Europe Christmas Markets: Budapest to Zagreb

8 Days | Discover the festive markets of Hungary, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia

4 out of 5 based on 2 reviews submitted.
Explorer
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EUR €1,740
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It’s the most wonderful time of year, particularly when its set in some of Central Europe’s prettiest and most historic cities. Get in the Christmas spirit exploring festive markets in cities decorated in full Christmas splendour, browsing local handicrafts from traditional wooden stalls, sampling delicious regional specialties and taking in endless winter scenes along the way. Indulge your senses in intoxicating Budapest, browse Austrian handicrafts hopping between Graz’s 14 charming markets, and be immersed in spectacular winter scenery in Ljubljana and fairy-tale like Lake Bled. Finish up in Zagreb, which transforms into a magical illuminated wonderland for its month-long Advent festival.

Trip overview

Map of Europe Christmas Markets: Budapest To Zagreb including Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia
Start
Budapest, Hungary
Finish
Zagreb, Croatia
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Hungary
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 12
Trip code
WMSC
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • This trip takes you to a variety of Christmas markets across central Europe. Contrast the various traditions, cuisines and of course, mulled wine, in several amazing cities.
  • Hungary’s intoxicating capital becomes even more magical when draped in fairy-lights and dusted with snow at Christmastime. Try delicious local specialties like chimney cakes and potato dumplings at its main market at Vorosmarty Square.
  • Why settle for one Christmas market when you could have 14? Visit Graz’s main market at Hauptplatz Square, then make your way through as many as you wish.
  • Bled’s fairy tale-like scenery – which includes an 11th-century cliff-top castle, a stunning lake and a picturesque island topped with a church – is a dream to explore. See it for yourself.
  • Zagreb transforms into a glorious illuminated winter wonderland during its month-long Advent Festival. Spend two days savouring the sights, taking in acres of fairy-lights, huge Christmas trees, nativity scenes, ice-rinks, mulled wine stalls and igloo-shaped rakija (a potent local drop) bars.

Is this trip right for you?
  • While the Christmas markets we visit are all beautiful, they can get very busy, so please be prepared for crowds. We'll also spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, and as it is winter it would be advisable you bring warm clothing and are adequately prepared for the weather.
  • The primary means of transportation on this trip is by train. Train travel is a fast way to traverse long distances, allowing you to avoid traffic jams and arrive right into the city centre. Trains are comfortable and often decked out with air conditioning, toilets, a snack bar (or vending machine) and power points. Please note that you'll have to carry your own luggage on and off the train, so make sure it doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find this information in the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information.
  • Hotels in Europe often don't have double beds, but rather two single beds that can be pushed together.
  • On this trip you must pack as lightly as possible because you will be expected to carry your own bag and although you won't be required to walk long distances with your luggage (max 30 minutes), we strongly recommend keeping the weight between 15kg / 33lb. Most travellers carry their luggage in a backpack, although an overnight bag with a shoulder strap would suffice if you travel lightly. Smaller bags or backpacks with wheels are convenient although we recommend your bag has carry straps to accommodate the cobbled streets, uneven surfaces, stairs and steps you are likely to encounter while carrying your luggage. You'll also need a day pack/bag to carry water and a camera etc for day trips.

Itinerary

Map of Europe Christmas Markets: Budapest To Zagreb including Austria, Croatia, Hungary and Slovenia

Inclusions

Meals

7 breakfasts, 1 lunch

Transport

Train, Public bus, Taxi

Accommodation

Hotel (7 nights)

Activities
  • Budapest - Christmas Snacks and Mulled Wine Tasting
  • Budapest - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Budapest - Christmas Market
  • Graz - Christmas Market Visit
  • Ljubljana - Christmas Market
  • Bled - Day Trip to Lake Bled
  • Zagreb - Walking Tour of Christmas Markets with Local Guide
  • Zagreb - Cable car to Sljeme

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is bookable on this trip, subject to availability. Please speak to your agent for further information.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4 out of 5 based on 2 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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. · Traveled December 2019
Overall, the trip was okay. It's nice to travel along with a small group of people, especially if you're a solo traveler. However, I felt like that specific tour did not include enough and it would have been easily done without a tour group at more than half the price. Especially since only two hotels (Budapest and Ljubljana) were centrally located. With the price we paid, the other two, in both Graz and Zagreb should have also been centrally located without having to take trams to reach an area where you can actually do or see something. It would have also been appreciated if we had been given the information that the accommodation in Zagreb is more of a Hostel than a Hotel, which was not mentioned on the trip information. It's also a shame that Vienna isn't included (especially since we stop in Vienna on our way to Graz). It would have been nice to have one day in Vienna and a day less in Zagreb. One day in Zagreb was more than enough. I also recommend having more local guides telling us about the cities we visit. We only had one in Zagreb (which was nice). It would have been good to learn more about Ljubljana and Lake Bled, but I'm out of my trip having to watch YouTube videos and do my own online research to learn about these places. The tour leader Duje was nice, friendly and always ready to help. The highlight of the trip is definitely the time spent in Budapest, which is the first city visited on the tour!
Review submitted 26 Dec 2019

Brigitte · Traveled December 2019
This trip was amazing!!! Loved seeing the Christmas markets of Eastern Europe and it was an absolutely unforgettable trip. Beautiful sites, well-organized tour and an amazing, helpful, friendly and kind tour guide named Duje. What more could you ask for? :)
Review submitted 04 Feb 2020
Europe Christmas Markets: Budapest to Zagreb
From
EUR €1,740