What was a medieval Christmas market like?
Advent in Lübeck - a trip to the city of Andreas Hanza
25 Nov - 01 Dec 2026.
(7 days, 6 nights)
There's a town in northern Germany where, at Advent, the cobbled streets are filled with the smell of marzipan and mulled wine, where tiny Christmas markets are hidden among the medieval churches, and where for a few moments you can really feel like you've stepped back into the heyday of the Hanseatic cities.
This is Lübeck.
On this special, limited edition trip, we will not only visit Advent markets, but also discover stories, cities and eras together. From the secret world of Berlin to the life of the merchants of the medieval Hanseatic cities, from the footprints of Thomas Mann to the medieval isopotami, this journey is a cultural adventure, a historical time-travel and a true Advent experience.
A special experience for those who want to experience what it is like to live a historical journey
This trip is especially for those who love cities full of stories, slower, intimate explorations, history, literature and the special atmosphere of Advent.
We're not going on a hectic sightseeing tour, but a trip where you'll have time to stop in a medieval courtyard, get lost among the tiny stalls of an Advent market, or simply watch the evening lights on the banks of the River Trave.
The maximum group size is 20 people, so the trip remains more personal and relaxed.
In the company of Noémi Papp
A special companion on the trip will be author Noémi Papp, author of the historical novels The Curse of the Silver Coin (2024) and The Secret of the Lawn Sweepers (2025), one of whose protagonists is a merchant from Lübeck, Andreas. We will visit the town of Andreas, see everything he told Zsófia about, and even what he didn't have time to show her.
This journey will be more personal, more sensitive, more experiential, because the story will be happening in front of your eyes.
Programme
Day 1 - Departure from Budapest
In the evening we board the night train in Budapest. The journey is made in sleeper cars, so the departure itself is part of the experience: we slowly leave the week behind us and begin our Advent time travel to Northern Germany.
Day 2 - Berlin: history, borders and secret worlds
We arrive in Berlin in the morning. After packing, we explore the most famous historical sites of the German capital on foot.
Our walk includes the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden and the Holocaust Memorial, while we also explore Berlin's unique and often dramatic history.
One of the most exciting stops of the day is the Spy museum will be. This is not a traditional museum, but a modern, interactive exhibition space where you can learn about the world of intelligence from ancient times to the present day. At many points in the museum, you become part of the story: secret laboratories, covert surveillance, camouflage exercises and the famous laser obstacle course make your visit a special experience.
After a short free time and lunch at Potsdamer Platz, we continue our walk towards Checkpoint Charlie. We stop at the former checkpoint, which became one of the most famous symbols of the Cold War.
Along the way we pass the Humboldt University, the Opera House and St Hedwig's Cathedral, as well as the square where the Nazi book burnings took place.
At the end of the day we walk back along the banks of the river Spree our accommodation, as we explore the former remains of the Berlin Wall. In the evening we will have dinner together near the river.
Day 3 - Arrival in Lübeck, the world of the Hanseatic cities
In the morning, we take the train to Lübeck, drop our luggage at our accommodation and set off to explore the city
From the very first moment you enter the city, it has a special atmosphere: when you pass through the famous Holstentor gate, you almost feel as if you have stepped back in time hundreds of years.
The monumental city gate, with its gently sloping towers, is Lübeck's best-known landmark and a reminder of the wealthy trading town that dominated northern trade for centuries.
During our walk we will also stop at the famous salt houses. These unique, stepped gabled warehouses were once the centrepiece of the Hanseatic trade. Salt from Lüneburg was stored here before being shipped on to the Baltic Sea.
Lunch will be served in the historic Schiffergesellschaft building, a meeting place for sailors and merchants for centuries. The restaurant still retains its special Hanza atmosphere.
In the afternoon, we visit the Advent Market at the Lübeck Abbey, perhaps one of the most unique Christmas venues in the city. As you stroll through craft stalls, woollen goods, Baltic carvings and small Advent treasures, you'll also learn about how medieval healthcare worked in Lübeck.
Free programme in the evening. During Advent, there are twelve different Christmas markets in the city, so you'll have plenty of opportunity to discover Lübeck's evening atmosphere at your own pace. You can spend the night in the at our accommodation in Lübeck we fill.
We especially recommend one of Lübeck's best-known gastronomic specialities, the world-famous marzipan, which has become one of the city's symbols. Its popularity is reflected in the fact that a marzipan museum and café have been opened to celebrate the local sweet, where visitors can learn about its history and sample its special delicacies.
Niederegger Marzipan Museum - free admission (on the second floor of the café). Opposite the Town Hall, in the centre, next to TKmaxx. Address: Breite Str. 89, 23552 Lübeck, Germany.
Things to see: learn about the origins of marzipan and the history of the Niederegger company, see 12 life-size statues of famous people made from marzipan (such as Thomas Mann) and watch a short film about the production process.
Day 4 - Temples, legends and the world of the Hanseatic League
In the morning we explore the famous churches of Lübeck.
The city's churches are not only religious buildings, but also symbols of the wealth and power of the medieval city of Hanza. The monumental brick lagoon architecture defines the skyline of the city in almost every street.
We visit St. Peter's Church, now a cultural square, with its tower offering a stunning panorama of the entire old town. During Advent, one of the most special Christmas markets is held here.
The Marienkirche is Lübeck's largest church and one of the best-known examples of brick Gothic. The bells that fell during the Second World War are still preserved on the floor of the church as a memorial. Legend has it that anyone who finds the tiny black mouse hiding on the wall will have good luck for the rest of his life.
In the second half of the day we visit the Hanza Museum. This museum goes far beyond a traditional exhibition: you can walk through real medieval scenes, enter meeting rooms, hear the noise of the harbours and become part of the world of the Hanza merchants.
In the evening, dinner together in one of Lübeck's most atmospheric restaurants, the Kartoffel Keller in the vaulted cellar.
Day 5 - Lübeck's secret quarter, where only those who stay in the city for several days can visit
On this day we explore the less known, quieter part of the city.
You will learn about the special social system that the wealthy merchants set up to support widows, orphans and the needy. This part of the city is much quieter and less touristy, but also very rich in historical monuments.
We will also visit the historic Füchtingshof manor house, Lübeck Cathedral and the St. Annen museum quarter, a real hidden gem of the city. The medieval altars, the monastery cloisters and the former monastic squares have a special atmosphere.
The afternoon will be partly free. If you feel like it, you can also explore Lübeck's literary heritage further: the memorials to Thomas Mann, Günter Grass and Willy Brandt are all linked to the city's unique cultural world.
Day 6 - Hamburg and return home
In the morning we say goodbye to Lübeck and continue our journey to Hamburg.
As the overnight train to Budapest only leaves Berlin in the evening, you will also have a short day in downtown Hamburg. This bustling port city has a very different atmosphere to the medieval world of Lübeck, providing an interesting contrast to the end of the journey.
In the afternoon, continue to Berlin and in the evening board the overnight train to Budapest.
Day 7 - Arrival in Budapest
Arrival in Budapest in the morning.
We reserve the right to change the programme!
Participation fee
1.260 EUR / person in double room
1.400 EUR / person in a single room
The participation fee includes:
- train tickets return Budapest - Berlin- Hamburg - Lübeck route (we spend one night in a sleeping car on the train, breakfast included)
- 1 night in a 4* hotel in Berlin with breakfast
- 3 nights in a 4* hotel in Lübeck with breakfast
- a dinner in Berlin
- lunch together on the first day, dinner together on the second day, tea and snacks together on the third day in Lübeck
- admission to the Spy Museum in Berlin, St Peter's Tower in Lübeck
- travel insurance
- Accompaniment and programme management by Noémi Papp
Application and payment conditions
Application deadline: 30 September 2026. It’s worth signing up as soon as possible, as places are limited!
The participation fee may be paid in a single instalment or in two instalments, but the amount 50% by 10 October 2026 at the latest It must arrive.
Registration is finalised upon payment of the full participation fee. Payment can be made in euros on the basis of an invoice.
I. instalment
Transfer of the participation fee 50% in EUR on the basis of a fee request
Until 10 June 2026
Part II
Remittance of the remaining 50% in EUR, on the basis of a fee request
until 10 October 2026
This trip starts with a small group (max. 20 people) to keep it truly personal and experiential.
If you’d like to join us, please sign up by filling in the form below!