Where to go · MULLED WINE & FESTIVE TASTINGS
Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle, Stollen and whatever the local bakery has been making since the 1800s. The 15 below cover the tastings worth booking, priced by how much is actually poured.
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.
At Rustic Vibes Experience, Gary, Jen, or another local bilingual server guides your private group through five pitorro tastings in about 20 minutes. Try flavors such as coconut, mango, coffee, and passion fruit while learning about Puerto Rican rum culture. The shop is a five-minute walk from the cruise piers, with burgers available to buy.
“Very relaxed and fun tour! Gary and Jen were very personable and gave us great attention! Great rum!”
Join a guide such as Tom, Henry, Carlos, or Jack for a 90-minute Christmas walk from Covent Garden to Trafalgar Square. Expect festive lights, market stalls, holiday stories, and one complimentary glass of hot spiced mulled wine. The group is capped at 10 people, making it easier to hear and ask questions.
“Henry was very friendly and a great guide. Great stories and history telling of many Christmas traditions including Santa Claus along the route we walked.”
Cruise the Oder River from Dunikowski Boulevard for 45 minutes aboard a Christmas-decorated ship. You get a heated lower deck, holiday music, one hot mulled wine or another hot drink, onboard restrooms, and a QR-code audioguide. The ship passes illuminated bridges and historic riverside views, but seating and onboard warmth can vary.
“No audio guide - no information whatsoever . Ship was supposed to be heated but was freezing. Mulled wine was pretty undrinkable. Not good value - don’t bother.”
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”
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!”
Follow a French, English, or Spanish-speaking guide through Strasbourg’s illuminated squares and seven Christmas markets. You’ll hear local holiday traditions, see artisan stalls, and have time to spot bretzels, spaetzle, crepes, and gifts. The two-hour walk ends with mulled wine or hot juice. Groups are limited to 10 people.
“Our guide was a excellent he made the experience 🥰”
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.”
Join City Cruises York for a one-hour Christmas cruise on the River Ouse. Choose mulled wine, tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, and enjoy a mince pie while the captain points out York’s landmarks. The heated saloon, toilet, bar, and wheelchair access make this a practical choice on a cold or wet winter day.
“For the price point you really can't grumble! Our skipper was very enthusiastic and informative, with great knowledge of the city. The weather wasn't great 🫤 but actually it was a perfect activity for a rainy day and the kids enjoyed it too! Overall highly recommend and great value for money 👍🏼”
Join Walsh Tours for a 90-minute Christmas walk through Winchester, from a 12th-century gate and King Arthur-linked castle remains to the cathedral. A comedian guide, including Bryan on some departures, brings the city to life with stories, jokes, Christmas lights, and mulled wine. The private format suits couples, families, and small groups.
“Rushed - only 4 of us in the group - guide talked more about himself and connections with Ireland. Would have enjoyed more of an overview of Winchester. Mentioned leaving tips - unprofessional I’m afraid.”
At Vins Zeyssolff in Gertwiller, a guide such as Marie or Dorian leads you through a family winery dating to 1850. Taste several Alsace wines, watch a 180-degree film projected onto century-old oak barrels, and finish with kougelhopf, a 37.5cl bottle of mulled wine, and cookies.
“Very unique wine tour and we got to try 7 of their wines. Lots of information provided about the area. Would definitely recommend this. Note that you do need to arrange your own transportation to the winery. Train station is about a 10min walk.”
Walk through Stockholm’s Christmas sights with a guide such as Loredana, Ana, or Frankie. In about two hours, you’ll hear about Swedish holiday customs, sample traditional sweets, enjoy mulled wine and gingerbread, and finish near Kungsträdgården’s ice rink. The small group has a maximum of 10 people.
“This was a fantastic experience. One of the best Viator tours I’ve ever been on. It was fun, informative, and all around a great time.”
Spend 90 minutes on Berlin’s Spree, passing the Reichstag, Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, Central Station, and Nikolai Quarter. The boat has central heating, blankets for the outside deck, and seating in the salon, wheelhouse, upper deck, or VIP lounge. Mulled wine and Christmas stollen may be purchased onboard, but are not included in the standard ticket.
“De kunde ha berättat vad vi åkte förbi, vad vi såg. Pyntat båten med ljusslingor och ev spelat lite julmusik”
Meet your French or English-speaking guide at the Tourist Information Center for a 90-minute walk through Quebec City’s German Christmas Market. You’ll learn how the event began in 2008, hear about German Christmas market traditions dating to the 13th century, and taste glühwein, pretzels, and stollen.
“Sarah was a knowledgeable guide and offered info on some of the different stalls as well as some other interesting facts and history of the market. I highly recommend this tour.”
Walk from the Hungarian State Opera to Budapest’s Christmas markets with a local English-speaking guide. Visit Szent István Square, Vörösmarty Square, and the Gresham Palace area, with chimney cake and mulled wine included. Guides such as Zoltán, Ferenc, and Odea have led warm, flexible tours focused on food, customs, and city stories.
“The Christmas Markets and the Opera house were very, very impressive, and the guide was well informed.”
Pick a market, a sleigh, a stage or a river.
