14 days · 11 countries
Europe Jewel Christmas & New Year
From AED 11,697per person, twin share
Celebrate Christmas in Prague, enjoy New Year's Eve in the Swiss Alps & tick off multiple European destinations this festive season!
- Duration
- 14 Days / 13 Nights
- Route
- Starts and ends in Amsterdam
- Countries
- Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France and Belgium
- Activity level
- Moderate (3 of 5)
- A fast-moving coach tour across eleven countries with a hotel change most nights, guided walking tours of up to three hours and some sites with plenty of steps. You carry your own bags, including up hotel stairs where there is no lift
- Accommodation
- 13 nights in 3- and 4-star hotels throughout
- Meals
- 13 breakfasts and 7 dinners
- Group
- Group tour, up to 53
- Guide
- English-speaking tour leader throughout, plus local guides in several cities
- Transport
- Air-conditioned coach
- Best time to go
- Runs in December over Christmas and New Year: cold across central Europe, with a good chance of snow in the Swiss Alps and Prague
Tour overview
This 14-day Europe Jewel Christmas & New Year tour is full of festive highlights. Soak up the twinkling lights of Amsterdam, Paris, and Venice. Cruise the Rhine River and spend Christmas in magical Prague. Explore Bratislava, Budapest, Vienna and Ljubljana. Discover Tuscany and celebrate New Year's Eve in Switzerland!
Highlights
- Enjoy a cheese and clogs demonstration
- Marvel at the stunning scenery in Zaanse Schans
- Visit the lakeside town of Volendam
- Experience a dinner cruise on the Amsterdam canals
- Indulge in a wine tasting in the Rhine Valley
- Cruise along the Rhine River
- Visit Nuremberg, a historic Bavarian city
- Taste authentic Czech cuisine
Show all 23 highlightsShow fewer highlights
- See the best of Prague on a guided walking tour
- Visit Bratislava, capital of Slovakia
- Embark on a walking tour of Vienna, Austria's capital
- Enjoy dinner in a Viennese wine cellar
- See Budapest’s top sights on a driving tour
- Visit Lake Balaton, a beautiful Hungarian lake
- Stop in Maribor in Slovenia
- Discover the magic of Ljubljana with a local guide
- Explore Venice, Italy’s floating city
- Locally guided walking tour of Florence
- Enjoy a delicious local dinner in Florence
- See the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Enjoy a scenic mountain drive to Switzerland
- See the sights on a driving tour of Paris
- Visit Ghent, a medieval Belgian city
Route and hotels
Where the tour goes and where you sleep, night by night.
Amsterdam
1 night · Day 1
Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol
Rhine Valley
1 night · Day 2
Mercure Hotel Frankfurt Eschborn Helfmann Park.
Nuremberg
Day 3 · on the way
Prague
2 nights · Days 3–4
Hotel Duo
Bratislava
Day 5 · on the way
Vienna
1 night · Day 5
B&B HOTEL Wien-St. Marx
Budapest
1 night · Day 6
ibis Styles Budapest Center
Lake Balaton
Day 7 · on the way
Show all 19 stopsShow fewer stops
Maribor
Day 7 · on the way
Ljubljana
1 night · Day 7
B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park
Postojna
Day 8 · on the way
Venice
1 night · Day 8
Hotel Venezia
Florence
Day 9 · on the way
Tuscany South
1 night · Day 9
Antica Tabaccaia Resort
Pisa
Day 10 · on the way
Swiss Alps
2 nights · Days 10–11
Alpenrose Hotel and Gardens
Paris
2 nights · Days 12–13
B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème
Ghent
Day 14 · on the way
Amsterdam
Day 14 · end
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Start of tour in Amsterdam
Meals included: Dinner
This festive tour begins in Amsterdam, with your tour leader on hand before the group heads out to the Dutch countryside, to find out how cheese and clogs are made. The windmill village of Zaanse Schans comes next, followed by free time for lunch in Volendam. The group then returns to Amsterdam, where a canal cruise features a two-course welcome dinner onboard.
Included
- Cheese and clog-making demonstration in the Dutch countryside
- Free time for lunch in Volendam
- Visit to the windmills of Zaanse Schans
- Dinner cruise on the Amsterdam canals
- Overnight
- Amsterdam
- Hotel
- Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Schiphol
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2
Amsterdam – Rhine Valley
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerThe border crossing into Germany leads to the Rhine Valley, where a wine tasting at Boppard comes before a riverboat cruise to St Goar, with scenic views along the riverbank. After disembarking, there is a chance to watch how the area’s steins and cuckoo clocks are crafted, before the group gathers for dinner at the hotel.
Included
- Wine tasting with a local merchant in Boppard
- Cruise on the Rhine to St Goar, past its castles
- Travel
- Amsterdam → Rhine Valley by coach
- Overnight
- Rhine Valley
- Hotel
- Mercure Hotel Frankfurt Eschborn Helfmann Park.
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 3
Nuremberg – Prague (Christmas Eve)
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerThe route to Prague today passes through Nuremberg, a city rebuilt after WW2 using some of its original stone. Prague itself is known for its mix of Baroque, Gothic, Art Nouveau and Cubist architecture, along with quirky bars, cobbled lanes and courtyards. In the evening, a Christmas Eve dinner is shared with the group.
Included
- Orientation tour of Nuremberg, from Kaiserburg to Hauptmarkt
- Christmas Eve dinner of Czech cuisine
- Travel
- Rhine Valley → Nuremberg → Prague by coach
- Overnight
- Prague
- Hotel
- Hotel Duo
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 4
Prague (Christmas Day)
Meals included: Breakfast
A locally guided walking tour on Christmas Day covers Prague’s top sights, among them Old Town Square and Charles Bridge, and the rest of the day is free. The optional Prague+ excursion tours Prague Castle, explores Mala Strana and cruises the Vltava River, with a buffet lunch included. In the evening, an optional Czech meal comes with folk music and dancing.
Included
- Walking tour of Prague with a local guide on Christmas Day, including Old Town Square and Charles Bridge
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 5
Prague – Bratislava – Vienna
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
Vienna is today’s destination, with a stop in Bratislava, Slovakia’s capital, on the way. On arrival, a guided walking tour covers Vienna’s UNESCO-listed city centre, taking in sights such as the Hofburg Palace and St. Stephen’s Cathedral along the way. This evening’s dinner is in a historical Viennese wine cellar, and afterwards there is the option of an orchestra performance in the Schönbrunn Palace Orangery.
Included
- Orientation tour of Bratislava, including its castle
- Walking tour of Vienna with a local guide, including the Hofburg and St Stephen’s Cathedral
- Dinner in a historic Viennese wine cellar
Optional extras
- Festive Vienna Classical Music Concert · AED 385 per person
- Travel
- Prague → Bratislava → Vienna by coach
- Overnight
- Vienna
- Hotel
- B&B HOTEL Wien-St. Marx
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 6
Vienna – Budapest
Meals included: Breakfast
Vienna is left behind for Budapest, the striking Hungarian capital. A locally guided driving tour gives an overview of the historic city, starting on the Buda side of the river, with the Houses of Parliament among the sights. Free time fills the remainder of the day, and in the evening there is the optional Danube dinner cruise.
Included
- Guided driving tour of Budapest, including the Parliament building
Optional extras
- Danube Dinner Cruise · AED 320 per person
- Travel
- Vienna → Budapest by coach
- Overnight
- Budapest
- Hotel
- ibis Styles Budapest Center
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 7
Lake Balaton – Maribor – Ljubljana
Meals included: BreakfastBudapest gives way to Lake Balaton, the largest lake in central Europe. A stop in Maribor, Slovenia, follows, with an orientation tour and free time, before the route continues to the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana. A local guide leads a tour on foot through this fairytale city, and afterwards the optional Taste of Ljubljana excursion introduces local wine and cuisine.
Included
- Stop at Lake Balaton, central Europe’s largest lake
- Free time for lunch in Maribor
- Walking tour of Ljubljana with a local guide
Optional extras
- Taste of Ljubljana · AED 255 per person
- Travel
- Budapest → Lake Balaton → Maribor → Ljubljana by coach
- Overnight
- Ljubljana
- Hotel
- B&B Hotel Ljubljana Park
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 8
Ljubljana – Postojna – Venice
Meals included: Breakfast
Slovenia is left behind, with an optional stop at Postojna Cave first, then on into Venice, Italy, a floating city known for its canals, gondolas and works of art. The evening is free to explore, or you can join the optional Evening in Venice excursion for a ride by gondola and water taxi along the canals, a Venetian way to see the city.
Included
- Free time to explore Venice on arrival
Optional extras
- Postojna Cave · AED 150 per person
- An Evening in Venice · AED 535 per person
- Travel
- Ljubljana → Postojna → Venice by coach
- Overnight
- Venice
- Hotel
- Hotel Venezia
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 9
Florence – Tuscany
Meals included: BreakfastDinner
The road to Florence passes rolling hills, vineyards and countryside views. On arrival, a panoramic view of the city comes from Piazzale Michelangelo, followed by a guided walk through this Renaissance city with a local guide. Free time afterwards comes before dinner of Tuscan food at a local restaurant, with tonight’s hotel set in the Tuscan countryside.
Included
- Views over Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo
- Guided tour of Florence with a local guide, including Ponte Vecchio and the Duomo
- Dinner at a local restaurant in Florence
- Travel
- Venice → Florence → Tuscany by coach
- Overnight
- Tuscany South
- Hotel
- Antica Tabaccaia Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 10
Pisa – Swiss Alps (New Year's Eve)
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerThe Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the world’s best known buildings, is the first stop on the way to the Swiss Alps. From there, the border crossing into Switzerland brings a scenic mountain drive to the Swiss Alpine town, home for two nights. New Year’s Eve is celebrated here, surrounded by the Swiss Alps.
Included
- Photo stop at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Scenic drive through the Swiss mountains
- New Year’s Eve in the Swiss Alps
- Travel
- Tuscany → Pisa → Swiss Alps by coach
- Overnight
- Swiss Alps
- Hotel
- Alpenrose Hotel and Gardens
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 11
Swiss Alps: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastNew Year’s Day is a chance to make the most of the Alps. Today’s optional excursion travels to Jungfraujoch, home to the highest train station in Europe, with snow-capped peaks and winter snow all around. In the evening, the optional Alpine Dinner Experience is a way to warm up.
Included
- New Year’s Day free in the Swiss Alps, with snow on the ground year-round
Optional extras
- Jungfraujoch: Journey to the Top of Europe · AED 960 per person
- Alpine Dinner Experience · AED 215 per person
- Overnight
- Swiss Alps
- Hotel
- Alpenrose Hotel and Gardens
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 12
Swiss Alps – Paris
Meals included: BreakfastDinnerThe route through the French countryside reaches Paris this afternoon, with a driving tour of the City of Lights on the itinerary, taking in the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe among its landmarks. Afterwards, the group sits down to a dinner of French cuisine at a restaurant in the city.
Included
- Driving tour of Paris past the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe
- Dinner at a local restaurant
- Travel
- Swiss Alps → Paris by coach
- Overnight
- Paris
- Hotel
- B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème
- Meals
- Breakfast and dinner
Day 13
Paris: Free Day
Meals included: BreakfastParis is yours to explore at your own pace today. The optional Paris+ excursion includes visits to a macaron shop and a perfumery, a lunch cruise on the Seine River, and a trip to the lively Latin Quarter. Evening brings a visit to the Montmartre neighbourhood, home to the Moulin Rouge, on an optional tour, or a late-night Parisian cabaret instead.
Included
- Free day in Paris to explore at your own pace
Optional extras
- Paris+ · AED 230 per person
- An Evening in Montmartre · AED 235 per person
- Parisian Cabaret with drinks · AED 400 per person
- Overnight
- Paris
- Hotel
- B&B HOTEL Paris Nord 18ème
- Meals
- Breakfast
Day 14
Paris – Ghent – Amsterdam
Meals included: BreakfastThis festive two-week tour reaches its last stop in Ghent, Belgium, where there is time for lunch and some free time to look around the medieval city centre. From there, the route continues to Amsterdam, where the tour concludes, with contact details to swap among new travel friends before saying goodbye.
Included
- Free time in Ghent to see the medieval market squares
- Travel
- Paris → Ghent → Amsterdam by coach
- Meals
- Breakfast
Dates & prices
Prices per person, sharing a double or twin room. A single room costs the supplement shown.
FromTue 22 Dec 2026ToMon 4 Jan 2027
Available
AED 11,697
Single room supplement +AED 3,618 single
What’s included
Included
- 13 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)
- 13 Breakfasts, 7 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.
Prague+
A guided tour of Prague Castle and the Mala Strana neighbourhood below it, with a cruise along the Vltava River and an all-you-can-eat Czech buffet lunch on board, plus a drink. €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, alongside a folk show of traditional music and dancing, with vegetarian options available. €60, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 255 per person
Festive Vienna Classical Music Concert
A festive Mozart and Strauss concert in the Schönbrunn Palace Orangery, where Mozart himself once performed, with the Orangery Gardens open to explore during the interval. €90, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 385 per person
Danube Dinner Cruise
A night cruise along the Danube with a local guide, taking in the Parliament building, Buda Castle Hill and the Chain Bridge, with a welcome drink and a buffet of Hungarian dishes. €75, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 320 per person
Taste of Ljubljana
A sommelier-led tasting of four Slovenian wines in a wine bar in Ljubljana’s Old Town, followed by a three-course dinner of local dishes at a historic restaurant. €60, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 255 per person
Postojna Cave
A guided tour of Postojna Cave by underground train, taking in its stalagmites and the world’s oldest underground post office, with a stop at the cave’s vivarium. €35, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 150 per person
An Evening in Venice
A water taxi from Piazzale Roma to San Marco and a gondola ride through Venice’s canals, with pizza or pasta for dinner at a local restaurant. €125, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 535 per person
Jungfraujoch: Journey to the Top of Europe
A cable car and train journey to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe, with snow-covered views, the Aletsch Glacier and an ice palace to explore. €225, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 960 per person
Alpine Dinner Experience
A cheese fondue starter, a hearty Swiss main course and a sweet finish, in the traditional style of the Alps. €50, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 215 per person
Paris+
A day out with your tour leader: a macaron tasting at a well-known patisserie, a visit to a perfume museum, lunch, a cruise on the Seine and free time in the Latin Quarter. €53, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 230 per person
An Evening in Montmartre
An evening in Montmartre, past the Moulin Rouge and up by funicular to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, followed by a three-course French dinner with vegetarian options available. €55, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 235 per person
Parisian Cabaret with drinks
A cabaret show at one of Paris’s best-known venues, with elaborate costumes, music and dance, and a glass of champagne or a soft drink included. €94, booked with your tour leader on the day.
AED 400 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
This tour stays entirely within the Schengen area, visiting the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, France and Belgium, so one Schengen visa covers the whole trip.
UAE passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180, and 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. The country where you spend the most nights decides where you apply. On this tour four countries tie, so you apply to the Netherlands, where you first enter the Schengen area.
Apply up to six months before you travel. Dubai appointments fill up quickly before Christmas, so start early. Your passport must be valid for at least three months after you leave the Schengen area and have been issued within the last ten years, with two blank pages; 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 Amsterdam aren’t included: our team can book your flights from Dubai to match the tour.
Day 1 starts at your hotel in Amsterdam at 10:00, where your tour leader will meet you; most departures start at one of two hotels in the Airport District, a short train ride from the arrivals terminal. The tour ends in Amsterdam on day 14, after breakfast and a final stop in Ghent.
Meals and dietary needs
The tour includes 13 breakfasts and 7 dinners, with a Christmas Eve dinner in Prague, a dinner in a Viennese wine cellar, and further dinners in Amsterdam, the Rhine Valley, Tuscany, the Swiss Alps and Paris.
Tell us about any dietary needs, halal included, when you book, and we pass them on before the tour.
Money
Euro in the Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, France and Belgium. Czech koruna in the Czech Republic. Hungarian forint in Hungary. Swiss franc in Switzerland. A card without foreign transaction fees is the easiest way to pay in most of these countries.
Optional experiences booked on tour are paid to your tour leader in cash or by card, in the currency shown.
Weather and packing
Running in December, this tour is cold throughout, with a good chance of snow in the Swiss Alps and in Prague, and Jungfraujoch has snow year-round.
Pack warm layers, a waterproof coat, gloves and comfortable, broken-in shoes with a good grip. Several days include walking tours of up to three hours, and some sites, including Postojna Cave and Prague Castle, involve a fair number of steps.
Christmas and New Year on tour
This tour runs over the festive season, with Christmas Eve in Prague, Christmas Day there too, and New Year’s Eve in the Swiss Alps. Expect Christmas markets and lights along the route, and some shops, restaurants and attractions closing or running shorter hours on 25 December and 1 January.
Your tour leader will confirm exact timings for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day once you are on tour.
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 Amsterdam 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 Europe Jewel 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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