If you’ve travelled with Expat Explore before, you’ll know that our tours visit top destinations, include a range of unforgettable experiences and offer many exciting optional excursions! Our festive tours are no different in that regard. Expat Explore offers a range of Christmas and New Year guided tours, allowing you to experience Europe in all its festive glory! However, there are a few differences between our festive tours and our regular itineraries. That’s why we’ve put together this handy explanation guide to help you choose the best festive option for you!
Read on to learn more about our Christmas guided tours
What is a festive tour?
This type of tour describes an itinerary which takes place over the festive season, namely Christmas and New Year. Usually, a Christmas tour will begin on 21 December. Shorter tours, such as the 7-day Europe Taster Christmas will end a few days later, allowing you to get home before New Year’s Eve. However, if you would also like to spend New Year’s Eve on tour, we have a range of tours which travel over New Year too. Our Classic Europe Christmas & New Year tour allows you to spend Christmas Day in the Swiss Alps and New Year’s Eve in the Rhine Valley!
If you would prefer to be at home or elsewhere on Christmas but would like to spend New Year on tour, we also have some excellent New Year-only tours! Why not hit up Helsinki for our Helsinki to Warsaw New Year tour or celebrate in Tuscany on our Taste of Italy New Year tour?
Why should I embark on a festive tour?
There is something so magical about winter in Europe, particularly around the festive season. From the twinkling lights and cosy Christmas markets to delicious seasonal cuisine, Europe’s top destinations truly come alive this time of year. Expat Explore’s festive tours visit some of the best places to experience Christmas in Europe. Complete with dazzling decorations, dreamy markets and cultural delights.
Many of our festive tours also feature some unique experiences that are not available on our regular tours. For example, Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners are usually included as a way to celebrate with the group. Our Great Britain New Year tour includes entrance to Hogmanay – a massive New Year’s Eve festival in Scotland!
It is important to note that certain places, such as museums or key attractions, may be closed on holidays. But have no fear! Our tours are expertly designed to ensure that you make the most out of each destination. When something that is included on our non-festive tours is closed, we will always work that into the itinerary and offer alternatives. Your tour leader is always available to offer advice on how to spend your free days.
Choosing to travel Europe at Christmas on a group tour takes a lot of the hassle out of travelling. Our affordable travel packages include accommodation, many meals and a long list of unforgettable experiences. Travelling during winter is also considered low season travel. This means certain cities will be far less crowded than during the peak summer season.
Related: Where to see the world’s best Christmas lights.
What is the weather like during the festive season?
You can always expect European winter travel to be chilly. However, how cold it gets will depend on where you go. In the south of Italy and Spain, as well as in Portugal, the temperature will not be nearly as icy as in northern Europe. Unfortunately, a white Christmas can never be guaranteed. However, in the Baltics or Scandinavia, snow is certainly more likely.
We’re firm believers that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes! There are a few things you can pack to ensure that you stay warm through the colder days on tour. A warm hat, gloves, thick socks and boots that are comfortable to walk in will go a long way in protecting you from the winter winds.
Related: Read our winter travel packing list for more advice!
Which festive tour should I choose?
This depends largely on what you are looking for. If you’re looking for a shorter tour, one of our 7 or 8-day tours will hit the spot. Our longest festive tour is the incredible, 20-day Best of Scandinavia & the Baltics Christmas & New Year tour. This epic itinerary explores top cities like Stockholm, Copenhagen, Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn. It spends Christmas Day in Bergen, Norway and New Year’s Eve in Helsinki, Finland. We also have the 14-day Europe Jewel Christmas & New Year and the 10-day Europe Highlights Christmas tours for something in between. All of these tours are relatively fast-paced and tick off a number of bucket-list destinations.
If it’s the best Christmas markets you seek, look no further than our Eastern Highlights Christmas & New Year tour. Eastern Europe is renowned for its spectacular markets. Munich is probably the most famous and what many other markets are modelled on. Germany is also where you will find the best Gluhwein! Prague, Budapest, and Vienna also host impressive markets every year.
If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, be sure to join our Jungfraujoch optional excursion available on the Classic Europe Christmas & New Year tour. Known as the “top of Europe”, this destination guarantees year-round snow! While it is not guaranteed that it will snow on Christmas Day, you’ll certainly see snow in Scandinavia and the Baltics. On the other hand, if you prefer sunny skies, delicious cuisine and a slightly warmer European winter, join our Taste of Italy Christmas or New Year tours or our Spain & Portugal Christmas tour. These tours are also great options for those who want to explore a destination in-depth.
We hope you’ve found the Christmas & New Year tour for you! From snowscapes and fairytale sights to buzzing New Year’s Eve celebrations, our festive tours have a little something for everyone.
It’s never too early to get excited about Christmas! Have a look at our festive tours and book your ho-ho-holiday now.