Alpine Christmas Markets

December 3-10, 2002
     

Day 1: Depart USA For Germany
An overnight flight takes us to Munich where our holiday shopping extravaganza begins.
    
Day 2: Munich
Upon arrival in Munich we are met by our guide who will take us on an unforgettable shopping tour. We'll stop by the Glockenspiel, Munich's world-famous animated clock. We'll begin our wonderful celebration of the season at the city's Christkindlmarkt, a festive and open-air colorful market with stalls offering everything from handcrafted toys, ornaments and yummy treats of the season. This afternoon we travel through the countryside of Bavaria into Austria, for three glorious nights in Salzburg.
   
Day 3: Salzburg Old Town
We awaken in the city of Mozart and our first stop today is to visit the house where the famous composer was born as well as other landmarks. The afternoon is free for shopping at the beautiful Salzburg Christmas Market. Dozens of stalls feature woodcarvings and creations of glass, metal and ceramic. Dinner this evening is at a local restaurant. Overnight in Salzburg.
    
Day 4: Innsbruck
A lovely drive awaits us through the alpine region of Tyrol. We'll stop at the quaint, medieval town of Rattenberg, famous for its exquisite glassworks. We arrive in the town of Innsbruck, set in the foreground of the majestic Alps. The highlight of our touring today is a visit to the fifteenth century Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof), capped with thousands of gold-plated tiles. The Christmas Market sits in the Old Town and is one of the prettiest and most interesting in Austria. More than 70 stalls and a huge Christmas tree fill the square in front of the Golden Roof. Dinner and overnight in Salzburg.
   
Day 5: Silent Night Chapel & Vienna
We bid farewell to Salzburg and travel to Oberndorf. It was in this village that Franz Gruber composed the hymn Silent Night. We'll visit the chapel where the hymn was first performed on Christmas Eve in 1818. On our way to Vienna, we stop in Meik, a medieval town on the Danube River to view the Benedictine Abbey. The abbey is one of Austria's most splendid monasteries. We arrive in Vienna, the gilded capital city in time for dinner and overnight.
    
Day 6: Vienna's Palaces
After breakfast our touring begins in Vienna's Old Town. A grand setting of splendid Baroque palaces, Gothic churches and other architecture spans the centuries. We'll drive along one of Europe's grand boulevards, the Ringstrasse. Nearby is Holfburg Palace, a 700 year old royal residence with over 2,500 rooms. At the Imperial Treasury we'll see the crown jewels and other priceless pieces of regalia. A view of intricate woodcarvings and beautiful sculptures awaits us at St. Stephen's Cathedral. This afternoon we'll shop the Vienna Christmas Market. Dinner is at a local restaurant this evening. Overnight in Vienna.
   
Day 7: Vienna Woods
This morning we leave the city for the Vienna Woods. The thermal hot springs in this region have been in use since ancient Roman times. We continue on to Baden and the lovely Abbey of Heiligenkruez (Abbey of the Holy Cross). Our last opportunity for shopping the Austria Christmas Markets is at the Baden Advent Market. Upon return to Vienna we'll tour the magnificent Schonbrunn Palace where the sixteen-year old Mozart performed in 1762. Later we'll wander through the Christmas Market in the palace gardens. We spend our last night in this glorious city attending an Advent concert.
     
Day 8: Depart Vienna For USA
After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight home. Imagine the joy of giving Christmas gifts that you purchased for family and friends in the extraordinary Christmas markets of Europe. It will be a wonderful holiday for all!

Price per Person: $1469.00

Price Includes: Airfare, first-class hotels, continental breakfast and dinner daily, sightseeing as listed and concert (subject to availability).

Attention Group Leader: Customize this tour for your group. Call the tour planning professionals at Pilgrim. 
800 322 0788