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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Bodensee Christmas Markets

8-day Christmas Markets tour around Lake Constance by rail and boat

Illustration of Bodensee Christmas Markets

Ffestiniog Travel's Bodensee Christmas Markets is an 8-day escorted tour centred on Lake Constance in the heart of the German, Austrian, and Swiss Alps. Departing London in December 2026, the tour is based at Hotel Insel in Lindau for all seven nights, eliminating daily hotel changes and allowing leisurely exploration of the region's festive markets and scenery. Days combine rail travel on a 7-day InterRail Pass with boat and catamaran excursions across the lake. On Day 2, guests take a catamaran to Constance's Christmas Market, featuring one million lights and a panoramic ice bar. Day 3 crosses the Arlberg Pass by rail into Innsbruck for Austrian specialties. Day 4 includes the narrow-gauge Appenzeller Bahnen train to traditional Appenzell and St. Gallen's UNESCO-listed cathedral setting. Day 5 sails aboard the Christmas Ship MS Austria to Bregenz. A tour leader accompanies the group throughout, managing logistics and guiding excursions, making this ideal for couples and first-time rail travellers seeking guided comfort with independent exploration built in.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one December 2026 departure is listed; confirm availability before booking.
  • Day 7 offers leisure time in Lindau or independent exploration with the InterRail Pass, but no guided activities are scheduled that day.
  • The Hotel Insel in Lindau is listed as a good-quality establishment; confirm specific room type and amenities directly with the operator.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Lindau

    Fly to Zurich

    Fly direct from London to Zurich, before travelling eastwards by rail to Lindau-Insel for a 7-night stay. A welcome dinner is included at a local restaurant this evening.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Lindau

    Constance by Catamaran

    Rail to Friedrichshafen – also home to a lakeside Christmas Market – where we board a catamaran for travel across the lake to Constance. Here, the old town and the shores of the lake are transformed into a festive winter wonderland; featuring 1million lights, around 150 stalls, the 360° panoramic ice bar aboard the Christmas ship, artisan crafts and much more.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Lindau

    Over the Arlberg Pass

    Travel by rail over the scenic Arlberg Pass for a few hours exploring Innsbruck. A chance to sample some of Austria’s festive delicacies, such as Käseknödel (a soft cheese dumpling) and Glühmost (a delicious hot apple cider drink).

  4. Day 4railovernight: Lindau

    Appenzell & the City of Stars

    Rail out to St. Gallen for the Appenzeller Bahnen, which takes us up to the pretty, traditional Swiss village of Appenzell. Admire the colourful, painted wooden buildings which line the streets before continuing to St. Gallen – the “City of Stars”. The stunning St. Gallen Cathedral and Abbey Library (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) provide a magical setting for the Christmas Markets here, and 700 star lights twinkle over the old town.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Lindau

    Bregenz by Boat

    After a leisurely morning in Lindau, travel to Bregenz Christmas Market by boat. The Christmas Ship “MS Austria” boasts a nativity scene exhibition, a model railway, and a fairy-tale winter forest, along with a cozy bar on the panoramic deck. There will be time to enjoy the charming arts and crafts market in Bregenz’s upper town, and the live nativity scene at Leutbühel. Return early evening for time to soak up the atmosphere at the harbour’s delightful Christmas Market.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Lindau

    The Bavarian Alps

    Journey by rail to Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region, on the edge of the Bavarian Alps. The southernmost village in Germany, it sits in a valley between the Nebelhorn and the Fellhorn, two tall mountains famed for their idyllic landscapes of pine trees and lakes.

  7. Day 7overnight: Lindau

    At Leisure

    A day to relax in Lindau, revisit your favourite Christmas Market stalls or explore further afield with your InterRail Pass.

  8. Day 8rail

    Return to London

    Rail back to Zürich Airport for a direct flight to London.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Rail to Friedrichshafen, then board a catamaran across Lake Constance to Constance's Christmas Market, which features one million lights, 150 stalls, and a 360-degree panoramic ice bar aboard the Christmas ship.
  • Day 3Travel by rail over the scenic Arlberg Pass into Innsbruck to explore Austria's festive market and taste local Christmas delicacies.
  • Day 4Ride the Appenzeller Bahnen narrow-gauge train from St. Gallen up to the traditional Swiss village of Appenzell, with its colorfully painted wooden buildings, then return to St. Gallen's Christmas Market at the UNESCO-listed Cathedral and Abbey Library.
  • Day 5Travel by boat to Bregenz aboard the Christmas Ship MS Austria, which features a nativity scene exhibition, model railway, and fairy-tale winter forest, followed by time in Bregenz's upper-town Christmas Market.

Included

  • Return flights in Economy Class by scheduled airline
  • Standard Class 7-day InterRail Pass
  • Accommodation in a good quality hotel on a bed and breakfast basis
  • Welcome dinner at a local restaurant on the first night
  • Excursions as listed
  • All local taxes/fees
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes a 7-day InterRail Pass, return flights from London, and excursions by rail, catamaran, and boat. A first-class rail upgrade is available upon request.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. Ffestiniog Travel provides a tour leader from London throughout the 8-day tour.
Which trains are used?
The itinerary names the Appenzeller Bahnen (St. Gallen to Appenzell) explicitly. Other rail segments use the InterRail Pass across the region.
Where will I stay?
Hotel Insel in Lindau for all seven nights, on a bed and breakfast basis.
What is included in the price from GBP 1815?
Return economy flights from London, 7-day InterRail Pass, seven nights' hotel with breakfast, welcome dinner, catamaran and boat excursions, all local taxes and fees, and the tour leader's services.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes city walking at multiple Christmas Markets, exploration of traditional villages like Appenzell, and browsing market stalls. Allow for average city-walking fitness.

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