European Christmas Markets: Prague, Vienna & Budapest — Self-Launched
9 days · Central Europe (Prague, Dresden, Český Krumlov, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest)
Collette charges £2,650
No-markup version: ~£1,230 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Collette's 9-day Christmas markets tour through Prague, Dresden, Český Krumlov, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. Instead of a coach and tour manager, you'll use the excellent Central European rail and bus network — Czech Railways, RegioJet, ÖBB and FlixBus — sleeping in central hostels and guesthouses and booking the couple of ticketed experiences (Schönbrunn, House of Music) yourself. You'll see exactly the same markets (Old Town Square, Striezelmarkt, Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt, Vörösmarty Square, St. Stephen's Basilica) and same landmarks, but with freedom to linger over mulled wine. Best done in early-to-mid December when all markets are running. All costs are rough per-person estimates for a budget-to-midrange solo traveller.
Day-by-day
Arrive Prague — Old Town Christmas Market
Prague, Czech Republic
Fly or train into Prague and check into a central hostel or guesthouse in Old Town / Vinohrady. Spend the evening at Prague's Old Town Square Christmas market: huge tree, svařák (mulled wine, ~£2), trdelník chimney cakes and roasted ham. The commercial tour opens with a welcome dinner — instead, grab a cheap Czech pub dinner (goulash and dumplings, ~£10) or eat your way round the stalls.
🚌Airport bus 119 + metro to city centre ~£1.50, or Praha hlavní nádraží if arriving by train
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in central Prague (£18–25/night)
- →Old Town Square Christmas market
- →Wenceslas Square market
- →Evening stroll via Charles Bridge
Prague Castle, St. Vitus & Charles Bridge
Prague, Czech Republic
Self-guided version of the included panoramic Prague Castle District tour. Walk up through Malá Strana to Prague Castle; the 'Circuit B' ticket covers St. Vitus Cathedral, Old Royal Palace, Golden Lane and St. George's Basilica (~£11). Cross Charles Bridge at dusk (buy a lantern candle for the atmosphere), then hit the Old Town Square market again for dinner.
🚌Walkable; tram 22 to Pražský hrad if you'd rather save your legs (~£1)
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in central Prague (£18–25/night)
- →Prague Castle Circuit B ticket
- →St. Vitus Cathedral
- →Golden Lane
- →Charles Bridge at sunset
- →Old Town Square market
Day trip to Dresden's Striezelmarkt
Dresden, Germany (day trip)
Replicate the tour's Dresden excursion independently. Take the early RegioJet or České dráhy train from Prague to Dresden (about 2h20, ~£15–20 each way, book ahead for the best fares). Explore the baroque Altstadt: Frauenkirche (free entry, small fee for the dome), the Royal Palace (Residenzschloss) and the Zwinger. Striezelmarkt, Germany's oldest Christmas market, is the star — try Dresdner Stollen and Glühwein. Return to Prague in the evening.
🚌Return train Prague–Dresden ~£25–35 with advance booking (RegioJet or ČD)
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in central Prague (£18–25/night)
- →Frauenkirche
- →Residenzschloss (Royal Palace)
- →Zwinger
- →Striezelmarkt Christmas market
- →Stollen tasting
Prague → Český Krumlov → Vienna
Český Krumlov & Vienna, Austria
Check out early and catch a RegioJet bus/train to Český Krumlov (about 3h, ~£10). Spend the afternoon in the fairytale old town and castle gardens — the Christmas market on Svornosti Square is small and lovely. Then take the late-afternoon FlixBus or train onward to Vienna (via České Budějovice; about 4h total, ~£15–20). Arrive Vienna and settle into a hostel in Mariahilf or near Westbahnhof. Skip the tour's Marchfelderhof dinner and instead have a cheap Würstelstand sausage or Beisl schnitzel (~£12).
🚌Prague→Český Krumlov ~£10; Český Krumlov→Vienna ~£15–20 (FlixBus/ÖBB)
🛏Hostel dorm in Vienna (£20–28/night)
- →Český Krumlov old town & castle
- →Svornosti Square Christmas market
- →Arrival stroll in Vienna
Vienna: Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt & city centre
Vienna, Austria
Do the scenic walking tour yourself: Ringstrasse, Hofburg Palace exterior, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Graben and Kärntnerstrasse. In the evening head to the Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt — arguably Europe's prettiest — with its illuminated city hall and ice-skating trails. Optional: book a Schönbrunn Palace Christmas market + palace interior or a classical concert via GetYourGuide (~£25–45).
🚌Vienna public transport day ticket ~£7
🛏Hostel dorm in Vienna (£20–28/night)
- →Ringstrasse self-guided walk
- →St. Stephen's Cathedral
- →Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt
- →Optional Schönbrunn Palace interior
- →Optional classical concert
Vienna → Bratislava → Budapest
Bratislava, Slovakia & Budapest, Hungary
The tour's bus day, recreated on trains. Take the ÖBB/Slovak Rail train from Vienna to Bratislava (about 1h, ~£9). Walk the compact old town, Bratislava Castle hill and the small Christmas market on Hlavné námestie. In the afternoon catch the train or RegioJet to Budapest (about 2h40, ~£12). Check into a hostel near Deák Ferenc tér. For the tour's strudel-making class and Hungarian dinner, substitute a Budapest cooking class or strudel workshop via GetYourGuide (~£30–40) or simply eat at a ruin bar/étkezde.
🚌Vienna→Bratislava ~£9; Bratislava→Budapest ~£12
🛏Hostel dorm in central Budapest (£15–22/night)
- →Bratislava old town & castle
- →Bratislava Christmas market
- →Optional strudel-making or Hungarian cooking class
Budapest: Fisherman's Bastion & Vörösmarty Square market
Budapest, Hungary
Self-guided 'classic Budapest' day: Castle Hill, Fisherman's Bastion and Matthias Church (a small fee for the bastion terraces, ~£5), then cross the Chain Bridge. In the late afternoon visit the Vörösmarty Square Christmas market (craft stalls, kürtőskalács) and the St. Stephen's Basilica market with its ice rink. Evening: a thermal bath (Széchenyi or Gellért, ~£20) or a tour of the ruin bars.
🚌Budapest 24h travelcard ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in central Budapest (£15–22/night)
- →Fisherman's Bastion & Matthias Church
- →Buda Castle district
- →Vörösmarty Square Christmas market
- →St. Stephen's Basilica market & ice rink
- →Optional thermal bath
Budapest: House of Music Hungary & farewell evening
Budapest, Hungary
Alternative to the tour's included choice day: book a timed ticket for the House of Music Hungary in City Park (~£12–15), with its interactive sound exhibitions and great park setting. Or take a guided walking/food tour via GetYourGuide if that appeals more. Finish with a farewell dinner — a proper Hungarian meal at a mid-range étterem (paprikás csirke, ~£18–22) or a street-food crawl in the Jewish Quarter.
🚌Metro/tram day ticket ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in central Budapest (£15–22/night)
- →House of Music Hungary
- →City Park & Vajdahunyad Castle
- →Optional guided food tour
- →Farewell dinner
Depart Budapest
Budapest, Hungary
One last coffee and kürtőskalács before heading to Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport (bus 100E, ~£3) or the main station for onward trains. If you have a late flight, squeeze in a final market visit or the Great Market Hall for paprika and souvenirs.
🚌Airport bus 100E ~£3
🛏Departure day — no accommodation
- →Great Market Hall shopping
- →Final market visit
Self-launched vs. Collette
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Collette | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,230 | £2,650 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,420 per person (54%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Collette-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,230
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does European Christmas Markets: Prague, Vienna & Budapest — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,230 per person for 9 days in Central Europe (Prague, Dresden, Český Krumlov, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Collette?+
Yes — Collette charges around £2,650 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,230 — a saving of roughly £1,420 (54%) per person.
How long is the Central Europe (Prague, Dresden, Český Krumlov, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Central Europe (Prague, Dresden, Český Krumlov, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a festivals, culture, city-breaks trip through Central Europe (Prague, Dresden, Český Krumlov, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
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