Tours → Bavaria
9 Days / 8 Nights · Private · Max 30 Guests
Mulled wine, medieval squares, and the kind of Christmas magic you thought only existed in stories.
Bavarian Christmas Markets
From $4,699 per person
★★★★★ 4.9 · 272 Reviews on TripAdvisor
At a Glance
A 9-day all-inclusive private tour combining King Ludwig II's castles with the fascinating Christmas markets of Germany and Austria — based at Landhaus Koessel in Hopfen am See with markets in Munich, Innsbruck, Fussen, and Kempten.
This tour combines visits to Bavaria's famous royal castles with the magic of authentic Christmas markets across Germany and Austria. Based at Landhaus Koessel in Hopfen am See — a typical Bavarian country hotel where you're a friend, not a tourist — every evening you return to the same comfortable base.
The castle program mirrors our signature Bavarian tour: Neuschwanstein, Germany's most famous castle, with the walk across Marienbrucke above the Poellat Gorge for dramatic winter photographs. Hohenschwangau, where Germany's fairy-tale king spent much of his childhood. The Wieskirche — one of the few buildings in Bavaria on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Linderhof, Ludwig's beautiful hiding castle deep in the forest where he spent more time than in his other castles. And Herrenchiemsee, Ludwig's largest castle, built on a Lake Chiemsee island after a visit to Versailles.
The Christmas markets add a festive dimension: Munich's Marienplatz hosts one of the best markets in Germany, with the Glockenspiel carillon and dinner at the Hofbrauhaus where the atmosphere is closest to what you'd expect at Octoberfest. Innsbruck's famous Christmas Market beneath the little Golden Roof and the Austrian Alps. Fussen's intimate market in narrow streets and cozy cafes with hot Gluhwein and homemade apple strudel. And Kempten's gemuetliche market beside its baroque Residenz.
Oberammergau — the pretty village known for its Passion Play tradition since 1633 and its painted houses — offers the best Christmas shopping in Bavaria.
Highlights
✦Neuschwanstein Castle in winter — Germany's most famous castle
✦Hohenschwangau Castle — Ludwig's childhood home
✦Schloss Linderhof with gardens and Grotto
✦Herrenchiemsee island palace via boat and horse carriage
✦Wieskirche UNESCO World Heritage Rococo masterpiece
✦Munich Marienplatz Christmas Market and Hofbrauhaus dinner
✦Innsbruck Christmas Market beneath the Golden Roof
✦Swarovski Kristallwelten in Wattens
✦Hofburg Palace tour in Innsbruck
✦Fussen Christmas Market with Gluhwein and apple strudel
✦Kempten Christmas Market and baroque Residenz
✦Oberammergau Christmas shopping and painted houses
Your Journey
Bavarian Christmas markets aren't shopping trips — they're sensory immersions into centuries of tradition. The scent of roasted almonds mingles with pine and cinnamon, handcrafted ornaments glow under twinkling lights, and every town square becomes a stage for the season. This tour takes you to the markets most visitors never find.
Day 1 · Departure
Day 2
Neuschwanstein & Hohenschwangau
Nuremberg's Christkindlesmarkt is legendary for good reason. The Lebkuchen, the handmade Zwetschgenmännla figures, the medieval Handwerkerhof — your guide knows the stalls worth seeking out and the history behind every tradition.
Schwangau
Landhaus Koessel
Breakfast, Dinner
✦Neuschwanstein Castle Tour
✦Hohenschwangau Castle Tour
Day 3
Wieskirche, Linderhof & Oberammergau
Today ventures into the Bavarian Alps, where smaller markets in towns like Mittenwald and Oberammergau offer an intimacy the big cities can't match. Woodcarvers demonstrate their craft, and the mountain backdrop is pure Christmas card.
Wieskirche / Linderhof / Oberammergau
Landhaus Koessel
Breakfast, Dinner
✦Wieskirche UNESCO Visit
✦Linderhof Palace Tour
✦Oberammergau Christmas Shopping
Day 4
Herrenchiemsee & Bad Tölz
Salzburg's Advent market on Domplatz and Residenzplatz transforms Mozart's city into a winter wonderland. The fortress above, illuminated against the evening sky, adds a fairy-tale quality that's hard to photograph but impossible to forget.
Chiemsee / Bad Tölz
Landhaus Koessel
Breakfast, Dinner
~2h each way
✦Herrenchiemsee Island Palace
✦Bad Tölz Spa Town Walk
Day 5
Munich, Nymphenburg & Christmas Market
Rothenburg ob der Tauber is medieval Germany at its most photogenic — and in December, the half-timbered houses draped in lights make even the most seasoned traveler pause. The Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas museum is a highlight.
Munich
Landhaus Koessel
Breakfast, Dinner
~1.5h each way
✦Nymphenburg Palace Tour
✦Marienplatz Christmas Market
✦Hofbräuhaus Dinner
Day 6
Innsbruck & Christmas Market
Regensburg's market spreads through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, with the illuminated cathedral as its centerpiece. The atmosphere here is more local, less tourist — exactly the kind of discovery that makes a guided tour invaluable.
Innsbruck, Austria
Landhaus Koessel
Breakfast
~1.5h each way
✦Swarovski Kristallwelten
✦Innsbruck Walking Tour & Hofburg
✦Innsbruck Christmas Market
Day 7
Füssen & Kempten Christmas Markets
A day for the hidden gems — Augsburg's Engelesspiel, where angels appear in the Rathaus windows each evening, or Landsberg am Lech's intimate market along the river. Your guide tailors the day to what moves you most.
Füssen / Kempten
Landhaus Koessel
Breakfast, Dinner
✦Füssen Old Town Guided Walk
✦Glühwein & Apfelstrudel Break
✦Kempten Christmas Market
Day 8 · Return
The final day returns to Munich for any last market visits and a farewell that smells of Glühwein and tastes of Stollen. The Christmas spirit you're taking home isn't something you bought — it's something you lived.
Munich
Breakfast
Hopfen am See → Munich Airport: ~2h
✦Airport Transfer
What's Included
✓Door-to-door transportation throughout the tour
✓7 breakfast buffets at Landhaus Koessel
✓Welcoming Bavarian dinner and additional dinners with beverages
✓Dinner at Hofbrauhaus in Munich
✓7 nights accommodation at Landhaus Koessel, Hopfen am See
✓All entrance fees, taxes, and local guide fees
✓Skip-the-line access at major castle attractions
✓Inside visits at all castles (not drive-by tours)
✓Tour director services throughout
✓Airport transfers from/to Munich Airport
✓Money-back satisfaction guarantee
✓Free cancellation up to 24h before departure
✗Air fare
✗Personal expenses
✗Lunches
✗Gratuities for driver and local guides
✗Dinner on own in Innsbruck
Love what you see? Tell us your preferred dates — we'll tailor every detail to your group.
Plan Your Journey →Our Promise
Money-Back Guarantee
Not satisfied? Full refund. We've been doing this since 2004 — it hasn't happened yet.
Flexible Booking
Change dates up to 30 days before departure. Life happens — we get it.
No Hidden Costs
The price you see includes everything. Entrance fees, transport, guide — no surprise extras.
Secure your dates with just $500 deposit per person.
Your Guide
Alessandro & Team
Born in Füssen at the foot of Neuschwanstein, Alessandro grew up with castle stories as bedtime tales. A historian by training and a storyteller by nature, he and his carefully selected team of local guides have accompanied thousands of guests through Central Europe's most remarkable places.
Per Person Pricing
2 Guests
$4,699
4 Guests
$3,999
6 Guests
$3,599
All-inclusive — accommodation, private transport, guides & entrance fees
Your Next Step
Make This the Trip You'll Talk About for Years
Tell us your preferred dates and group size. We'll craft a personalized itinerary — no payment required until you're completely satisfied.
Plan Your JourneyNo payment required. We'll design a draft itinerary — free of charge, no obligation.
Peak season (June–September) books out 4–6 months ahead.
Common Questions
Door-to-door transportation throughout the tour, 7 breakfast buffets at Landhaus Koessel, Welcoming Bavarian dinner and additional dinners with beverages, Dinner at Hofbrauhaus in Munich, 7 nights accommodation at Landhaus Koessel, Hopfen am See, All entrance fees, taxes, and local guide fees, Skip-the-line access at major castle attractions, Inside visits at all castles (not drive-by tours), Tour director services throughout, Airport transfers from/to Munich Airport, Money-back satisfaction guarantee.
The Bavarian Christmas Markets is a 7-day private tour. Including arrival and departure days, plan for 9 days total.
Starting from $4699 per person (based on 2 travelers). Group discounts available for 4+ and 6+ travelers. Secure your dates with a $500 deposit per person.
Further Reading
