SIGNATURE ITINERARY
Czech Republic, Austria & Hungary: Christmas Markets & Thermal Waters
8 NIGHTS · FLEXIBLE DATES · FROM $7,390 pp
20 YEARS OF CRAFTED TRAVEL
6,000+ TRAVELLERS SERVED
PERSONALLY VETTED BY OUR TEAM
92% REPEAT AND REFERRAL CLIENTS
Czech Republic, Austria & Hungary: Christmas Markets & Thermal Waters · 8 nights
From · $7,390 pp
ABOUT THIS JOURNEY
For families and friends who want Christmas done properly: candlelit markets, imperial palaces, riverside illuminations, and a thermal lake in the snow.
This itinerary moves through three countries and four cities, each one distinct, each one glittering in its own way. Prague opens the journey with Gothic spires and chimney cake and a river cruise under the lights. Český Krumlov arrives like something from a fairy tale on the way to Vienna, where Schönbrunn Palace hosts its own Christmas market and the State Opera offers an evening behind the curtain. Budapest follows, all grand boulevards and mulled wine, and the Danube reflecting the Parliament at night. And then, just when you think the trip is over, Hévíz: the world’s largest natural thermal lake, warm enough to swim in year-round, surrounded by snow.
DAYS 1 – 2
Prague
You arrive into one of Europe’s most cinematic Christmas cities, where the Old Town Square is already blazing with lights and the smell of mulled wine and chimney cake reaches you before you’ve even found the market. A welcome lunch sets the tone, followed by a guided walk through the city’s most iconic Christmas markets, tastings of roast ham, honey wine, and seasonal specialties. In the evening you will take to the water with a cruise along the Vltava to view Prague Castle and Charles Bridge lit up for the season with live jazz perfecting the atmosphere. The next day, begin with a lighthearted cultural activity, perhaps sending postcards from Prague or a mulled wine workshop, followed by a cooking class in traditional Czech Christmas dishes. That evening, The Nutcracker Ballet at the National Theatre ends the day.

DAYS 3 – 4
Vienna
The road to Vienna passes through Český Krumlov, a UNESCO-listed town so perfectly preserved it barely feels real. A guided walk takes you through the castle to a tower viewpoint where hot mulled wine and Christmas pastries are waiting. After a traditional Czech lunch, enjoy free time at the Christmas Market on Svornosti Square then continue on to Vienna for a traditional Austrian dinner. The next morning you will enjoy a private guided city tour that moves through the Ringstrasse, Hofburg Palace, the State Opera, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral by retro tram or horse carriage, with lunch at Plachutta for the iconic Tafelspitz. The afternoon opens into a historic coffee house, one of the city’s great institutions, before a stroll through Schönbrunn Palace and its Christmas market. The evening offers a choice: the Vienna State Opera backstage, a champagne reception, and the option of an evening performance, or a private mulled wine reception with a gingerbread decorating workshop and a Christmas ornament painting session. Either way, Vienna delivers exactly what you came for.

DAYS 5 – 6
Budapest
The road from Vienna reveals a quieter, more unexpected side of Hungary. The Pannonhalma Archabbey, a UNESCO-listed monastery that has stood for over a thousand years, offers a basilica, a historic library, and panoramic countryside views, followed by wine tasting of wines produced by the Benedictine community itself. From there, Győr’s Baroque Christmas market brings Hungarian pastries, traditional mulled wine, and seasonal crafts before the final drive into Budapest. You arrive to grand boulevards and a festive dinner in the city center, with the rest of the evening to find your feet. The next day brings an immersive Christmas city tour through the St. Stephen’s Basilica market, hidden courtyards, chimney cake tastings, and seasonal storytelling, followed by a Hungarian Christmas lunch with local wines and an optional folklore performance. The Danube night cruise ends the day perfectly: live jazz, hot drinks, and the Parliament Building and Buda Castle reflected in the river after dark.

DAYS 7 – 8
Heviz
The final stop is unlike anything else on the itinerary. Hévíz sits beside the world’s largest natural thermal lake, warm enough for bathing every month of the year, and your two nights here are designed entirely around rest. Thermal lake bathing, wellness treatments, Balaton wine tasting, and walks along the lakeshore. An optional day trip takes in the villages and wineries of Lake Balaton’s northern shore. You leave by private transfer to Budapest Airport with the steam still rising from the water behind you, restored in a way that a regular holiday simply cannot manage.

DAY BY DAY
The highlights
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DAY 1
Arrive in Prague for a two-night stay, with a welcome lunch, a guided walk through the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square Christmas markets with tastings of chimney cake, roast ham, and mulled wine, and an evening river cruise along the Vltava with Prague Castle illuminated for the season.
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DAY 2
A lighthearted morning of Czech holiday traditions including a mulled wine workshop and a ride on the historic Christmas tram, followed by a cooking class in traditional Czech Christmas dishes and The Nutcracker Ballet.
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DAY 3
Travel to Český Krumlov for a guided walk through the UNESCO-listed Old Town and castle complex, with a visit to the castle tower viewpoint and mulled wine overlooking the winter landscape, then on to Vienna for a traditional Austrian dinner. Arrive in Vienna for a two-night stay.
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DAY 4
A private guided city tour by retro tram or horse carriage, taking in the Ringstrasse, Hofburg Palace, and St. Stephen’s Cathedral, then lunch at Plachutta. Schönbrunn Palace and its Christmas market, with the option to ice skate on the palace grounds.
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DAY 5
Travel through Hungary, stopping at the Pannonhalma Archabbey for a private guided visit and wine tasting with the Benedictine community, then on through Győr Christmas market for Hungarian pastries and seasonal treats, arriving in Budapest for a two-night stay with a festive dinner in the city center.
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DAY 6
An immersive four-hour Christmas city tour through Budapest’s most iconic festive locations, a traditional Hungarian Christmas lunch with wine tasting and optional folklore performance, and a Danube night cruise with live jazz and views of the Parliament and Buda Castle.
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DAY 7
Depart for Hévíz for a two-night stay at a thermal spa hotel beside the world’s largest natural thermal lake, warm enough for bathing year-round.
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DAY 8
A full day at leisure at the thermal lake, with an optional winter discovery trip along the northern shore of Lake Balaton.
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DAY 9
Private transfer to Budapest Airport for your flight home.
WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY
“We have been working with WAC Travel for over 10 years and every trip to Europe organized by WAC Travel agents has been delightful, well organized and enjoyable.”
“Hilary and team delivered a 1st Class outstanding vacation for my wife and I and our 2 adult children. Every detail was perfect from airport transfers to tours to accommodations and restaurant recommendations. We will definitely be referring family and friends to WAC Travel.”
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Everything taken care of
Door to door, from the moment you land until you fly home. Private drivers meet you at the airport and take you between every city, so there are no tickets to buy and no connections to figure out.
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Private drivers for airport transfers and between destinations
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Hand-picked 4-star hotels in the heart of Prague, Vienna, Budapest, and Hévíz
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Daily breakfast included
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Lunches and dinners as outlined, plus wine tastings and Christmas market tastings
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An evening cruise on the Vltava and a Danube night cruise with live jazz
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Thermal lake access and wellness facilities in Hévíz
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Private tours led by expert English-speaking guides
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Entrance fees as listed
PRICING
Based on six people traveling together
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2 people traveling
$8,190 pp -
4 people traveling
$7,790 pp -
6 people traveling
$7,390 pp
WHY THE PRICE CHANGES
Prices are subject to change depending on your preferred dates of travel. Price does not include international flights.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Everything you want to know
A selection of questions about this itinerary and planning a trip to Italy. For more, visit our full FAQ page.
Can I charge my phone, camera, and laptop in Europe?
Yes. For most of Europe you will need an adapter with two rounded prongs. These countries all use that standard, so one set works throughout your trip. We recommend a few adapters, since hotel room outlets can be limited, and a universal adapter is handy if your trip includes other countries.
Do European hotels have irons?
Not always. Irons are sometimes considered a safety risk in European hotel rooms, so we recommend packing a dual voltage travel iron if you’d like one. Most of our hotels can provide a powerful hairdryer on request, so it’s best to leave your own at home unless it is dual voltage.
How can I use my phone internationally?
We recommend carrying a cell phone in case of missed connections or emergencies. Download the free WhatsApp app for local calls and texts, as it is widely used. Our team has had good results with an Airalo eSIM. You can also call your provider about an international plan, and be sure to switch data roaming off if you don’t have one, as it can be very expensive.
How much cash should we take?
We suggest carrying about 200 euros per person in cash, or the local equivalent, and then using ATMs as you would at home. A bank ATM is the best option, as exchange bureaus charge extra commission and fees.
Do US citizens need a visa for the Czech Republic, Hungary, or Austria?
No. All three are part of the Schengen Area, and US citizens can stay visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, shared across the whole Schengen zone. Your passport should be valid for the length of your stay, and your travel designer will share any current entry requirements before you travel.
When is the best time to visit Prague, Budapest, and Vienna?
Late spring (May and June) and early fall (September and early October) offer pleasant weather and lovely light for sightseeing. Summer can be hot, particularly in Budapest. If you’d like to see the Christmas markets, late November through December is magical, though it is also the coldest and busiest stretch.
What currency is used in each country?
Austria uses the euro. The Czech Republic still uses the Czech koruna, and Hungary uses the Hungarian forint, so you will use three different currencies on this trip. Cards are widely accepted in all three cities, but it helps to have a little local cash for smaller cafes, markets, and tips. Withdrawing from a bank ATM as you arrive in each country is usually the simplest approach.
How do we get between Prague, Budapest, and Vienna?
Comfortable trains connect all three capitals, and Vienna to Budapest is one of the quickest and easiest rides. Prague to Vienna takes roughly four hours by train, Vienna to Budapest about two and a half, and Prague to Budapest closer to seven. Your travel designer will recommend the best option for each leg, which may include a private driver with stops along the way.
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