Your travels in Germany begin in the capital, Berlin. With the afternoon free, perhaps walk along the bustling Ku' Damm, shopping center of West Berlin, which during 40 years of division, became the shop window of the West. Tonight, join your Travel Director and travel companions at a local restaurant for dinner.
Join a Local Expert to see some of Berlin's many highlights. Travel along the Ku'damm past the Memorial Church. Drive through the Tiergarten to see Norman Foster’s glass dome that crowns the reconstructed Reichstag building. Continue with a visit to the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of the reunification, and down along the Unter den Linden, past the Humboldt University and State Opera. Stop on Museum Island before enjoying a day at leisure in this once divided city. Perhaps take the opportunity to visit the glorious palace of the Prussian Kings at Potsdam?
In Dresden, join your Local Expert to see the splendors of the city. From the Frauenkirche, which has risen again from the destruction of World War II, walk past ‘The Procession of the Princes', a mosaic of colossal proportions on the Royal Palace facade. See the huge cathedral, Semper Opera House and Baroque Zwinger Palace. Although the town was heavily bombed during World War II, it remains a treasure trove of early German history and baroque architecture.
Join a Local Expert in Weimar to explore the city of literary luminaries Goethe and Schiller. Venture to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the best-preserved town on the Romantic Road. Plunge back into the 16th century during your orientation with your Travel Director as you walk through narrow cobbled streets lined with high-gabled houses to the market square, dominated by its Renaissance town hall. For your Dine-Around evening, choose from a hand-picked selection of restaurants within the walls of the Old Town.
Enjoy an inspiring stroll through the narrow-cobbled streets with a Local Expert before taking in panoramic views on the historic city walls walk. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure for further exploration on your own, or perhaps a guided visit to the medieval town of Nuremberg.
Continue your travels through to Frankfurt and take in the city's famed landmarks with a Local Expert. See the gable-roofed Römer, European Central Bank, Frankfurt Cathedral's Coronation Site, and the eminent Paulskirche. Complete your visit with a tasting of local Apfelwein. Your hotel is in the nearby town of Mainz, a bustling and important town since the time of the Romans. Enjoy a guided visit of the Gutenberg Museum, dedicated to one of history's most important inventors.
Begin the day with a relaxing cruise along the Rhine, passing steep vineyards, half-timbered villages and turreted castles. Arrive in Bacharach for a vineyard walk with a Local Expert, offering insight into this UNESCO-listed wine region. Afterwards, enjoy a Farm-to-Table lunch at Stüber’s, where regional dishes are prepared using local, seasonal ingredients, accompanied by a tasting of local wines.
In Heidelberg, join a Local Expert to explore the cobbled Altstadt. Admire the historic buildings of Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386, and the Gothic Church of the Holy Spirit. From the 18th-century Old Bridge, take in views of the red sandstone castle, once a symbol of the Palatinate's power. Continue to the Black Forest, famed for its folklore and craftsmanship. Here, enjoy an authentic slice of Black Forest Gateau and browse hand-carved cuckoo clocks, a tradition since the 1700s. Your day ends with a scenic drive along Lake Constance, one of Europe’s largest freshwater lakes, before arriving in storybook Schwangau, nestled at the foot of the Bavarian Alps.
Embark on an exciting visit to Neuschwanstein Castle (subject to availability), bristling with turrets and pinnacles and built as a retreat for the wildly eccentric King Ludwig II. See the extravagantly decorated apartments, including the Throne Room and Lohengrin Courtyard. Later, walk through the streets of Füssen's Old Town and explore its Heritage Museum in the former Benedictine monastery of St. Mang.
A beautiful Alpine drive brings us to the village of Oberammergau, famous for its passion play which has been performed here ever since the villagers made a solemn vow in 1634. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and visit the workshop of a local wood sculptor. Travel to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site for a moment of commemoration and remembrance. Reflect on the weighty history that marks the site and observe the importance of its preservation. This evening, consider joining your travel companions for a fun-filled Bavarian evening?Important note regarding the Dachau guided tour: the minimum age for guests is 14. Due to German Youth Protection Laws, younger guests are not permitted to join the guided tour but may visit the site independently when accompanied by an adult. The information provided during the tour (including images) is too confronting for children.
Explore Munich with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert for a walking tour through the city center, or visit the famous Residenz to see its museum and Treasury. This afternoon is at leisure to explore Bavaria’s capital at your own pace. Perhaps visit one of Munich’s many art galleries and museums, relax with a coffee in Marienplatz or join an Optional Experience featuring a guided tour of Nymphenburg Palace followed by a visit to BMW Welt. In the evening, round off your German experience with dinner, complete with local wine. Prost!
Say Auf Wiedersehen to your new friends as you trip comes to an end.
