Valkenburg Christmas Markets

Itinerary

Highlights

• Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast
• Last night dinner in the hotel (set menu)
• One evening with live music in the hotel
• Day at leisure in Valkenburg
• Included visit to Aachen Christmas Market
• Arrival day porterage & welcome drink 

Your Itinerary

DAY 1 - After joining your holiday coach, head to Dover for the short sea crossing to France. Drive through France and Belgium and onto your centrally located hotel in Valkenburg, Holland for your 3 night stay. First 2 nights Bed & Breakfast - last night dinner (set menu) included in the hotel.

DAY 2 - 3 - At leisure in Valkenburg with one INCLUDED excursion
Visit Valkenburg town centre where you have ample time to explore the shops and the Christmas Market. Valkenburg's Christmas Market is spectacularly held in the Town Cave and the Fluweelengrot (Velvet Cave). Twinkling lights and magic illuminations reflect off the walls and soft Christmas music gently disturbs the serene silence more typical of these surroundings. You will see caverns, decorated niches, stalls with various Christmas items for sale and stalls demonstrating old Dutch trades and handicrafts. On Saturday evening (19.30) the Christmas Parade passes through the centre of Valkenburg.

NB Your free day in Valkenburg is likely to be on the Saturday and an entrance fee applies to both caves (not included). In the past few years, timed entrance tickets had to be pre-booked and pre-paid online (https://www.christmastownvalkenburg.com/tickets/) with no option to buy these locally at the caves themselves. This is likely to still be the case for 2026 but tickets should not be booked until your tour has been guaranteed to operate as once booked, the tickets cannot be amended or refunded. 

INCLUDED EXCURSION
Aachen Christmas Market

For about four weeks before Christmas, the squares and lanes around Aachen Cathedral and the town hall are transformed into a Christmas village. Twinkling lights and the scent of mulled wine and Aachener Printen (kind of gingerbread) wherever you go - and all in a unique atmosphere! It's no coincidence that Aachen Christmas market has regularly made it to the top ten Best Christmas Markets in Europe in recent years.

DAY 4 - After breakfast, travel back through Holland and Belgium to France for your return to England arriving back early to mid-evening.

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION 

EES
EES (European Entry & Exit System).   This is the new entry and exit system for UK citizens (and many other citizens) when entering or exiting the EU. For more information, please visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees

The new Entry/Exit System (EES) will start operations on 12 October 2025.

European countries using the EES will introduce the system gradually at their external borders.

This means that data collection will be gradually introduced at border crossing points with full implementation by 10 April 2026

ETIAS

The ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) 'Visa-waiver' programme will start operations in the last quarter of 2026.

Please note: Once implemented ETIAS will be compulsory, like a Passport. No ETIAS - No Entry. It is your responsibility to make sure you have the required documentation in place.

For the latest information regarding ETIAS please visit: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/en/etias

Passport
For advice on passports when travelling into Europe please visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/holiday-cancellations-and-compensation/travelling-in-europe/

Back to top

Accommodation

Grand Hotel Monopole, Valkenburg - 3 Star Hotel .

Back to top