8 Day Christmas Markets of Switzerland & France - Friday Departure
Tour Operator:
Tour Code:
CH-8DCHMCHFR
Start City:
Basel
End City:
Lugano
Tour Style:
Tour Quality:
First Class
Tour Length:
8 days
Dates & Prices
Please Note: Land Price does not include airfare, departure or arrival transfers, airline taxes and fuel surcharges.
| Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Brochure Land & Air Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, Dec 06, 2024 | Friday, Dec 13, 2024 | Get Quote | |||
| Friday, Dec 13, 2024 | Friday, Dec 20, 2024 | Get Quote |
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Tour Itinerary
DAY 1, Friday - Depart for Switzerland
Depart for Switzerland
DAY 2, Saturday - Arrive in Basel
Arrive in Basel, located along the mighty Rhine River and transfer to your hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure. Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6 PM, followed by a light dinner. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 4 PM
Overnight: Basel
Meals: Dinner
DAY 3, Sunday - Basel City Tour & Christmas Markets, Colmar Christmas Market
Begin your exploration of Basel's historic Old Town, and learn about the city's rich history. View the Münster Cathedral, Basel Historical Museum, City Hall, Münster Pfalz, and Tinguely Fountain. In the afternoon, head to the small town of Colmar, located in the Alsace region of France, with its half-timbered houses, narrow cobblestone lanes and romantic canals. Explore the festive Christmas market with its plethora of wooden stalls selling original ware and festive treats, before returning to Basel
Overnight: Basel
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Monday - Obernai, Strasbourg
This morning, head to the town of Obernai in France. Walk the medieval streets of the Old Town with its half-timbered houses, and view the Town Hall with its colorful façade. Enjoy the ambience before traveling to Strasbourg, the capital of Alsace. Stop at the Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, and continue to La Petite France district, and Place Kleber, a large historic square. Explore the Christmas market, taste the traditional cakes of Alsace called bredeles, and stroll the stalls filled with handcrafted wares. After dinner on own, return to Basel
Overnight: Basel
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5, Tuesday - Zurich Christmas Market, Lucerne
Depart Basel and travel to Zurich, Switzerland's financial center. Take an orientation walk through the Old Town. View Fraumunster Church, St Peter's Church, historic Limmatquai, and famous Bahnhofstrasse. Enjoy free time to stroll through the Christmas market. Sip on mulled wine as you browse stalls with handcrafted gifts. In the afternoon, head to Lucerne. Upon arrival, view the inspiring Lion Monument and check into your hotel. Before dinner, embark on an orientation walk of Lucerne. Visit the lively Christmas markets and view the medieval Chapel Bridge, forming the centerpiece of Lucerne's townscape
Overnight: Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 6, Wednesday - Full Day in Lucerne
Spend the day at leisure, or join the optional Full Day Bern with dinner tour. Travel to Brienz in the Bernese Oberland region. During the orientation walk, view wooden chalets and sculptures dotted throughout the village, that serve as testimonials to the town's woodcarving tradition. Afterward, stop in Interlaken, a chic resort town with views of the snowy Jungfrau peak for lunch at leisure, before continuing to Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Stroll through the Old Town and view the Gothic Cathedral, the Muenster, with its stunning portal and its depiction of the Last Judgment. Witness the hourly parade of painted figures at the Clock Tower (Zytglogge). Explore the lively Christmas market with a variety of stalls full of decorations, holiday gifts and gingerbread. Savor a fondue dinner before returning to Lucerne late evening
Optional: Full Day Bern with dinner (AM)
Overnight: Lucerne
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7, Thursday - Travel to Lugano, Evening Cruise on Lake Lugano
Spend the morning at leisure, or join the optional tour to Mount Pilatus. Ascend the world's steepest cogwheel railway to the summit of Mt. Pilatus at nearly 7000 feet. After admiring the panorama, descend by aerial cableway. In the afternoon, depart for Lugano in southern Switzerland's Italian-speaking Ticino region. On arrival, take an orientation walk of Lugano with its mix of Swiss-Mediterranean cultures. Afterwards, check into your hotel. In the afternoon, enjoy a panoramic cruise on Lake Lugano. Tonight at dinner, bid farewell to your Tour Manager
Optional: Mount Pilatus Tour (AM)
Overnight: Lugano
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 8, Friday - Depart Switzerland
Transfer to the airport in Milan for your departure flight. Milan is approximately an hour and a half drive from Lugano
Meals: Breakfast
Please Note: Land Price does not include airfare, departure or arrival transfers, airline taxes and fuel surcharges.
OR Call Us For a Free Quote 1-800-935-2620
Please Note: Land Price does not include airfare, departure or arrival transfers, airline taxes and fuel surcharges.
Escorted Package Includes
Other departure cities available.
Special Features
†Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates
Not Included:
Optional tours and gratuities.
Additional Information:
Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers.
Christmas markets opening vary, and are seasonal
Your tour will begin with an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 6 PM. We recommend you select flights that arrive no later than 4 PM.
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Novotel Basel City
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Grand Europe Hotel
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Park Hotel Principe
This superior first class hotel is nestled amidst lush gardens, just ten minutes from downtown Lugano.
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