This comprehensive vacation focuses on the crown jewels of Germany, starting and ending in Frankfurt. Begin with a panoramic Rhine River cruise. Then, see Cologne with its gothic cathedral, the historic buildings of legendary Hamelin, the harbor city of Hamburg, and Hanseatic Lübeck. Enjoy two overnights in Berlin, Germany’s once-divided capital, then the cultural centers of Dresden and Leipzig. Stop in Weimar, where the Bauhaus movement started in the 1920s, and Coburg, with its medieval fortress. From Nuremberg, discover the half-timbered houses of picture-postcard Rothenburg, then follow some of the scenic Romantic Road. Wander at leisure in Munich’s Marienplatz and experience the gem of the Bavarian Alps: King Ludwig’s fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle. Enjoy more German panoramas as you drive through the famed Black Forest and stop in Heidelberg before returning to Frankfurt, where you’ll say “Prost!” to this exciting adventure.
Highlights:
Scenic Highlights: Rhine cruise, Romantic Road, German Alpine Road and Bavarian Alps, Black Forest
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Frankfurt, Germany. Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to see some of Frankfurt. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. (D)
Day #2 Frankfurt–Rhine Cruise–Cologne Area. Today’s highlight is an included Rhine cruise from Oberwesel to Boppard to enjoy scenic views of the Rhineland, including the famous Lorelei rock. The next highlight is Cologne and a visit to its impressive gothic cathedral, started in 1248 and completed in 1880. (B,D)
Day #3 Cologne Area–Hamelin–Hamburg. Leave the Cologne area this morning and journey into Niedersachsen to visit Hamelin. Admire its town center with its colorful historical buildings and magically fancy gables. Also hear the story of the Pied Piper. Continue to Hamburg, where you arrive in time for an optional harbor cruise. (B)
Day #4 Hamburg–Lübeck–Berlin. Start the day with an orientation drive to see one of Germany’s greatest maritime cities. Later this morning, a comfortable drive to Lübeck, formerly a free Hanseatic city and independent state. Lübeck, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered the cultural capital of northern Germany. Thomas Mann, Günther Grass, and Willy Brandt—all Nobel laureates—were among the famous residents of this city. Continue eastwards on the Autobahn to reach Berlin in time to enjoy your first evening in the capital of Germany. (B)
Day #5 Berlin. No longer divided but every bit as fascinating, Berlin was once the city of contrasts with the wall separating two different worlds. Now the city has developed into a harmonious blend of new and old, preserving its historical buildings and impressive boulevards as well as creating brand new buildings in the most daring architectural styles. See all of this on the included city sightseeing with a Local Guide. In the afternoon there is an optional excursion to historic Potsdam to visit Sanssouci Park, a marvel of landscape gardening and architectural wonders, and Cecilienhof Castle. (B)
Day #6 Berlin–Dresden–Leipzig. This morning, travel southwest to Dresden, the old capital of Saxony, at one time rightly called the “Florence on the Elbe.” See the Zwinger Carillon Pavilion and much more of this city on your included sightseeing. Then it’s on to Leipzig, where the great composers Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn lived the last years of their lives. It was Mendelssohn who founded the Leipziger Conservatory in 1843. (B,D)
Day #7 Leipzig–Weimar–Coburg–Nuremberg. Leave Leipzig for a stop in Weimar, home to many intellectuals of the past but mainly known for the name given to the historical period of the “Republic of Weimar.” This city is also famed as the home of the Bauhaus architectural movement in the 1920s. Next stop is Coburg. Visit the dominating and mighty Veste Coburg Castle, built in 1225. Continue to Nuremberg for a visit to its famous town center dominated by the Imperial Castle. (B)
Day #8 Nuremberg–Rothenburg–Munich. Visit picture-postcard medieval Rothenburg by the Tauber River. Then, travel west and then southwards through the beautiful scenery of the Romantic Road. Continue to the Bavarian capital, Munich, for two overnights. (B)
Day #9 Munich. With a Local Guide, take advantage of the included sightseeing tour of the city known as Germany’s “secret capital.” Time to admire the beautiful main square, Marienplatz, do some shopping, and sample its most famous product—beer! (B,D)
Day #10 Munich–Neuschwanstein–Black Forest Area. Leave Munich and drive into the heart of the Bavarian Alps to visit the most famous 19th-century neo-romantic castle of the world, King Ludwig II’s Neuschwanstein Castle. Enjoy more fairytale scenery on your way through the Black Forest for an overnight here. (B,D)
Day #11 Black Forest Area–Heidelberg–Frankfurt. The day starts by traveling to Heidelberg for a short visit. This city is the location of Germany’s oldest university and became an inspiration and myth for the German Romantic movement. From here, just a few more miles to Frankfurt. (B)
Day #12 Frankfurt. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
FRANKFURT Tryp (F) or Holiday Inn (F)
COLOGNE AREA Ramada (F) at Bruehl or Holiday Inn Stadtwald (F) at Cologne
HAMBURG NH Hamburg City (F) or Park Inn (F)
BERLIN Abba (F)
LEIPZIG Ramada Treff (F) or Ramada Halle (F)
NUREMBERG Ramada Park Hotel (F)
MUNICH Rivoli (ST) or Tryp (F)
BLACK FOREST AREA Best Western Bad Herrenalb (ST) at Bad Herrenalb
FRANKFURT Holiday Inn Frankfurt City (F)