Christmas Markets & Sacred Sites
Twelve days at the start of Advent through Budapest, Vienna, Mariazell, Salzburg and Prague, with the Christmas markets of each city.
Your host and chaplain
Fr. Nick Junker
Pastor, St. Nicholas Parish, O’Fallon, Illinois
Fr. Nick Junker is pastor of St. Nicholas Parish in O’Fallon, Illinois, and Vicar General of the Diocese of Belleville. He was ordained a priest in 2008.
He travels with us for the whole pilgrimage, offering daily Mass, confession and the sacraments.
“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
John 1:14
The mystery we prepare for in Advent. Our days fall in the first weeks of the season, among the Christmas markets of Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Prague.
Advent · The Christmas markets of Central Europe
Central Europe, November 27 to December 8, 2026
Twelve days, ten nights in Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg and Prague, with a Danube cruise and Mariazell along the way.
Departure
Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States on our overnight flight to Budapest.
Budapest
Upon arrival into Budapest, we’ll board our bus and transfer to our hotel for check-in. This afternoon we’ll visit the Fisherman’s Bastion.
Matthias Church
Today, we will tour the older section of the city, visiting the 13th-century Matthias Church, the Citadel on Mount Gellért, the Royal Castle, the Parliament building, Heroes’ Square, and we end the day with a visit to the Budapest Basilica Christmas Fair at St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Danube River
This morning, we head to the Danube River for an exciting cruise down the “Blue Danube.” Following a lunch break, we’ll have an afternoon at leisure to explore more of the beauty of Budapest, including the Christmas Market on Vörösmarty Square.
Vienna
Today, we enjoy a ride through the lush Austrian countryside on our way to Vienna, Austria’s capital city. There, we will visit St. Stephen’s Cathedral, an imposing structure dating back to the 13th century. Following our visit, we’re off to the State Opera House. We then proceed to the Christmas Market at Schönbrunn Palace. This royal “summer house” boasts 1,441 rooms, including the famed “Hall of Mirrors,” where Mozart once performed at the age of six before a young Marie Antoinette.
Vienna & the Hofburg Palace
Today, we visit Prince Eugene’s Belvedere Palace, as well as the Hofburg Palace where we head to a Christmas market in Vienna: a Weihnachtsmarkt. Following our lunch break, we’ll spend the afternoon visiting the home of the famous Lipizzaner Stallions.
Mariazell & Salzburg
This morning, we journey to Mariazell, one of the most important pilgrimage places in Austria. There, we stop to view the miraculous statue, which is housed in the “Lady Chapel,” or “Chapel of Miracles.” The chapel was built directly over the place where the Benedictine monk, Magnus, established his monastic cell in 1157. We then drive to Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, and a city filled with beautiful mansions, festival hall, and the Mirabell Gardens. Here we will explore the historic Salzburg Christmas market on Domplatz and Residenzplatz. While there, we may hear the bells of the great Glockenspiel Tower.
Hohensalzburg Fortress
Today, we visit St. Peter’s Abbey in Salzburg and explore the narrow, winding lanes and secluded passageways of a city with deep medieval roots. We’ll also visit the Baroque Cathedral, the Nonnberg Convent of the Benedictines and the Hohensalzburg Fortress. We finish the day visiting the Hellbrunn Palace to enjoy its gardens and hidden trick fountains.
Prague
This morning, we depart for a scenic motorcoach ride to the enchanting city of Prague, a city of domed rooftops, soaring steeples, and countless spires.
St. Nicholas Church
This morning, we tour beautiful Prague. We’ll visit the Church of Our Lady Victorious, where we see the renowned statue of the “Infant Jesus of Prague.” We then visit Old Town by way of Golden Lane and proceed to the Lesser Town to visit the medieval Charles Bridge, which is adorned with many baroque statues. We depart for St. Nicholas Church, the Astronomic Clock, as well as the Prague Castle District, home to St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George’s Basilica, Our Lady of Loreto Shrine and Strahov Monastery, and Wenceslas Square.
Prague
On our final day, we tour Prague at our own leisure, enjoying the Old Town Square Christmas Market and everything that makes this city a “must-see” for many as well. This evening we gather for a farewell dinner.
Return home
Today we depart from Prague Airport for our return flight home.
What’s included
Everything below is covered by the package price.
Your hotels in Central Europe
Four-star hotels throughout: three nights in Budapest, two in Vienna, two in Salzburg and three in Prague. Hotels are subject to final confirmation; if a hotel changes, it is replaced with one of the same standard.
Price per person
Per person, including roundtrip group airfare. Premium economy and business class are available: call us for pricing.
Shared rooms are always doubles with two beds. If you would like us to match you with a roommate, tell us when you book and we will do our best. Please note that if we cannot find you a match by the final payment date of August 27, 2026, the single room supplement will apply.
Couples, families, friends, singles, all are welcome!
Some pilgrims come as a couple, some bring the whole family, some come with a friend from the parish, and plenty come on their own. Everyone is welcome.
$200 per person is non-refundable.
Final payment is due 90 days before departure. Payment plans are available if you would like to make smaller payments before then.
Check
ACH bank transfer
Zelle
Cash, money order or cashier’s check
Central Europe in Advent
November 27 to December 8, 2026, with Fr. Nick Junker. Reserve today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Questions? Call +1 (800) 653-0017 or email hello@canterburypilgrimages.com.
Secure your spot today with a $450 deposit per pilgrim.
Frequently asked questions
This is an active program that covers a good amount of ground each day. Expect a wake-up call around 7am, departure by 9am and a return to the hotel between 5pm and 6pm. You should be able to walk 3 to 4 miles a day at a moderate pace, with uneven surfaces, stairs, cobblestones and some slopes. The Prague Castle District and the Hohensalzburg Fortress sit above their cities, and there are long coach days from Vienna to Mariazell and Salzburg and from Salzburg to Prague.
Expect winter weather: cold days, often near freezing, with early darkness and the chance of snow, especially at Mariazell in the Alps. The Christmas markets are outdoors and busiest after dark, so bring a warm coat, hat, gloves and shoes with good grip for icy streets.
The St. Stephen’s Basilica fair and Vörösmarty Square in Budapest, Schönbrunn Palace and a Hofburg market in Vienna, Domplatz and Residenzplatz in Salzburg, and the Old Town Square in Prague, with free time at several of them.
Yes. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the return date, and passport cards are not accepted for international travel. We need your passport details at least 90 days before departure. Entry rules for Europe can change, so we will let you know before departure if anything new applies to your trip.
Yes. The price includes group airfare; if you book your own flights, the price is reduced by $1,000. Tell us at registration so we can line your arrival up with the group’s in Budapest on November 28 and its departure from Prague on December 8.
Final payment was due on August 27, 2026. Please call us about any open balance.
We strongly encourage travel insurance for all of our pilgrims, and we partner with Allianz Travel Insurance to offer affordable coverage. Most of our pilgrims choose the Classic Plan. Insurance can be quoted and purchased after registration.
A pilgrimage is not a vacation or excursion but a unique spiritual journey that provides many opportunities to deepen your relationship with God and enrich your Catholic faith by bringing Scripture to life. Pilgrimages offer the opportunity to let Christ draw you near.
More questions are answered in our Support Center, covering booking, payments, travel insurance, passports and what to expect on pilgrimage.