stuttgart’s Christmas Market for wooden toys, ornaments and antiques amid decorated stalls and twinkling lights. Warm up with the scents of gingerbread and mulled wine as local choir music adds to the seasonal atmosphere.

Among Germany’s longest-established Christmas markets, Stuttgart’s celebration brings traditional crafts into the heart of the city. It is a chance to compare handmade gifts and savour the distinctive bustle of a Swabian winter market.

Visit Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a remarkably preserved walled town of cobbled lanes and medieval buildings. Pause for a seasonal hot chocolate while taking in its compact, historic setting.

The town’s walls and traditional streetscape make it a striking place to experience the quieter side of a German winter. This visit is an opportunity to appreciate Rothenburg’s old-world character, rather than a guided tour or ticketed attraction.

Walk through Nuremberg with a local guide to uncover the Bavarian city’s layered history. Hear how imperial power and Renaissance prosperity shaped its streets, alongside the darker history of the Nazi era and post-war trials.

The guided perspective gives context to a city whose landmarks speak to very different centuries. It is a thoughtful introduction to Nuremberg’s heritage beyond its celebrated Christmas traditions.

Explore Nuremberg’s festive stalls among coloured stars, wooden nutcrackers and traditional Christmas decorations. Follow the scent of grilled sausages and choose a local speciality for dinner if you wish.

Nuremberg’s market traditions are closely tied to the city’s craft heritage and its famous gingerbread. The combination of handmade gifts, winter food and illuminated historic surroundings makes this a distinctly Franconian Christmas experience.

Join an included gingerbread-making workshop in Nuremberg and see up close how the city’s famous seasonal treat is made. Pick up tips while learning about a speciality prepared according to recipes treasured across generations.

Known as Lebkuchen, Nuremberg gingerbread has been associated with the city for centuries. This hands-on experience connects the aromas of the Christmas market with the local craft behind one of its best-loved flavours.

Explore Munich on a walking tour with a local guide, discovering the history and culture behind Bavaria’s capital. See the main square, Marienplatz, and the famous Glockenspiel with its moving figures and chiming bells.

The tour places Munich’s well-known sights in context, from civic traditions to the city’s enduring social life. Its historic centre offers a lively introduction to a place known for much more than Oktoberfest.

Visit Neuschwanstein Castle, the turreted retreat commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Tour its fairy-tale architecture and see why the castle has become one of Germany’s most recognisable landmarks.

Set amid the Alpine foothills, Neuschwanstein reflects Ludwig’s fascination with romantic medieval imagery rather than a castle built for defence. Its theatrical design and mountain setting give the visit a character quite different from the historic city sights elsewhere on the tour.

Browse Munich’s Christmas markets in the old town, following the scents of roasted almonds, sweet pastries and mulled wine through streets filled with lights. Look for traditional crafts and gifts among the seasonal stalls.

Munich’s long-established market tradition brings a distinctly Bavarian feel to the festive season. Historic surroundings and the easy warmth of busy outdoor gathering places make this a memorable setting for a winter evening.

Dine on regional favourites at a Munich restaurant with an included evening meal. Continue the celebration in a traditional beer hall, where steins, communal tables and the sound of an oompah band create a sociable Bavarian atmosphere.

Beer halls have long been gathering places in Munich. This hosted evening brings their customs to life through music and company, offering a cultural experience rather than simply a place to stop for dinner.