Top 15 Christmas Experiences in Germany

1.Original Munich Christmas Market Tour with Festive Wine and Food

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 85 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $162Our pick

Spend 3 to 4 hours with an English-speaking guide visiting Munich’s best-known Christmas markets, from Marienplatz and the Residenz to Theresienwiese. Sample several glühwein styles, festive foods, and seasonal drinks in a small group of up to 15 people, with time to shop.

“Hugo was awesome! He was very pleasant and informative, smiling all throughout the tour. He kept checking on everybody, very accommodating. Glad to have made our first day of our Christmas market trip with him!”

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2.Private Christmas Tour in Münster including Glühwein

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 54 reviews · 1 hour · from $46

Meet your guide beside the rickshaw at Münster City Hall for a one-hour private ride through the city’s six Christmas markets. Enjoy mulled wine or a non-alcoholic drink, festive music if you wish, and a tour shaped around your interests, from city history to personal recommendations.

“Very fun way to drive around town, see some highlights and hear about the history”

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3.Munich Christmas Market Food Tour with Tastings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $181

Spend three hours walking Munich’s Christmas markets with guides such as Patrick, Kevin, Iain, or Daniel. Taste seasonal sausages, pastries, pizza-style snacks, cookies, and several alcoholic drinks while visiting Marienplatz, Residenz, Wittelsbacherplatz, and Viktualienmarkt.

“We had an amazing time on this food tour, 10/10! Daniel was our guide and he was a lot of fun. He was very knowledgeable and added some fun and interesting stories including one about Lola Montez. We visited 5 Christmas markets, tried 3 different kinds of gluhwein and had 3 different snacks at the different markets. Everything was really tasty! We walked through the Munich city center and Daniel included a few historical stops and stories along the way. There were 3 couples, so 6 total plus Daniel - the perfect size group for this experience. I would highly recommend! Thank you Daniel!”

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4.Christmas Tour with Drag Queen Betty BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 46 reviews · from $43

Join Black Forest drag queen Betty BBQ for a one-hour walk through Freiburg’s old town before Christmas. Expect German-language history, quick jokes, stories about mulled wine and the Christmas market, and plenty of Betty’s personal Freiburg humor. Drinks, snacks, and video recording are not included.

“Betty BBQ was a great tour guide and kept us entertained throughout. She was both informative and very funny. The hour flew by, despite the miserable weather!”

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5.2-hour Christmas Boat Tour on the Rhine

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 44 reviews · from $22

Take a two-hour Christmas cruise from Rüdesheim’s Pier 12. You’ll pass Rhine castles and landmarks aboard a heated boat with an onboard restaurant. Saturdays bring Christmas stories and medieval traditions; Sundays add St. Nicholas, balloon art, songs, and festive tales.

“Very nice with the narrator. Service also very good.”

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6.Dresden with a touch of Xmas: English small group tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 41 reviews · from $25

Walk Dresden’s old center with local guides such as Doris and Laura Park, from Schlossplatz and the Zwinger to the Fürstenzug, Neumarkt, and Striezelmarkt. Hear the city’s medieval, Baroque, wartime, and postwar story, then stay on for Christmas treats and Glühwein.

“Doris was amazing! Extremely knowledgable and very humorous. Perfect English. Happy to answer questions. I had walked around looking at the building and googled information about them, but didnt appreciate much of it before this tour!”

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7.Christmas City Culinary Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 40 reviews · 2 hours · from $57

Spend two hours with an English or German speaking guide exploring Nuremberg’s Christmas markets. Taste sausage, Lebkugel, hot wine, and other seasonal treats while learning about the Christ Child tradition. Guides such as Martina, Claudia, Justina, and Justine bring local history and market customs to life.

“Claudia was an incredible guide! We learned the history of the Christmas markets as we enjoyed some warm drinks and signature foods from the markets. Definitely recommend!”

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8.From Prague: Dresden Christmas markets and old town tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 39 reviews · 8 hours · from $150

Travel from Prague by private car or minivan with an English-speaking guide such as Hana or Roman. Walk Dresden’s old town, visit three Christmas markets, taste seasonal food, and enjoy free time for shopping. Small groups of up to seven make the day flexible and personal.

“Hana was a great tour guide and very knowledgeable about Dresden history. We had a small group, so Hana was very accommodating to everyone's needs. If you enjoy Christmas markets, Dresden is a must see! I would highly recommend this tour.”

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9.Christmas Boat Tour with Mulled Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 35 reviews · from $23

Spend one festive hour on the Rhine with Christmas music, one glass of mulled wine or punch, and views of Deutsches Eck, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, and Stolzenfels Castle. Your German- or English-speaking host helps you board at Bridge 10, while snacks and extra drinks are available to buy onboard.

“We celebrated my mother's birthday with a large group of people. Everything was excellent, the atmosphere was pleasant, there were no crowds, and you could sit outside or go inside to warm up. We give it a 10 out of 10. Thank you to the organizers.”

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10.Berlin Christmas Markets Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · from $25

Meet your English-speaking guide at Brandenburg Gate at 3 pm for a three-hour walk through Berlin’s festive center. Visit markets at Bebelplatz, Humboldt Forum, Nikolaiviertel, and Alexanderplatz, with local history, Christmas customs, free time, and optional Glühwein at your own cost.

“Loved this tour - you get to visit many Christmas markets saving the best until last in my view! Get you mitts on and enjoy all kinds of mulled alcohol!”

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11.Cologne Christmas Market and Kölsch Beer Small-Group Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 29 reviews · from $21

Meet at Brauerei zur Malzmühle at 4 p.m. for a three-hour walking tour led by a local guide such as Berni, Kim, Chris, or Michael. Visit Cologne’s main Christmas markets, learn Kölsch customs, and buy beer, mulled wine, snacks, and Feuerzangenbowle as you go.

“Great tour of the Christmas markets. Fun going with a guide who knows where the best spots are. We had a lot of fun!”

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12.Berlin Christmas Markets with Culinary Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $168

Spend 3.5 hours with a small English-speaking group visiting Berlin’s Gendarmenmarkt, Lucia Weihnachtsmarkt, and KulturBrauerei. Taste Glühwein, bratwurst, raclette, Kaiserschmarrn, and other seasonal foods while guides such as Benjamin, Tiago, Simon, and Dimitri share Berlin stories. Public transport tickets are extra.

“Domotros took us on a great Christmas market foodie tour with lots of history lessons! Lots of exploring, walking & also local transportation.”

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13.From Prague: Dresden Xmas Market & Saxon Switzerland Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 27 reviews · 9 hours · from $229

Travel from Prague in a small group of up to eight to Bastei Bridge and Dresden’s Striezelmarkt. You’ll get scenic Elbe canyon views, a guided Dresden walk, à la carte lunch, snacks, WiFi, and one Glühwein. Guides include Tereza, Ondrej, Robert, and Sam.

“Ondrej was very knowledgeable, on-time, & respectable of all our time. He is truly an asset to the tour group company in which he represents!”

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14.Festive Christmas Concert in the Zwinger

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · 1h 30m · from $64

You’ll hear the Dresden Residenz Orchestra, led by Prof. Igor Malinovsky, perform Christmas classics, waltzes, and operetta melodies in the Wallpavillon of Dresden’s Zwinger. Choose your own seat, enjoy the historic setting, and allow extra time to reach the hall by stairs.

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15.Christmas Sightseeing Tour with a ‘Pflaumentoffel’

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 13 reviews · from $23

Spend two hours exploring Dresden at Christmas with a German-speaking Pflaumentoffel guide. Ride a heated double-decker bus, hear stories about Stollen and GDR-era holiday customs, then visit the Striezelmarkt, the castle’s medieval market, and the Anno-1900 market by the Frauenkirche.

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