Bohemia and Christmas in the Tyrol Tour
16 Captivating Days
- Leisurely 2, 3, and 5 night stays
- Stay in authentic, character style hotels
- Genuinely inclusive, no additional on tour costs
- Guaranteed 'My Time'
- Designed for Australians & New Zealanders
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Small group size - now capped at 28!
Tour Overview
Imagine visiting the ancient cities and Christmas Markets of Rothenburg, Nürnberg, Prague, Vienna and medieval Cesky Krumlov before escaping to the snow clad mountains of the Austrian Tyrol to celebrate Christmas. Enjoy special visits to Melk Monastery and Schönbrunn Palace.
Highlights
- Celebrate Christmas over 5 nights in a first class chalet style hotel in the Austrian Tyrol, with visits to Kitzbuhel and The Sound of Music ‘Wedding Church’ in Mondsee
- Savour the Christmas Markets in Frankfurt, Rothenburg, Nürnberg, Prague, Salzburg, Vienna and Schönbrunn Palace at dusk
- Enjoy a special Christmas Eve Gala dinner, Turkey Christmas Day lunch, plus dinners in the old Griechenbeisl Inn, Vienna, and deep in the Catacombs under Cesky Krumlov’s historic town square
- Stay 2 nights in the cobble stoned streets of Rothenburg and visit perhaps the most romantic of all Christmas Markets
- Visit the baroque city of Würzburg, starting point of the ‘Romantic Road’, medieval Nürnberg
- Stay 2 nights in the city of ‘Good King Wenceslas’ Prague, and visit the massive castle
- Stay 3 nights in festive Vienna and be guided through the staterooms and ‘Hall of Mirrors’ in the Schönbrunn Palace
- Enjoy a private guided tour through the astonishing Melk Abbey and a Nightwatchman tour in Rothenburg
- Relax on a horse-drawn carriage ride in the Austrian countryside and enjoy a hot drink and biscuits in St Peter’s Keller, Salzburg
The Bohemia and Christmas in the Tyrol Tour is just one of many you can enjoy in Austria, Czech Republic and Germany. Visit each destination page for more information for our other amazing tours!
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Frankfurt
Your tour commences this evening in wonderful Frankfurt a city of contrasts – from modern skyscrapers to beautifully maintained old buildings. There is so much to see and do in the city centre. Dinner tonight is included in your hotel but first, enjoy a welcome drink. This is an ideal opportunity to get to know your fellow travellers.
Meals:
D
Hotel:
Maritim Hotel Frankfurt
Day 2: Würzburg Christmas Markets and ‘My Time’ in Rothenburg
We arrive into the baroque city of Würzburg, starting point of the ‘Romantic Road’, mid-morning. You will have plenty of free time in the Altstadt (old town) amongst the Christmas Market stalls before we continue to nearby Rothenburg, one of the finest medieval cities in all of Europe. The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy the delightful cobblestoned streets, ramparts and turrets of this picture perfect town. A ‘must do’ is a visit to the famous ‘Christmas Shop’ known for its stunning displays. The Christmas Markets set in narrow alleys are perhaps the quaintest you will ever see. This evening after dinner in your hotel, we have included a special treat – a torchlight tour with the Night Watchman through the beautifully preserved ramparts and winding streets.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Tilman Riemenschneider
Day 3: Nürnberg and Christmas Markets
Today the choice is yours! Enjoy a day at leisure in Rothenburg or join your Tour Manager to visit medieval Nürnberg with itsmassive stone towers and gates, which was once the setting for enormous Nazi rallies and the War Crimes trials. Nürnberg now boasts extensive pedestrian walkways and the most splendid Christmas Markets in Europe. A truly magical European Christmas atmosphere where local choirs sing and the smell of mulled wine, roasting sausages, chestnuts and sweets fill the air. Your evening is at leisure back in Rothenburg.
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Tilman Riemenschneider
Day 4: ‘My Time’ in Prague
Crossing into the Czech Republic we arrive into Prague early afternoon. The central ‘old town’ is full of romantic, colourful shop fronts built into the historical buildings. Your hotel for the next two nights is excellently located near the old town.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Art Nouveau Palace Hotel, Prague
Day 5: Prague sightseeing, Christmas Markets and ‘My Time’
This morning we have included a local guide for a tour through this fascinating city to the Hradcany – Prague Castle to visit St Vitus Cathedral. Prague Castle covers over 7 hectares and is the largest ancient castle in the world. We also visit Zlatá Ulièka (the Golden Lane) with its tiny colourful houses built right into the arches of the Castle walls and named after the goldsmiths who lived here in the 17th century. The whole afternoon and evening is free to explore the laneways, churches and bridges of this beautiful city. Prague is the city of ‘Good King Wenceslas’ so naturally the best Christmas markets are in Wenceslas Square and the Old Town. Time to sip medovina – a warm honey liquor.
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Art Nouveau Palace Hotel
Day 6: ‘My Time’ in Brno and Vienna
After a leisurely start we drive south and reach Brno – the second largest city in the Czech Republic, with its lively café scene. Lunchtime is at leisure with plenty of options to choose from around the main square. Later we continue south to the imperial city of Vienna our home for the next three nights.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Regina Hotel
Day 7: Heiligenkreuz Monastery, Vienna sightseeing, Schönbrunn Palace
This morning we take a delightful drive winding up through the Vienna Woods to the ‘Hellental’ for a guided tour through the Heiligenkreuz Monastery. Returning to the old city we enjoy a panoramic tour that will bring to life all the sights, gardens and monuments of this city, from the State Opera House and the Hofburg Palace to the spire of St. Stephen’s Cathedral. This afternoon we have included entrance and a guided tour through the State Apartments and ‘Hall of Mirrors’ in the magnificent Royal summer residence – Schönbrunn Palace. As a special treat, at dusk we also enjoy a visit to the picturesque Christmas markets located in the Palace forecourt. This evening is at leisure.
Meals:
B
Hotel:
Regina Hotel
Day 8: ‘My Time’ in Vienna and Christmas Markets
Today is at leisure for you to relax and enjoy this enchanting city of museums and style. Christmas shopping? Try the excellent Christmas Market outside the Town Hall where you will find mulled wine, ginger biscuits, music, fabulously decorated trees and folklore displays. Dinner tonight is a special treat as we have reserved tables at the nearby Griechenbeisl Inn. A ‘mere’ 500 years old this beautifully preserved Inn has been a social gathering point of so many famous historical figures from Beethoven and Schubert to Wagner and Mark Twain (who have autographed the walls!).
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Regina Hotel
Day 9: Melk Abbey and Cesky Krumlov
Joining the Danube at Melk, we take a privately guided tour through the astonishing monastery – an enormous baroque creation with an old library of antique books and a beautifully painted cathedral ceiling. Lunchtime is yours to enjoy the charming village of Melk. Near Linz we turn north over the Danube and soon enter the Czech Republic to reach the perfectly preserved 13th century town of Cesky Krumlov. Originally built as a hamlet around the impressive castle, the wealth from the silver and gold mining, plus a population of Catholic aristocrats seeking refuge during the Reformation, made Cesky Krumlov the most important city in southern Bohemia. This city is an extraordinary time capsule and UNESCO World Heritage listed, we will stay the next two nights in the very heart of the delightful old town. Tonight dinner is included in your hotel.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Ruze
Day 10: Cesky Krumlov sightseeing and ‘My Time’
This morning we have included the services of a local guide to bring to life the history and background of this extraordinary town. Your afternoon is at leisure in Cesky Krumlov to relax and enjoy the cobbled streets, cafés, winding alleys and the Christmas Markets. Dinner tonight is included in a local restaurant.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Hotel Ruze
Day 11: Mondsee, Silent Night Chapel and Kirchberg
Crossing into Austria we reach the pretty town of Mondsee, by Lake Mondsee, before midday. Whilst enjoying free time to get lunch, make sure you visit the church made famous in the wedding scene of the film ‘The Sound of Music’. Afterwards, we stop in the village of Oberndorf where we visit the famous Silent Night Chapel on the site where the Christmas carol was first performed. Later we continue to Kirchberg which will be your home for the next five nights. Located 10 kms from Kitzbuhel, Kirchberg is an excellent ski resort in its own right.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Kirchberger Hof
Day 12: Salzburg sightseeing, ‘My Time’ and Christmas Markets
Today includes a full day excursion to Salzburg - the baroque city of Mozart sitting beneath its enormous Festung (Fortress). A walking city tour with an expert local guide will introduce youto this enchanting city, including several locations used in the film ‘The Sound of Music’. As a finale you will gather amongst the fir trees in the small stone courtyard of the St Peter’s Keller, dating back to the 1500’s and Salzburg’s oldest restaurant, for a hot drink and biscuits. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the city. The huge castle makes a fascinating visit or savour the atmosphere of the famous Salzburg Christmas Markets.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Kirchberger Hof
Day 13: ‘My Time’ in a winter paradise
Christmas Eve! What a magnificent location to relax over Christmas! Your next two days are free to relax and enjoy the stunning scenery which surrounds you, and do as much, or as little, as you want! Whether you are a ‘super active snow sports’ person or a ‘take it easy and relax’ person there are numerous activities you can enjoy. Perhaps enjoy a winter walk on the footpaths which often double as Nordic or Cross Country ski paths. Alternatively jump on a cable car and enjoy lunch in one of the mountain restaurants – usually with extraordinary panoramic views. This evening we enjoy Christmas cookies and Gluhwein before a traditional Christmas Eve buffet dinner featuring typically Tyrolean food.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Kirchberger Hof
Day 14: Christmas Day – ‘My Time’ and a horse drawn carriage ride
Christmas Day as it should be – relaxing, eating and drinking in a delightful Alpine location. Perhaps go for a winter walk or take a cable car to the top of the ski fields. A typical Tyrolean Christmas lunch will also be enjoyed featuring local Game specialities. The highlight of the day will be your ride in a horse drawn carriage.
Meals:
B
L
D
Hotel:
Kirchberger Hof
Day 15: ‘My Time’ in the Tyrolean villages of Kitzbuhel and Kirchberg
Boxing Day! This morning we visit Austria’s most popular winter resort of Kitzbuhel. Still retaining the atmosphere of a Tyrolean village in its historic centre, old-style houses with projecting gables and painted exteriors compete for attention with shops selling Europe’s most exclusive brand names. Take time to explore the town or maybe take the cable car up the Kitzbuheler Horn to enjoy lunch in one of the 23 mountain restaurants. Your afternoon is at leisure in Kirchberg.
Meals:
B
D
Hotel:
Kirchberger Hof
Day 16: To Munich
Your Christmas tour is now complete, and it is time to bid farewell as we transfer to Munich, to arrive around midday. We will make stops at the central railway station, Maritim Hotel and Munich Airport. We recommend that you book flights or trains that depart Munich after 3pm today. For those of you joining one of our wonderful New Year Tours that begin in Luzern or Milan, the good news is, we have arranged complimentary Group transfers on 28 December.
Meals:
B
Incredible Value Inclusions
- All excursions, scenic drives, sightseeing and entrances as described
- Fully escorted by our experienced Tour Manager
- Travel in a first class air conditioned touring coach 15 nights authentic, specially selected hotel accommodation
- Hotel porterage (1 suitcase pp)
- Welcome drink in Frankfurt
- 28 Meals – Buffet breakfast daily (B), 1 lunch (L) and 12 evening dinners (D)
- A complimentary wine, beer or soft drink with all included dinners
- Tea and coffee with all included dinners
- Local guides as described
- Personal audio system whilst on tour
- Free WiFi at hotels
- End of tour tips to Tour Manager and Driver, tips for local guides
Your Hotels
Maritim Hotel, Frankfurt - 1 Night
This first class hotel is in a superb location near the city centre.
Tilman Riemenschneider, Rothenburg – 2 Nights
This splendid old half timbered hotel is superbly located inside the old medieval walls barely 50 metres from the central market square. The hotel offers restaurants traditionally decorated with original paintings and wooden carvings and rooms with individually painted alpine-inspired furniture, private facilities, cable TV and hair dryers.
Art Nouveau Palace Hotel, Prague – 2 Nights
This stylish 4 star hotel is perfectly located in the city centre on the border of the New and Old towns.
The Regina Hotel, Vienna – 3 Nights
Family run for over 110 years this first class hotel offers a sophisticated and elegant atmosphere, and a great restaurant. It is located a few minutes walk from all the cultural places of interest and downtown shopping areas. All rooms have private facilities, TV, radio, phone and hairdryer.
Hotel Ruze, Cesky Krumlov - 2 Nights
In 1584 Vilhelm of RoÏmberk, master of the house of RoÏmberks, knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece - highest order of Prague, invited the Order of Jesuits to Cesky Krumlov. He built a university monastery for them. This has recently been extensively reconstructed preserving the beautiful Renaissance architecture and creating your 70 room hotel – The Ruze. The furniture, rooms and public areas are a delight. Set in the absolute centre of town, the terrace has beautiful views of the Vltava River. Your stay here will be an unforgettable experience.
The Kirchberger Hof, Kirchberg - 5 Nights
This excellent, chalet style 4 star hotel is located just a short walk from the centre of Kirchberg village. The atmosphere is charming with that traditional Austrian wood and stone décor, rooms are spacious with balconies and the dining is excellent! (4 course dinners each night). Recent extensive renovations provides a wonderful wellness centreincluding an excellent indoor pool, steam room and sauna. Located in a dramatic setting of snow covered Alps - where else would you want to stay for Christmas?
Tour Reviews
Our tour was excellent. Highlights include Melk, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg and Kirchberg. Plus the choice of hotel for Christmas which went off the ski fields was magical. Our tour guide made everything easy for us to enjoy this wonderful 15 days. Many thanks!
Chesne
The tour was a great overall with all the accommodation being nice and lots of lovely food. Highlights were the snow in Kirchberg, visit to Cesky Krumlov and meeting the other lovely people in the tour group. Christmas was special because of the beautiful surrounds of the town. All in all I was very happy with the tour.
Kimberley, travelled December 2014
I have had a wonderful holiday. Christmas is always a very special time of year for me, and even though my husband and I were away from close family, we have had the best Christmas ever!
Snow falling on Christmas Day and waking up to a winter wonderland on Boxing Day was indescribable. What a wonderful part of the world. Sharing this with our new tour family was very special.
Vicki
We as a couple, enjoyed every part of this tour. It was truly unforgettable. The history of the areas provided us an insight into how and why villages and cities were built. Deryck provided such a comprehensive insight into each area as we passed through it. Each stopover had its charm. Rothenburg was high on the list as a favourite. Kirchberg we enjoyed outstanding accommodation, meals, service and location. This has only whetted our appetite to see more of this beautiful country. The Christmas Eve church service was memorable.
Thanks for a wonderful tour, thanks to our tour manager and driver - outstanding!
Janice