The 15 Germany Christmas Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Cologne: Rhine River Winter Cruise with Festive Music

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

Spend 90 minutes on Cologne’s Rhine aboard a warm panorama boat with live festive music, table service, and views of Cologne Cathedral, Groß St. Martin, and the three crane houses at Rheinau Harbour. Drinks and snacks cost extra. The open upper deck is best for photos, while the lower deck offers warmth and music.

“This was a great way to spend an afternoon! The live singer was very good and the atmosphere was brilliant! Highly recommend the cruise at Christmas time, it definitely gets you in the spirit! Also, for people afraid of boats or water, it was very smooth and hardly felt you were moving. There was a great selection of food and drink too. 5 stars!”

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2.Dresden: Advent Tour with Stollen Tasting and Mulled Wine

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

Join a German-speaking guide for a 90-minute Advent walk through Dresden’s Old Town and three Christmas markets. See the Frauenkirche, Fürstenzug, Royal Palace, Semper Opera, Zwinger, and Striezelmarkt. Along the way, learn about Saxon Christmas customs and sample 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

Start at Radius Tours at 2pm for a three-hour walk through Munich’s Christmas markets. With a guide such as Thomas, Leon, Elizabeth, or Emmet, you’ll sample Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle, lebkuchen, almonds, and chestnuts while visiting markets at Stachus, Marienplatz, the Residenz, and Odeonsplatz.

“Leon was energetic and friendly full of knowledge. Truly enjoyed this experience and will recommend to all friends visiting Munich”

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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 best Christmas markets with an English-speaking guide. Walk from Marienplatz to the Residenz, sample glühwein and festive snacks, then take the subway to Wintertollwood at Theresienwiese. Guides such as Victoria, Katrina, Hugo, and Lockie tailor the pace and drink choices to the group.

“This tour exceeded my expectations. Katrina took us to the best places to get drinks and food. She is a blast btw. For sure this a great way to experience the Christmas markets! Would absolutely do it again.”

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5.Freiburg: Christmas Drag Show Walk with Betty BBQ

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

Betty BBQ leads a 60 to 70 minute Christmas drag walk through Freiburg, mixing local history, holiday jokes, city gossip, and her trademark Schallala. This German-language, adults-only show suits groups who want comedy more than a formal sightseeing tour. Expect outdoor walking, no included drinks, and weather-dependent comfort.

“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 six Christmas markets. Sip mulled wine or a non-alcoholic drink under a roof, listen to optional seasonal music, and shape the tour around sightseeing, city history, or personal recommendations.

“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

Walk Munich’s Christmas markets with guides such as Patrick, Kevin, Iain, Liam, or Daniel, tasting seasonal sausages, pastries, pizza, desserts, beer, and several kinds of Glühwein. The three-hour route links Marienplatz, Residenz, Wittelsbacherplatz, and Viktualienmarkt with stories about Munich’s buildings, legends, and wartime past.

“We were running late (our fault) and the tourguide, Liam, waited for us and made every effort to contact us. Once we got there it was great. The markets we visited were beautiful, and the food and drink were great. Liam was an awesome guide and we had a great time.”

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8.Munich: Christmas Markets Food & Drink Tour

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

Spend three hours walking Munich’s Old Town Christmas markets with an English-speaking guide, sampling mulled wine, gingerbread, roasted almonds, and other seasonal treats. Visit Marienplatz, the Residenz Christmas village, the Crib Market, and the Medieval Market. Guide Leon is one named guide. Bring a refundable €15 cup deposit.

“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 outdoor walk through the old town and Christmas market. A costumed German-speaking guide may appear as merchant’s wife Veckinchusen, a merchant, or Dr. Grabow from Buddenbrooks. Expect Advent customs, local legends, cobblestones, and a finish near the market.

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 44 reviews · from $22

Set out from Pier 12 in Rüdesheim for a two-hour Christmas cruise on a heated Rhine boat. See castles and landmarks, hear seasonal tales and Rhineland myths, and enjoy a Saturday story program or Sunday visit from St. Nicholas. Food and drinks are available for purchase on board.

“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 old town with a local English-speaking guide such as Doris or Laura Park. See Schlossplatz, Theaterplatz, the Zwinger, Fürstenzug, Frauenkirche, and several Christmas markets before finishing at Striezelmarkt, one of Germany’s oldest. Expect outdoor sightseeing, cobbles, cold weather, and no included food, drinks, or entry tickets.

“Everything was great, Laura Park was a lovely guide. She took so much interest in all the group participants and tried to personalize the aspects to each one's origin or interest.”

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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 such as Claudia, Justina, or Martina. Taste sausages, Lebkugel, hot wine, and other seasonal treats while visiting the main, children’s, international, and partner-city markets. You’ll finish near St. Sebald Church and the Town Hall with a better feel for what to eat and buy.

“The guide was very knowledgeable! It was a great tour!”

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13.From Prague: 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 or Roman, then explore the old town and three Christmas markets, including the medieval market. You get a guided history walk, food tasting, free time for shopping, and hotel pickup in a small group of up to seven.

“Hana was an amazing guide, the tour was very interesting, educational, thoughtful and fun. highly recommend. Anat”

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14.Koblenz: Christmas Boat Tour with Mulled Wine

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 35 reviews · from $23

Spend one hour on a festive Koblenz boat cruise with Christmas music and one glass of mulled wine or punch. From the open-air deck, you’ll see Deutsches Eck, Ehrenbreitstein Fortress, and Stolzenfels Castle. Food and extra drinks cost more, and the upper deck is reached by stairs. The boat returns to its starting point.

“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

Walk from Brandenburg Gate to Alexanderplatz with an English-speaking guide, visiting Christmas markets at Bebelplatz, Humboldt Forum, Nikolaiviertel, and beyond. Expect Berlin history, German holiday customs, free time for food and shopping, and a three-hour route through the city center. Some departures have included Spandau or Charlottenburg.

“This tour was fantastic! Alex was an amazing guide and took us to three markets, two of which I would not have known about without the help of a Berliner! The balance between free time and help from our guide was perfect.”

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