Christmas in the Black Forest

A fairy-tale-like backdrop sets the scene for a snow-filled getaway of quaint German villages, atmospheric markets, and natural splendours.

Journey through the beautiful Black Forest from a base within Müllheim, nestled at its foothills. Festivities will kick off with visits to the pretty markets of Freiburg and Breisach, complete with time to browse and sip on Glühwein. Christmas Day will be celebrated with a guided morning walk and a special lunch alongside fellow guests. On Boxing Day, a scenic drive will take you to Triberg im Schwarzwald, with its famous waterfalls and cuckoo clocks before concluding at the glacial lake of Titisee-Neustadt.

Meals

9 included
Ways to pay

Visit the Christmas markets in Freiburg and Breisach on Christmas Eve

Winter Landscape In The Black Forest, Germany

Drive into the enchanting heart of the Black Forest

Take in the natural beauty of Triberg Waterfalls and Titisee Lake

Celebrate Christmas with a guided walk around Müllheim and a special lunch

Touch down in Basel this morning, and meet your friendly, experienced tour manager at the airport, before travelling through the region's enchanting winter scenery to your hotel, nestled on the edge of the Black Forest National Park.

Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed with a drink, and will then have the rest of the day at leisure to settle in, mingle with your fellow travellers or explore the local area. Later this evening, settle into the hotel’s restaurant for a welcome dinner.

Kick off your Christmas celebrations with breakfast at the hotel ahead of an excursion to two nearby towns, Freiburg and Colmar, popular for festivities and Christmas markets at this time of year.

The first stop will be Freiburg, home to a reconstructed medieval old town, historic town halls, and lively beer halls, all illuminated with lights and decorations. Accompanied by your tour manager, set out into the city and take in its most famous landmarks including Freiburg Minster to the historic Rathausplatz, one of the city’s prettiest squares. You’ll then come to Freiburg’s delightful Christmas market, which has been around since 1973 and features over 120 stalls. Embrace local traditions with a steaming glass of Glühwein as you browse the hand-crafted trinkets and try some festive fare, like raclette and roasted almonds. At the heart of the market, an antique, wooden Ferris Wheel can also be found and presents the perfect way to take in the city from above.

This afternoon, continue into Alsace to Colmar, a town renowned for its storybook charm. Join a friendly local guide for an exploration of the town’s memorable highlights as you pass the colourful half-timbered houses of ‘La Petite Venise’ (Little Venice). You’ll stop at the Unterlinden Museum, which is housed in a stunning Dominican convent, before spending time browsing Colmar’s magical Christmas markets for the perfect blend of tradition and holiday spirit.

In the evening, you’ll return to the hotel for dinner with the other travellers.

Mark Christmas eve with a scenic full day’s excursion into the Black Forest region for some fresh air and a scenic drive. This expanse of mountains, forests, and quaint villages is often linked to the Brothers Grimm fairy tales and is even more enchanting during the festive period, covered in snow.

You’ll begin by calling at Triberg im Schwarzwald, a town located in the centre of the Black Forest, and popular for its waterfalls and cuckoo clocks. The Triberger Waterfalls, are in fact, one of the tallest waterfalls in Germany, ringed by various viewpoints and gushing down several stages amongst the lush greenery. There are also clock shops in abundance here, where you can purchase your own timepiece if you want. The world’s largest and smallest cuckoo clocks can be viewed here, too.

Throughout the day, you’ll also have the chance to visit a number of the traditional German villages that make the region so enchanting. If you have the chance, don’t miss out on trying some fresh Black Forest ham, or a slice of the area’s indulgent namesake cake.

In the evening, you’ll head back to the hotel for the final dinner.

Commemorate Christmas morning with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before setting out to spend the day however you see fit. For a more easy-going time, head up to the onsite spa for a brisk dip in its heated outdoor pool, or spend some time warming up in the sauna. You can also find a number of picturesque walking trails near the hotel which promise the perfect setting for a gentle morning’s stroll.

This afternoon, reconvene at the hotel for an indulgent Christmas lunch ahead of more time at leisure and dinner at the hotel’s restaurant later in the evening.

After breakfast, celebrate Boxing Day with an excursion to the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden. Upon arrival, join your friendly local guide for a fascinating introduction to the town’s historic thermal baths, grand architecture and charming streets.

Visit the iconic Kurhaus, with its pillared facades, and stroll through the serene Lichtentaler Allee park as your guide outlines the town's rich history as a wellness destination. During the tour, you’ll also have the chance to explore the Roman Baths and discover the town's fascinating spa traditions.

In the evening, return to the hotel for a relaxing dinner to reflect on your day in this elegant and historic town.

Five nights’ half-board accommodation at the four-star Dormero Hotel, Freudenstadt
Five breakfasts, five dinners and a special Christmas lunch
Tour to Freiburg and Colmar
Drive through the Black Forest stopping at Triberg im Schwarzwald
Visit to Baden-Baden
Return flights to Basel
One piece of hold luggage per person
Coach transfers and travel included throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
All mandatory local taxes and charges

Dates & Prices

Dormero Hotel Freudenstadt Freudenstadt, Germany Located in the charming town of Freudenstadt, on the edge of the Black Forest National Park, this modern hotel promises a relaxing spot to unwind in at the end of each cheer-inspiring excursion

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.

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.

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.

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 EES scheme commenced on the 12th October 2025, and the phased implementation will last until 9 April 2026. From 10 April 2026, EES will be fully operational at all EU borders. - the latest information can be found at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/ltr

EES is a new digital border management system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of most European countries. Once introduced, when you go through passport control on arrival, as well as producing your passport for checking, you will also have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. The system will register your entry on arrival and your exit when departing. You will only need to do this on your first entry into Europe after the scheme starts.

For those travelling via Eurostar, there is a dual British and French/Belgian border in operational 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. For further information please visit the https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/upcoming-changes-travel-europe here.

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

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 counties.

The ETIAS system is not live yet - the latest information can be found at www.etias.com. We recommend keeping yourself updated on the planned commencement date and, once live (and if applicable to you), apply for your ETIAS in good time prior to travel.

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 here.

Please note: ETIAS will not be required for UK citizens travelling on our UK and Ireland tours.

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).

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Christmas in the Black Forest

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