Imagine a Christmas market journey that opens doors to more than mulled wine and ornaments, revealing untouched villages, untold Cold War memories, and unseen traditions that still flicker by candlelight. That’s exactly what you’ll find on this holiday Detour through Germany’s most magical markets. Led by our co-founder Christoph, you’ll see the season through the eyes of someone who grew up behind the Iron Curtain—offering a deeply personal window into the region’s layered past. From Roman outposts and aristocratic palaces to the lived realities of a once-divided nation, we’ll linger in three of our favorite towns: medieval Regensburg, aristocratic Coburg, and baroque Dresden—with a special detour to Christoph’s childhood forests in Thüringen to uncover its hidden gems. This is Christmas with heart and history—wrapped in Gemütlichkeit and lit by memory. Frohe Weihnachten! (Happy Christmas!)

Iconic Places:
The medieval streets of Regensburg, Nuremberg’s storied Christkindlesmarkt, the half-timbered charm of Bamberg, and the baroque splendor of Dresden, home to Germany’s oldest Christmas market.

Signature Experiences:
Wander candlelit market squares filled with handcrafted ornaments and glühwein, celebrate Dresden’s centuries-old Stollenfest, and savor regional traditions from Franconian wine to Thüringer bratwurst.

Cultural & Daily Life:
Step into Bavarian and Saxon holiday traditions shaped by craft, faith, and season, from palace markets to family-run stalls, where Christmas is lived as much as celebrated.

Natural & Seasonal Atmosphere:
Frosted rooftops, cathedral bells, and the glow of wooden stalls set against winter skies—Germany’s Weihnachtsgeist unfolding in light, scent, and sound.

Hidden Stories:
From Cold War borders in Thüringen to the birthplace of glass ornaments in Lauscha, discover the histories that quietly shape the season.

Expert Guidance:
Led by Christoph, whose personal story and deep regional knowledge bring Germany’s landscapes, traditions, and history vividly to life.

Our detour begins in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Regensburg. This Bavarian town is full of charm with its perfectly preserved medieval streets and picturesque Christmas markets. We’ll call Regensburg home for three nights where we’ll explore the wonders of Weinachten in Bavaria.

This morning we dive head first into the history of Regensburg on a guided walking tour of the Alte Stadt (old town), including its gothic cathedral and the Old Corn Market, enjoying picture perfect views from its 12th century stone bridge along the way. We’ll take a wander to the Turn and Taxis palace-a former Benedictine monestary and home today to the Romantic Christmas market of Turn and Taxis. We’ll warm ourselves with Regensburg’s stunning assortment of glühwein (mulled wine) and goodies from the market together before breaking for a free afternoon and evening to explore Regensburg’s four Christmas markets.

Nuremberg is home to one of Germany’s oldest and largest Christmas markets. We’ll detour today an hour north to explore its famous Christkindlesmarkt. Known as “the little city of wood and cloth,” its stalls pack the town center with handmade Christmas decorations and sweet treats, including Nuremberg’s famous Lebkuchen (gingerbread). Our local guide and friend Gabi will take us from the early middle ages to Nuremberg’s checkered past exploring city and castle. You’ll have plenty of free time to delight in the market and discover the perfect lebkuchen before we return to Regensburg this evening.

Today we head north to our base in Coburg, detouring along the way in Bamberg. This medieval World Heritage town is home to stunning architecture, a postcard worthy Christmas market, and most famously, beer. With its more than 250 breweries, we’ll be hard pressed to sample them all, but we’ll savor the oldest at the Schlenkerla, where a warm lunch of Bavarian specialties and a glass of rauchbier awaits us. We’ll have time to explore the town and its market before heading to Coburg where we’ll enjoy a wine tasting of Franconia’s varietals at our favorite wine stop. The evening is yours to enjoy dinner at Coburg’s quaint Christmas market or in its cozy eateries.

Prettly little Coburg was the stomping ground of Prince Albert, of Queen Victoria and Albert fame. This morning we’ll visit the palace where he spent much of his childhood-the Ehrenburg. After imagining life in the aristocracy, we’ll sup together at Martin Luther’s (and ours!) favorite gasthaus before climbing the Coburg Veste. This fortress perches high above Coburg town with 360 degree views of northern Bavaria and the neighboring Thüringen forest. We’ll storm the castle where Martin Luther spent 6 months translating the Bible in refuge from the Catholic Church. The evening is yours to savor the charm of Coburg.

Today Christoph takes us home to the Thüringen forest, where he’ll recount his experiences growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Mere minutes from Coburg, the inner East German Wall defined the lives of those on the other side. We’ll visit hidden remnants of the wall, climb a watch tower turned museum, and wave to Christoph’s family on our way to Lauscha-the birthplace of modern Christmas ornaments. We’ll get our glassblowing groove on before marveling at the masterpieces in this Murano of Germany. We’ll enjoy lunch together with a view on Thüringen before returning to our final evening in Coburg.

This morning we head east, with a stop in Oberhof—East Germany’s winter sports mecca. Christoph went to school here and has plenty to share about what many call the East’s Olympic training center. With a Thuringian Bratwurst in hand, we continue to the delightfully baroque town of Dresden, where Germany’s oldest Christmas market—and largest fruitcake—await us. After a Stollen-making presentation at Dresden’s most prestigious bakery, the evening is yours to soak up the Weihnachtsgeist (Christmas spirit).

Every year on the Saturday before second Advent, Dresden welcomes the Christmas season with a giant Stollen (fruitcake) celebration. This massive bake fest dates back to medieval times and involves parading the oversized cake through town with medieval costumes and music to match. We will join in the revelry and partake of the stollen, immersing in this historic annual tradition. This evening we’ll have ample time to enjoy Dresden’s Striezelmarkt (Christmas market), stocking up on last minute gifts and souvenirs, or to catch a performance at it’s famous opera house.

This morning we work off our stollen on a walking tour through Dresden’s architectural treasures. Known as the Florence of the Elba, Dresden was decimated in a 1945 bombing. Since then, it as risen from the ashes as the vibrant and resurrected capitol of Saxony. We’ll visit its beloved baroque Frauenkirche, entirely reconstructed in 2005, marking the full restoration of Dresden’s skyline. We’ll contemplate the priceless pieces in the Zwinger Museums' Old Masters Gallery, Royal Palace, and Green Vault before breaking for lunch and a free afternoon. We’ll gather tonight for a final feast together before bidding each other auf weidersehen (until we meet again)!

Our detour ends after breakfast. Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport is a 1.5 hour train ride away. We’ll help arrange your post-detour travel arrangements to your next destination, be it your return flight home or next travel destination in Europe.

We never say goodbye, preferring the German alternative, auf wiedersehen, or until we meet again! Until then, happy trails!