fred.\ holidays winter breaks & christmas markets

$: Fred.\ Holidays Winter Breaks & Christmas Markets$
Our hand-picked selection of Winter Breaks and Christmas Markets for 2015…

£259

From just

Per Person

Winter Breaks &Christmas Markets

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Every year more and more people enjoy the unique and festive

charm of European Christmas Markets.

Traditionally, holidays in winter were seen as an opportunity to

escape to the sunshine yet there is an increasing desire to visit

more picturesque destinations. Sitting outside with a blanket and

a warm glass of mulled wine as the snow dances in the winter air,

these are the moments that last a lifetime as memories are made

and time seems to stand still.

Featured within our winter brochure we have a selection of holiday favourites from the staff here at Fred.\ Holidays.

Why not send us your favourite moments, simply tweet @Fred_Travel with the hashtag #fredfaves and share your holiday memories with fellow travellers.

Winter Breaks & Christmas Markets

#FredFaves

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4 Fred.\’s guide to booking your next holiday

5 Baden-Baden

6 Berlin

7 Bremen

8 Cologne

9 Darmstadt

10 Dresden

11 Frankfurt

12 Hamburg

13 Leipzig

14 Munich

15 Nuremberg

16 Rothenburg

17 Würzburg

18 Antwerp, Paris & Rome

19 Budapest, Krakow & Vienna

20 Copenhagen, Helsinki & Stockholm

21 Dogsled the Arctic Circle

22-23 Christmas Market Calendar

ContentsFrom the sparkling lights of Christmas

Markets to that warm cup of glühwein

this is the time to enjoy local culture, go

in search of those handcrafted unique

Christmas gifts or to find the perfect spot

to enjoy a glass of wine and people watch.

Let Fred.\ Holidays create your perfect

holiday, simply use our unique 4 step

booking guide on page 4 to design your

own holiday and we can make it happen.

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Fred.\ Holidays, creating a personalised holiday experience for each and every guest.

Our 4 step guide makes booking your next holiday easier than you think, and it will be personalised to your preferences.

Where would you like to go?With access to thousands of hotels across Europe we can cater for every budget. Simply decide where you want to go and whether you would like to stay in a local guest house, a private apartment, or a 3, 4 or 5 star hotel. You may even wish to visit multiple destinations during your holiday.

Step2

Simply call Freephone 0800 988 3369 and we will create your perfect holiday.Our friendly travel specialists will be on hand to answer any questions that you may have. From the moment you book, your personalised holiday is safe and secure with our ABTA and ATOL bonding.

Step4

Step1

How would you prefer to travel?Would you like to fly, travel by rail or ferry? You decide the most convenient method of transport for you.

Step3

How long would you like to stay for?If you wish to stay for 1 or 100 nights, simply decide how long you would like to stay in each of your chosen destinations and when you would like to travel.

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Baden-Baden

Suggested break from £279pp*Stay 3 nights at the 4* Heliopark Bad Hotel Zum Hirsch

Breakfast Included

Regional flights included

*Price based on 30th November 2015 departure + London Stansted flights

• Visit the modern Caracalla Spa and the historic “Friedrichsbad” for a spot of exclusive wellness. • Round off the year at the New Years Eve Gala (December 31st) at the “Festspielhaus” with Angel Joy Blue, Massimo Giordano and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo or the New Years Eve Dinner Ball at the Kurhaus, promising an unforgettable dinner gala with a varied programme, live music, exquisite 4-course-gala-dinner and impressive fireworks.• Don’t miss sightseeing in a horse-carriage ride alongside the world famous parks and garden “Lichtentaler Allee” and through the Belle Epoque town.• Feast on typical Baden - Baden Cuisine such as Spätzle (a sort of fresh made pasta) or Maultaschen (a kind of ravioli filled with meat or vegetables) as well as the delicious Black Forest Cake.

Things to do and see

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23rd November – 30th December 2015Situated in front of the world-famous ‘Lichtentaler Allee’ parks and gardens, and the impressive, romantically illuminated Kurhaus, the Baden-Baden Christmas market is a true winter fairytale to behold. With over 100 small and romantically decorated stalls offering Christmas arts and crafts, you will also be treated to a variety of entertainment from school groups, choirs, musical bands and theatrical groups providing a festive mix of seasonal songs and carols. A highlight is the ‘Ice Arena’ skating rink, just a few steps away from the Christmas Market – enjoy skating under colourful floodlights and festive music, then take a break in a cosy alpine cabin.

Don’t miss St Nicholas floating into the Christkindelsmarkt in a hot air balloon on December 6th, when he will be handing out presents to children. The “bake-it-yourself” hut in the middle of the Christmas market is also great for little ones, as they can try their hands at baking their own Christmas cookies.

A unique attraction of the Christmas Market in Baden-Baden is the ”living nativity”. The sound of bleating sheep and the scent of fresh hay leads to the idyllic life-sized crib in front of the Kurhaus.

Christmas Markets

Alternative hotels, flights and dates available on request - call 0800 988 3369 for a personalised quote

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Berlin

Suggested break from £349pp*Stay 2 nights at the 4* Maritim Pro Arte Breakfast Included Regional flights included 3 day Berlin welcome card included

*Price based on 1st December 2015 departure + London Stansted flights

• The number one attraction in all of Germany – both the roof terrace and dome of the Reichstag Building can be visited by the public, and offer spectacular views of the parliamentary and government district of Berlin.• Take a city tour of the main sites including Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial, the Berlin Wall Memorial and the East Side Gallery.• Try a curry with a Bite at the Currywurstbude at Europa-Center – named one of the best currywurst stands in Berlin.• Visit the German ‘currywurst’ museum – hear the story of Herta Heuwer, the inventor of the ‘chillup sauce’, and urban legends about the beloved ‘currywurst’.• Enjoy a meal in Altes Zollhaus, lying on the picturesque Landwehr canal, where you will be welcomed into homely dining rooms heated with rustic tiled stoves.


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23rd November – 20th December 2015Berlin’s traditional Christmas markets are particularly impressive; an illuminated city of tents beaming with the magic of Christmas is built on the Gendarmenmarkt, and at the Spandau Christmas Market the small streets and squares in Spandauer Altstadt transform into a large, unique Christmas market. The largest continuous pedestrian zone in Berlin houses around 250 market stalls during the week and up to 400 at the weekend, while the seasonal stage programme provides a festive atmosphere. Friday’s “Christmas meets Rock and Roll” concerts are particularly popular and with visits from Santa and special family-friendly prices, Wednesdays are always family days. But the rest of the week, the kids have plenty of fun with the nativity scene complete with real animals and fairy-tale Christmas garden.

If you are celebrating a special occasion, indulge in some lovingly prepared festive food under the impressive glass dome of Restaurant Julius. The romantic atmosphere makes it especially suited for couples.

Christmas Markets

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Bremen

Suggested break from £289pp*Stay 2 nights at the 4* Swissotel Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

*Price based on 1st December 2015 departure + London Stansted flights

© Schlachte Marketing and Service Association Things to do and see

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23rd November – 23rd December 2015The city’s delightful Christmas market is held on the historical market square surrounded by the UNESCO World Heritage town hall, the cathedral, the Church of Our Lady and the Schütting guildhall. Glittering illuminations, the glow of candlelight and the sea of decorated stalls create a special atmosphere that enchants more and more visitors every year. The air is full of delicious aromas – from freshly roasted almonds, to gingerbread and glühwein. The Schlachte promenade along the Weser river also joins in the seasonal fun, when markets of Christmas past are brought to life at the Schlachte Magic. Traders in medieval attire offer historical wares, and traditional food and drink can be sampled at a wide choice of stands. The marquees and booths beside the river are beautifully decorated in winter themes, while a range of events on board the ships caters for maritime entertainment.

Bremen itself is a pulsating city of many faces; its history, tradition, high-tech achievements, scientific feats and innovation in space research unite this multifaceted city in an exciting ground-breaking experience.

Christmas Markets

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Contact your travel agent or call our travel specialists on 0800 988 3369 to create your personalised holiday

• Visit the Bremen Town Musicians. These four fairytale animals are as much a part of Bremen as the river Weser, and you can find them wherever you wander in the old quarter.You can see the famous sculpture outside the town hall, hear the animals’ voices coming out of the ground in front of the State Parliament building and visit the donkey’s grave on Böttcherstrasse.• Indulge in a spot of late night Christmas shopping in the city centre every Saturday in Advent until 10 pm.• Bremen’s Roland statue is one of the oldest and most beautiful and, according to UNESCO experts, the most representative of Roland statues found in many German towns and cities; symbolising freedom and market rights. • Visit the Universum Science Centre Bremen, a striking building resembling a silver whale or a giant mussel. There are lots of interactive exhibits here on the themes of Technology, Humans and Nature.

© Jonas Ginter / BTZ Bremer Touristik-Zentrale

© Carolin Hinz / BTZ Bremer Touristik-Zentrale

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Cologne

Suggested break from £379pp*Stay 4 nights at the NH City hotel Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

*Price based on 3rd December 2015 departure + London Stansted flights

• Go ice skating in the heart of the beautiful Old Town at the rustic and cozy market “Home of the Elves”.• Visit Cologne Cathedral. The number one attraction in Germany, it is still the third largest Cathedral in the world.• Enjoy a glass of local beer Kölsch, together with some of Cologne’s traditional cuisine such as a “Halver Hahn” (a bread roll with Dutch cheese and mustard), “Himmel un Ääd” (Heaven and Earth – apple and mashed potato) or “Kölscher Kaviar” (black pudding).• Visit Museum Ludwig featuring many works of Picasso; Wallraf-Richartz Museum & FC; the Romanic-Germanic Museum and the ever-popular Chocolate Museum.• Enjoy a festive dinner cruise along the Rhine or head to the lookout point on top of the south tower of the Cathedral. • Along the Hohenzollernbrücke (Hohenzollern Bridge) you will find more than 40.000 colourful ‘love locks’, put there by happy couples, families and friends. The locks, marked with their names, are attached to the bridge and the key is thrown into the river as proof of eternal love.


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23rd November – 23rd December 2015Set against the backdrop of the Gothic Cathedral, the market in the heart of the city boasts a fascinating array of high-quality arts & crafts, delicious food and drinks as well as more than one hundred stage events. The ‘Home of the Elves’ in Cologne Old Town is home to a rustic Christmas market with old-world charm - bursting with traditional market stalls filling the atmospheric streets with the colours, sounds and smells of Christmas. The Heumarkt is transformed into a spectacular ice rink to create a unique ice fairytale. Other markets include ‘Angels market’ at the Neumarkt; Santa’s Village at Rudolfplatz – perfect for children thanks to its reindeer, elves and house of St. Nicholas; the elegant Harbour Christmas market alongside the river Rhine; and the Christmas market at Stadtgarten.

The Christmas Avenue is Cologne’s LGBT market and is situated on Schaafenstraße close to Rudolfplatz. The markets are open daily from 11am to 10pm*.

* Ice rink closed 24th & 25th December 2015

Christmas Markets


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Darmstadt

Suggested break from £379pp*Stay 3 nights at the 4* InterCityHotel Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes Frankfurt to Darmstadt return rail

*Price based on 25th November 2015 departure + London Heathrow flights

• Christmas Time tour: Join one of the guided tours through winterly Darmstadt to hear stories about the city and Christmas Market and a friendly get-together over a mulled wine.• Hessian State Museum Darmstadt: Built by Alfred Messel in 1902, the museum houses various interesting collections, e.g. history of art, cultural history, geology, palaeontology and zoology. It is considered one of the few universal museums in the world.• Old Renaissance Palace: This replaces the old water fortress. Visit its two Baroque wings, built by Remy de la Fosse between 1716 and 1727.• Art Nouveau Swimming Bath: Relax at the former “Central Bath”, built in 1909 and influenced by art nouveau. It was renovated in 2007 and now is a wellness centre with pools, sauna and spa.• Mathildenhöhe: The Artists’ Colony founded around 1900 by the Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig is of outstanding cultural-historical significance. Its unique art nouveau houses and Russian Chapel with its largely visible, golden onion-domed tower, as well as the spacious park are attractions for visitors from all over the world.


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23rd November – 23rd December 2015The Darmstadt Christmas market is located on the Market Square and around the Castle as well as on the Luisenplatz. The lights from the Residential Palace, Old City Hall, Christmas tree and sparkling Christmas pyramid, are sure to get you into the mood for Christmas. The market’s festively decorated stalls feature specialties from Darmstadt’s many twin cities; from handicrafts from Liepaja in Latvia or Hungarian Lángos; to wine and cheese from Swiss Saanen. Be sure to try at least one of the many mulled wines on offer – made from red or white wine, honey, apples or even ‘mulled beer’. For some Christmas shopping, you'll find everything you need in the 500 shops in Darmstadt's city. And for special gifts, have a look at the arts and crafts stalls on the Friedensplatz on the weekends, with jewellery, glass works, handmade soap or pottery on display.

Christmas Markets

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Dresden

Suggested break from £409pp*Stay 3 nights at the Maritim Hotel Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

*Price based on 18th December 2015 departure + London Heathrow flights

• Don’t miss the Semper Opera House with its Christmas performances.• Taste the famous “Striezel” or “Stollen” Christmas cake; a fruitcake filled with nuts, raisins, spices and sprinkled with icing sugar - a culinary highlight of the Dresden Christmas market.• Wander down the Medieval Christmas market in the stable yards of Residenzschloss – you can enjoy drinking a mulled wine from a medieval wooden washing tub.• The Frauenkirche Dresden (Church of Our Lady); well known as the symbol of international reconciliation after World War II.• Be sure to take in the 22nd Dresden Stollenfest on December 5th. Following a procession through the historic Old Town, a giant Stollen cake is sliced up and shared out by the ‘Royal Master Baker’ and the Dresden Stollen Maiden.• Visit one of the numerous museums of Dresden, such as the Old Masters Gallery, Green Vault, Turkish Chamber and many more.


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26th November – 24th December 2015Dresden is home to Germany’s oldest Christmas market – the 581-year-old Striezelmarkt, as well as ten other themed markets situated along the ‘Christmas Mile’. Lit up like a giant string of lights, the streets burst with stalls offering traditional local handicrafts and seasonal fare. Dresden at Christmas is transformed into a winter wonderland, set against the backdrop of the city’s stunning historic architecture. The city itself provides a wide range of cultural activities including romantic trips along the Elbe river on a paddle steamer, concerts in the Frauenkirche, and imaginatively staged Christmas productions in its theatres.

Dresden Christmas Markets• Dresden Striezelmarkt• Christmas Market on Prager Strasse• Advent on Neumarkt• Medieval Christmas in the Stallhof• Frauenkirche Traditional Market

Christmas Markets

• Royal Palace Romantic • Dresdner Augustus Market• Neustadt Advent• Neustädter Gelichter• Elbhangfest Market


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Frankfurt

Suggested break from £309pp*Stay 3 nights at the 4* Mercure Hotel Kaiserhof Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

*Price based on 30th November 2015 departure + London Heathrow flights

• Taste the local specialties served at the Christmas market, such as hot apple wine - the locals’ beverage of choice, and Bethmännchen – small marzipan and almond biscuits named after Frankfurt’s famous banker family.• Visit the Römer (town hall) and the Römerberg, St Paul’s Church and the Emperors’ Cathedral in Frankfurt’s historical centre.• Head up to the Main Tower’s observation platform for a fantastic panoramic view from 200 metres above the city.• Take in the twinkling ‘Winter Lights’ event at the Palmengarten botanical gardens. • Become acquainted with the market’s many culinary specialities and its traditions on a guided tour. Ascend to the rooftop gallery of St. Nicholas Church for a wonderful panorama view of the entire market and the Frankfurt skyline, then enjoy a nostalgic ride on a vintage carousel before warming yourself with a hot cup of mulled wine.


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25th November – 22nd December 2015One of the oldest and biggest ones in Germany, the history of the Frankfurt Christmas Market can be traced back to 1393. The market is so impressive that it has been successfully exported to various cities in the UK, including the annual market in Birmingham. Located at the Römerberg (Frankfurt’s historical centre), St Paul’s Square and Main Quay, the market is officially opened with a concert. Visitors are treated to a wide fringe programme consisting of concerts, tower horns trumpeting from the balcony of St Nicolas Church, an art exhibition of local artists taking place at the Römerhallen and St Paul’s Church, and the event “Winter lights” at the botanical gardens Palmengarten.

A special extension to the traditional Christmas Market is the “Pink Christmas Market” at Friedrich Stoltze Square. Dedicated to Frankfurt’s LGBT community and anybody looking for a more extraordinary Christmas market, its little stalls and Christmas trees glow in bright pink.

Christmas Markets

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Hamburg

Suggested break from £349pp*Stay 3 nights at the 4* Citadines Michel Hamburg Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

*Price based on 2nd December 2015 departure + London Heathrow flights

• Don’t miss the Hamburg Christmas Parade – a colourful procession through the city centre on all four Saturdays during Advent. • Take a trip on the Hamburg fairytale boats. These include two bakery boats where children can bake and decorate Christmas biscuits with “Dat Backhus”; a Dream Boat, complete with face painting; a Theatre Boat, and a café boat with a relaxing view of the Alstertanne.• Visit the traditional Fischerhaus on St Pauli Fischmarkt to sample classic Hamburg dishes such as Hamburger Pannfisch.• Take in the port and the many maritime attractions along the river Elbe, as well as the Alster Lake area; home to the Hamburg State Opera, the International Maritime Museum, Hamburger Kunsthalle and Bucerius Kunstforum.


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24th November – 6th January 2016Hamburg is transformed into a fairy-tale Christmas city each November, with 15 specially themed Christmas markets. The Historical Christmas market in Rathausmarkt square harks back to Christmas past and each day all eyes turn to the sky as Father Christmas on his sleigh flies above the crowds. On each of the four Saturdays in Advent, people dressed as gnomes, angels and gingerbread men accompany seasonally decorated floats parading through the city centre. For those of you looking for something a little different, Hamburg is also home to Germany’s only ‘erotic’ market, complete with live music and variety acts.

This vibrant city on the waterfront is considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. Marvellous cruise and container ships call at Hamburg’s port every day, a great attraction one should not miss. The incomparable Miniatur Wunderland, accommodating the world’s largest model railroad and the famous musical Disney’s The Lion King, offer great opportunities for visitors of all ages. In the city centre, international fashion labels invite you down elegant passageways where you can shop till you drop, and you can also experiencing the buzzing nightlife on the famous Reeperbahn, the ‘street of sins’.

Christmas Markets


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Leipzig

Suggested break from £499pp*Stay 4 nights at the 4* Marriott in a deluxe room Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

*Price based on 10th December 2015 departure + London Heathrow flights

• Don’t miss a performance of the Christmas Oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach – one of the undisputed highlights of the Advent period with the St. Thomas Boys Choir in St. Thomas Church.• Grab a bite to eat in style – at Auerbachs Keller (Auerbach’s Cellar), which Goethe immortalised in his drama “Faust”. • Follow the Leipzig Music Trail, a fascinating weave of city exploration and musical discovery. Walk in the footsteps of famous composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Richard Wagner and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, complete with audio samples and information. The concerts of the Gewandhaus Orchestra or the performances at Leipzig Opera are musical highlights.• Rediscover the ancient supercontinent ‘Gondwanaland’, at Zoo Leipzig. This unique tropical world of experience is larger than two football fields and is home to 17,000 tropical plants and 300 exotic animals.• Taste Leipzig’s most famous food speciality, the “Leipiziger Allerlei”, and head to one of the city’s many coffeehouses including Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum, Kaffeehaus Riquet or Café Kandler.

ˆPlease note flights to Leipzig are indirectImages ®Dirk Brzoska


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24th November – 23rd December 2015Leipzig Christmas market dates all the way back to 1458. With more than 250 twinkling stalls embedded harmoniously across six areas within the city’s historic centre, Leipzig Christmas market is not only one of the oldest but also one of the largest Christmas markets in Germany. Visitors are offered a multitude of festive delights; indulge in numerous culinary delights or explore the city’s traditional medieval market. You can also marvel at the city’s magnificent buildings which date from various eras including the Renaissance to the Baroque, Historicism and Post-Modern periods.

Christmas Markets

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Munich

Suggested break from £399pp*Stay 4 nights at the 3* Winters Hotel Muenchen Am Haup

Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

*Price based on 2nd December 2015 departure + London Stansted flights

• Take a ride on the Christkindl Tram for a tour through the Christmas Markets, complete with cultural and historical facts as well as culinary information about the city.• The ‘Pink Christmas’ is Munich’s LGBT market and is held in the Glockenbachviertel, one of the nicest and most famous parts of Munich.

Ask Fred.\ about the Christmas Market Pass, For just €17.00 you can receive the following benefits; a cup of original Munich Glühwein; a fried sausage roll; a Christmas Star hand-carved from wood; an original Munich Christmas Market cotton bag and a free ascent to the tower of the new town hall at Marienplatz.


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27th November – 24th December 2015Munich Christmas Market - the “Original” - is the oldest Christmas market in the city. The origins of the Christmas Market are reported to date back to the so-called “Nikolaus Markets” of the 14th century. Town records first mention a “Nikolaidult” that took place near the Beautiful Tower in Kaufingerstrasse in 1642.

Visitors can expect a host of traditional Bavarian and unique Christmas gifts on offer, from Oberammergau wood carvings, gingerbread and Bavarian glassware.

Other Munich Markets include the Festive Middle Age Market, Christmas Village in the Kaiserhof, Munich “Eiszauber”, and the Christmas Market at the Sendlinger Tor.

From the 24th November, you can also visit the Tollwood Winter Festival - a charming Christmas market, very popular with the locals, consisting of more than 200 stalls of international handcrafts and organic food alongside theatre shows, music, performances and childrens’ entertainment.

Christmas Markets


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Nuremberg

Suggested break from £339pp*Stay 3 nights at the Holiday Inn Nürnberg

Regional flights included

Includes private airport to hotel transfers


• Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle): The ‘symbol of Nuremberg’, this castle is considered to be one of Europe’s most formidable medieval fortifications.• Germanisches National Museum: The largest museum of cultural history in the German-speaking region.• Documentation Centre: Located within remains of the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds, the Dokuzentrum is home to permanent exhibition “Fascination and Terror” - looking at the causes, the context and the consequences of the National Socialist reign of terror.• Memorium Nuremberg Trials: Take a tour of the Memorium Nuremberg Trials for an overview of the Nuremberg Trial, and the link between Nuremberg and the International Criminal Court in The Hague.• Museums: Including the Toy Museum, DB Museum (German Federal Railway Museum) and the Albrecht Dürer House.


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27th November – 24th December 2015The Nuremberg Christmas Market is opened every year by the Christkind (Christmas Angel) in a traditional ‘opening ceremony’. The city boasts numerous markets including one at the Main Market Square (Hauptmarkt) in front of the Church of our Lady; the Markt der Partnerstädte (market of Sister Cities) which takes place at the Rathausplatz, and the beautiful Children’s Christmas Market on the Hans-Sachs-Platz, with its nostalgic merry-go-round. Be sure to try Nuremberg’s famous specialties including Lebkucken (Gingerbread cookies) and Nürnberger Rostbratwürste (grilled sausages). You can also take a romantic stagecoach tour around the Christmas market to really make the most of the magical experience.

Famous for its beautiful medieval town, its history and Albrecht Dürer - Germany’s greatest artist of the Middle Ages - Nuremberg is also a city of ‘firsts’, with the first pocket watch and the first globe having been made here!

The largest “Feuerzangenbowle” in the world – a red wine and rum punch – is also in Nuremberg. The name comes from the tongs which hold a burning, rum-soaked sugar cone over the punch bowl. The sugar melts, is caramelised and drips into the wine below.

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Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Suggested break from £549pp*Stay 4 nights at the 4* Hotel BurgGartenpalais Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes rail from Nuremberg to Rothenburg return

*Price based on 17th December 2015 departure + London Stansted flights

• Käthe Wohlfahrt: Don´t miss the world famous “Christmas Village” in the centre of the town. Experience the fascinating atmosphere of a Franconian village with snow covered roofs all year round.• German Christmas Museum: Learn about the history of the family festival steeped in tradition and how decorations have developed. Enjoy the fantastically beautiful Christmas tree decorations and the 150 historical Santa Claus figures.• Take a walk on top of the town walls that embrace almost the entire town.• Not for the faint of heart, the Medieval Crime Museum is known as Germany’s most complete law museum of medieval times. It captivates its visitors with old torture devices, gruesome tales and peculiar laws of the olden days.


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27th November – 23rd December 2015Rothenburg ob der Tauber is one of the prettiest, best preserved medieval towns in Germany. Its massive stone town walls studded with 42 towers; half-timbered houses with red-tiled roofs; cobblestone streets and flower-filled window boxes could have you believing that it is a movie set – but it’s all real! As you enter through one of the old gates, you will immediately feel secure within the time-honoured walls of this romantic place. Rothenburg´s enchantment has prevailed over the past 1,000 years and is continuing to cast its spell onto the international visitors making their way through the narrowly winding cobblestone alleyways. A fascinating mixture of tradition and creativity, good fellowship and hospitality creates a “good old times” atmosphere that is “typically German”.

The festive Advent period here has been accompanied by a wonderful Christmas market since the 15th century. Looking back on over 500 years of tradition, little has changed over the years and the historical customs have been closely followed. The narrowly winding streets and picturesque squares around the town hall and its archways are lined with wooden booths, appropriately decorated for the Christmas season.

Christmas Markets


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Würzburg

• If you are into art, visit the Artists' Christmas Market on the Town Hall's courtyard every Saturday during Advent. Over 40 artists display and sell their creative wares, including jewellery, hand-made teddy bears, pottery, jams, hand-knit socks and more.• Don’t miss Würzburg’s prime attraction, the Residenz Palace; one of Europe’s most important castles, it boasts a magnificent staircase with the largest ceiling fresco in the world.• Venture out into Franconian Wine Country – three of Germany’s largest and most renowned wineries are located here, including a Juliusspital wine served at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.• Visit St Kilian’s Cathedral, a masterpiece of German architecture dating from the 11th century.


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27th November – 23rd December 2015One of Germany’s most picturesque and enchanting Christmas Markets is held in the heart of Würzburg’s old town and dates back to the early 19th century. Enjoy a stroll through more than 100 wooden stalls, sampling delicious Christmas cookies and roasted almonds whilst sipping the traditional Glühwein. Wooden toys, jewellery, fine teas and spices, traditional Christmas decorations, scented candles, pottery, embroideries, and hand-knitted gifts ensure that no-one goes home empty handed. Würzburg itself is a lively University city on the river Main and is known as the ‘Gateway to the Romantic Road’ – the skyline is dominated by its most prominent landmark, the Marienberg Fortress. Another spectacular highlight is the Baroque Residenz Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982. The city is also the centre of the Franconian Wine Country, a region whose vineyards are famous throughout the world.

Franconia’s natural landscapes are reflected in a great variety of cultural events. You can find anything from celebrations of local customs and traditions, from culinary and wine events to world-class music and of course, traditional Christmas Markets.

Christmas Markets

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Suggested break from £329pp*Stay 3 nights at the 4* Novotel Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes rail from Nuremberg to Würzburg return


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Antwerp, Paris & Rome

Suggested Antwerp break:Stay 3 nights at the Leonardo Hotel Antwerpen Regional flights included

from £359pp*

*Price based on 8th December 2015 departure + London City Airport flights

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Euro

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Win

ter B

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Suggested Paris break:Stay 3 nights at the 4* Amarante Beau Manoir Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

from £339pp*

*Prices based on 4th December 2015 departure + London Gatwick flights

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Suggested Rome break:Stay 3 nights at the 4* Palladium Palace Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

from £299pp**Price based on 17th December 2015 departure + London Gatwick flights


Get a taste of Christmas in Antwerp, Paris or Rome - pick up unusual and different Christmas gifts for your family and friends. Soak up a different culture, do a bit of sight-seeing - it’s your trip, so take it your way...

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Budapest, Krakow & Vienna

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Suggested Budapest break:Stay 3 nights at the 4* Benczur Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

from £259pp**Price based on 2nd December 2015 departure + London Stansted flights

European Winter Breaks

Suggested Krakow break:Stay 3 nights at the 5* Palac Bonerowski Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

from £349pp*

*Price based on 2nd December 2015 departure + London Gatwick flights

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Suggested Vienna break:Stay 4 nights at the 4* Leonardo Hotel Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

from £399pp*

*Price based on 16th December 2015 departure + London Gatwick flights

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Soak up the atmosphere of Budapest, Krakow or Vienna. Let Fred.\ Holidays tailor your trip to your requirements and ensure that you get to see and do everything you want to...

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Copenhagen, Helsinki & Stockholm

Suggested Copenhagen break:Stay 3 nights at the Copenhagen Crown Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

from £359pp**Price based on 20th November 2015 departure + London Luton flights #F

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Suggested Helsinki break:Stay 2 nights at the 4* Glo Hotel Kluuvi Helsinki Breakfast Included Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

from £389pp*


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Suggested Stockholm break:Stay 2 nights at the 5* Hilton Slussen Regional flights included Includes private airport to hotel return transfers

from £399pp*


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Scandinavia in Winter time, such a beautiful time of year to visit. Our hand-picked breaks to Copenhagen, Helsinki and Stockholm are just a few of our favourites. Why not fall in love with Scandinavia this Winter...

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Using one of the oldest forms of Arctic transport you will travel across northern Sweden’s vast and beautiful wilderness. This inspiring winter adventure escapes to a region of pristine nature and by the end of the expedition you can enjoy a wonderful sense of accomplishment. This itinerary takes you across challenging terrain into areas best known by your husky team and there is even the chance to visit the famous Ice hotel. This adventure is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Dogsled the Arctic CircleExperience the Arctic terrain of Swedish Lapland

Your ItineraryDay 1 - Fly London to Kiruna

Day 2 - Morning instruction; after lunch head to Jakalajarvi. Overnight in wilderness lodge (30-35 km)

Day 3 - Mush to the Sami village of Ovre Soppero and the camp belonging to two Sami, Per-Nils and Britt-Marie (55 km)

Day 4 - We follow the ‘Tobacco Trail’ towards Sautosjarvi. Night in a traditional Sami tent on Lake Sautosjarvi (65 km)

Day 5 - Dogsled to Vakkara passing an abandoned village on the shores of Lake Sevojarvi (40-45 km)

Day 6 - Final day of dogsledding following the Tornealven River back to Kauppinen (40-45 km)

Day 7 - Fly to London

(km) distance travelled (mushed)

7 Days departing14th, 21st February and6th March 2016

from £2599pp

What’s includedAll breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinnersAll accommodationAll transport & listed activitiesTour leader throughoutFlights from LondonArrival & departure transfers

Accommodation: Lodge, Cabins & TentYou will spend two nights in the ‘Mushers Lodge’ in Kaupinnen in 4-5 person rooms, with shared facilities and a sauna. Three nights will be in basic wilderness cabins: one room which serves as a kitchen, dining and sleeping area. Cabins are heated by wood-burning stoves, and have basic outside toilets. The highlight of the week is spending a night in a traditional Sami tent or Lavi on a small island in Lake Sautosjarv.

At a glance:• Take an adventurous dogsled journey• Stay 2 nights in a lodge• Stay 3 nights in traditional wilderness accommodation• Stay 1 night in a heated Sami tent• Have mushers guide throughout• 5 days dogsledding• No previous experience necessary**Reasonable level of fitness required


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Christmas Market Calendar


BaselStart Date: 26.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

BrugesStart Date: 20.11.15 End Date: 03.01.16

AachenStart Date: 20.11.15End Date: 23.12.15

AugsburgStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 24.12.15

Baden-BadenStart Date: 03.11.15 End Date: 30.12.15

BambergStart Date: 26.11.1 End Date: 23.12.15

BayreuthStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

BerchtesgadenStart Date: 26.11.15 End Date: 31.12.15

Berlin Start Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 03.01.16

CoburgStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

CologneStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

BernkastelStart Date: 21.11.15 End Date: 20.12.15

BonnStart Date: 20.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

BoppardStart Date: 26.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

BremenStart Date: 26.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

Lake Constance Start Date: 26.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

FreiburgStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

FüssenStart Date: 04.12.15 End Date: 13.12.15

HamburgStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 06.01.16

HannoverStart Date: 25.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

HattingenStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

HeidelbergStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

FrankfurtStart Date: 25.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

DarmstadtStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

FriedrichshafenStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 20.12.15

DortmundStart Date: 19.11.15 End Date: 30.12.15

DüsseldorfStart Date: 18.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

DresdenStart Date: 26.11.15 End Date: 24.12.15

EssenStart Date: 19.11.1 End Date: 23.12.15

BernStart Date: 28.11.15 End Date: 24.12.15

BrusselsStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 03.01.16

GentStart Date: 04.12.1 End Date: 03.01.16

GrazStart Date: 20.11.15 End Date: 24.12.15

23Contact your travel agent or call our travel specialists on 0800 988 3369 to create your personalised holiday

NiceStart Date: 05.12.15 End Date: 04.01.16

KoblenzStart Date: 20.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

LeipzigStart Date: 24.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

LindauStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 20.12.15

LudwigsburgStart Date: 24.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

MainzStart Date: 26.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

NurembergStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 24.12.15

WeimarStart Date: 25.11.15 End Date: 28.12.15

WernigerodeStart Date: 07.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

WiesbadenStart Date: 24.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

WürzburgStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

OberhausenStart Date: 15.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

PassauStart Date: 25.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

RavensburgStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 20.12.15

StuttgartStart Date: 25.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

MannheimStart Date: 25.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

RostockStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

UberlingenStart Date: 10.12.15 End Date: 20.12.15

TribergStart Date: 25.12.15 End Date: 30.12.15

TrierStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 22.12.15

Rothenburg ob der TauberStart Date: 27.11.15End Date: 23.12.15

RüdesheimStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 21.12.15

SingenStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

KarlsruheStart Date: 26.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

InnsbruckStart Date: 15.11.15 End Date: 06.01.16

KitzbühelStart Date: 26.11.15 End Date: 24.12.15

SalzburgStart Date: 19.11.15 End Date: 26.12.15

VorarlbergStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

ZurichStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 24.12.15

St GallenStart Date: 03.12.15 End Date: 19.12.15

MunichStart Date: 27.11.15 End Date: 24.12.15

MünsterStart Date: 23.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

ZagrebStart Date: 28.11.15 End Date: 06.01.16

StockholmStart Date: 21.11.15 End Date: 23.12.15

Please note, not all markets operate every day and dates are subject to change - check website for details.

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for your peace of mind

For more information or to book, call our freephone trade reservations number on 0800 988 3369 or email [email protected]

Prices are correct at the time of print and are per person based on 2 adults sharing. Elements included in the suggested breaks where stated. Pricing and availability is subject to change and can be withdrawn at any time. Hotel classifications are Hotels’ own and may vary. Full operator terms and conditions apply. For full terms and conditions please visit www.fred.travel/about-fred/terms-conditions. E&OE.

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