Overview

Highlights

Itinerary

Gallery

What's included

Accommodation

View dates & prices

Save up to 15% on a magical December break

Book by 31 October

Christmas in the Slovenian Alps

A festive two-country winter experience through Slovenia and Austria, with the option to extend your journey into Croatia.

Join an enchanting winter break based in the beautiful alpine resort of Kranjska Gora, exploring Slovenia and Austria, with an optional excursion into Croatia adding an extra layer of discovery. Located between the snow-capped mountains and glacial lakes of Triglav National Park, this charming town is transformed into a true winter wonderland every year. More highlights feature a guided tour of Ljubljana, with its Baroque streets and riverside Christmas markets illuminated by lights.

A cross-border visit to Villach in Austria follows, transformed into a charming “City of Light” with markets, ice skating, and a picturesque backdrop. Leisure time in Kranjska Gora allows you to explore at your own pace, from lively Christmas stalls to churches overlooking the water. An optional excursion to Zagreb takes you to one of Europe’s most celebrated Christmas markets, spread across atmospheric squares and parks filled with music, lights, and traditional treats.

Price

from £1559 /pp

was £1835
Flights included
Dates Available

22 December 2026
Duration

6 days
Depart From

11 airports
Excursions & Visits

2 included
Meals

11 included
Ways to pay

Unwind in a winter wonderland staying in the pretty resort town of Kranjska Gora, close to Slovenia’s Italian and Austrian borders

Set off on a festive Ljubljana city tour, exploring its Baroque old town and riverside Christmas markets

Wander around the Villach Christmas market and the riverside promenade, backed by beautiful alpine scenery

Close up of a laid dinner table, with glasses of white wine and bowls of food, with a blurry background of fairy lights

Celebrate Christmas Eve with a dinner followed by midnight mass at a nearby church

Begin your festive escape with a flight to the historic Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, or Venice. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed by your friendly local tour manager and board a coach for the journey east to the alpine resort of Kranjska Gora.

Settle in and enjoy a welcome drink before dinner is served.

Have breakfast at your hotel this morning before a tour of the Slovenian capital as it gears up for Christmas Day. Dressed in all its festive finery, Ljubljana promises to get you in the holiday spirit with dazzling lights, decorations, and seasonal markets.

Start the day in the city’s ornate old town and take in its impressive baroque town hall. After a brief introduction from your tour manager, visit the local shops or enjoy views of Ljubljana Castle. Next, walk along the Ljubljanica River, admiring the imposing facades of its pretty baroque bridges and the city’s ornate riverside churches as you go, ahead of a stop at the market-laden Breg Embankment.

Known for its independent stores and communal atmosphere, Breg is a promenade, which welcomes a delightful festive market each winter. Soak up the Christmas cheer with time to explore the stalls, see Ljubljanica’s glittering lights and warm yourself with some mulled wine before heading back to the hotel for dinner.

The wooden huts extend from the historic centre to the riverbank and are illuminated with light displays. Sample the local kuhano vino (mulled wine) or medica (a warm honey liqueur), and traditional snacks like potica (a rolled pastry), or kranjska klobasa (a Slovenian sausage).

Later in the evening, return to the hotel in time for dinner.

This Christmas Eve, once you’ve had breakfast, you’ll travel across the border to the Austrian city of Villach. Surrounded by alpine scenery and lakes and set in the heart of the mountains, Villach has a charming old town, which is especially delightful at Christmas. The city’s location near the borders of Italy and Slovenia means that it encompasses a mix of cultures as seen in its architecture and food.

In December, it becomes a “City of Light” with beautiful decorations and a Christmas market spread around the parish church, as well as an ice rink in the Town Hall Square. Browse the stalls, sip on hot punch, and sample some kärntner reindling (sweet bread) before walking along the River Drau, and perhaps getting cosy in one of the lively bars or cafés.

A special Christmas dinner will be served this evening. You can choose to attend midnight mass at a local church before returning for tea or coffee and cake, a cosy end to the day.

Merry Christmas! Today, following breakfast, the day will be free for you to spend as you wish.

You choose to relax at the hotel, perhaps taking advantage of the wellness centre, or the bar and restaurant.

Alternatively, explore the highlights of this resort town and visit the Kranjska Gora Christmas market, offering traditional drinks, snacks and gifts. Return to the hotel for a delightful Christmas lunch and an afternoon of relaxation.

Dinner will be served later this evening.

Take it easy this Boxing Day or join an optional excursion to Zagreb, Croatia’s northwestern capital. Its atmospheric centre, Upper Town, with red-roof buildings, cobbled streets, and a labyrinth of tram tracks, is ideal for exploring on foot.

Take in the towering twin-spired Zagreb Cathedral and 13th-century St. Mark’s Church, and wander along the pedestrianised, lively Tkalčićeva Street.

Christmas markets are spread throughout the city, from Ban Jelačić Square, set around a big Christmas tree, to Zrinjevac Park, awash with fairy lights and filled with music. Make sure to try some fritule (Croatian sweet doughnuts) as you amble around the stalls, selling ornaments and local crafts.

Travel back to the hotel for your final dinner.

Kranjska Gora © Hit Alpinea, Kranjska Gora

Scenic view near Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

Scenic view near Kranjska Gora © Hit Alpinea, Kranjska Gora

Town Square, Mestni Trg, Town Hall And Robba Fountain, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Christmas Lights in Preseren Square, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Panoramic winter view of Villach, Austria

Close up of heart shaped, chocolate Christmas treats hanging on some string.

Zrinjevac Park decorated with Christmas lights, Zagreb, Croatia

Experience a cross-border visit on Christmas Eve to Villach, Austria, enjoying its charming “City of Light” Christmas atmosphere

Spend Christmas at leisure and enjoy a special lunch

Join an optional excursion to Zagreb and stroll through one of Europe’s most celebrated Christmas markets

Five nights’ half-board accommodation at the four-star Hotel Kompas, Kranjska Gora
Five breakfasts, one lunch, and five dinners
Special Christmas Eve dinner and lunch
Tour of Ljubljana
Visit to Villach, Austria
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager, with specialist local guides where applicable 
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Return flights to Venice or Ljubljana
All mandatory local taxes and charges

Dates & Prices

Departure point	Departure date		Price (per person)	Availability
Aberdeen	December 2026		from £2307.00 pp	1 date available
Aberdeen	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £2307.00 was £2715.00
Belfast City George Best	December 2026		from £1993.00 pp	1 date available
Belfast City George Best	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £1993.00 was £2345.00
Birmingham	December 2026		from £1826.00 pp	1 date available
Birmingham	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £1826.00 was £2149.00
Bristol	December 2026		from £2005.00 pp	1 date available
Bristol	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £2005.00 was £2359.00
Glasgow	December 2026		from £1784.00 pp	1 date available
Glasgow	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £1784.00 was £2099.00
Humberside	December 2026		from £2273.00 pp	1 date available
Humberside	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £2273.00 was £2675.00
London Gatwick	December 2026		from £1559.00 pp	1 date available
London Gatwick	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £1559.00 was £1835.00
London Heathrow	December 2026		from £1619.00 pp	1 date available
London Heathrow	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £1619.00 was £1905.00
Manchester	December 2026		from £1894.00 pp	1 date available
Manchester	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £1894.00 was £2229.00
Newcastle	December 2026		from £1908.00 pp	1 date available
Newcastle	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £1908.00 was £2245.00
Teesside International	December 2026		from £2277.00 pp	1 date available
Teesside International	22 Dec 2026 Tuesday 6 days 27 Dec 2026 Sunday	Late Escape	from £2277.00 was £2679.00

Hotel Kompas, Kranjska Gora, Winter Exterior

Hotel Kompas, Kranjska Gora Kranjska Gora Positioned at the foot of the ski slopes of the resort, the hotel has beautiful views of the Julian Alps.

View of a village in the mountains in thick snow. With large fir trees in the left forefront, and smaller ones dotted around the village at the bottom the mountain. Above this a large forest of trees can be seen, going up the mountain, in front of large mountains covered in snow, in front of a light blue sky.

Christmastime in the Austrian Tyrol

Austria

Escape to the Austrian Tyrol this Christmas with Newmarket Holidays. Enjoy a guided tour, 3-course lunch, and unforgettable experiences. Fly Local Festive

A tour of Innsbruck and time to explore its Christmas Markets
Toast the festive season with Gluhwein and a festive meal on Christmas Eve
A visit to St Anton on Christmas morning

6 days from £1,746 pp

was £2,055 pp

Flights included
Dates Available

22 December 2026
Duration

6 days
Depart From

8 airports
Excursions & Visits

2 included
Meals

11 included

Explore

Christmas in the Italian Dolomites

Italy

Immerse in the magic of the Italian Dolomites this Christmas with Newmarket Holidays. Visit Merano, tour the Dolomites, and book your trip now! Festive Scenery & Nature

Spend a wonderful Christmas in the Italian Dolomites
Christmas Eve visit to Merano and Bolzano, followed by a special dinner at the hotel
Included excursion to Trento and Riva del Garda

6 days from £1,296 pp

was £1,525 pp

Flights included
Dates Available

22 December 2026
Duration

6 days
Depart From

3 airports
Excursions & Visits

3 included
Meals

11 included

Explore

All-inclusive Christmas in the Bavarian Forest

Germany, Austria

A festive winter break combining a scenic treetop walk, traditional glassmaking, and atmospheric sightseeing in Munich’s Christmas markets. Festive All-inclusive

Wander among the treetops during the Bavarian Forest Tree Top Walk to take in the alpine views
Visit Das Glasdorf Weinfurtner, a traditional glassmaking village with live workshops, galleries and shops
Enjoy a visit to Munich on Christmas Eve, including time to explore a traditional Christmas market

6 days from £1,574 pp

was £1,749 pp

Flights included
Dates Available

22 December 2026
Duration

6 days
Depart From

12 airports
Excursions & Visits

3 included
Meals

11 included

Explore

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel.

Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.

Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you arrive (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").

Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational at all EU borders on 10 April 2026.

EES is a digital border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay across the external borders of most European countries. It replaces passport stamping. When you go through passport control on arrival, as well as producing your passport for checking, you will have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. The system registers your entry and exit, and you will only need to complete this biometric registration on your first entry into Europe.

Please note: Irish passport holders or British Passport holders with an EU residency are currently excluded.

For those travelling via Eurostar, there is a dual British and French/Belgian border in operation at St Pancras International. Therefore the EES system will be in place at the station, you will not need to be checked again on arrival at the other side.

The latest information can be found at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees.

For further information please visit the ABTA website.

Following the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, changes have been planned which affect the eligibility of citizens of the United Kingdom to have visa free travel to the EU. ETIAS travel authorisation is a new entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of the European Union and Schengen countries.

ETIAS is expected to launch in the last quarter of 2026 (exact date to be confirmed). We recommend applying in good time once the system goes live. ETIAS is expected to cost €20 per person. If you are aged under 18 or over 70, the fee is waived. Please note: ETIAS will not be required for UK citizens travelling on our UK and Ireland tours.

The latest information can be found at www.etias.com.

Newmarket Holidays will not be able to undertake ETIAS applications on your behalf, so have instead instructed the services of the Travel Visa Company to provide help, should you need it. You can find more information about this service at https://thetravelvisacompany.co.uk/newmarket-holidays/?sup=NMH

All mandatory local taxes and charges are included in the price of your holiday as per the itinerary. Prices for any optional excursions are listed separately. Any suggested free-time activities, attractions, meals or entertainment are not included (unless otherwise stated), and may be subject to local charges. Please note that tipping is optional and as such, is typically not included in the price of your holiday (unless otherwise stated).

Offer Terms & Conditions

Save up to 15% discount applies to all Festive tours. This Festive tours offer applies to new bookings only, made between 1st October and 31st October 2026, and cannot be applied retrospectively to bookings already confirmed. This offer does not apply to child pricing. The offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes all other escorted tours, Premier Collection, Exclusively solos, River Cruise, Andre Rieu, Wimbledon and Edinburgh Tattoo. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. Prices shown will automatically have the discount applied. The discount applies to the original tour price (excluding any discounts already applied, extras and holiday insurance) at the time of booking. This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Newmarket Holidays reserves the right to cancel, change or amend any tour. Holidays booked with Newmarket Holidays are financially protected in accordance with ABTA, ATOL & ABTOT regulations. Newmarket Holidays Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Registered number: 02238316.

Mon, Tue & Thu

Wed

Fri

Sat

Sun

Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri

Wed

Sat

Sun

Christmas in the Slovenian Alps

Dates Available

Duration

Depart From

Excursions & Visits

Meals

Dates Available

Duration

Depart From

Excursions & Visits

Meals

Dates Available

Duration

Depart From

Excursions & Visits

Meals