Rhine Lights & Christmas Delights

DAY 1

Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Cologne and our hotel for three nights, the Maritim Hotel. Here, we check in and meet our guide for a walking tour of the city including Cologne's magical Christmas Markets. This evening, we enjoy our first evening meal together at a local restaurant.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we visit the Farina Fragrance Museum, the home of the original Eau de Cologne, for a fascinating guided tour. We will learn the history of this iconic perfume and its global legacy, discover the creation process, and sample fragrances plus the opportunity to treat ourselves to a special souvenir. The remainder of the day is free to explore Cologne further, perhaps visit the iconic Cathedral or stroll the festive markets. Alternatively, you may wish to travel independently to Bonn* to visit Beethoven House, the House of German History, and the Bonn Christmas Market.

*The rail journey to Bonn is approx. 30-40 minutes with frequent service to/from Cologne. This is optional and is payable locally.

DAY 3

Today, we travel by train to Aachen for a guided tour of the magnificent Aachen Cathedral, Germany's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, and we will discover the history of the cathedral from our knowledgeable guide, explore the choir hall, and visit the royal throne. This afternoon, we have time at leisure to explore the Old Town and visit the famous Aachen Christmas Market. We can soak in the festive atmosphere and stroll the stalls full of crafts and gifts plus a brilliant selection of warming, festive food and drink ahead of our return to Cologne in time for our final evening meal together.

DAY 4

We bid farewell to Cologne and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner