CHRISTMAS IN GERMANY
The 10 best private christmas tours in Germany you can book this season, with what each costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is first for a reason; start there.
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”
Meet your private guide at Munich’s New Town Hall for a two-hour walk through the Marienplatz Christmas Market and nearby festive sites. Learn about market customs dating to the 14th century, decorations, Glühwein, crafts, and seasonal foods. Guides such as Tom, Mona, and Andrea have tailored the walk to group interests.
“Wonderful, entertaining and knowledgeable guide who tailored the tour to meet our needs. Lovely blend of German history, Christmas tales and shopping at a variety of markets. We had a wonderful time”
Join a private English-speaking guide for a two-hour Christmas walk through Frankfurt. Visit Roßmarkt, Hauptwache, Zeil, and Römerberg, hear local holiday traditions, admire decorated stalls, and taste Bethmännchen, Frankfurt’s traditional Christmas almond pastry. Your group can include up to 15 people.
“Fantastic we love the personal guide around the city. Great tour four our family of 4 with 2 teens. Great time to visit.”
Walk Munich’s Christmas markets with a private English-speaking guide for about two hours. Start at Frauenkirche, visit Marienplatz, Residenz, and Wittelsbacherplatz, and enjoy Glühwein with Bavarian snacks. The tour is easy to reach by public transport and suits most participants, but the high per-person price deserves careful thought.
“This tour was billed as a "Magical Christmas" tour and it was anything but that. It was a general tour of old town Munich - which was nice and informative but NOT what we ordered. It was also EXCEPTIONALLY OVERPRICED. We paid over $550 for a Christmas tour and did not get one. Our entire group was very disappointed.”
Spend three hours with a private local host exploring Berlin’s Christmas season. Walk from Gendarmenmarkt past Unter den Linden and famous sights, with possible stops at Kurfürstendamm, Potsdamer Platz, and Alexanderplatz. Your included drink may be Glühwein, Feuerzangenbowle, hot chocolate, or a soft drink. The route can be shaped around your interests.
“Was a private walking tour of one of the Christmas markets in Berlin with a view of other Christmas lights and markets around the city. Was very cold but fortunately Cesar our guide kept us entertained with many stories of Berlin and of his experiences in the city. Mulled wine and entry to the markets was included!”
You’ll walk from Berlin Cathedral to the Reichstag with a private English-speaking guide, stopping at six major sights. Expect grand architecture, Christmas-market scenery at Gendarmenmarkt, and stories about the Brandenburg Gate. The route is best for groups wanting a private overview, but confirm the start time if markets are important to you.
“We booked Berlin Christmas Magic and Holiday Tour for four and had to change our reservation to meet an hour earlier. Which we were advised would be no problem. However the lovely tour guide Natalie was advised we were a party of two and wanted a city tour. We got a city tour. The Christmas markets don’t open until 12:00 noon. Not happy!!”
You’ll walk Dresden’s Old Town with a private English-speaking guide, seeing the Court Church, Semper Opera House, Zwinger Palace, Dresden Castle, Frauenkirche, and the Striezelmarkt. The 90-minute route ends at Neumarkt Christmas Market, with some room to adjust the focus on the spot.
“We visited the palace prior to our tour and unfortunately some time was duplicated. Ms. Helga was very nice but not a strong tour guide. She offered some good info on the Xmas market.”
Meet your private guide at Römerberg and explore Frankfurt’s Christmas Market in about 90 minutes. You’ll see Alte Nikolaikirche, the Town Hall, more than 200 seasonal stalls, a vintage carousel, Christmas foods, and festive lights. Guides such as Heidrun and Eric tailor the walk to your group.
“Our guide Eric was very interesting. He shared lots of great stories and made us feel very welcome. He tailored the tour to our interests”
Spend about 8.5 hours exploring Munich’s Christmas season with a private English-speaking guide and your own group. Visit famous Marienplatz, medieval Wittelsbacherplatz, Haidhausen, the English Garden, Tollwood, or Pink Christmas, with stops chosen flexibly. Hotel pickup, bottled water, and a winter-ready Mercedes or VW minivan are included.
“The Munich Christmas Markets are great! Our favorite was Marienplatz and our guide, Stefan, timed our arrival with the Glockenspiel so we'd be able to see the performance on the tower.”
Join a private English-language walk through Munich’s Christmas markets with a professional guide. You’ll see Karlsplatz, Frauenkirche, Marienplatz, the Residenz, and the medieval market at Maximiliansplatz. The tour includes one gingerbread heart per booking and a mulled-wine recipe, but drinks, food, and shopping cost extra. Guides may include Genny or Paul Riedel.
“The tour was a great overview of the Christmas Markets in Munich. Our guide gave us wonderful cultural background of the holidays and some history of the city. Highly recommend if this is your first time to Munich. There wasn’t a lot of time to shop, but we planned to spend the next day taking our time on our own. Our guide gave us a great map and helpful hints to explore the city.”
Pick a market, a light show or a sleigh.
