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Christmastime From Nuremberg To Basel With Prague
Operated by Avalon Waterways
Tripcode: WNMQ
Overview
Destination:
Czech Republic,
Switzerland,
Start:Prague, Switzerland
Finish:Basel, Czech Republic
Finish:Basel, Czech Republic
Duration:12 days
Type:Group tour (max 90)
Travel Period
December 2025 - December 2026
Celebrate this magical time of year with a Christmastime river cruise holiday starting in the Czech Republic, on through the beautiful views of the heart of Germany, and ending in Switzerland. Prague, the beautiful Czech capital, is set on the banks of the Vltava River and a Local Guide will be proud to show you the famous sights. The Christmas market offers rows of brightly decorated wooden huts selling ornaments and Czech handicrafts. Explore to your heart’s content and try a traditional hot sausage from one of the stalls.
Board your ship in Nuremberg, Germany, host to one of the oldest Christmas markets. Get into the holiday spirit as you stroll through the illuminated Old Town. 200 stalls sell traditional German Christmas wares and seasonal delicacies. In delightful Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find nativity scenes built by local citizens throughout the town. Learn about holiday traditions as you cruise to Würzburg, and here walk through the halls of the ornate Bishop’s Residenz—home to the largest ceiling fresco ever painted. Then stroll through the Christmas markets while you sip Glühwein (hot mulled wine). Learn how to bake a traditional cookie before arriving at one of the charming small towns with half-timbered houses that are dotted along the Main River. In the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum.
Continue your cruise to Speyer and visit Heidelberg Castle, which towers magnificently over the city, before cruising to Strasbourg, France. This time of year, the historic charm of the city is mixed with the festive aromas, sights, and sounds—creating a truly magical atmosphere! Visit the gothic cathedral with its ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Continue your Christmastime river cruise to Breisach, Germany—gateway to the famous Black Forest, an area of unrivalled natural beauty, before ending in Basel Switzerland.
Traveller Notes
Christmas markets generally operate from late November until the third week of December.
Board your ship in Nuremberg, Germany, host to one of the oldest Christmas markets. Get into the holiday spirit as you stroll through the illuminated Old Town. 200 stalls sell traditional German Christmas wares and seasonal delicacies. In delightful Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find nativity scenes built by local citizens throughout the town. Learn about holiday traditions as you cruise to Würzburg, and here walk through the halls of the ornate Bishop’s Residenz—home to the largest ceiling fresco ever painted. Then stroll through the Christmas markets while you sip Glühwein (hot mulled wine). Learn how to bake a traditional cookie before arriving at one of the charming small towns with half-timbered houses that are dotted along the Main River. In the charming wine town of Rüdesheim, visit the unique Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum.
Continue your cruise to Speyer and visit Heidelberg Castle, which towers magnificently over the city, before cruising to Strasbourg, France. This time of year, the historic charm of the city is mixed with the festive aromas, sights, and sounds—creating a truly magical atmosphere! Visit the gothic cathedral with its ancient murals and fascinating astronomical clock. Continue your Christmastime river cruise to Breisach, Germany—gateway to the famous Black Forest, an area of unrivalled natural beauty, before ending in Basel Switzerland.
Traveller Notes
Christmas markets generally operate from late November until the third week of December.
Standard inclusions
- 11 breakfasts.
- 7 lunches.
- 9 dinners.
Itinerary
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Collapse all
Collapse allDay 1 - PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Welcome to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. This fascinating city straddles the Vltava River with domes, cupolas, spires, and pinnacles highlighting its skyline. Enjoy free time to explore Prague and its surrounding countryside. Sample delicious plum dumplings and traditional Pilsner lager.
Day 2 - PRAGUE
Gothic Cathedrals, Grand Castles, and Czech Christmas Spirits
CLASSIC Take a Guided City Walk to visit Hradcany Castle Grounds; see St. Vitus Cathedral, and Old Town's Astronomical Clock.
Spend the afternoon on your own to browse the exquisite Christmas Markets of Prague. Stroll through the brightly coloured wooden stalls for ornaments and handmade toys and handicrafts. (B)
Day 3 - PRAGUE-NUREMBERG, GERMANY (EMBARKATION)
Enjoy a free morning before your transfer to Nuremberg, where your Suite Ship is Ready for Boarding.
OVERNIGHT DOCKING IN NUREMBERG (B,D)
Day 4 - NUREMBERG
Legends and History Lessons
CLASSIC Choose a Guided Tour of Nuremberg's medieval architecture, gilded fountain, Gothic cathedral, and Kaiserburg Castle, OR:
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour of the historic Nuremberg Rally Grounds-used by the Third Reich.
Spend free time browsing the spruce stalls of the Christmas Markets of Nuremberg. Sample Favourite Bavarian fare-bratwurst, gingerbread, mulled blueberry wine, and countless other Christkindlmarkt culinary delights.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BAMBERG (B,L,D)
Day 5 - BAMBERG
Christmas Customs and Cradle Scenes
CLASSIC Join a Guided Sightseeing Tour of Bamberg-medieval home of Germany's Roman Empire dynasties. Stroll through dozens of Bamberg's nativity scenes-from miniature to life-size.
Take free time to enjoy the quaint Christmas markets, and warm up with traditional German dumplings, sausage, and a glass of hearty Bavarian ale.
DISCOVERY Enjoy an onboard Christmas Traditions Lecture while sailing.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO WURZBURG (B,L,D)
Day 6 - WURZBURG
Old Saint Nicholas, and Nutcrackers Sweet
CLASSIC Take a Guided Sightseeing Tour of the "Pearl of the Romantic Road" with its Old Main Bridge, towering fortress, and baroque Bishop's Residence.
You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to the beautiful Bavarian town of Rothenburg. Visit the Kathe Wohlfahrt German Christmas museum-the world's most extensive collection of traditional German Christmas decorations.
Spend free time enjoying the festive, warm glow of Wurzburg's Christmas markets.
Later, enjoy live entertainment on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO MAIN RIVER VILLAGE (B,L,D)
Day 7 - MAIN RIVER VILLAGE
Hidden Gifts and Holiday Delights
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour of a picturesque village along the Main River.
DISCOVERY Join a Cookie-Baking Demonstration on board your ship while sailing.
AFTERNOON/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO FRANKFURT (B,L,D)
Day 8 - FRANKFURT. EXCURSION TO RUDESHEIM
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry in Wine Country
DISCOVERY Tour the incredible Mechanical Music Museum for a one-of-a-kind instrumental experience in Rudesheim, enjoy a local special treat.
Don't miss the tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of sparkling winter wonderlands in the city.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO SPEYER (B,D)
Day 9 - HEIDELBERG EXCURSION. SPEYER
Winter Wonders and a Wine Barrel Fit for a King
CLASSIC Take a Guided Tour that includes the magnificent Heidelberg Castle at Christmastime to see the ruins of the magnificent renaissance treasure towering above the city, and its famed Great Vat-the world's largest wine barrel.
After the tour, visit the local German Christmas Markets in Heidelberg.
Alternatively, enjoy a relaxing sailing morning and explore the sights and sounds, tantalizing treats, and seasonal handiwork of Speyer Christmas markets.
This evening, enjoy live entertainment on board.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT TO STRASBOURG (B,L,D)
Day 10 - STRASBOURG, FRANCE
A Gothic Cathedral, Heaven's Time, and Joyeux Noel
CLASSIC Come along for City Sightseeing, including the city's gothic, stained-glass cathedral with its celebrated ancient murals and astronomical clock, as well as the magical La Petite France District.
You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to beautiful Alsace, for an afternoon in a French wine-country village.
Savor the warmth and glow of Christmas tradition by spending your free time this afternoon wandering the French winter markets of Strasbourg. Take in the lights, music, and the pleasures of the season.
EVENING CRUISE TO BREISACH (B,L,D)
Day 11 - BREISACH, GERMANY. EXCURSION TO BLACK FOREST
History, Artistry, and the Beautiful Black Forest
CLASSIC Join a Guided Tour to explore Freiburg's medieval city centre, sheltered by the Black Forest amid vineyards and gardens of the Upper Rhine Valley, OR:
DISCOVERY Visit to a local winery in Breisach, where you will learn about German winemaking and enjoy a wine tasting, OR:
DISCOVERY Join a Guided Tour to the magical Black Forest to experience local traditions and the vibrant Christmas mood.
You may choose to join a Guided Optional Excursion to visit the charming village of Colmar, with its half-timbered medieval and early renaissance buildings, and enjoy the warmth and glow of the Christmas season.
EVENING/OVERNIGHT CRUISE TO BASEL (B,L,D)
Day 12 - BASEL, SWITZERLAND (DISEMBARKATION)
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning.
Flights should not leave Zurich airport before 10 am or Basel airport before 8 am. (B)
Departure dates
Select your preferred date or enquire
Operator
Avalon Waterways
Designed from the bottom up for comfort, space, and room to dream, each Avalon Suite Ship consists of 80% Panorama Suites—offering the widest view in river cruising. Larger suites result in fewer passengers, so you’ll never feel crowded anywhere on board. From reclining on the open-air Sky Deck, relaxing in the spacious Panorama Lounge, or feeling the wind over the bough In the Observation Lounge, there’s never a shortage of comfortable spots to stretch out, day dream, or just watch the world go by. From our inception, Avalon Waterways has cast a light on the world’s most fascinating places and people – inviting wayfarers and wanderers like you to bask in their glory, intrigue and wonder. Along the way, we’ve helped travellers uncover ancient traditions while meeting the locals dedicated to preserving them; to meander historic hallways while giving back to the societies that safeguard them; and to put down the guidebooks and pick up a greater understanding of the world and its people.
Important Information
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Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
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11 nights
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