2026 Germany

Germany’s Weihnachtsmärkte are brimming with traditional German crafts and food in a festive atmosphere. We’ll start in Berlin to enjoy holiday musical offerings of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and a visit to the Piano Salon Christophori, both a performance and workshop space where pianos, especially historical fortepianos, are painstakingly restored.

As the birthplace of Richard Wagner and the place where Bach, Mendelsohn, Bartholdy, the Schumanns, and Mahler worked, our next stop in Leipzig is a must for music lovers. The city was home to Johann Sebastian Bach for 27 years until his death in 1750. We will visit St. Thomas Church, where he worked as music director and cantor. Leipzig is also home to the THOMANERCHOR Leipzig, one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Germany, founded in 1212, and the oldest cultural institution in the city. We’ll have more chances to experience the Christmas markets, and take a day trip to nearby Halle, an old town with a rich history of commerce and trade, which claims the birthplace of Georg Friedrich Handel. 

From there, we will travel to Nuremberg where we will get to know the historic center’s architecture and culture. This Bavarian city boasts having one of the oldest and most famous Christkindlmärkte, with handmade Christmas decorations to peruse while sampling the original Nuremberg finger-sized bratwurst, or a sweet treat of gingerbread or Spekulatius almond cookies.

We then bid auf wiedersehen to Nuremberg and travel to Heidelberg, a 17th-century town with cobblestone streets, a river running through it, and a castle perched above. It feels like stepping into a fairy tale. To experience an authentic Christmas market in Germany, one needs to look no further than Heidelberg. The scintillating scent of candied nuts, hot mulled wine, and fresh cut pine mix merrily with the sight of beautifully handcrafted wooden stalls amid the backdrop of this quaint German town. Heidelberg features performances like the “Joy to the World” program with Handel’s Messiah, and the Heidelberg Holiday Spectacular. 

A day trip to the nearby charming city of Strasbourg, France will be filled with markets, music and merriment! Strasbourg’s Christmas markets are magical, especially in the evenings with all of the buildings and streets adorned with lights … and hopefully a few snowflakes dancing around overhead. We will be sure to visit the striking Strasbourg Cathedral and although considerable parts of it are still in Romanesque architecture, it is widely considered to be among the finest examples of Gothic architecture. Positioned on the border, it has been under both German and French rule at various times in history and, as such, is steeped in Franco-German culture. Of course, dipping our toes into France would not be complete without tasting French wines from the famed Alsace region.

The final day will be spent back in Heidelberg with a cooking class featuring traditional German holiday fare which we will help prepare and then share for lunch. There will be a last chance to find some German treasures at the medieval market there before heading home from Frankfurt the next day.

We look forward to you joining us for a Fröhe Weihnachten filled with markets, music and merriment! 

Please read on below for more details (some still in the works) and check back soon for the registration link.

This tour starts in Berlin and ends in Heidelberg (you may find it easiest to fly out of Frankfurt am Main). You can view – and download and print, if you wish – the most up-to-date itinerary here.

Our intention with each tour is to provide an itinerary that introduces you to key elements related to your destination or the educational theme, while also providing some free time for you to pursue your own interests or have some down time. The balance can vary from day to day, and from tour to tour.

You’ll get the most out of study travel if you research what to do during your free time. This allows you to reap the benefits of group travel, while also customizing the tour to your interests and activity level. Read more about How to Be an Independent Group Traveler.

Jerry Elsbernd joined the St. Olaf faculty as a Visiting Instructor of Music (Voice) in 2022. Drawing on decades of experience as a professional singer and teacher of singing, Jerry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience (and a healthy dose of humor!) to the studio to help his voice students thrive. In addition to his full-time position at St. Olaf, he maintains a private home studio working with students ranging in age from high school and college to adult amateur and professional singers and actors. He has been teaching voice lessons, sharing his passion for singing and his in-depth understanding of the voice for over 30 years, (and yes, you probably have heard some of his former students on the radio or on Broadway).

Jerry’s professional performance experience includes having been a member and frequently featured soloist with The Dale Warland Singers, a co-executive producer and member of the national touring tight-harmony vocal quartet “Three Hits and a Miss”, and a featured soloist in numerous regional oratorio, operetta and concert productions of a variety of styles from classical to Broadway and jazz.

Teresa Elsbernd and Jerry met singing in The Dale Warland Singers, a professional choir based in Minnesota with whom they toured, made several recordings and commercials in addition to the full concert seasons. Teresa appeared as a frequent soloist and was also the voice on a jingle for a Land o’ Lakes radio commercial. She performed with the MN Opera for three seasons and is a frequent church soloist. She enjoys serving on Boards of various organizations and has chaired many benefits.

Teresa holds undergrad and graduate degrees in Vocal Performance, however, her career was spent as a General Contractor in her residential remodeling and new home construction business. In retirement, she enjoys spending winters in Florida and playing golf and pickleball.

Jerry and Teresa love traveling and exploring the world. Jerry looks forward to this trip, in particular, as a further chance to explore the heritage of his German Vaterland and all of its unique music (and coffee!) offerings with you! We hope you will join us for a German holiday…full of gingerbread, hot-mulled wine and charming wooden shops at the unique Christkindlmarkts coupled with holiday concerts that are sure to get you in the holiday spirit!

Expect to enjoy the enchanting Weihnachtsmärkte and a variety of musical performances to the fullest!

Movement between cities will be by air-conditioned private motor coach. Movement within each city and at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing, and good stability. You should be capable of walking a mile or more at a time and up to five to seven miles per day, often over uneven terrain; of climbing stairs that may not have handrails; of climbing in and out of a private motor coach which will likely have tall steps; of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling; of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing different cultures; and of being a considerate member of the group (prompt, courteous and flexible).

Any participant who has demonstrated an inability, in the opinion of the tour leader, of keeping up with the group or of safely participating in program activities may be prohibited from participating in certain activities.

You will be responsible for carrying your own luggage throughout the tour. Traveling lightly is highly recommended.

Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths, air conditioning, and English-speaking staff.

Inclusions and exclusions vary by tour, so please read the following information carefully.

The tour price is PENDING. It will be based on double occupancy and a supplement for single occupancy will apply.

Inclusions: discussions led by Jerry and Teresa; full time tour manager for the duration of the tour; accommodations, meals, entrance fees, concerts, and activities listed in the itinerary; private motor coach transfers (except the airport transfer on arrival); non-alcoholic beverages with meals; gratuities for all guides, drivers, and at group meals; and some limited travel insurance.

Exclusions: Airfare to and from Germany is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the tour price. Examples of excluded expenses are: international airfare; airport transfers; any passport and visa fees; any recommended immunizations or vaccinations; alcoholic beverages; laundry, dry cleaning, phone charges, room service or other items of a personal nature; expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities; and any meals not specifically included on the tour itinerary.

This schedule is TENTATIVE and will be finalized before registration opens. It will be based on payments St. Olaf College must make to tour vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the tour. 

Deposit due: $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel: $475 if you cancel on or before January 14, 2026. If the deposit is made after January 14, 2026 there is no refund.

Interim payment due: $3,000 on January 15, 2026
Refund if you cancel: $1,500 if you cancel on or before September 9, 2026

Balance due: September 10, 2026
Refund if you cancel: None, unless the tour is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

Read the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver.

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Look at the International Travel section of the U.S. State Department, including Before You Go, Country Information, While Abroad, and Emergencies.

Check your passport to ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the tour return date. Should you need to renew, visit the U.S. State Department for instructions.

Take time to prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.

Hold the dates of November 25–December 5, 2026, but do not book non-refundable airfare until we can confirm that the trip is a go. Meanwhile, see our tips on Booking Your flights.