11 days · 7 countries
Eastern Highlights Christmas & New Year
From AED 8,392per person, twin share
Celebrate the festive season in bucket-list European destinations including Munich, Prague & Vienna!
- Duration
- 11 Days / 10 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Munich
- Countries
- Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Austria
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A coach tour with early starts, daily city walking tours and frequent hotel changes across seven countries: comfortable for most travellers who can keep a steady pace
- Accommodation
- 10 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels
- Meals
- 10 breakfasts and 5 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 53
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout, with local guides in several cities
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- Runs over Christmas and New Year, in December: cold winter weather across Central Europe, with a chance of snow, and Christmas markets in every city on the route
Tour overview
The many splendours of Eastern Europe await on this 11-day festive season tour. Celebrate Christmas Day in Prague and New Year's Eve in Ljubljana. Start in Munich and visit Budapest and Krakow, with free time to explore. Experience Nuremberg, Bratislava, Vienna and Salzburg at the most magical time of year!
Highlights
- Discover Munich on an orientation tou
- Enjoy a German meal in one of Munich's historic restaurants
- Visit Nuremberg, a historic Bavarian city
- Enjoy dinner on Christmas Eve in Prague
- Explore Prague on Christmas Day
- Explore Krakow on a walking tour
- Visit Auschwitz concentration camp
- Visit the historic city of Banska Bystrica in Slovakia
Show all 17 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- See Budapest’s top sights on a driving tour
- Taste Hungarian food at a local restaurant in Budapest
- Visit Bratislava; capital of Slovakia
- Discover Vienna on a walking and driving tour
- Enjoy dinner in a Viennese wine cellar
- Experience an orientation tour of Graz
- Discover the magic of Ljubljana with a local guide
- Stop in Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace
- Visit the picturesque Lake Bled
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Munich
1 night · Day 1
Mercure Munich Neuperlach Sued
Nuremberg
Day 2 · on the way
Prague
2 nights · Days 2–3
Hotel Duo
Krakow
2 nights · Days 4–5
TRIBE Krakow Old Town
Auschwitz
Day 5 · on the way
Banska Bystrica
Day 6 · on the way
Budapest
2 nights · Days 6–7
ibis Styles Budapest Center
Bratislava
Day 8 · on the way
Show all 14 stopsShow fewer stops
Vienna
1 night · Day 8
B&B HOTEL Wien-St. Marx
Graz
Day 9 · on the way
Ljubljana
1 night · Day 9
B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park
Lake Bled
Day 10 · on the way
Salzburg
Day 10 · on the way
Munich
1 night · Day 10
Mercure Munich Neuperlach Sued
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Munich
Meals included: Dinner
You meet your tour leader at the Munich hotel this morning, then head out on an orientation tour before some free time. The optional excursion today pairs a tour and tasting with a look at the city’s top sights and its Christmas market. In the evening, a German dinner is served at a local restaurant to welcome the group.
Included
- Orientation tour of Munich with your tour leader, taking in Marienplatz
- Welcome dinner of traditional Bavarian dishes at a local restaurant
Optional extras
- Christmas in Munich · AED 255 per person
- Overnight
- Munich
- Hotel
- Mercure Munich Neuperlach Sued
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Nuremberg – Prague (Christmas Eve)
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
The tour travels towards Prague, with a stop in Nuremberg for an orientation tour, followed by free time for lunch. Prague is reached this evening, a city of Baroque, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Cubist architecture, with bars, cobbled lanes and courtyards to match. The group marks Christmas Eve together over dinner.
Included
- Orientation tour of Nuremberg with your tour leader
- Christmas Eve dinner of traditional Czech food at the hotel in Prague
- Travel
- Munich → Prague by coach, stopping in Nuremberg
- Overnight
- Prague
- Hotel
- Hotel Duo
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 3
Prague (Christmas Day): Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastIt is Christmas Day, and a local guide leads a walking tour of Prague’s main sights before the rest of the day is left open. The optional Prague+ excursion covers the Mala Strana neighbourhood, a lunch cruise on the Vltava River and a visit to Prague Castle. In the evening, an optional four-course dinner comes with a traditional Czech folk show.
Included
- Guided walking tour of Prague’s Old Town Square, Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square on Christmas Day
Optional extras
- Prague+ · AED 280 per person
- Traditional Czech Folk Music & Dance Evening · AED 255 per person
- Overnight
- Prague
- Hotel
- Hotel Duo
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 4
Prague – Krakow
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
Leaving Prague, the tour travels on to Krakow this morning. For centuries, Krakow was the royal capital of Poland, and it is known today for some of Europe’s finest Gothic and Renaissance buildings, alongside over 2.3 million artworks in its historic buildings and monuments. Your tour leader leads a walking tour of the city before dinner at a local restaurant.
Included
- Guided walking tour of Krakow’s Old Town, Kazimierz and the Old Synagogue
- Travel
- Prague → Krakow by coach
- Overnight
- Krakow
- Hotel
- TRIBE Krakow Old Town
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 5
Auschwitz – Krakow
Meals included: BreakfastThe morning visit is to Auschwitz concentration camp, where a guided tour sets out the atrocities committed there and the camp’s significance during WWII. In the afternoon, the optional excursion heads to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, descending underground along a 2km route of tunnels and sculptures carved from the salt rock.
Included
- Guided tour of the Auschwitz memorial site
Optional extras
- The Wieliczka Salt Mine · AED 250 per person
- Overnight
- Krakow
- Hotel
- TRIBE Krakow Old Town
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 6
Banska Bystrica – Budapest
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
On the way to Budapest, the tour stops in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia, a town whose buildings date back to the late Middle Ages. Once in Budapest, the Hungarian capital, a driving tour takes in a city shaped by Baroque, Neoclassical and Art Nouveau architecture. Dinner tonight is a chance to try local Hungarian cuisine.
Included
- Comfort stop in Banska Bystrica with your tour leader
- Driving tour of Budapest, taking in the Parliament building and St Stephen’s Basilica
- Dinner of traditional Hungarian dishes at a local restaurant
- Travel
- Krakow → Budapest by coach, stopping in Banska Bystrica
- Overnight
- Budapest
- Hotel
- ibis Styles Budapest Center
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 7
Budapest
Meals included: BreakfastThe day in Budapest is free. The optional Budapest+ excursion visits St Stephen’s Basilica with a local food tasting included, or there is the option of the city’s thermal baths instead. In the evening, an optional cruise on the Danube takes in the city’s lights from the water.
Optional extras
- Budapest+ · AED 340 per person
- Danube Dinner Cruise · AED 320 per person
- Budapest Baths · AED 235 per person
- Overnight
- Budapest
- Hotel
- ibis Styles Budapest Center
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 8
Bratislava – Vienna
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerLeaving Budapest, the route heads for Austria’s capital, with a stop in Bratislava first for an orientation tour, taking in Bratislava Castle, which overlooks the city. In Vienna, a driving tour comes first, and the evening’s dinner takes place in a Viennese wine cellar, with an optional classical concert at the Schönbrunn Palace Orangery afterwards.
Included
- Orientation tour of Bratislava, with views of Bratislava Castle
- Walking and driving tour of Vienna with a local guide
- Dinner in a historic Viennese wine cellar
Optional extras
- Festive Vienna Classical Music Concert · AED 385 per person
- Travel
- Budapest → Vienna by coach, stopping in Bratislava
- Overnight
- Vienna
- Hotel
- B&B HOTEL Wien-St. Marx
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 9
Graz – Ljubljana (New Year's Eve)
Meals included: Breakfast
The route heads for Ljubljana, stopping in Graz along the way. On arrival in Ljubljana, a walking tour covers this compact European city. In the evening, the city welcomes the New Year with celebrations held in public squares, ending with a fireworks display from the hill above the castle as the clock strikes midnight.
Included
- Orientation tour of Graz
- Guided walking tour of Ljubljana’s old town with a local guide
- New Year’s Eve in Ljubljana, with fireworks from the castle hill at midnight
- Travel
- Vienna → Ljubljana by coach, stopping in Graz
- Overnight
- Ljubljana
- Hotel
- B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 10
Lake Bled – Salzburg – Munich
Meals included: Breakfast
The morning visit is to Lake Bled, where you can wander around or try the Bled Cream Cake. The tour then continues to Salzburg, a city of striking architecture, a cliff-top fortress and cliffs in the distance. Returning to Munich, the evening is left free, and you might arrange a farewell dinner with the group.
Included
- Stop at Lake Bled
- Travel
- Ljubljana → Munich by coach, stopping at Lake Bled and in Salzburg
- Overnight
- Munich
- Hotel
- Mercure Munich Neuperlach Sued
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 11
End of tour in Munich
Meals included: BreakfastThis Christmas and New Year tour concludes in Munich after breakfast, marking the end of this Eastern-region itinerary and of the festive days spent together on the road.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
FromWed 23 Dec 2026ToSat 2 Jan 2027
Available
AED 8,392
Single room supplement +AED 2,479 single
What’s included
Included
- 10 nights hotel accommodation in twin rooms with private bathrooms. The majority of our accommodations are of a 3- and 4-star standard, offering excellent value, comfort and convenience
- Single travellers have the option to pay a single supplement to ensure a private room (subject to availability)
- 10 Breakfasts, 5 Dinners
- Modern air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and toilet onboard
- Any public transport used as part of the tour (excludes free days)
- Fully-guided tour
Not included
- Flights: Arrange your own flights for the start and end of the tour
- Travel insurance: Purchase a suitable policy that meets your needs
Optional extras
Excursions and upgrades you can add to the tour. Prices are per person.
Christmas in Munich
A local guide walks you through Munich’s festive old town to a Christmas market, with traditional Bavarian market food and German Christmas treats to taste along the way. €60. Book it before the tour: add it to your booking notes.
AED 255 per person
Prague+
A local guide takes you around Prague Castle and the Mala Strana neighbourhood, then a cruise on the Vltava River with a buffet lunch and a drink included. €65, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 280 per person
Traditional Czech Folk Music & Dance Evening
A three-course Czech dinner with unlimited drinks, followed by a folk show of traditional Czech music and dancing. €60, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 255 per person
The Wieliczka Salt Mine
A local guide takes you down into the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO site with over 300 kilometres of tunnels and chambers carved from salt rock. There are more than 700 steps down, with a lift back up, so wear comfortable shoes. €58, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 250 per person
Budapest+
A local guide walks you through Budapest’s sights on both sides of the river: the Central Market Hall, St Stephen’s Basilica, Fisherman’s Bastion and the Shoes on the Danube memorial, ending with lunch at a local restaurant. €80, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 340 per person
Danube Dinner Cruise
An evening cruise along the Danube past the Parliament building, Buda Castle Hill and the Chain Bridge, with a welcome drink and a buffet of Hungarian dishes, vegetarian options included. €75, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 320 per person
Budapest Baths
Skip-the-line entry to the Széchenyi thermal baths in Budapest’s City Park, with time to soak in the mineral-rich pools. Bring your swimsuit. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 235 per person
Festive Vienna Classical Music Concert
A Mozart and Strauss concert in the Schönbrunn Palace Orangery, with time at the interval to walk through the Orangery Gardens. €90, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 385 per person
To add an extra, mention it in your booking notes, and we confirm it with your seats before you pay. Some are booked with your tour leader on the day instead: their description says so.
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Good to know
Practical details to read before you travel.
Passport & visas
Every country on this tour, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Austria, is in the Schengen area, so one Schengen visa covers the whole trip.
UAE passport holders don’t need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, but will need the EU’s new ETIAS travel authorisation once it starts: we can tell you where it stands when you book. Most other nationalities living in the UAE need a Schengen visa. Appointments in Dubai fill up quickly before Christmas, so apply well ahead: you can apply up to six months before you travel.
Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area, have been issued within the last ten years and have two blank pages, and your UAE residence visa must be valid for at least three months after you return. Our visa team handles Schengen applications: ask us when you book.
Flights and timings
Flights to and from Munich aren’t included.
Day 1 starts at your hotel in Munich, where you check in from 10:00. The tour runs entirely by coach, so there are no internal flights or trains to plan around. It ends in Munich after breakfast on day 11, at the same hotel, by around 10:00.
Our team can book your flights from Dubai to match.
Meals and dietary needs
Ten breakfasts and five dinners are included, among them a Christmas Eve dinner in Prague and dinner in a Viennese wine cellar.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
This tour crosses several currencies: the euro in Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia and Austria, the Czech koruna in the Czech Republic, and the Polish złoty in Poland. Cards are widely accepted, and a card without foreign transaction fees is the easiest way to pay across most of the route.
Optional experiences booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
This is a December departure, so expect cold winter weather across Central Europe, with a real chance of snow, especially in the Alps and the mountains around Graz and Ljubljana.
Pack warm layers, a proper coat, gloves and a hat, plus comfortable, waterproof shoes for walking tours and Christmas markets on cobbled, sometimes icy streets. Modest clothing, shoulders and knees covered, is worth having for visits to churches such as St Stephen’s Basilica.
Christmas and New Year on tour
This departure runs over the festive season: Christmas Eve dinner is included on day 2 in Prague, Christmas Day itself is spent exploring Prague, and New Year’s Eve is celebrated in Ljubljana, where the city’s public squares fill with celebrations before fireworks from the castle hill at midnight.
Some shops, restaurants and attractions may close or run shorter hours on 25 December and 1 January: your tour leader will help you plan around any closures.
Plan your trip
Our Dubai team arranges what goes around the tour, so it is booked in one place.
Visas
One Schengen visa covers the Schengen countries on this route. Our visa team in Dubai applies for UAE residents once the tour is booked.
Flights
Flights are not included. We can book them with the tour: Dubai to Munich and back. Tick “Flights” when you book and we quote them with your confirmation.
Pay in instalments
Split the cost with Tabby or Tamara, or over 3 to 12 months on a UAE bank credit card for bookings from AED 1,000.
Book this tour
Book online in a few minutes. Your seats are held as soon as you book, and you pay once we have confirmed them.
- Choose your date, travellers and roomsPrices are per person, and the total updates as you choose.
- Name each traveller as in their passportYour seats are held and your booking reference is emailed straight away.
- Pay by secure link once confirmedOur Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails your payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
Questions before you book? Our support team is on WhatsApp +971 58 582 4488.
Questions about this tour
What will my days actually look like?
Full days, zero filler. Most mornings start with breakfast before heading out to the main sights with your Tour Leader or a local guide. Afternoons often include free time to wander, find a coffee or join an Optional Experience. Expect a good amount of walking too. On some days, you could spend two to three hours on your feet. Comfortable shoes are your best friend.
Who will I be travelling with?
People from all over the world. Different ages, different backgrounds, same instinct to see more. Groups have on average between 35-45 travellers. By day three, you’ll already know everyone's name.
What are the hotels like?
Clean, comfortable and well located. Mostly 3 to 4 star, with private en-suite bathrooms. They're chosen so you can sleep well and feel ready for the next day. They're not the centrepiece. The destinations are. But they're never an afterthought.
How active is this tour?
All travellers carry their own bags, including up hotel stairs where needed. Walking tours can last up to three hours, and some sites involve a fair number of steps. Read through the itinerary to decide if the pace is right for you.
How do Optional Experiences work?
Optional Experiences happen during your tour's free-time slots, and your Tour Leader will tell you about what's on offer during the tour. Most can be booked on the day, but some are pre-sold and must be purchased before your tour begins, so it's worth checking the tour page beforehand to see what's available and get in touch with our team to book anything in advance.
Will I have time to explore on my own?
Yes. Free time is built into the itinerary, giving you space to wander and explore at your own pace. Your Tour Leader can point you towards the places worth your time, so you're never left completely to figure it out yourself.
What support do I have while I'm on tour?
Your Tour Leader is there to look after you during your tour. They know the places most people walk straight past, they'll have a restaurant recommendation ready before you've asked, and they'll sort anything that comes up along the way. All transport and accommodation are arranged for you.
You'll also have a 24-hour emergency contact number and the Holidayys team in Dubai.
How do I book Eastern Highlights Christmas & New Year?
Press Book now, choose a date and your rooms, and enter each traveller as their passport shows. We hold your seats and email your booking reference straight away. Our Dubai team confirms the seats with the tour operator, then emails you a secure payment link. Nothing is charged when you book.
When do I pay?
Once the tour operator confirms your seats. We email you a secure payment link for the total in AED, and your booking is complete when it is paid. To pay in instalments, say so in your booking notes.
Is the price per person?
Yes. Prices are per person sharing a double or twin room. Travelling alone? A single room costs the supplement shown next to each date.
Are flights included?
Only when the tour lists them under what is included. We can book flights from the UAE to the start city and home from the end city with your tour.
Do I need a visa?
That depends on your passport and the countries on the route. Our visa team arranges Schengen and other visas for UAE residents, and can apply for yours once the tour is booked.
Payment plans
Pay over time, at 0% interest
Every booking qualifies, from holidays and tours to visas. Pay later with a credit card instalment plan or a buy-now-pay-later account; some banks charge a one-time processing fee.
- Credit card plans from AED 1,000
- Tabby and Tamara, no minimum
- Terms from 3 to 12 months
Find your bank’s plan
Credit cards, from AED 1,000
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