G Adventures is introducing its first Christmas market tours in Europe for the 2021 holiday season. According to the company, the new tours, featuring Christmas markets in Germany and Austria, were developed to meet increased interest Canadians are showing for travel to Europe, compared to pre-pandemic booking levels.
The new itinerary visits some of large markets in Central Europe, including Hellbrunner Christmas Market in Salzburg, Austria, home to more than 700 decorated Christmas trees, and Germany’s Nuremberg market, one of the oldest markets in the world.
“The 2020 Christmas season was tough for many, with COVID-19 restrictions meaning a lot of families and friends weren’t able to spend the holiday season together. We’re excited to launch these new festive tours, and help travellers recapture the magic of Christmas,” says David Green, managing director of Canada for G Adventures.
“We’re also seeing a significant increase in interest, and bookings, for tours in Europe with double the number of Canadians booking this past AUG compared to AUG 2019, so it seems a fitting time to appeal to travellers who are looking to travel to both Europe and recapture some Christmas magic this year," Green added.
Four departures of this new itinerary will run from late NOV through the end of DEC 2021. The week-long tour will take travellers from Berlin to Vienna, or vice versa, through Salzburg, Munich and Nuremberg. Travellers will have the opportunity to drink mulled wine, admire the light displays, explore medieval sites, visit Christmas markets and sample a Bratwurst and Currywurst tasting.
Christmas in Central Europe - Berlin to Vienna
In this itinerary, travellers will visit iconic sites in Berlin such as Brandenburg Gate and Museum Island before tasting a Bratwurst and searching for souvenirs at the Christmas markets in Gendarmenmarkt square. Afterwards, travellers will take a train to Nuremberg to try the Nuremberg Lebkuchen, a traditional German cake that is similar to gingerbread, before wandering through the stalls and old-fashioned carousels at the market. In Salzburg, guests will climb to Hohensalzburg Castle and stop at the conifer-filled Hellbrunner Christmas market. Next, in Vienna, guests can enjoy coffee and cake in Viennese coffee houses, sipping warm mugs of Glühwein and visiting landmarks such as the Vienna State Opera House and a viewpoint from the top of St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
The seven-day trip starts from CAD $1,999 per person and can also be taken in reverse with the Christmas in Central Europe - Vienna to Berlin tour priced from CAD $2,149 per person.
The Christmas in Central Europe trips are part of G Adventures’ Vaccinated Tours programme which requires all travellers, and the group’s chief experience officer (or CEO), to be fully vaccinated at least 14-days before the tour departs.
For more information, visit G Adventures' web site.
