Christmas Markets: Prague, Vienna & Budapest

This is a Walking Lite tour — city walks on cobblestone streets, typically 3-6 km per day. No hiking, no steep climbs, no trail walking. You should be comfortable walking on uneven cobblestone surfaces and navigating stairs at historic sites.

Expect cold, possibly snowy conditions. Prague averages 0-3°C (32-37°F) in December, Vienna is similar, and Budapest slightly milder. Dress in warm layers, bring waterproof walking shoes with good grip, a warm hat, and gloves.

Once paid, your registration deposit is non-refundable. Final payment is due before departure — your tour page has the specific dates — and is non-refundable after the due date. We'll send you a reminder a week or two before each deadline so nothing sneaks up on you. If a tour doesn't reach the minimum number of participants needed to run, WAI may cancel the departure — and if that happens, you'll receive a full refund of everything you've paid. It's rare, but we want you to know where you stand. See our General Tour Conditions for complete cancellation and refund details.

US, Canadian, UK, and Australian passport holders do not need a visa for Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, or Hungary (all Schengen zone). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the tour end date (June 8, 2027).

The tour starts in Prague and ends in Budapest — two different cities. Book a flight into Prague (PRG) and a separate flight home from Budapest (BUD). This eliminates backtracking. Your airline search should show "multi-city" booking options.

Every WAI walk uses a two-part rating: a number (1–3) for incline and a letter(A–C) for terrain. Here’s what they look like:

Quick Reference

Each tour page also has a Tour Pace rating (1–5) and a Walk Challenge rating (1–5) that summarize the overall difficulty. Use these to compare tours at a glance — then check the day-by-day itinerary for the full picture.

If your flight arrives on November 30, yes. You will be rested and adjusted for the first full guided day on December 2 (Prague Castle, Vltava cruise, Jewish Quarter). Our Prague hotel is in the heart of the city and the Christmas market is right outside. Travelers arriving on the pre-night can also join the optional Day 1 Prague Old Town Walk.

You don't need to be an athlete. WAI tours range from gentle strolls through city streets to more adventurous walks on hills and trails — and most walking days offer a shorter or easier alternative so you can choose your level. If you enjoy walking regularly and can handle a couple of miles at a comfortable pace, you'll find tours that fit. More experienced walkers will find plenty to challenge them too. The best preparation is to walk regularly in the weeks before your trip, gradually building up distance. Every tour page shows walk-by-walk ratings so you can see exactly what's involved — and if you're unsure, give us a call. We love helping people find the right fit.

WAI groups are small by design — every group is kept intentionally small so you're never just a face in the crowd. Two WAI guides accompany every trip (plus local national guides on international tours), which means more personal attention, better access to local experiences, and the kind of camaraderie that turns fellow travelers into lasting friends. Check your tour page for specific group size details.

With help from local experts and walking guides, Classic Curated itineraries are crafted with extensive on-site planning by WAI tour planners. Our objective is to capture the essence of a destination by weaving together its culture, history, natural beauty, and culinary traditions into a walking-centric adventure. Think of it as a fully planned trip where each day is thoughtfully designed — not a self-guided hike, not a resort stay, but an immersive journey with a small group led by experienced WAI guides.

After you register, we'll send you an Adventure Advice email with everything you need to plan your trip — recommended flights, arrival airports, timing tips, and important steps to take before departure. One big thing: please don't buy your flights until you've seen this email. It'll save you headaches and help you find the best options. Closer to departure, you'll get a final packet with hotel details, a list of your fellow travelers, and a day-by-day schedule.

If a tour departure doesn't reach the minimum enrollment needed to run, WAI reserves the right to cancel it. If that happens, registered participants receive a 100% refund of all payments made to WAI. Most tours reach minimum enrollment well in advance, and cancellations are rare — but we want you to know we stand behind our commitment if it ever happens. In cases where supplier non-refundable deposits limit what WAI can recover, we'll do our best to apply unrecovered amounts as credit toward a future tour.

Our approach to wellness on tour encourages travelers to: focus on health before the tour so you start healthy; pace yourself while on tour, as travel is inherently stimulating and can mask energy drain; stay hydrated and rested, especially on long-haul travel days and at altitude; and speak up if you're not feeling well — our guides are trained to help and would rather know early. We travel in small groups where everyone looks out for each other, and our guides carry first aid supplies and know local medical resources at every stop. Read our full Wellness on Tour Policy for details.

We choose accommodations based on three things: convenience, comfort, and location. We are not a luxury tour operator, and we are not a budget one either. We are a comfort travel company.

That means properties where you can unpack and settle in, in locations that make sense for the next day’s walk. Sometimes that is a higher-end property because the place is simply too special to pass up. Other times, the most authentic way to experience a destination is in a more modest setting — and those stays often become the most memorable ones.

Every hotel is reviewed and approved by our guide team. After every tour, we survey our travelers to make sure our choices are landing right. If something misses the mark, it does not come back.