Christmas Market River Cruise Along the Elbe - Part 1

Join LO as she takes us through her amazing Christmas Market River Cruise Along the Elbe - 10 days going from Prague to Berlin.

Dec 1, 2025

Are you ready for a blog takeover? Buckle up because we’re about to take a virtual adventure together! 

I’m LO (friend of MO and Joy) and I’m thrilled to help Hit the Road with MO and Joy kick off the holiday season with a taste of European Christmas markets. Shameless plug — be sure to give this podcast episode a listen for more details!

We planned our trip through Viking River Cruises, and our specific adventure was Christmas Along the Elbe (Prague to Berlin).* 

To give a quick overview of the cruise:  

•  Day 1 – Berlin, Germany (Discover Berlin’s highlights, from the Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie)
•  Day 2 – Berlin, Germany (Explore the cultural sights that symbolize Berlin’s growth since reunification)
•  Day 3 – Potsdam, Germany (Visit the Sanssouci Palace, built by the Prussian King Frederick the Great in the 18th century) Wittenberg, Germany (Walk in Martin Luther’s footsteps; see the church where he posted his “95 Theses”)
•  Day 4 – Wittenberg, Germany (Admire Wittenberg’s churches, including the 14th-century Lutheran All Saints’ Church)
•  Day 5 – Meissen, Germany (Learn about the history, craftmanship and intricate detail of Meissen’s famous porcelain)
•  Day 6 – Dresden, Germany (Discover this elegant city-its Green Vault, Zwinger Palace, Semper Opera House and more)
•  Day 7 – Scenic Sailing: Saxon Switzerland (Capture panoramic views from the dramatic lookout of breathtaking Saxon Switzerland) Bad Schandau, Germany (See the towering rocks of the Bastei, one of Germany’s natural wonders)
•  Day 8 – Prague, Czech Republic (Learn about the city’s Jewish history, visit the Old Town and see the Astronomical Clock)
•  Day 9 – Prague, Czech Republic (Discover the “City of a Hundred Spires” from Hradcany Castle to the iconic Charles Bridge)
 
Although the trip was 10 days, we’re only going to visit a few of my favorite cities in Part 1 and Part 2  of this blog. 

Prague

We arrived in Prague, The Czech Republic. Aptly named the “City of A Thousand Spires,” the skyline is a stunning mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Romanesque silhouettes that make you feel like you’re stepping straight into a storybook. I had never been to Eastern Europe and was really looking forward to this part of the trip given my family’s Slavic heritage. We walked the streets of Prague, visited the outside of Prague Castle and the inside/outside of St. Vitus Cathedral, ate lunch at a family-owned restaurant, walked Charles Bridge, and made sure to honor the local legend by touching both sides of the Saint John of Nepomuk statue for good luck. Superstitious for sure, but when a city offers you good luck, who are we to pass it up?

You know by now that MO is a foodie, so I’ve included some pictures of our lunch just for her.

One of my favorite things to do when traveling is to get a glimpse into local culture — how people shop, eat, relax, and (for this trip) how they “Christmas!” I also love the experiences that occur by happenstance. You know, those “off the beaten path” or “happy accidents” you encounter when traveling — like stumbling on a display in the basement of a small church where locals created a cultural maze of Slavic Christmas traditions. From manger scenes and decorated Christmas trees to handmade food and crafts, little did I realize when I walked in that my father’s family traditions would be on full display. Crocheted ornaments soaked in starch and shaped into stars, snowflakes, bells. Straw laced with red string formed into stars, birds, and snowflakes; and beeswax formed into flowers, stars, snowflakes, and starbursts. It was a visual feast that unexpectedly warmed my heart as I recalled my childhood where my Baba (that’s Slovak for grandmother) and aunts sat on the couch crocheting these very shapes to adorn their own Christmas tree. 

Noteworthy to see in Prague is Old Town with the Astronomical Clock and the Christmas Market. 



*NOTE: The Viking itinerary is updated every year. Our experience was slightly different from the current experience listed on Viking’s website.