From late November through December, Central Europe turns into a magical world of lights, handcrafts, gingerbread, mulled wine and falling snow. On this private luxury tour, we make it easy for you to immerse yourself in the most atmospheric Christmas and Advent markets of Vienna, Salzburg and Budapest with a private vehicle to chauffeur you among the many different markets in each city.

At these beautiful, festive markets, you'll find hand-made ornaments, nutcrackers, Advent calendars, traditional wooden toys, decorations, and other crafts from around the country. Enjoy outdoor concerts and sample seasonal treats such as mulled wine made from forest berries, cheese spatzle and candied fruit, and see festive decorations adorning restaurants, cafes, palaces and streets. Perhaps catch a glimpse of Saint Nicholas, but watch out for Krampus!

In each location, you'll also enjoy private touring of the most interesting neighborhoods and attractions, reservations at the best cafes and restaurants, and accommodation in our favorite rooms in some of the finest hotels in Europe.

Begin in Budapest. Tour the city with one of Hungary’s most knowledgeable guides, and experience our favorite places and activities. Visit the dozens of stalls in the city’s official Christmas market to shop for folk art, textiles, toys and more. Taste seasonal treats such as sausages, cheese pretzels, traditional flatbread and strudel. Enjoy performances by local folk musicians and dance troupes. Also during private touring, drive through hidden backstreets to see Budapest’s most beautiful buildings and learn the role they played in the city’s history. Explore the Castle District and take a tour of Buda’s most exclusive residential districts. Experience the local bathing culture, and see indoor and outdoor baths that remain central to daily life. Tour museums according to your interests, such as decorative arts, Jewish history or music. Take an exclusive private tour of Parliament, a fascinating building crucial to the city’s identity. Learn about the city’s rich Jewish history and tour important synagogues, including one designed by Otto Wagner. Browse local antique and food markets. One day, take an excursion to the Roman ruins in Aquincum and the craft shops and folk art museums in the pretty artist village of Szentendre. One evening, take a romantic cruise on the Danube River. Also, enjoy reservations at the city’s leading restaurants, where you might like to sample Hungary’s superb wines. Stay at one of Europe’s most luxurious and beautiful hotels—a true work of art—and enjoy the spa and views over the Danube River from your room.

Next, transfer by private car to Vienna. During private touring, your expert local guide will take you to the city's many Christmas markets, such as the market in front of Schönbrunn Palace, the market in the narrow streets of Spittelberg, and the Town Hall market, famous for its colorful evening lights. Your guide will also introduce interesting neighborhoods, upscale shops and food markets, and help you navigate the overwhelming wealth of spectacular art, architecture and history in this former imperial capital. Visit the Spanish Riding School to see the Lipizzaner Stallions and take a behind-the-scenes tour of their stables. See the highlights of world-renowned palaces and museums such as the MuseumsQuartier, Kunsthistorisches, Albertina and Freud Museum. Tour architectural monuments that exemplify the best in Vienna’s Gothic, Baroque and Secessionist styles. Visit our favorite shops selling exquisite linens, crystal, chocolates, gourmet foods and antiques. Visit up-and-coming neighborhoods known for their designers and chefs. Taste local culinary specialties at our favorite stalls in the enormous Naschmarkt food market. We’ll also ensure you have daily opportunities to visit Vienna’s leading coffee houses. One evening, enjoy premium tickets to a performance at the Vienna State Opera House. Also, take a memorable afternoon drive through residential districts in the hills surrounding Vienna, and enjoy a pre-dinner drink and snacks at one of our favorite heurigen (wine taverns).

Continue by private car to Salzburg. En route, travel through the Salzkammergut, a magnificent region of mountains and lakes in the Austrian Alps, and visit film sites from The Sound of Music. In Salzburg, visit Christmas markets in snow-dusted squares throughout the town, and enjoy private touring of cultural highlights, such as the Cathedral, Mozart’s birthplace and Mirabell Palace. Walk down Getreidegasse, Salzburg’s most famous shopping street, and visit select boutiques specializing in local products such as trachten fabric, loden coats, Christmas decorations, pewterware, gilded glass (verre eglomise), and of course Mozartkugel chocolate pralines.

This tour can be fully customized according to your interests and schedule.