Real Holiday Itinerary: 8-Day Christmas Market Trip to Budapest & Vienna
St. Stephen’s Basilica shines at the heart of Budapest’s Christmas market scene—complete with twinkling lights, mulled wine, and a glowing red tree that anchors the season’s magic.
Some of our favorite trips begin with a simple question: "Do you plan trips beyond Disney?" For Susan, a longtime client and nurse with a deep love of travel, that question turned into something unforgettable. What started as a solo dream to experience Europe’s most iconic Christmas markets blossomed into a festive girls’ getaway filled with sparkle, soul, and seasonal wonder.
With just one week off in November and a desire to visit new-to-her countries, Susan wasn’t looking for a one-size-fits-all tour. She wanted a trip that felt seamless and special—where the planning lifted the stress and let the magic shine. At Magic Journeys, that’s exactly the kind of experience we love to build.
This itinerary brought together twinkling lights, historic cities, cozy cafés, and lifelong friends—and the result was pure magic.
Back in the fall, Susan—a nurse with a passion for travel—reached out with a dream: she wanted to finally experience Europe’s most enchanting Christmas markets. She and her husband often cruise together, but when it comes to immersive, adventure-rich travel, she takes off with her friends.
With just one week off in November, and a desire to see new countries, she needed a custom plan that aligned with which markets would be open—and delivered all the sparkle and soul of the season. What started as a solo idea turned into a festive girls’ getaway that brought together lights, laughter, and lifelong memories.
Here’s how we built an itinerary that helped her check off a bucket list dream without ever feeling rushed.
What She Asked For
Susan had a vision. Europe in December. Holiday lights strung across cobblestone streets, the scent of roasted chestnuts in the air, and a bucket list of Christmas markets finally coming to life. She had exactly one week off—and she was ready to make it count.
Originally, it was going to be a girls’ getaway for two. But when a second friend heard the idea, she jumped at the chance to join. That one addition brought a fun twist—and a new layer of logistics. We now needed to find hotels that could comfortably accommodate three grown women traveling together. No dorm-style triples. No cramming into tight quarters. The vibe had to be cozy, elevated, and still budget-smart—without tipping into oversized suites or blowing the entire budget on hotel rooms.
Susan had two main goals:
Visit the most iconic European Christmas markets that were actually open during her travel window
Make it feel festive, comfortable, and elevated—without rushing or overspending
She didn’t want a one-size-fits-all tour or a Pinterest-perfect itinerary that only worked in theory. She wanted a real plan: one tailored to their timing, taste, and travel style. Something personal, polished, and fully ready to deliver the magic she’d been dreaming about for years.
What We Planned (Together)
A sneak peek at a custom Magic Journeys itinerary for an 8-day European Christmas market trip—featuring Budapest, Vienna, and festive market stops along the way.
One of the first things we do is share a personalized inspiration guide—built to turn dream lists into something more tangible. It’s part visual planner, part sanity check, and part creative springboard. We lay out the major experiences, the seasonal openings (like which Christmas markets would actually be running), how much time to budget in each place, and what it realistically takes—logistically and financially—to do it well.
The goal isn’t to narrow the dream. It’s to shape it—to help each traveler see how their wishlist fits together, and where we might need to refine, re-sequence, or rethink.
From there, we designed a route that hit the most iconic markets, blended in thoughtful pacing, and added festive touches that felt both personal and perfectly timed. The result? A holiday itinerary that felt seamless, rich in detail, and tailored exactly to them.
✨ Budapest’s Vörösmarty Square & Basilica Markets, chosen for their early opening dates and walkable charm
🛎️ Boutique hotels with the rare trifecta: ideal location, seasonal atmosphere, and enough room for three friends to stay comfortably without compromising style
🧁 Private food and culture tours in both cities, offering connection, context, and memorable flavor
🚆 First-class train from Budapest to Vienna, with scenic views and a smooth, elegant transition between destinations
🎄 A Salzburg day trip that captured cathedral bells, snow-dusted rooftops, and Sound of Music scenery—without needing a hotel change
⏱️ Intentionally spaced travel days, midday pauses, and no-friction logistics to keep the experience joyful, not draining
Trip Snapshot
Mapped route for an 8-day custom girls trip through Europe’s most magical holiday cities—Budapest and Vienna.
| Who: | Three friends (two originally, one inspired to join!) |
| Length: | 8 days, 7 nights |
| Cities: | Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg (day trip) |
| Style: | Seasonal, custom, thoughtfully paced |
| Trip Type: | Grown-up getaway, holiday magic, dream-turned-reality |
Where They Stayed (and Why)
Holiday stays that feel as magical as the cities themselves—Aria Hotel Budapest and Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof Vienna were perfect home bases for exploring Europe’s best Christmas markets.
Finding the right hotel is more than just picking a place to sleep—it’s about creating a home base that enhances the entire experience. For Susan and her friends, we wanted stays that felt festive and elevated, with enough space to share comfortably and the kind of location that made it easy to explore without constant logistics.
They weren’t interested in cookie-cutter hotels or overpriced suites. They wanted charm, comfort, and that feeling of stepping into somewhere special every time they returned from the markets. Here’s where we landed:
Aria Hotel Budapest
Location: Steps from St. Stephen’s Basilica and Vörösmarty Square
Why We Picked It: Elegant, musical, and perfectly placed. The Aria hits that rare sweet spot: beautifully designed, centrally located, and full of small luxuries that make the stay memorable—like the spa, the rooftop bar, and the daily wine and cheese reception in the glass-covered courtyard. The room configuration worked perfectly for three friends traveling together, offering both comfort and style without needing to splurge on a suite.
Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof, Vienna
Location: Historic Innere Stadt, near the Hofburg, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and Rathausplatz
Why We Picked It: The Steigenberger brought together everything they needed in Vienna: central location, refined Austrian ambiance, and easy access to the city’s top Christmas markets. Housed in a former 19th-century coffee house, the hotel offers old-world charm with modern amenities—including spacious rooms that made it easy for three adults to share without feeling squeezed. The festive atmosphere around the nearby Rathausplatz market made it a magical place to start and end each day.
Budapest: Thermal Baths, Christmas Markets & Riverside Magic
Holiday magic in Budapest: St. Stephen’s Basilica, festive food, and twinkling Christmas markets set the scene for an unforgettable seasonal getaway.
How this part of the trip came to life:
Budapest was the perfect starting point—early Christmas market openings, walkable charm, and the unique blend of imperial architecture and cozy café culture. It delivered on festive ambiance from the very beginning, with everything from mulled wine in lantern-lit squares to river views and thermal spas. This part of the itinerary was designed to ease the travelers into the trip—letting them adjust to the time zone, explore at their own pace, and dive into the magic of the holidays.
Day 1 – Arrival & First Markets
Arrival at Budapest airport and private transfer to Aria Hotel Budapest
Brunch at Café Gerbeaud or Börze (classic Hungarian pastries + cozy ambiance)
Leisurely walk to see the Hungarian Parliament & St. Stephen’s Basilica
Option for a 4-hour private guided tour (tailored route)
Evening at Vörösmarty Square Christmas Market with chimney cakes, mulled wine, and live music
Day 2 – Market Hall, Grand Avenues & River Cruise
Morning at Central Market Hall for street food and local souvenirs
Stroll or tram ride along Andrássy Avenue to Heroes' Square
Optional guided Culinary Walking Tour for goulash, pastries, wine tasting
Evening Danube River Cruise to see the city lit up
Visit to St. Stephen’s Basilica Christmas Market after the cruise
Day 3 – Art, Spa & Farewell Market Stroll
Morning visit to the Museum of Fine Arts (near Heroes' Square)
Soak and relax at Széchenyi Thermal Baths
Dinner at Hungarikum Bistro (local favorites + Hungarian wine)
Final stroll to Basilica Market for lights, last-minute gifts, and one more glass of mulled wine
Day 4 – Travel to Vienna
Breakfast and checkout from Aria Hotel
Private transfer to train station
First-class Railjet train to Vienna (2.5 hours, scenic ride)
Vienna: Palaces, Culture & Classic Christmas Charm
A festive blend of Europe’s best Christmas markets—from Vienna’s Rathausplatz to Germany’s glowing town squares—filled with lights, sweets, and warm holiday cheer.
How this part of the trip came to life:
Vienna brought a touch of grandeur and classical elegance to the itinerary. With its palaces, world-famous coffeehouses, and beautifully lit Christmas markets, it was the perfect place to slow down and soak in the season. Every evening included a festive stroll or a candlelit dinner, and every day was carefully paced to blend history, food, shopping, and quiet moments of joy.
Day 4 – Arrival in Vienna & Rathausplatz Magic
Arrival at Vienna Meidling Station and transfer to Steigenberger Hotel Herrenhof
Afternoon stroll to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Graben & Kohlmarkt
Evening at Rathausplatz Christkindlmarkt—Vienna’s largest and most iconic holiday market
Optional dinner at Lugeck (modern Austrian tavern)
Day 5 – Schönbrunn & Belvedere Markets
Morning at Schönbrunn Palace and its Christmas market
Lunch at Figlmüller, famous for Vienna’s best schnitzel
Walk through Stadtpark or rest at the hotel
Evening at Belvedere Palace Christmas Market
Dinner at Plachutta Wollzeile (classic Viennese Tafelspitz)
Day 6 – Optional Day Trip to Bratislava
Morning train to Bratislava Old Town (1 hour)
Visit Michael’s Gate, St. Martin’s Cathedral, and Bratislava Castle
Lunch at Modrá Hviezda, near the castle
Return to Vienna by early evening
Day 7 – Museums, Markets & Final Toasts
Morning at the Kunsthistorisches Museum
Holiday shopping and lights along Graben Street
Lunch at Demel Café for pastries and seasonal cheer
Afternoon at Karlsplatz Christmas Market
Final visit to Rathausplatz for one last mulled wine
Farewell dinner at Plachutta Wollzeile
Day 8 – Departures
Morning: Friends, Barbara & Annabelle depart for a week in Italy
Afternoon: Susan departs, returning to New York
✨ Why It Worked
This wasn’t just a festive trip through beautiful cities—it was a thoughtfully built itinerary that honored timing, pacing, and travel style. We designed it around Susan’s dream to finally experience Europe’s most iconic Christmas markets—while making sure the experience felt elevated, effortless, and fully theirs.
From hotels that worked for three friends sharing (without feeling cramped), to the flow of markets, meals, and downtime, every detail was chosen to feel joyful—not jammed. No tour buses, no frantic checklists. Just the right mix of iconic moments and slow travel magic.
And the best part? Susan’s already planning her next European holiday adventure—this time on a Viking River Cruise through the Christmas markets. (Yes, we plan those too.)
📩 Want to plan a holiday trip like this? Our team specializes in custom itineraries that turn seasonal dreams into seamless experiences. Meet our team here. Or reach out directly at hello@wearemagicjourneys.com or DM us on Instagram @wearemagicjourneys.
