Welcome to Frankfurt and savour an opportunity to see the sights on your own before meeting your Travel Director this afternoon for an orientation of Römerplatz and the financial district. This evening, we enjoy a Welcome Reception with our fellow travellers, including a light meal and welcome drink to kick off our discovery of the best of Germany.
Resist the alluring calls of Lorelei and board your leisurely cruise along the Rhine. Glide past vineyard-clad hills, stopping to Connect With Locals over lunch at a Be My Guest experience in a 13th-century castle perched high above the river valley. Share stories of knights and feuding lords and ladies over lunch before continuing to Cologne, where we’ll view the Gothic spires of its magnificent cathedral during our orientation of the city, then continue to Düsseldorf.
Journey through the lush green landscape of Lower Saxony as we make our way to the international trade centre of Hamburg, where we'll join our Travel Director for an orientation tour of the city's iconic sights. Spend the rest of the day at leisure exploring the city's seafaring heritage. Wander along the trendy Mönckebergstrasse, visit one of the city's brewhouses or consider a guided cruise along the city's waterways and discover why Hamburg is called Germany's 'Gateway to the World'. Tonight, we will dine at our hotel.
Follow the picturesque Elbe Valley from Hamburg, crossing the former ‘Iron Curtain' to the historic city of Berlin, whose once-turbulent history has shaped its rebirth as a charismatic capital city. Join your Local Specialist to explore the iconic landmarks of a unified Berlin. See the neo-Renaissance Reichstag, the Tiergarten, Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden. Enjoy some time at leisure this afternoon to explore the city on your terms.
Ascend the iconic Berlin TV Tower for 360° views of the city and Spree River. You'll learn how this landmark changed from being a symbol of the communist regime of East Germany to a symbol of a reunited Berlin before enjoying some time this afternoon to explore Berlin your way. You could choose to join an Optional Experience to delve into the secrets of Berlin’s past, including a visit to the site of Checkpoint Charlie.
A short drive south brings us to Dresden, the ‘Florence on the Elbe', where we'll hear about the city's restoration following its devastation during World War II as you admire its beautiful Baroque façades. See the Semper Opera, Zwinger Palace and the fully reconstructed Frauenkirche. Consider delving into the treasures of Dresden, joining an Optional Experience to explore this elegant city.
Visit the village of Mödlareuth, which inherited the moniker of 'Little Berlin' due to its wall separating 'east' and 'west' Germany. Gain insights into a divided Germany at its open-air museum and see a section of the original wall with its security features. This afternoon, arrive in the Bavarian city of Nuremberg, once the unofficial capital of the Holy Roman Empire and today the economic, social and cultural capital of Franconia. During your orientation see the mighty castle ramparts and stand in the Hauptmarkt main square which is dominated by the impressive Frauenkirche, a great example of the Gothic brick-style architecture of the region. Spend the rest of your evening at leisure indulging in grilled Nürnberger Rostbratwurst with sauerkraut.
Stroll through the narrow lanes of Rothenburg – its beautiful medieval centre seemingly frozen in time and encircled by a fortified town wall that remains intact after centuries. Admire the beautiful market square, lined with half-timbered houses, and the Old Town Hall before following part of the Romantic Road through villages and countryside to Munich.
Today is yours to immerse yourself in the diversity and splendour of Munich. Enjoy an orientation tour of the city’s landmarks and see the Wittelsbach Royal Family Residenz and Marienplatz, home to the Town Hall Glockenspiel. Explore the museums, history and perhaps even beer halls of this capital of Bavaria.
Snap your fingers and be transported to a land of fables and folklore. This morning, we tread in the footsteps of shy King Ludwig II visiting his Neuschwanstein Castle, built as a retreat for the king to withdraw from public life. We continue through the magical countryside to the Black Forest, whose mystical landscape inspired fantasy and fiction from the famous Brothers Grimm. This evening, we dine at our hotel.
Witness a Black Forest treasure as you Dive Into Culture and learn about the centuries-old craft of cuckoo clock making. Later, travel into the Rhineland to view the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, one of the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps, as well as the Baroque-style Old Town with its bustling market squares and colourful façades. Spend the rest of the afternoon finishing up some last-minute shopping before continuing on to Frankfurt. Tonight we enjoy a Farewell Dinner with our newfound friends, reminiscing over the iconic and unexpected highlights of our trip.
After breakfast, we say a fond farewell after a memorable holiday. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers.
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. To request a personalized travel quote, click "Request Quote" and a Travel Specialist will send your custom quote including airfare if requested.
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Available on Day 3
Despite being located 110 km (68 miles) inland, Hamburg is often referred to as 'Germany's Gateway to the World,' due to the sheer number of ships that pass through the city. With our Local Specialist, we'll enjoy a relaxing cruise with refreshments as we see Hamburg's skyline, historic fish market and shipyards, while we learn about the city's maritime traditions.
Adult Price: € 32
Available on Day 4
Come along for a fun night of hearty food, wine, beer and music before we drive through the city as the sun goes down and the landmarks of this impressive German Capital illuminate.
Adult Price: € 60
Available on Day 5
Uncover secrets of Berlin’s past with your Local Specialist on a guided tour of the city. View the Holocaust Memorial, touch a remaining section of the Berlin Wall, see the site of Checkpoint Charlie, and learn more about Berlin’s WWII and Cold War past.
Adult Price: € 32
On the western outskirts of Berlin, we'll explore the area around Wannsee & Potsdam with our Local Specialist and discover the varied historical events and sights in this part of Germany. We stop on the shores of the Wannsee lake which was the setting for the infamous 1942 Wannsee Conference to plan the “Final Solution.” Continuing past harbors and houses we cross Glienicke Bridge, better known as the Spy Bridge from the Cold War era, and onto the beautiful and extensive gardens of Fredrick the Great’s summer palace Sanssouci, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. To complete our journey across the centuries, we dine lakeside in a former royal hunting lodge and enjoy regional specialties in a charming setting.
Adult Price: € 72
Available on Day 6
See the highlights of the fabulous Green Vault, one of the richest treasure chambers in Europe, with your Local Specialist. Afterward, driving out of Dresden, we'll stop for refreshments before reaching Moritzburg Castle to discover its opulent baroque interior. The surrounding woodlands were once a favorite hunting area for the Kings of Saxony.
Adult Price: € 55
Available on Day 7
You’ll enjoy a delicious light lunch with a drink at the world's largest bratwurst restaurant. Then we'll make our way to the rally grounds and unfinished Congress Hall of the former Nazi Party. This extraordinary structure has since been transformed and now houses an exhibition detailing the Nazi Party’s fascination with rallies and the causes and consequences of National Socialism. An audio guide is provided.
Adult Price: € 49
Available on Day 8
A great evening dining in the local atmosphere of a typical Bavarian restaurant. Enjoy traditional Bavarian food and sample some of Munich’s best beer – Prost!
Adult Price: € 62
Available on Day 9
Our Local Specialist will provide insight into Germany’s first concentration camp, opened immediately after Hitler’s rise to power, just outside Dachau. We'll learn about the camp, now maintained as a memorial, and the part it played in this tragic period in history.
Adult Price: € 33