Aachen’s incredible Gothic cathedral overlooks a brightly lit holiday wonderland of festive greenery, gingerbread houses and handmade crafts. The aroma of cinnamon and coriander fill the air. The exact ingredients are a well-kept secret of each local bakery that produces it, but if you are in the area, be sure to try Aachener Printen – their own take on traditional lebkuchen, (a traditional German biscuit product baked for Christmas.) You might refer to it as a soft gingerbread cookie. Also be sure to sample local favorites like potato fritters, spekulatius biscuits and marzipan.
Browse Christmas market tours and river cruises for both 2011 and 2012.
Paris rewards visitors in every season with art, food, and culture. Our advisors’ Paris in the Spring guide captures the city at its finest.
Why Europe Remains the World’s Most Rewarding Travel Destination
After more than 35 years of sending clients to Europe, our advisors at Atlas Travel Center can tell you something the guidebooks don’t always say clearly: every European country rewards slow travel. The travelers who come home raving aren’t the ones who checked twelve cities off a list — they’re the ones who lingered in a market, had a conversation with a local winemaker, or watched the light change over a harbor at sunset. Europe is best savored, not rushed.
That said, there are real logistics to master — and that’s where our expertise makes a meaningful difference. Rail passes versus point-to-point tickets, which airports have the smoothest connections, how far in advance to book the most popular museums and restaurants, which neighborhoods to stay in versus which to avoid — these are the details our agents have spent decades learning firsthand. Many on our team have visited the destinations they book, which means the advice you get from Atlas is grounded in real experience, not just brochure copy.
How Atlas Travel Center Plans European Trips
We work with a carefully vetted network of overseas partners — local guides, boutique hotels, and transportation providers — who share our commitment to quality and authenticity. Whether you want a fully escorted tour with a group, a custom independent itinerary, or a river cruise through the heart of the continent, we design the experience around you. Our group travel program is especially popular for European destinations: we handle all the logistics so you can focus on the experience.
Start Planning Your European Journey
Contact Atlas Travel Center to speak with an advisor who knows Europe deeply. We’re CLIA-certified, ARC-accredited, and have held an A+ BBB rating throughout our 35+ years in business. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning to a destination you love, we’ll make sure your European trip is everything you’re imagining — and more.
