Melissa shares her enthralling experience of their group tour through Europe's Christmas markets, from the bustling streets of Dubai to the enchanting towns along the Danube River. Join her as she recounts the magical journey filled with holiday cheer and unforgettable moments…

 

First Stop - Dubai

Melissa and her group are en route for Europe, starting with a short stop-over in Dubai....

Emirates were excellent and looked after us all very well, providing a smooth transfer to our hotel where our rooms were ready for us on arrival at 7am. We stayed at the Vida Downtown which is an excellent location with lovely rooms and the most delicious breakfast any of us has had in a long time!

After breakfast, we explored the gold and spice souks, taking in the culture, smells and sounds of the Middle East. In the afternoon, we headed to Dubai Mall where we checked out the Burj Khalifeh which is the 2nd tallest building in the world! We watched the dancing fountains (which perform every hour through the day) before being picked up from our hotel at 3:30pm to head into the desert for our Dune Safari and dinner.

Arabian Adventures were our hosts for the evening, and we had the best driver who took great care of us and made our trip very memorable. We enjoyed a lovely local dinner followed by a belly dancing performance and several other talented performers, before heading home for a good night's sleep!

It was a whirlwind 36hrs in this fabulous desert oasis, and now we are on our way to Brussels...

 

 

Brussels & Belgium Chocolates

Brussels is just a short flight from Dubai (compared to our flight from Christchurch to Dubai!), and the city centre a mere 30min drive from the airport.

On our first full day here, we decided to jump in the hop-on-hop-off bus service to explore this charming city. After several loops, we hopped off in the old town where we found a gorgeous coffee house and enjoyed hot chocolates all around. Suitably refuelled, we then wandered around the Christmas markets which were more food orientated than the German markets.

Later that day we had a surprise booked for our group - a Belgium chocolate making class! Working in pairs we were shown the art of making praline Belgium chocolates which was great fun. We all came away with a box of 30 homemade chocolates - all tasted and approved as delicious! This really is a MUST DO when visiting Belgium.

 

 

Brussels Private Coach & Guide Day

On our last full day in Brussels we set off first thing for our private coach and guide for the day.

First stop was Ghent, a delightful small town approx 1hr drive from Brussels. We did a walking tour and saw all the charming old buildings including the castle in the centre of town. Our guide was fantastic, sharing lots of stories about the area and local beer houses - we enjoyed the latter personally too.

Next stop was Bruges and our new favourite small town. This quaint, beautiful town is surrounded by canals weaving their way around the cobbled streets. We did a 30min canal ride which was a great way to experience the town from the water.

The Christmas lights are a sight to behold at this time of year! Together with the Christmas markets which are all in full swing now, creating the most beautiful and magical feeling.

If you're ever in Belgium then make sure you add Bruges to your list! We even recommend you spend a few nights here getting lost in and exploring the cobbled streets of this gorgeous medieval town.

 

 

Welcome to Budapest!

Budapest is a short 90min flight from Brussels. Our hotel is located on the Danube with the most spectacular views of the Chain Bridge from our rooms.

We had 2 days to explore this wonderful city. Starting with a guided morning tour visiting the markets, Heroes Square and the bronze shoes. We then crossed the river to the Buda side and visited Fisherman's Bastion which has panoramic views across to the Pest side and the magnificent Parliament building. That evening we had a reservation at one of the oldest and most famous Strudel Houses in Hungary, and it lived up to its reputation.

The next day we headed to the famous New York Cafe Coffee House - the queues were long, but with some pre-organisation and a little luck, we were shown to our table with no wait time. We sampled the coffee and cakes, and admired the beautiful architecture and opulent surrounds. They say the ceiling is similar to that of the Palace of Versailles. It really is an incredible sight to behold!

 

 

Viking River Cruise - Hungary to Vienna

After checking in around lunchtime we were able to access our staterooms and enjoy a light lunch. The Viking ships are gorgeous and very Nordic in style with a contemporary look and feel.

The first night on the ship we used this as our hotel and after a delicious dinner of Hungarian Goulash we heading out for a self-guided walking tour - Budapest by night is truly breathtaking!

On day 2, we left Hungary behind heading along the Danube to Vienna. Austria’s capital, lies in the country’s east on the Danube River. Its artistic and intellectual legacy was shaped by residents including Mozart, Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. The city is also known for its Imperial Palaces including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer residence. The Museums Quarter is interesting blend of historic and contemporary buildings.

 

 

Along the Danube River to Regensburg!

A Bavarian city in South East Germany, Regensburg is known for its well-preserved medieval core. The 12th-century Stone Bridge, a 310m-long icon with 16 arches, crosses the river to the old town.

Our group awoke in the morning to the most magical sight of so much snow! Everything was covered in snow, creating the most stunning, picture-postcard, wintery scene. We were able enjoy the scenery from our staterooms or relaxing in the lounge or for those brave enough, we could head up to the sundeck where we could watch as we passed castles, vineyards and all the small villages covered in white.

It is feeling like a true white Christmas.

 

 

 

From Regensburg to Nuremberg to Bamburg

Nuremberg is famous for its well-preserved historical landmarks, like the imperial castle and the walled Old Town. It is a city steeped in history, it was chosen as the location of the trials for being a focal point of Nazi propaganda rallies leading up to WWII.

Our group visited all the historic sites and then had some time to explore the very large and oldest, most famous Christmas market in the world, located in centre of the old town. We arrived on Saturday so there were literally tens of thousands of people making it almost impossible to explore. But it was well worth the visit still.

Next stop was Bamburg, the most Instagramable city in Germany. In 1993 the town of Bamberg was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for its cultural influence. The quaint and charming wooden houses and buildings add to the authentic beauty charm of this medieval town.

 

 

Cruising the Romantic Rhine Valley

As we continue our wonderful adventure, we leave the Main River behind. Feeling very grateful to be on a Viking River Cruise as melting snow was causing the rivers to reach flood levels so our captain decided to try to get ahead of the rising water levels and get off the Main River as quickly as possible!

We later heard that all the ships behind us could not continue their cruise so we were very lucky to be in safe waters and still able to enjoy our holiday! That night we celebrated! The ship crew organised a night of Christmas cheer and festivities for us all.

Our group all looked very festive as we embraced the theme and had a wonderful night of Christmas trivia. It was the Kiwis vs the Americans. So some good competitive banter.

The next morning, we were cruising through the middle Rhine Valley where we got to enjoy the most beautiful section of the Rhine between Koblenz and Bingen.

This section of the Rhine Valley is often called the Rhine Gorge or the Romantic Rhine Valley, and is known as one of Europe's most picturesque landscapes - and it's not hard to see why!

Even though the day was misty, it didn't stop us from enjoying the views from the sun deck and listening to the fascinating history of the area from our on board tour guide.

 

 

Cruising into the Netherlands

As we continued along the Rhine River we visited our last 2 stops before cruising across the border into the Netherlands.

Our first stop was the town of Koblenz which is the economic centre for the region and a popular tourist destination thanks to its historic charm, scenic riverside location, and cultural attractions. It was also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2022.

Next was Cologne, a 2,000-year-old city spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, and the region's cultural hub. A landmark of high Gothic architecture set amid a reconstructed old town, the twin-spired Cologne Cathedral is also known for its gilded medieval reliquary and sweeping river views.

Both these towns have stunning Christmas markets. Cologne, in particular, has a themed market featuring authentic German-made decorations, and local delicacies including some of the yummiest Gluwein along the Rhine! This year's offering had many new and local drinks to sample.

Even after many years of experiencing the ambience of the European Christmas Markets, they still take our breath away. They are truly magical, from the twinkling lights, and the sights and smells that only Europe offers at this time of year.

 

 

Last Stop: Amsterdam

All great things must come to an end as we cruise along towards Amsterdam. Reflecting on the last 24 days, it's hard to believe we have been to 7 countries!

We have walked hundreds of kilometres, eaten our fair share of German Bratwurst sausages, drunk the warm Gluwein and made lifelong friends. So many incredible memories throughout our adventure together. And we are all so grateful to have experienced some of the best Christmas markets that Europe has to offer.

 

 

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take... But the moments that take our breath away." -Maya Angelou.

We are looking forward to our next European Christmas Markets tour. Look out 2025! This one has a twist...