Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Christmas Markets: Prague, Dresden, Wroclaw and Krakow
8 days from Prague to Krakow: three nights at Prague's Old Town Square market with a classical concert, two at Dresden's Striezelmarkt, then Wroclaw and Krakow.
8 days · Prague to Krakow · up to 12 guests
St Vitus Cathedral inside Prague Castle, seen from Petřín hill Photo: MathKnight and Zachi Evenor, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PragueCathedral03.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 8 days, 7 nights
- Start and end
- Prague to Krakow
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Easy
City walking on cobbles and in the cold: 2 to 3 hours on foot most mornings, up to about 8 km on the Prague Castle day with a climb up the castle hill (or a tram to the top), and evenings standing at outdoor markets. Every walk can be cut short at a cafe or the hotel.
- Meals included
- 7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 660 (estimated price)
- Season
- Christmas markets
Highlights
Why this trip
- Three nights in Prague with the Old Town Square tree and market a short walk from the hotel
- Prague Castle at opening and Charles Bridge before the crowds
- A classical concert in Prague, included
- Two nights for Dresden's Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt, with Stollen and the Historic Green Vault
- Wroclaw's Rynek market and the gas lamps of Ostrow Tumski at dusk
- Krakow's market under St Mary's Basilica, and Wawel Cathedral early on the last morning
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 660 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Prague
Prague Airport (PRG) to your hotel in the Old Town
- Dinner
- Stay in Prague
Fly into Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG), about 20 km west of the centre, and a driver meets you in arrivals for the transfer to your hotel near the Old Town.
Evening
Plan to land by about 3 pm so you have time to settle in before the evening. At about 5 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for a short briefing: how the week runs, what to wear for the cold, and how the markets work, from mug deposits to which stalls cook to order. Then we walk together into Old Town Square, where the Christmas tree stands in front of the Tyn Church and the market stalls fill the square under the Old Town Hall tower. A first mulled wine is on us. Dinner is a welcome meal at a Czech restaurant nearby, with roast pork, dumplings and sauerkraut. On the walk back, Charles Bridge is a few minutes away and quiet at this hour.
Included
- Pick-up at Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Evening walk to the Old Town Square Christmas market, with a mulled wine
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Prague Castle at opening, then a concert
Prague Castle, Mala Strana and Charles Bridge
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Prague
We are at the gates of Prague Castle when the circuit opens, around 9 am in winter, before the coach groups arrive. With a local licensed guide we walk through St Vitus Cathedral, with its stained glass and the tomb of St Wenceslas, the Old Royal Palace and its vaulted Vladislav Hall, St George's Basilica and Golden Lane. The small Christmas market in the castle courtyards is a quieter place for a hot drink.
Afternoon
We walk down through Mala Strana, the Lesser Town, to a sit-down lunch, then cross Charles Bridge in daylight, past the Baroque statues and the view up to the castle. The afternoon is free: rest, shop, or go back to the markets at Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
Evening
In the evening we go to an included classical concert in one of Prague's concert halls or churches; the venue and programme are confirmed with your final itinerary.
Included
- Prague Castle circuit with a local guide: St Vitus Cathedral, the Old Royal Palace, St George's Basilica and Golden Lane
- Walk through Mala Strana and across Charles Bridge
- Sit-down lunch in Mala Strana
- Classical concert in the evening
Easier option: Take the tram up to the castle and down again instead of walking the hill.
More active option: Climb the Great South Tower of St Vitus Cathedral (about 287 steps, ticket on the day) for the view over the roofs.
Free time: Afternoon free
Activity: The longest walking day: up to about 8 km with the climb to the castle, on cobbles and stone stairs.
The Old Town, Josefov and the markets
Old Town, the Jewish Quarter and Wenceslas Square
- Breakfast
- Stay in Prague
A later start. We meet the Old Town Hall's Astronomical Clock for its hourly show, then walk the lanes of the Old Town with a local guide, from the Powder Tower and the Municipal House to the Carolinum. Next is Josefov, the old Jewish Quarter, where the Old-New Synagogue has stood since the 13th century and the Old Jewish Cemetery packs centuries of headstones into a small walled plot; the Jewish Museum sites close on Saturdays and Jewish holidays, so we schedule around them. We finish at Wenceslas Square, scene of the 1989 Velvet Revolution, where the second big market runs down the boulevard.
Afternoon
Lunch is yours: the market stalls sell trdelnik, grilled sausages and potato pancakes. The rest of the day is free.
Evening
In the early evening your guide can take anyone who wants to Prague's Petrin hill or a beer hall, or you can return to the Old Town Square market for the tree lights.
Included
- Old Town walk with a local guide, including the Astronomical Clock
- Josefov: the Old-New Synagogue and the Old Jewish Cemetery (Jewish Museum ticket)
- The Wenceslas Square Christmas market
Free time: Afternoon and evening free
Activity: About 3 hours on foot, mostly flat.
Along the Elbe to Dresden
Prague to Dresden
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Dresden
- Drive about 2 h
We leave Prague at about 9:30 am and drive north about two hours, following the Elbe valley through the sandstone hills of Bohemian and Saxon Switzerland into Germany. Dresden was the capital of the Saxon electors and kings, and its Baroque centre, destroyed in February 1945, has been rebuilt over decades.
Afternoon
We check in near the Altmarkt and sit down to lunch, then walk with a local guide along the Bruhl Terrace above the river, past the Semperoper and the Hofkirche to the Frauenkirche, the domed church rebuilt from its rubble and reconsecrated in 2005. As it gets dark we go to the Striezelmarkt on the Altmarkt, one of Germany's oldest Christmas markets, first recorded in 1434, with its tall Christmas pyramid and stalls of Erzgebirge wood carvings. Taste Dresden Stollen, the fruit bread the market is named after.
Evening
Dinner is yours.
Included
- Drive from Prague to Dresden with your guide
- Sit-down lunch in Dresden
- Old Town walk with a local guide: the Bruhl Terrace, the Semperoper, the Hofkirche and the Frauenkirche
- The Striezelmarkt at dusk, with a mulled wine and a slice of Stollen
Free time: Evening free
Dresden: the Green Vault and the Zwinger
A day in Dresden
- Breakfast
- Stay in Dresden
Morning
This morning we use a timed ticket for the Historic Green Vault in the Residenzschloss, the treasure chamber of Augustus the Strong, where gold, ivory, amber and jewels are shown in mirrored Baroque rooms as he arranged them in the 1720s. Timed entry keeps the rooms calm. From the palace it is a short walk to the Zwinger, the Baroque pavilions and courtyard built for court festivals, where you can step into the Old Masters Picture Gallery to see Raphael's Sistine Madonna.
Afternoon
The afternoon is free. Dresden has several other markets in December: the medieval market in the Stallhof, the Augustusmarkt on the Hauptstrasse across the river, and smaller ones in Neustadt. Your guide will point you to the ones that are open.
Evening
In the evening go back to the Striezelmarkt, or cross the Augustus Bridge for the view of the lit old town over the Elbe.
Included
- Historic Green Vault on a timed ticket
- The Zwinger and the Old Masters Picture Gallery
Optional experiences
- Half-day trip to Meissen, about 25 km down the Elbe, for the porcelain manufactory and its own Christmas market (arranged on request)
Easier option: Skip the gallery and spend the late morning in a cafe on the Neumarkt.
More active option: Climb the Frauenkirche dome (ticket on the day) for the view over the rooftops and the market.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free
Activity: About 2 to 3 hours on foot, mostly indoors.
Into Poland: Wroclaw
Dresden to Wroclaw on the A4
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Wroclaw
- Drive about 3 h
We leave Dresden at about 9 am and drive east about three hours on the A4 motorway, across the Neisse into Poland and through Lower Silesia, with a coffee stop on the way. Wroclaw sits on the Oder, spread over a dozen islands and more than a hundred bridges.
Afternoon
After a sit-down lunch near the Rynek, a local guide walks us around the market square, one of the largest in Poland, with its Gothic town hall and rows of painted merchant houses. The Christmas market fills the Rynek and the streets around it, and you will start to spot the city's small bronze dwarfs, now several hundred of them, tucked by doorways and lamp posts.
Evening
At dusk we cross to Ostrow Tumski, the cathedral island, where the gas street lamps are lit by hand, and walk back over the Tumski Bridge. The evening is yours at the market.
Included
- Drive from Dresden to Wroclaw with your guide
- Sit-down lunch in Wroclaw
- Walk with a local guide: the Rynek, the town hall and the Christmas market, with a mulled wine
- Ostrow Tumski and the cathedral island at dusk
Free time: Evening free
The Raclawice Panorama, then Krakow
Wroclaw to Krakow on the A4
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Krakow
- Drive about 3 h
We start at the Raclawice Panorama, a circular painting about 114 m long that wraps around the viewer, showing the 1794 battle in which Kosciuszko's peasant army beat the Russian forces. Entry is in timed sessions, so we take the first one we can book.
Afternoon
At about 10:30 am we drive east about three hours on the A4 to Krakow, with a sit-down lunch on arrival. In the afternoon a local guide walks us from the Barbican and St Florian's Gate down Florianska Street to Rynek Glowny, the medieval market square, where the Christmas market stands between the Cloth Hall and St Mary's Basilica. Inside the basilica we see Veit Stoss's carved wooden altarpiece, finished in 1489. On the hour, listen for the trumpet call from the tower that breaks off mid-tune. In December Krakow's szopki, the tall, glittering nativity cribs, are on show near the square.
Evening
We finish with a farewell dinner.
Included
- Raclawice Panorama in Wroclaw
- Drive from Wroclaw to Krakow with your guide
- Sit-down lunch in Krakow
- Old Town walk with a local guide: the Barbican, Florianska Street, the Cloth Hall and the Christmas market, with a mulled wine
- St Mary's Basilica and the Veit Stoss altarpiece
- Farewell dinner
Free time: After dinner free at the market
Wawel, Kazimierz and home
Wawel Hill and Kazimierz, then Krakow Airport (KRK)
- Breakfast
We walk up Wawel Hill for the first entry we can book, before the queues, for Wawel Cathedral, where Polish kings were crowned and are buried, and the Sigismund Chapel with its gilded dome. From the castle walls there is a view down to the Vistula. From Wawel it is a short walk to Kazimierz, for centuries the Jewish town of Krakow, now a district of cafes and small galleries around Szeroka Street, where the Old Synagogue and the Remuh Synagogue and cemetery still stand. Your guide shows you where to find zapiekanka, the open baguette Krakow eats at any hour, or a bowl of zurek soup.
Afternoon
Lunch is yours. In the early afternoon we drive you to Krakow John Paul II International Airport (KRK), about 15 km west of the centre. Book a flight leaving after about 4 pm, or stay on; your guide sees you to the airport.
Included
- Wawel Cathedral and the Sigismund Chapel, first entry we can book
- Kazimierz walk with your guide: Szeroka Street and the synagogues
- Drop-off at Krakow John Paul II International Airport (KRK)
Easier option: If your flight is before about 4 pm, we go from Wawel straight to the airport.
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about 4 pm to see Wawel and Kazimierz.
- Prague3 nights
- Dresden2 nights
- Wroclaw1 night
- Krakow1 night
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: December days are short and cold, so we sightsee in the daylight and keep the markets for after dark, when they are lit and at their best. Snow is possible; drive times can stretch in bad weather.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want the Christmas markets on more than one evening, not a quick stop
- First-time visitors to Prague, Dresden and Krakow who want the main sights covered with entries included
- Solo travellers who want company at the markets without being forced into it
- Anyone who prefers short drives and their bags carried to a train journey with luggage
Not for you if you want
- Travellers who do not like the cold or the dark: it is freezing at times and dark by about 4 pm
- Anyone needing step-free access: cobbles, stone stairs and old buildings throughout
- Travellers wanting Christmas Day itself: departures finish by 23 December
- Those wanting Auschwitz-Birkenau or the Wieliczka salt mine, which need more time in Krakow (see our Poland trip)
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
7 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Prague3 nights
- Dresden2 nights
- Wroclaw1 night
- Krakow1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 7 nights in central hotels within about a 10 minute walk of the market squares: 3 in Prague, 2 in Dresden, 1 in Wroclaw, 1 in Krakow
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up at Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) and drop-off at Krakow John Paul II International Airport (KRK)
- Our own vehicle and driver for the group from Prague to Krakow, with luggage handled
- Public tram in Prague where it saves a climb
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide for the whole trip, with local licensed guides in Prague, Dresden, Wroclaw and Krakow
Activities
- Prague: Prague Castle circuit, Charles Bridge, the Old Town and Astronomical Clock, Josefov and the Jewish Museum, a classical concert
- Dresden: Old Town walk, the Frauenkirche, the Historic Green Vault, the Zwinger and the Old Masters Picture Gallery
- Wroclaw: the Rynek and Ostrow Tumski, the Raclawice Panorama
- Krakow: St Mary's Basilica and the Veit Stoss altarpiece, Wawel Cathedral, Kazimierz
- A mulled wine and a guided walk at each of the four Christmas markets: Prague, Dresden's Striezelmarkt, Wroclaw and Krakow
Meals
- 7 breakfasts
- 4 sit-down lunches (days 2, 4, 6 and 7)
- Welcome dinner in Prague and farewell dinner in Krakow
Not included
- International flights into Prague and out of Krakow
- Visa or travel authorisation if your nationality needs one
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed, including market food
- Drinks beyond one mulled wine at each market
- Tips
- Optional activities, such as Meissen or tower climbs
- Personal expenses and market shopping
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 660 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
Seven nights in central hotels, 7 breakfasts, 4 sit-down lunches, a welcome and a farewell dinner, airport transfers in Prague and Krakow, our own vehicle and driver between cities, your See Sight Tours guide throughout with local guides, Prague Castle, a classical concert, the Historic Green Vault, the Raclawice Panorama, Wawel Cathedral and a mulled wine at every market.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, so the group moves easily through crowded markets, fits around one table at lunch and can hear the guide in a busy square.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with you from Prague to Krakow. In each city a local licensed guide joins for the main walks and sites, where local rules or the depth of the history call for one. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.
When do the departures run?
Between the opening of the markets in late November and 23 December. Prague, Wroclaw and Krakow keep their markets open past Christmas, but Dresden's Striezelmarkt closes on 24 December, so every departure has its Dresden nights before then. Exact dates are set when the markets publish their schedules.
How cold is it, and what should I pack?
Expect temperatures around freezing, sometimes snow or sleet, and darkness by about 4 pm. Pack a warm coat, hat, gloves, a scarf, thermal layers and waterproof boots with grip for cobbles. Evenings at the markets mean an hour or two standing outside, so dress warmer than you think.
How fit do I need to be?
An easy level. Most days have 2 to 3 hours on foot on cobbles, with up to about 8 km on the Prague Castle day. You can take the tram up the castle hill instead of walking, and any walk can be cut short at a cafe or the hotel.
I am travelling solo. How does the single supplement work?
If you would like your own room, the single supplement is from CAD 660, shown before you request to book with no surprise later. Solo travellers get the same seat, the same inclusions and the same attention as everyone else; the markets are an easy place to make company.
How does booking work?
Choose a departure and send a request to book. We check availability and provide the final quote, itinerary and booking terms before you accept. No payment is taken when you send the request. The small group starts from CAD 3,875 per person sharing, with taxes included.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The trip also runs as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose within the market season, from CAD 6,975 per person. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask from the dates section and we will quote the same hotels, transfers and local guides.
Do I need a visa?
Czechia, Germany and Poland are all in the Schengen area, so one set of entry rules covers the whole trip. Many nationalities, including Canadians and Americans, can visit without a visa for short stays, but entry rules are changing, so check the current requirements for your passport before you fly.
Which is the best market on the trip?
They are different. Prague's Old Town Square has the setting, Dresden's Striezelmarkt has the history, first recorded in 1434, plus Stollen and wood carvings, Wroclaw's Rynek is large and lively, and Krakow's sits under St Mary's Basilica with the city's nativity cribs nearby. That variety is why we visit all four.
Why do you drive instead of taking the train?
Our own vehicle carries your luggage door to door, which matters in winter on cobbles and station stairs. The drives are short, about 2 hours to Dresden and about 3 hours each to Wroclaw and Krakow, with no departure before 9 am. There is no fast direct train between Dresden and Wroclaw.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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