There are lots of ways clients can enjoy a hassle-free festive holiday in Europe, including road, river and rail
With Christmas cheer filling the air at every turn, a festive getaway is the way to go for clients looking to start their seasonal celebrations early. Whether it’s a coach trip to the great British countryside or a cruise through Europe’s grandest cities as they twinkle with Christmas lights, clients will enjoy plenty of heart-warming moments as they count down the hours until Santa arrives.
Festive trips come in a variety of forms – but among the biggest sellers are UK getaways featuring a festive feast and Christmas market breaks in the cities of Germany, France and beyond. As a bonus, clients won’t go home with memories alone – they can stock up on handcrafted souvenirs, sweet pastries galore and glühwein in generous glugs; winner winner, turkey dinner.
Christmas holidays by road
Four-Star Christmas Break near Chester, Great Little Breaks
One of the operator’s bestselling festive trips, this cosy Christmas stay at the 17th-century Crabwall Manor Hotel & Spa can be reached by car, so it suits those who like the flexibility of bringing their own vehicle.
Minced pies and mulled wine are served the minute guests step through the door, and they’ll have plenty of opportunity to relax at the spa’s 18-metre indoor pool before tucking into a Christmas Eve feast. The following days bring their own treats – including a three-course Christmas Day lunch and a Boxing Day breakfast that runs until check-out at midday.
Book it: The two-night break starts at £384 per person, including specified meals, Christmas quiz, late check-out and a bottle of prosecco.
greatlittlebreaks.com
Cologne & Düsseldorf Christmas Markets, National Holidays
Cologne hosts one of Europe’s biggest Christmas markets, with stalls around the city – the star-shaped market in front of the cathedral or the adorable Village of St Nicholas Christmas Market at Rudolfplatz are ideal for searching for gifts.
Nearby Düsseldorf has its own charms, including a doughnut-shaped ice rink looping around the Triton fountain; as does Aachen, which is home to an ornate cathedral that’s the burial place of emperor Charlemagne.
National Holidays’ coach package enables clients to take in all three cities – with a brief sojourn in Bonn – and local pick-ups make it uber-convenient.
Book it: The three-night trip starts at £349, based on a December 6 departure, including coach travel, ferry crossings, B&B accommodation and excursions.
nationalholidays.com/agents
Weston-super-Mare & Bath Christmas Market Weekend, Shearings
Next year, Somerset’s largest city will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth with special events, experiences and hotel packages. Shearings’ Weston-super-Mare & Bath Christmas Market Weekend is already on sale for 2025, so agents can get in early on the Austen-mania.
Based in seaside town Weston, travellers get a full day to explore the cobbled lanes of Bath, where chalets sell everything from handmade scented candles to West Country cheeses. The next day provides the chance to explore buzzing Bristol – but they’ll still be back in time for a festive cream tea.
Book it: The three-night break starts at £289 per person, including half-board accommodation, excursions and local joining points, departing November 14, 2025.
shearings.com
Selling tips for travel agents
Claire Dutton, trade sales manager, JG Travel Group
✪ Remember to promote festive breaks throughout the year, as customers book at different times. Some like to lock their holiday in early in the spring, while others will wait until after summer to start making plans.
✪ Tell customers they can come to you for festive breaks – even for short, two-day options. I recommend finding local departures from your area and promoting those in your windows and across all your social media platforms.
✪ Sell the value of festive holidays. We offer local pick-up points, included excursions and tickets, as well as added extras such as entertainment. It’s an organised package with no need to book all the separate elements – and it’s all commissionable.
✪ Extol the benefits of coach travel – guests can relax and let someone else get them to their destination.
Best festive river cruises
Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets River Cruise for Solo Travellers, Riviera Travel
To capitalise on the solo travel boom, Riviera Travel has introduced a collection of solo Christmas breaks for 2025. This cruise departs from Cologne and takes in the Rhine Gorge, before stopping at the chocolate-box town of Rüdesheim, where the local cold-weather tipple is a coffee laced with brandy and whipped cream.
Then it’s on to Koblenz for Christmas shopping, before returning to Bonn and Cologne for a dose of history and lashings of glühwein.
Book it: The four-night Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets sailing starts at £1,514, leaving December 18, 2025. The price includes Eurostar tickets, transfers, all meals, a Superior drinks package, onboard Wi-Fi and listed excursions.
rivieratravel.co.uk
Yuletide Delights, Tui River Cruises
Tui has expanded its range of festive river itineraries for 2025. This sailing along the Danube on board Tui Maya starts in Vienna, where clients will be able to peruse 100-plus pop-up stalls in front of the city hall. There’s an overnight in port here, so they can enjoy an evening opera concert.
They’ll then sail to Budapest – advise clients to look out for the Christmas tree in St Stephen’s Square and to sample a chimney cake. On the way back to Vienna, there’s a call in petite Bratislava, home to a fun festive tram.
Book it: The five-night Yuletide Delights itinerary starts at £1,019, based on two adults sharing a Standard Cabin on an all-inclusive basis. The price includes flights on November 26, 2025, luggage, transfers and tips.
tui.co.uk
Festive Time on the Romantic Rhine (Southbound), Avalon Waterways
This itinerary begins in Amsterdam, where the canals and cafes are adorned with illuminated art for the Amsterdam Light Festival. It then calls at Cologne and Rüdesheim, where excursions include city walks and museum visits, with time to peruse a Christmas market or two.
While docked in Mainz, there’s a coach tour to historic university town Heidelberg to see the redwalled castle hopefully dusted with snow. Other stops on the way to Basel include Breisach, the gateway to Germany’s Black Forest.
Book it: The seven-night Festive Time on the Romantic Rhine (Southbound) cruise costs from £2,678, based on two sharing a Deluxe Stateroom. The price includes flights on December 15, Wi-Fi, all dining and drinks with meals.
avalonwaterways.co.uk
Ask the experts
Steven Heath, senior commercial manager, Tui River Cruises
“Remember that river cruises offer a variety of durations, so whether your customer wants an extended festive break or to hit the Christmas markets for just a few days, there’s plenty to choose from. We also offer bespoke training, so no matter what your knowledge level is, the Tui River Cruises trade team can create training tailored to you and your colleagues.”
Kelly Calver, key account manager, Avalon Waterways
“Our festive sailings have globally sold extremely well this year, with a combined load factor of 96%. We have increased capacity for 2025 and have 40 sailings to book, and have already launched our 2026 programme, with 43 festive sailings across 12 itineraries. Book early if you can – we still have availability for 2024, but it can become limited.”
Festive breaks by rail
Strasbourg, Colmar and Basel, Railbookers
There’s a certain magic about seeing Europe by train. Anna Davies, Railbookers’ director of partnership marketing, says: “It’s a great way to seamlessly connect multiple cities in one trip, with some spectacular scenery on the way.”
This itinerary takes in two cities in France’s Germaninfluenced region of Alsace. In Colmar, think cookery demonstrations and wine tastings, with six markets offering 180 stalls to peruse.
Strasbourg, meanwhile, has a Christmas market dating back more than four centuries. Then it’s on to Basel, in Switzerland, for riverside raclette and traditional gingerbread.
Book it: The five-night trip costs from £1,599 per person, departing December 19. The price includes train travel, B&B accommodation, listed excursions and a BaselCard.
railbookers.co.uk
North European Markets, Byway Travel
Flight-free operator Byway offers an enticing festive itinerary that combines some of Europe’s most enchanting wintry cities. After arriving in Brussels via Eurostar, clients can wander the Belgian capital in search of festive fun, which ranges from curling rinks to sound and light shows.
Next up is Berlin, where the Christmas markets reflect the city’s diverse character – from LGBTQ+ markets with stage shows on Nollendorfplatz to Nordic stalls with a Viking vibe at Schloss Britz. Last call is Amsterdam, where customers can skate on lakes if the weather dips below freezing.
Book it: The four-night trip is priced from £612 per person, based on a December 16 departure, including all travel, accommodation, breakfast and a journey leader.
byway.travel
Glacier Express All-Inclusive at Christmas, Great Rail Journeys
Switzerland’s snowy landscapes aren’t just for skiing – they’re also perfect for a truly white Christmas. Setting off on December 23, clients will travel via Eurostar, before ascending into glitzy St Moritz on Christmas Eve.
On the big day, they’ll ride the Bernina Express across canyons and past iridescent icy lakes on the way to Tirano, where they can sample Italian festive delicacies such as ravioli in a rich broth and perfect panettone.
The next few days are spent exploring snow-covered Swiss villages – suggest a fondue feast to warm up from the chill – before boarding the glasscovered Glacier Express for a festive finale.
Book it: The seven-night trip starts at £2,099 per person, departing December 23. The price includes all travel, most meals, selected drinks and a Swiss Travel Pass.
greatrail.com
Insider insight
Rob Payne, chief commercial officer, Great Rail Journeys
“Festive departures always see early interest, with searches for ‘Christmas’ surging after December 26. Last year, interest peaked on January 28 – and customers often book immediately. It’s always gratifying to see clients coming back year after year. Most of our Christmas and New Year tours for 2024-25 are fully booked. However, we’ve added a limited amount of extra capacity and departures for a couple of bestselling tours, so there are still opportunities for agents to snap up a spot. Some Christmas bookings for December 2025 are also already available.”
PICTURES: Shutterstock/GTS Productions; Shutterstock/Guitar photographer
