The Perfect Girls’ Trip Itinerary Through Europe’s Best Christmas Markets

Arrival Day: Your European Christmas Market Adventure Begins

Looking for the perfect European Christmas market girls’ trip? This itinerary takes you through some of the most magical Christmas markets in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria, with charming old towns, festive markets, beautiful mountain scenery, and plenty of glühwein along the way!

Our Christmas market itinerary includes stops in Zurich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Munich, Innsbruck, Nuremberg, and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It’s an incredible route for a girls’ trip through Europe during the Christmas season, and, for airline families, it’s also a trip that can work well using non-rev travel or buddy passes.

If you’re dreaming of spending your days wandering European Christmas markets, shopping for ornaments, drinking hot chocolate and glühwein, and exploring some of the prettiest towns in Europe, this itinerary is for you. Here’s exactly how we planned our Christmas market trip through Switzerland, Germany, and Austria.

Day 1: Zurich Christmas Markets

Start your European Christmas market itinerary in Zurich, Switzerland! Zurich is one of my favorite cities to fly into, especially during the Christmas season. The scenery as you fly into Switzerland is beautiful, and since most flights from the U.S. arrive in Europe in the morning, you’ll have almost an entire day to start exploring.

The best way we’ve found to fight jet lag is to get outside, walk around, and enjoy some fresh air. Luckily, Zurich is a pretty great place to do exactly that!

Getting Around Zurich

For this Christmas market road trip, I recommend renting a car since you’ll eventually be traveling through Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. However, if you’re spending your first night in Zurich, I would wait until you’re ready to leave the city to pick up your rental car. Zurich has excellent public transportation, and parking can be expensive.

We personally love staying at the Novotel near Zurich Airport. The train takes you just one stop from the airport to the hotel, which makes it incredibly convenient after an overnight flight. I’ve stayed here during our Christmas market trips for the past three years. The hotel recently completed renovations, and the updated rooms look lovely.

Explore the Zurich Christmas Markets

Once you drop off your luggage, head into the city for some shopping and your first taste of the Zurich Christmas markets.

Make sure you stop at Einzelstück, one of the cutest shops we’ve found in Zurich. I love browsing here for unique gifts and souvenirs. They have some great jewelry at good prices.

Zurich hosts several Christmas markets throughout the city, but two of my favorites are the Christmas market inside Zürich Hauptbahnhof (Zurich Main Station) and the Münsterhof Christmas Market.

The Christmas market inside Zurich HB is especially beautiful. You can’t miss the huge Lindt Christmas tree in the center of the station, covered in Lindt chocolate and lights. It makes an incredible centerpiece for the market and is definitely worth seeing.

And while you’re there, do not miss the truffle fries! You’ll find the stand behind the Lindt tree, and the fries were gluten-free when we visited. They were one of our favorite food finds at the Zurich Christmas market. If you have celiac disease, make sure you confirm the ingredients and preparation methods with the vendor since vendors and cooking practices can change from year to year.

The indoor location also makes the Zurich HB Christmas market a great place to warm up if you happen to visit on a particularly cold or rainy day.

Before you leave Zurich, don’t miss the famous Singing Christmas Tree! Choirs perform on a tiered stage that looks like a giant Christmas tree. Check the performance schedule ahead of time so you can plan your visit around one of the performances.

Day 2: Garmisch-Partenkirchen & Zugspitze

If you’re driving from Zurich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, get an early start. The drive can take anywhere from about 3.5 to 5 hours depending on traffic and winter weather, so give yourself plenty of extra time.

When renting your car, I highly recommend reserving an AWD or 4WD vehicle for this portion of the trip. Don’t assume that a rental car with winter tires automatically comes with AWD or 4WD—confirm what you’ve booked before you leave. Winter driving conditions in the Alps can change quickly, and Garmisch-Partenkirchen sits right in the mountains, where you’ll encounter hills, snow, and potentially icy roads.

Once you arrive, take some time to explore Garmisch-Partenkirchen. You won’t find the huge Christmas markets that you’ll experience in Munich or Nuremberg, but that’s not really why I include Garmisch on this itinerary. The town itself is beautiful, and the surrounding Alps create an incredible backdrop during the Christmas season.

Where to Stay in Garmisch-Partenkirchen

f you’re a military family, Edelweiss Lodge and Resort makes a great option. The rooms offer more space than many traditional European hotels, and you can’t beat the location. One of my favorite features is the outdoor hot tub surrounded by views of the Alps—especially after a cold day of sightseeing.

If you don’t have access to Edelweiss, I recommend Hotel Rheinischer Hof. This charming local hotel offers incredible mountain views and delicious food. Whatever you do, don’t skip breakfast here!

A Note for Military Families Staying at Edelweiss

If you’re traveling with friends or family members who don’t have a DOD ID, don’t forget about installation access. Edelweiss sits on a U.S. Army installation, so you can’t simply bring non-military guests through the gate without signing them in.

An eligible DOD ID cardholder can sponsor non-DOD guests. When you first arrive, use the main Edelweiss Resort gate, where you can complete the guest sign-in process. Adult guests should bring their valid passports, and U.S. citizen guests should also be prepared to provide their Social Security numbers. Edelweiss recommends carrying two forms of identification.

The installation access rules can change, so I highly recommend checking Edelweiss Lodge and Resort’s current installation access requirements before your trip—especially if you’re traveling with non-military friends.

Visit the Zugspitze

If you have enough time and the weather cooperates, head to Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain. On a clear day, the views from the top are absolutely incredible and easily make this one of the highlights of the trip.

If you’ve never visited Zugspitze, figuring out how to get to the top can seem a little confusing. You have two main options: take the cogwheel train up the mountain and Cable Car Zugspitze back down, or do the trip in reverse. Your Zugspitze round-trip ticket includes one trip up and one trip down, so I recommend using both for two completely different experiences.

The cogwheel train offers a slower, scenic ride through the mountains, while the cable car gives you incredible views as you travel back down toward the valley. You’ll also use the Gletscherbahn cable car between the glacier area and the Zugspitze summit.

You can purchase Zugspitze tickets directly from the official Bayerische Zugspitzbahn website or at the ticket offices when you arrive. If you’re staying at Edelweiss Lodge and Resort and qualify for the military discount, check with Edelweiss before buying your tickets. We purchased ours directly through the resort and received the military rate.

Once you reach the top, give yourself some time to explore rather than immediately heading back down. You can grab lunch, take in the incredible views and, depending on the conditions and what’s open during your visit, even play in the snow. One of the most fun things we’ve done there is sledding on Zugspitze, which does cost a small fee simply to rent a sled (roughly 12 euros). Seriously, how many people can say they’ve gone sledding in the Alps?

Before heading up, always check the weather and visibility. Clouds can completely hide those incredible mountain views, so I wouldn’t spend the money to go up just to stare into a wall of clouds.

Day 3: Dachau & Munich Christmas Markets

Get another early start this morning because you have a packed day ahead of you. You’ll begin at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, just outside Munich.

Visiting Dachau is an incredibly sobering experience, and I believe everyone who has the opportunity should visit a concentration camp memorial at least once. It’s difficult to put into words what it feels like to stand in a place where so much suffering occurred. Bring tissues and give yourself enough time to experience the memorial without rushing through it.

After your visit, grab lunch at the cafeteria before leaving. The food surprised us with how good it was, and eating there makes it easy to continue on to Munich without adding another stop to an already busy day.

Munich Christmas Markets

From Dachau, head into Munich for the Christmas markets. Munich is the capital of Bavaria, and if you’ve never visited Bavaria before, you’re in for a treat. This part of Germany has everything you picture when you think of Bavaria—beautiful architecture, beer halls, traditional food and, during the holidays, some incredible Christmas markets.

Munich hosts several Christmas markets throughout the city, but my favorite sits right in Marienplatz in the heart of Old Town. You’ll find rows of Christmas market stalls surrounded by Munich’s gorgeous historic architecture.

While you’re at Marienplatz, don’t miss the famous Glockenspiel at the Neues Rathaus. Try to time your visit so you can watch the figures come to life above the square. Check the current performance times before your trip since the schedule can vary throughout the year.

Spend the afternoon wandering through Munich’s Christmas markets, shopping for ornaments and gifts, and, of course, stopping for plenty of Christmas market treats along the way.

Dinner at Hofbrauhaus

For dinner, head to the Hofbräuhaus for one of the most quintessential Bavarian experiences in Munich.

Don’t come here expecting a quiet dinner! You’ll find long communal tables, huge pints of beer, traditional Bavarian food and plenty of noise. You may even end up sharing your table with complete strangers—which is part of the fun.

On one of our visits, we shared our table with two men from Spain who designed shoes for a shoe company. We ended up having such a fun evening with them, and it’s still one of those random travel memories we talk about.

Order a beer and a pretzel, enjoy the atmosphere, and embrace the experience. You’re in Bavaria!

After dinner, make your way back to Garmisch-Partenkirchen for the night and get some rest. You’ll need it because tomorrow brings another packed day of Christmas markets!

Day 4: Innsbruck Christmas Markets

Who’s ready to visit Austria today?

Before you leave Garmisch, make sure your rental car has an Austrian vignette, which you’ll need to drive on Austria’s motorways and expressways. If your rental car doesn’t already have one, purchase a vignette before you enter a road that requires it. You can often buy one at gas stations near the Austrian border. Make sure you ask your rental car company about this when you pick up your car, too.

The drive from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Innsbruck takes about 1.5 hours, but the scenery makes the drive an experience all by itself. As you make your way through the Alps and descend toward Innsbruck, you’ll catch incredible views of the city surrounded by mountains.

Honestly, Innsbruck is one of those places where you’ll want to pinch yourself because it almost doesn’t look real. The colorful buildings, snow-covered mountains and Christmas decorations make the entire city feel like a postcard.

Explore the Innsbruck Christmas Markets

Once you arrive, spend the day wandering through the Innsbruck Christmas markets and exploring Old Town. You’ll find Christmas market stalls tucked among the historic buildings, along with plenty of shops where you can warm up and do a little Christmas shopping.

Don’t rush through this stop. Wander the markets, try the different Christmas drinks and snacks, browse the shops and take in those incredible mountain views. Innsbruck has such a magical atmosphere at Christmas that simply walking around the city is part of the experience.

Where to Eat Gluten-Free in Innsbruck

If you’re looking for gluten-free food in Innsbruck, add Mariatheresia to your list. We returned to Innsbruck a year after our original Christmas market trip and ate here with my celiac daughter. The restaurant offered gluten-free options, and she was able to eat here without any issues during our visit.

Mariatheresia also makes a great stop when you want to sit down, warm up and enjoy a meal after walking through the Christmas markets.

As always, if you have celiac disease, let your server know and confirm the restaurant’s current ingredients and cross-contact procedures since menus and preparation methods can change.

After a full day in Austria, enjoy one more evening surrounded by the Alps before heading farther north tomorrow for the next stop on your European Christmas market itinerary.

Day 5: Nuremberg Christmas Markets & Documentation Center

Pack up early this morning and head north to Nuremberg. The drive from Garmisch-Partenkirchen takes about 3 to 3.5 hours. So get an early start to give yourself as much time as possible to explore the city.

Once you arrive, drop your bags at the hotel and head straight to the Documentation Center Nazi Party Rally Grounds. If you stay at the Novotel, you can easily walk there from the hotel.

Plan on spending about two hours at the museum. The Documentation Center was undergoing renovations when we visited, so we didn’t get to experience the entire museum. Even so, I found the exhibits incredibly informative. The museum explores the rise of the Nazi Party, how Hitler gained support, and how the Nazis used propaganda and massive rallies to influence the German population.

As you walk from the hotel toward the museum, pay attention to the enormous scale of the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds. Seeing these structures in person gives you an entirely different perspective on the massive rallies that once took place here.

Nuremberg Christmas Market

After visiting the Documentation Center, take public transportation into Nuremberg’s historic city center. This is where the mood of the day completely changes.

Nuremberg is famous for its Christkindlesmarkt, and for good reason. With its medieval architecture, Christmas lights and rows of festive stalls, the city feels like you’ve stepped back in time—or straight into a Hallmark Christmas movie.

We happened to visit on the opening day of the Nuremberg Christmas Market and watched the opening ceremony. The market was incredibly busy, but I wouldn’t have missed the experience. If your trip happens to coincide with opening day, prepare for crowds and embrace it!

Spend the evening strolling through the market stalls, shopping for Christmas decorations and gifts, and trying plenty of glühwein and hot chocolate along the way.

Dinner at Hexenhäusle

When you’re ready for dinner, walk to Hexenhäusle, a charming restaurant and Biergarten near Nuremberg’s historic city walls.

This might have been the best food I had during our entire trip through Germany. We ordered several dishes, and I don’t remember a single thing we didn’t love. After a long day of driving, history and Christmas markets, it made the perfect place to end our night.

After dinner, head back to the hotel and get some sleep. Tomorrow morning, you’ll start making your way back toward Zurich, but first a stop in one of the most well known Christmas spots in Germany.

Day 6: Rothenburg ob der Tauber Christmas Market

It’s the final day of our European Christmas market itinerary, but we’re fitting in one more magical stop before heading back to Zurich!

Start your morning with a drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Germany’s most picturesque medieval towns. Rothenburg looks like it belongs in a storybook year-round, but Christmas makes it even more magical.

Explore Rothenburg ob der Tauber at Christmas

Rothenburg was by far the busiest town we visited during our Christmas market trip, so prepare yourself for crowds. You’ll see plenty of tour groups and buses during the Christmas season, but don’t let that deter you. This town is absolutely adorable and worth the stop.

Spend some time wandering through the Rothenburg Christmas Market, officially known as the Reiterlesmarkt. The medieval buildings and cobblestone streets make the entire town feel like a Christmas village.

Make sure you visit Käthe Wohlfahrt, especially if you love Christmas decorations. You’ll find room after room filled with ornaments, decorations and traditional German Christmas items. You may encounter a line to get inside during the busy Christmas season, but we’ve found that it moves fairly quickly.

If you buy more than you want to carry home, ask about shipping your purchases. You can have items shipped home, or the staff can carefully package your purchases so you can take them with you.

Walk the Medieval City Walls

Don’t leave Rothenburg without walking at least part of the medieval city walls. You’ll get a completely different view of the town from above, and it’s one of my favorite ways to experience Rothenburg.

Afterward, spend some time wandering through the historic center. Explore the little shops, grab something warm to drink and enjoy lunch at one of the local restaurants. You’ll find plenty of charming options, but restaurants can fill up quickly around lunchtime during the Christmas season. Either make a reservation or plan to eat a little earlier or later than the typical lunch rush.

Drive Back to Zurich

Don’t lose track of time in Rothenburg because you still have a long drive ahead of you! Give yourself plenty of time to make the trip back to Zurich, especially during the winter.

The drive can take around 4 to 5 hours, depending on traffic and weather conditions. I would rather leave Rothenburg a little earlier than planned than find myself navigating snowy roads through Germany and Switzerland late at night.

Once you arrive in Zurich, settle in for your final night before flying home the next day—and congratulate yourself because you just completed an incredible Christmas market road trip through Switzerland, Germany and Austria!

Wrapping up the Perfect Girls’ Trip

Once you arrive back in Zurich, fill up the rental car with gas and return it to the airport. From there, take the train to your hotel and settle in for your final night in Europe.

If you still have some energy, hop on the train back into downtown Zurich for dinner. You’ll find plenty of great restaurants throughout the city, or you can revisit one of the Zurich Christmas markets you missed at the beginning of your trip and enjoy one last Christmas market meal.

If you arrive in Zurich later than expected, don’t worry about heading back downtown. You’ll find several places to grab dinner at the airport near the rental car return and train station.
And just like that, you’ve completed an incredible European Christmas market road trip through Switzerland, Germany and Austria!

This itinerary packs a lot into six days, but that’s part of what makes it such a fun girls’ trip. You’ll experience Christmas markets, charming medieval towns, the snow-covered Alps, incredible food and some important European history—all in one trip.

If you’ve been dreaming about planning a European Christmas market girls’ trip, grab your girlfriends, pack your warmest clothes and start planning. This remains one of my favorite trips we’ve taken, and I would do it all over again!

Click here to view my entire itinerary on Google Maps!

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