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+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
The Christmas market on the Old Town Square, Prague

Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic: Christmas Markets and Catholic Heritage

Budapest, Vienna, Mariazell, Salzburg and Prague

Twelve days in Advent, with three nights in Budapest, two in Vienna, Mariazell on the way to two nights in Salzburg, and three in Prague, with the Christmas markets of all four cities.

Departures

Current Tours to Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic

Upcoming departures to Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Five stops from Budapest to Prague

Three nights in Budapest and two in Vienna, then Mariazell on the way to two nights in Salzburg, and three in Prague, all by motorcoach.

Itinerary · EU_HU-AT-CZ-12D-01

The Budapest, Vienna and Prague Christmas Markets Itinerary

A twelve-day Advent pilgrimage from Budapest to Prague, with Mass at Matthias Church, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Mariazell and St. Vitus Cathedral, and time at the Christmas markets of Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Prague. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Day 1 – 2

Departure and arrival in Budapest

The Fisherman’s Bastion above the Danube
The Fisherman’s Bastion above the Danube
Day 1

Departure from Home

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight from the United States to Budapest. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
Day 2

Arrival in Budapest

Our tour escort meets the group and accompanies us to the hotel. In the afternoon we visit the Fisherman’s Bastion, the neo-Gothic terrace above the Danube with one of the great views of the city, and gather in the evening for a welcome dinner.Overnight in Budapest.
Day 3 – 4

Budapest in Advent

St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Budapest Christmas Fair
St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Budapest Christmas Fair
Day 3

Matthias Church and St. Stephen’s Basilica

We celebrate Mass at Matthias Church on Castle Hill, where the kings of Hungary were crowned for centuries, then continue to the Citadel on Mount Gellért, the Royal Castle, the Parliament and Heroes’ Square. The day ends at St. Stephen’s Basilica, which keeps the incorrupt right hand of St. Stephen, the first Christian king of Hungary, with the Budapest Christmas Fair in the square outside.Overnight in Budapest.
Day 4

The Danube and Vörösmarty Square

A morning cruise on the Danube takes in the bridges, the domed basilica and the Gothic Parliament from the water. The afternoon is free, including the Christmas market on Vörösmarty Square, one of the oldest in Central Europe.Overnight in Budapest.
Day 5 – 8

Vienna, Mariazell and Salzburg

The Advent market before the basilica at Mariazell
The Advent market before the basilica at Mariazell
Day 5

St. Stephen’s Cathedral and Schönbrunn

We travel through the Austrian countryside to Vienna and celebrate Mass at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, whose spire has defined the skyline since the thirteenth century. We pass the State Opera and end the day at the Christmas market before Schönbrunn Palace, where the young Mozart performed before Marie Antoinette.Overnight in Vienna.
Day 6

The Belvedere, the Hofburg and the Spanish Riding School

We visit the Belvedere Palace, built for Prince Eugene of Savoy, and the Hofburg, the winter residence of the Habsburg emperors, then one of the Christmas markets of Vienna. The afternoon is at the Spanish Riding School, home to the Lipizzaner stallions and their classical horsemanship.Overnight in Vienna.
Day 7

Mariazell and Salzburg

We travel to Mariazell, the foremost Marian shrine of Austria, and celebrate Mass at the basilica, whose Chapel of Miracles stands over the spot where the monk Magnus placed a wooden statue of Our Lady in 1157. We continue to Salzburg for the Christmas market on the Domplatz and Residenzplatz as the Glockenspiel rings across the rooftops.Overnight in Salzburg.
Day 8

The Catholic heritage of Salzburg

On foot we visit St. Peter’s Abbey, the cathedral, and the Nonnberg Convent, founded in 714 and the oldest continuously inhabited women’s monastery north of the Alps. We ascend to the Hohensalzburg Fortress and end the day at Hellbrunn Palace and its trick fountains.Overnight in Salzburg.
Day 9 – 12

Prague and home

The Charles Bridge and its statues of the saints
The Charles Bridge and its statues of the saints
Day 9

Salzburg to Prague

We leave Salzburg by motorcoach for Prague, the city of a hundred spires at the crossroads of Central European history, and gather for dinner after check-in.Overnight in Prague.
Day 10

The Infant Jesus of Prague and St. Vitus Cathedral

We begin at the Church of Our Lady Victorious and the Infant Jesus of Prague, walk the Old Town and the Charles Bridge with its thirty statues of the saints, and continue through the Lesser Town to St. Nicholas Church. We celebrate Mass at St. Vitus Cathedral, burial place of St. Wenceslas, and visit St. George’s Basilica, the Loreto shrine and the Strahov Monastery.Overnight in Prague.
Day 11

Prague and the Old Town Square market

A free day for returning to favorite churches, walking the Old Town, or the Christmas market in the Old Town Square, one of the most beautiful in Europe. A farewell dinner closes the evening.Overnight in Prague.
Day 12

Return Home

We transfer to Prague Airport for the return flight home, carrying with us the grace of this pilgrimage and the living Catholic heritage of Central Europe.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
Mariazell BasilicaMass is celebrated at Mariazell, before the wooden statue of Our Lady that pilgrims have venerated since 1157.
Photograph to come · Mariazell and the Chapel of Miracles
Dates

Your group travels on its own Advent dates.

Tell us the week of Advent you have in mind and the size of your group. We build the itinerary and the price around your dates, inside the weeks the markets are open.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
The Parliament on the Danube, Budapest
The Parliament on the Danube, Budapest
Budapest and the Chain Bridge at Christmas
Budapest and the Chain Bridge at Christmas
Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna
Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna
A stall at the Salzburg Christmas market
A stall at the Salzburg Christmas market
Christmas market stalls below the Týn Church, Prague
Christmas market stalls below the Týn Church, Prague
St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague
St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When does this pilgrimage travel?

In Advent. The route is built around the Christmas markets of Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Prague, which open in mid to late November and run to Christmas Eve. Tell us the window you have in mind and we set the dates against the published market dates for that year.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate, with winter footing. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, on cobbles and in old towns, in temperatures near freezing and with early dusk. Tell us about anyone with limited mobility and we plan the hotels and the coach drop-offs around them.What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic?

A US passport valid for at least three months beyond your return date is required, and we recommend six. Hungary, Austria and the Czech Republic are all in the Schengen area, so no visa is needed for a stay of this length. Requirements change from time to time, so we confirm what applies with your group before you travel.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in leading an Advent pilgrimage?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseA choir pilgrimageChristmas markets and AdventWorld Youth Day Seoul 2027Somewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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