Please estimate how many miles of walking may be involved per day.

This itinerary is not a trekking or strenuous walking holiday — it's a river cruise with city and market visits that involve light to moderate walking at a leisurely tourist pace. The physical demand is generally manageable for most travellers who can walk a few kilometers over the course of a day with rest breaks, especially with frequent opportunities to sit and browse markets.

Rhine Christmas Markets with Switzerland 2026 - 12 Days (15 destinations)

12 days

•

From Zurich to Dusseldorf

4.4

45 reviews

View all
View all

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

Travel inspiration for similar adventures
Alerts of the newest adventure deals

Plan your adventure:

Gold Operator: Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours
River Cruise: Cruise scenic waterways for effortless exploration
Group Tour: Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided: An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Low Intensity: Travelers can expect some light physical activities
Guided in English
Group Size 10 - 50
Ages 18+

Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Itinerary

Day 1
Zurich
Zurich
Day 2
Zurich - Lucerne - Bern
Zurich - Lucerne - Bern
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Zurich with local guide
- Guided tour of Lucerne including waterfront promenades
- Guided tour of Bern
- Visit to Bear Park
Optional Activities
- Explore Lucerne's Christmas Markets (free time)
Landmarks
Bear Park
Bern Old Town
Day 3
Bern - Gstaad - Montreux
Bern - Gstaad - Montreux
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Gstaad
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Gstaad (free time, at own expense)
Landmarks
Lake Geneva
Day 4
Montreux
Montreux
Meals
Lunch (Fondue lunch with private cheese-making demonstration)
Included Activities
- Panoramic train ride to Château-d'Oex
- Traditional cheese-making demonstration at Restaurant Le Chalet
- Fondue lunch
Optional Activities
- Explore Montreux Christmas Markets (free time)
Day 5
Montreux to Basel
Montreux to Basel
Meals
Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Basel
- Visit to Basel Minster
- Visit to Basel City Hall
Optional Activities
- Explore Basel Christmas Markets (free time)
Landmarks
Basel Minster
Basel City Hall
Day 6
Basel to Breisach
Basel to Breisach
Meals
Breakfast (Breakfast in Crystal Dining)
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Colmar with Christmas Markets
- Guided tour of Freiburg with Christmas Markets and 13th Century Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Morning in suite (personal butler coffee and breakfast in Crystal Dining)
Landmarks
Freiburg Cathedral
Day 7
Breisach to Strasbourg
Breisach to Strasbourg
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Strasbourg with local guide
- Visit to Strasbourg Cathedral
- Visit to Petit France
- Visit to Grand Ile
Landmarks
Strasbourg Cathedral
Petit France
Day 8
Strasbourg to Mannheim
Strasbourg to Mannheim
Included Activities
- Orientation tour of Heidelberg with free time
- Historical tour of Heidelberg including Heidelberg Castle and the Heidelberg Tun (world's largest wine barrel)
Optional Activities
- Private Classical Concert at Bruchsal Palace with welcome drink
Landmarks
Heidelberg Castle
Bruchsal Palace
Day 9
Mannheim to Rüdesheim
Mannheim to Rüdesheim
Included Activities
- Mini-train journey to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
- Visit to Siegfried's Mechanical Musical Instrument Museum
Optional Activities
- Explore Rüdesheim town (free time)
Day 10
Rüdesheim to Cologne
Rüdesheim to Cologne
Meals
Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic cruise through Rhine Gorge
- Walking tour of Cologne
- Visit to Cologne Cathedral
Optional Activities
- Explore Cologne Christmas Markets (free time before dinner departure)
Landmarks
Cologne Cathedral
Day 11
Cologne to Düsseldorf
Cologne to Düsseldorf
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Düsseldorf with local guide
Optional Activities
- Explore Düsseldorf Christmas Markets (free time)
Day 12
Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Meals
Breakfast
Landmarks
Amsterdam Airport

Landmarks
Bear Park
Bern Old Town

Landmarks
Lake Geneva

Landmarks
Basel Minster
Basel City Hall

Landmarks
Freiburg Cathedral

Landmarks
Strasbourg Cathedral
Petit France

Landmarks
Heidelberg Castle
Bruchsal Palace

Landmarks
Cologne Cathedral

Landmarks
Amsterdam Airport

What's Included

Expand All

Accommodation
Guide
Meals
Additional Services
Transport

Operated by

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Gold Operator

Rating: 4.4(45 reviews)
Response time: within 2 days
Response rate: 80%
Cancellation policy

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours Ship

Scenic Jewel
Built in 2013, Scenic Jewel is an unforgettable gem in Scenic’s fleetship. Attention to detail is a crucial aspect, which is why ev… Read more
Built
2013
Guests
169
Crew
51
Length
135m
Staterooms
85
Gross Tonnage
2,721
Staterooms / Suites Deck Plans Dining

Reviews from other tours by Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Tour Operator
4.4

GARRY
April 30th, 2026
I thought that the cruise was excellent. I really cannot think of any aspect of it that did not fully meet or surpass...
Show more
Frederick
April 17th, 2026
Solid execution of itinerary and shipboard activities and service. Food was less than excellent but generous and...
Show more
CHYE
October 10th, 2023
Overall Good. Staff service was generally excellent. F&B was good. Excursions could be improved.

Dates & Availability

Select departure month and travellers

Select Date

1 Adult2 Adults, 1 Child2 Children

Upcoming departures

Hurry, deals only available for a limited time!

Ends in2d2h46m0s

-7%
From Wednesday
9 Dec, 2026
To Sunday
20 Dec, 2026
English
Scenic Jade
From:
$9,690
US $8,976 per person
Sign up and save
Start Amsterdam, End Zurich Version
View this tour
-7%
From Friday
11 Dec, 2026
To Tuesday
22 Dec, 2026
English
Scenic Jasper
From:
$9,890
US $9,156 per person
Multiple Room Types
Sign up and save
-7%
From Saturday
12 Dec, 2026
To Wednesday
23 Dec, 2026
English
Scenic Jade
From:
$8,120
US $7,563 per person
Multiple Room Types
Sign up and save
-7%
From Tuesday
15 Dec, 2026
To Saturday
26 Dec, 2026
English
Scenic Jewel
From:
$9,890
US $9,156 per person
Sign up and save
Start Amsterdam, End Zurich Version
View this tour
-6%
From Sunday
28 Nov, 2027
To Thursday
9 Dec, 2027
English
Scenic Jewel
From:
$8,605
US $8,053 per person
Sign up and save
Start Amsterdam, End Zurich, 2027 Version
View this tour
-3%
From Sunday
28 Nov, 2027
To Thursday
9 Dec, 2027
English
Scenic Jewel
From:
$8,605
US $8,329 per person
Sign up and save
Start Amsterdam, End Zurich, 2027 Version
View this tour
-3%
From Tuesday
30 Nov, 2027
To Saturday
11 Dec, 2027
English
Scenic Ruby
From:
$8,605
US $8,329 per person
Sign up and save
Start Amsterdam, End Zurich, 2027 Version
View this tour
-3%
From Wednesday
1 Dec, 2027
To Sunday
12 Dec, 2027
English
Scenic Jewel
From:
$8,905
US $8,614 per person
Sign up and save
2027 Version
View this tour
-3%
From Friday
3 Dec, 2027
To Tuesday
14 Dec, 2027
English
Scenic Ruby
From:
$8,605
US $8,329 per person
Sign up and save
2027 Version
View this tour
-6%
From Monday
6 Dec, 2027
To Friday
17 Dec, 2027
English
Scenic Amber
From:
$8,605
US $8,053 per person
Sign up and save
Start Amsterdam, End Zurich, 2027 Version
View this tour

Why book with TourRadar?

Trusted and vetted operators
Rated excellent on
Best price guarantee

24/7 customer support
Earn $50 in travel credits

To protect your payment and ensure your booking will be processed in United States, never transfer or communicate outside of the TourRadar website or app.

More benefits

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.

All questions

We couldn't find results

Try a different search term or ask a question to this adventure's experts

N
Nancy
Asked on January 29th, 2026
Please estimate how many miles of walking may be involved per day.
Tour Details
- Scenic Luxury Cruises & ToursOperator•Written January 2026
  This itinerary is not a trekking or strenuous walking holiday — it's a river cruise with city and market visits that involve light to moderate walking at a leisurely tourist pace. The physical demand is generally manageable for most travellers who can walk a few kilometers over the course of a day with rest breaks, especially with frequent opportunities to sit and browse markets.

No departure dates available

No dates, no problem! Subscribe to our newsletter to receive:

Travel inspiration for similar adventures
Alerts of the newest adventure deals

Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 330431

Currencies
€
Euro
France and Germany
Fr.
Swiss Franc
Switzerland
Plugs & Adapters
As a traveler from USA, Canada, England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa you will need an adaptor for type J.
Type J
Switzerland
Vaccines
- These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
- Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for Germany.Switzerland. Ideally 6 months before travel.
Visa
- Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
- Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
Payment information
- For any tour departing before October 15th, 2026 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after October 15th, 2026, a minimum payment of 100% is required to confirm your booking with Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 95 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
- The following cards are accepted for "Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
Cancellation Policy
- TourRadar can request Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours to hold spaces for you for up to 48 hours without any credit card details.
- TourRadar is an authorized Agent of Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours. Please familiarize yourself with the Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours payment, cancellation and refund conditions.
Accessibility
Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
People also viewed
Sailing in Turkey
Africa Tours
Zimbabwe Safari
Amazon Boat Cruise - 4 Days
Amazing Turkey by Gulet
Finland Wilderness Express - 4 Days
Pride Sailing in Croatia (from Split to Dubro…

Rhine Christmas Markets with Switzerland 2026 - 12 Days (15 destinations)

No departure dates available

Itinerary

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Included Activities

Optional Activities

Want to read it later?

What's Included

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours Ship

Reviews from other tours by Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Dates & Availability

Want to read it later?

Why book with TourRadar?

What our customers ask about this tour

No departure dates available

Earn while you share

Good to Know

Keep Exploring Europe

Like this Moment?