Steam and Christmas Markets in Germany

Discover the festive splendour of Christmas Markets in Germany, including the romantic Rhineland and enchanting Harz Mountains. Enjoy a unique steam holiday exploring historic towns and cities in a Winter Wonderland landscape.

• This holiday is based in the vibrant city of Bonn and the picturesque town of Wernigerode. It offers travel refinement and a relaxed holiday experience for the seasoned traveller or Christmas Market newcomer alike.
• You’ll steam on different gauges, while sightseeing historic cathedral cities and rural landscapes.
• Enjoy a ride on the Drachenfels rack railway above the River Rhine and experience the large steam locomotive collection at the Frankfurter Feldbahnmuseum.
• A private charter on the metre gauge Brohltalbahn with its giant, green Mallet steam locomotive is a special railway highlight.
• In the Harz Mountains you can experience steam to the summit of Mount Brocken as often as you like, with a complimentary network rover ticket.
  

Thursday 28th November
London to Bonn by rail
Travel from London to Bonn by Eurostar and high speed rail. Arrive Bonn by late afternoon, in time to enjoy a mug of mulled wine and sample the culinary delights of the local Christmas Market, right next to the landmark cathedral. You are based here for the next 4 nights.

Friday 29th November
Steam in the Rhineland with giant Mallet at the Brohltalbahn and Bonn Christmas Market
Today you sample the famed ‘Vulcan Express’ on the Brohltbahn heritage railway, which runs for 18 km from Brohl to Engeln in the heart of the beautiful Rhineland. The star attraction is the mighty 0-4-4-0 Mallet tank engine No. 11, which will haul your privately chartered steam train and along the way pause for run-pasts. Coffee, cake and mulled wine will be served on the train. On the return to Bonn, the former capital of West Germany, you are free to enjoy the local Christmas Market, which is near the main station and attractively framed by the impressive cathedral. Here you may once again embark on a culinary journey of discovery and sample typical festive fare. (B)

Saturday 30th November
Rhine Gorge Railway and Steam in Frankfurt
After breakfast you take a DB Intercity service on the wold famous railway line through the River Rhine Gorge to Frankfurt am Main, passing beautiful rock formations like the Loreley, stunning hilltop castles and terraced vineyards. You arrive in Frankfurt by late morning and transfer by tramway to the local steam railway at the Frankfurter Feldbahnmuseum. This delightful narrow gauge railway has one of the largest 600 mm gauge (two foot) steam locomotive collections in Europe and also runs through a charming park. After visiting the collection of 20 steam locomotives in the well appointed museum shed, you will have a private steam charter, which will include numerous run-pasts and photo stops, skillfully organized by the volunteer crew. In the afternoon you venture to the Old Town of Frankfurt where you enjoy refreshments at the city’s famous Christmas Market and can take a stroll along the beautifully illuminated River Main. In the early evening you return to Bonn, this time taking an ICE on the direct high speed line by ICE. (B)

Sunday 1st December
At leisure in Bonn and Drachenfels scenic rack railway
You may use the tranquil hours of Sunday morning to sightsee in Bonn or use your complimentary public transport ticket to travel on the city’s extensive tramway network. In the afternoon you take a service train to Königswinter to ride the famed Drachenfels (Dragon’s Rock) rack railway high above the River Rhine. This impressively engineered line is just one of four rack railways in Germany. Originally opened in 1883, the Drachenfelsbahn is only operated by vintage electric trains and from the top offers sweeping views of the Rhineland. You return to Bonn in the late afternoon with more time for leisure and discovery in the city. (B)

Monday 2nd December
Arrival in the Harz Mountains, Sightseeing in Halberstadt by vintage tramway
The time has come to leave the Rhineland and head east to the Harz Mountains in Central Germany. You take a DB ICE from Köln Hbf to Hannover, from where you have a direct private coach transfer to the Harz region, first stopping in the early afternoon in the historic medieval city of Halberstadt. Famed for its soaring spires and stunning churches, this city boats a compact tramway and you will discover its scenic delights on a private sightseeing tour with a vintage 1920s tram. Following a private tour of the heritage depot, you continue by coach the short distance to Wernigerode, where you will be based for the rest of the holiday. After a hearty dinner at the hotel, you are free to wander to the formidable Wernigerode steam shed for night-time observation of the steam locomotives simmering outside, making great use of the attractive viewing tower. (B D)

Tuesday 3rd December to Thursday 5th December
Steam and leisure in the Harz Mountains
For the next three days you are free to make the most of your complimentary HSB rover ticket, which will allow you to travel the length of Germany’s largest narrow gauge railway network. Enjoy unlimited steam in the snow to the summit of Mount Brocken, an experience that never gets old, or ride on the long trunk line to Eisfelder Talmühle. The choice is yours and your Tour Manager will be happy to advise you of the connections. Each evening a hotel dinner is included. (B D)

Friday 6th December
Return to London
In the morning you have a comfortable and convenient coach transfer from Wernigerode to Hannover, where you board DB ICE to Cologne. From there you continue by high speed rail to Brussels, where you connect on to Eurostar back to London. (B)