The 15 Best Christmas Tours in Germany

1.Rhine River Winter Cruise with Festive Music

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 676 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $28Our pick

Spend 90 minutes on a warm panorama boat cruising past Cologne Cathedral, Groß St. Martin, and the crane houses of Rheinau Harbour. Live festive music creates a cheerful, relaxed mood, while hot wine punch, hot chocolate, coffee, snacks, and other drinks are available to buy. Open-air upper-deck views are best for photos, but the indoor seating keeps you warm.

“Very pleasant gentle ride on the Rhine with a singer and table service for drinks. Lovely way to spend a morning away from the hustle and bustle of the markets.”

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2.Advent Tour with Stollen Tasting and Mulled Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 140 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $18

Meet beneath the QF Passage at Dresden Information for a 90-minute German-language walk through Neumarkt, the Procession of Princes, Royal Palace, Semper Opera, Zwinger, and three Christmas markets. You’ll hear about Saxon customs, see the world’s largest Christmas pyramid, and taste Dresden stollen with mulled wine.

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3.Christmas Markets Food Tour in Munich

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 110 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $66

Spend three hours walking Munich’s Old Town with an English-speaking guide such as Thomas, Leon, Elizabeth, or Maria. Visit markets at Stachus, Marienplatz, the Residenz, and Odeonsplatz while tasting Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle, lebkuchen, almonds, and chestnuts. Expect cold weather, busy streets, and a small group of up to 15 people.

“Visted several markets and found some that you may not see otherwise. There are different types of markets which make it interesting. We were given a little time to explore the markets on our own.”

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

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

Spend three to four hours visiting Munich’s Marienplatz, Residenz, Wittelsbacherplatz, and Theresienwiese markets with an English-speaking guide. Sample glühwein, festive snacks, and unusual drinks such as mulled beer, browse stalls, and use the subway between central Munich and the Oktoberfest grounds. Groups are capped at 15 people.

“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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5.Freiburg: Christmas Drag Show Walk with Betty BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 55 reviews · 1 hour · from $44

Join Schwarzwald drag queen Betty BBQ for a 60 to 70 minute Christmas walk through Freiburg. Expect festive lights, city anecdotes, playful adult humor, and her trademark Schallala rather than a standard history tour. The German-language show suits adults who enjoy comedy and can manage a walking route in cold weather.

“Schöner Spaziergang durch das winterlich beleuchtete Freiburg mit Betty BBQ. Er/Sie konnte uns interessante Anekdoten über Freiburg erzählen und hat Stimmung in die Gruppe gebracht”

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6.Private Christmas Tour in Münster including Glühwein

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

Meet your English- or German-speaking guide by Münster City Hall for a one-hour private rickshaw ride through the city’s six Christmas markets. Stay dry under the roof and rain cover, keep warm with a blanket, and enjoy mulled wine or a non-alcoholic drink while your guide adjusts the tour to your interests.

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

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7.Munich Christmas Market Food Tour with Tastings

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

Spend about three hours walking Munich’s Christmas markets with a small group of up to 12 people. Guides such as Patrick, Kevin, Iain, Liam, and Daniel combine city history with traditional tastings, alcoholic drinks, mulled wine, sausages, pastries, and sweets. You’ll visit Marienplatz, Residenz, Wittelsbacherplatz, and Viktualienmarkt, with food choices changing slightly by day.

“Kevin was an amazing tour guide. I had a wonderful time trying new German Christmas foods and of course the wine!”

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8.Christmas Markets Food & Drink Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 50 reviews · 3 hours · from $64

Follow an English-speaking guide through Munich’s Old Town, from Marienplatz to the Rezidenz Christmas village, Crib Market, and Medieval Market. You’ll sample mulled wine, Lebkuchen, and sugar-roasted almonds while learning about German Advent customs. Guide Leon has earned special praise, and public transport tickets are included.

“Learning anout the Christmas markets at the beginning of our trip was great, so we knew where to go during the rest of our stay.”

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9.Historic Christmas tour of Lübeck

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 47 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $17Best value

Meet under Lübeck’s Holsten Gate for a 90-minute German-language costume tour through the old town and Christmas market. Your guide may appear as merchant’s wife Veckinchusen, a merchant, or Dr. Grabow from Buddenbrooks. Expect stories, legends, Advent customs, cobblestones, and a small group of up to 20.

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10.From Rüdesheim: 2-hour Christmas Boat Tour on the Rhine

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 44 reviews · from $22

Board at Pier 12 in Rüdesheim for a two-hour Christmas cruise with heated seating, Rhine castles, seasonal tales, and a festive program. Saturday sailings feature Christmas stories and medieval traditions. Sunday sailings bring St. Nicholas, balloon art, songs, and stories. Food and drinks cost extra, and the boat returns to the pier.

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

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 41 reviews · from $25

Walk Dresden’s historic center with a local English-speaking guide such as Doris or Laura. See the Zwinger, Royal Palace courtyards, Fürstenzug, Frauenkirche, and several Christmas markets before ending at Striezelmarkt. Expect outdoor sightseeing, cobblestones, cold weather, and useful tips on Glühwein, local food, and wine.

“Wonderful guide! He made sure to answer all questions and provided wonderful insights regarding Dresden history as well as Christmas Markets!”

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12.Nuremberg: Christmas City Culinary Tour

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

Spend two hours walking Nuremberg’s Christmas markets with an English or German-speaking guide. Taste sausages, Lebkugel, hot wine, and other seasonal treats while learning about the Christ Child tradition. The route links the main market, Children’s Christmas Market, International Christmas Market, and partner-city stalls near St. Sebald Church.

“Extremely well prepared and executed. Our guide was very well prepared and extremely knowledgeable of the city and the Christmas Market.”

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13.Dresden Christmas markets and old town tour

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

Travel from Prague to Dresden with an English-speaking guide such as Hana, Roman, or Martin. Walk Dresden’s old town, visit three Christmas markets including a medieval market, taste seasonal food, and enjoy free time for shopping. The small group is limited to seven, with hotel pickup and a private car or minivan.

“This was an exceptional trip. Hana our guide was super lovely, very informative and she had the time for you. Excellent”

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14.Koblenz: Christmas Boat Tour with Mulled Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 35 reviews · from $23

You’ll spend one hour on a round-trip boat cruise from Koblenz, with Christmas music and one glass of mulled wine included. From the open-air deck, you’ll see Deutsches Eck, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, the Moselle mouth, and Stolzenfels Castle. German and English assistance is available, and food and extra drinks can be bought 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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15.Berlin Christmas Markets Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · from $25

Join an English-speaking guide such as Sarah, Kathinka, Alex, or Finn for a three-hour evening walk through Berlin’s Christmas markets. See Brandenburg Gate, Bebelplatz, Humboldt Forum, Nikolaiviertel, and Alexanderplatz while learning about Berlin and German holiday customs. Food, drinks, and transport costs are your responsibility.

“Excellent trip. Takes you to Christmas markets you would not normally see. Our tour guide Rachel was excellent.”

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