100 days to Christmas: Six of the best tours this festive season
Still looking for the perfect winter getaway this year? These Christmas breaks are sure to make your celebrations even more special.
It’s official, we’re only 100 days out from Christmas and the countdown to the big day is well and truly underway. Whether you’ve already got your Christmas plans sorted or are still looking for a last-minute getaway, we’ve got several enchanting festive escapes to help make the end of the year memorable. From warm-weather trips to Iberia to some of the continent’s finest Christmas markets, here are six breaks to level up your festivities.
Top festive tours this winter
Swiss Christmas Markets
If you’re looking for something to get you in the Christmas spirit, there aren’t many better ways to build up to the big day than with a wander around some of Europe’s most delightful yule markets.
With a mid-winter break to Switzerland, discover charming Montreux and Bern as you explore the snow-capped Swiss Alps. Staying in the mountain village of Château-d’Oex, you’ll also see sparkling Lake Geneva and the fairy-tale Château Chillon, before heading to two of the region’s finest Christmas markets.
Our recommended tour – Swiss Christmas Markets
Vienna Christmas Markets
The Austrian capital offers a majestic backdrop to this memorable festive escape, with traditional market stalls and decorations filling the streets around Spittelberg and the city’s historic Innere Stadt.
On this four-day break, you’ll enjoy a guided tour past Vienna’s opulent Hofburg Palace, once the home of Austria’s emperors, and the famous Ringstrasse, dressed in Christmas decorations. Spend an afternoon browsing the handicraft stalls and perhaps trying traditional local delicacies in the city centre, and opt to visit the Slovakian capital, Bratislava, for even more festive joy.
Our recommended tour – Vienna Christmas Markets
Christmas in the Slovenian Alps
Based in the alpine resort of , this six-day tour takes in a true winter wonderland in the heart of Slovenia’s Alps and showcases the yuletide traditions of three neighbouring countries.
Soak up the festivities in Baroque Ljubljana and visit the city’s cosy riverside markets, cross into Austria on Christmas Eve for a visit to Villach and usher in Christmas Day with midnight mass at a local church. After an indulgent day under your own steam, you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Croatian capital, Zagreb, on an optional Boxing Day tour.
Our recommended tour – Christmas in the Slovenian Alps
All-inclusive – Christmas in the Bavarian Forest
If festive indulgence is more your speed, a trip to Germany’s southeastern province, Bavaria, won’t disappoint. Combining some of Europe’s most popular traditions with a collection of truly spectacular woodland scenery, this region is the perfect choice for a Christmas trip with a difference.
Walk amongst the treetops in the Lusen National Park, prepare for the big day with a cheer-inspiring excursion amongst Munich’s ornate Christmas markets, and enjoy special touches as part of your all-inclusive service. On Boxing Day, there’ll be time for one more Christmas treat with a tour of nearby Linz and its exquisite Baroque old town.
Our recommended tour – All-inclusive Christmas in the Bavarian Forest
Christmas on the Algarve
With December temperatures typically sitting at a pleasant 17°C, the Algarve is a great option for those in favour of warmer winter weather without travelling too far afield.
Across this six-day getaway, you’ll take in the coastal resort of Albufeira, experience the celebrations across the rural Algarve and enjoy a traditional Portuguese feast on Christmas Eve. After soaking up the winter sun at your own pace on Christmas Day, venture to colourful Lisbon to see the seasonal decorations in all their glory.
Our recommended tour – Christmas on the Algarve
Christmas in Andalucía
Another option for a seasonal holiday to Iberia is Spain’s idyllic south. With a stay in the quiet town of Antequera, you’ll have no shortage of festive activities to inspire your seasonal cheer with guided tours of flamenco-city Seville and Granada, with its wide variety of Moorish palaces and gardens.
Christmas Day will offer some well-earned time at leisure, during which you can experience an assortment of Andalusian Christmas traditions, and those who are keen to continue exploring can opt to visit marvellous Cordoba.
Our recommended tour – Christmas in Andalucía
Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with Newmarket Holidays
Looking forward to a Christmas with a difference? Our Christmas market breaks and festive tours are ideal for making memories to last towards the end of the year. To start planning your own last-minute Christmas getaway or for more information on our featured itineraries, give one of our friendly holiday planners a call today.
If you’d prefer to plan further ahead, we also have plenty of departure dates, from 2027 to 2029, on our full range of escorted tours, and you can browse the entire collection on our dedicated destinations page.
