Best of Germany
12 Day Germany Tour to Hamburg, Berlin | Operated by Trafalgar
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12 Days
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1 Country
Germany -
12 Cities
Frankfurt, Sankt Goar, Kamp-Bornhofen, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Dresden, Nuremberg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Munich, Black Forest, Heidelberg -
16 Meals
4 Dinners, 11 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch -
Pace: Active
Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.
Trip Itinerary
Welcome to Frankfurt and savor an opportunity to see the sights on your own before meeting your Travel Director this afternoon for an orientation of Römerberg and the financial district. This evening, we enjoy a Welcome Reception with our fellow travelers, including a light meal and welcome drink to kick off our discovery of the best of Germany.
Resist the alluring calls of Loreley 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.
Journey through the lush green landscape of Lower Saxony as we make our way to the international trade center of Hamburg, where we'll join our Travel Director for an orientation tour of the city's iconic sights. Spend some time 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 through the city's harbor 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 unified Berlin. See the Neo-Renaissance Reichstag, the Tiergarten, Brandenburg Gate and Unter den Linden.
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 exploring 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 day at leisure indulging in the local specialties.
Stroll through the narrow lanes of Rothenburg – its beautiful medieval center 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 traveling through the Bavarian countryside to Munich.
During your time in Munich, see the distinctive towers of the Cathedral as well as Marienplatz, the central square and the impressive town hall with its charming glockenspiel. The 13th-century St. Peter’s church, the Viktualien food market square and a beerhall are only a short walk from here.
Travel through the beautiful countryside to a land of fables and folklore. This morning, we tread in the footsteps of shy King Ludwig II and visit his Neuschwanstein Castle (Subject to Availability), 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 over dinner, we learn from a local expert about Hofgut Sternen’s innovative design and the traditions of the Black Forest on MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.
Witness a Black Forest treasure as you Dive Into Culture and learn about the centuries-old craft of cuckoo clock making. Later, travel to Heidelberg and perhaps have the chance to capture views of the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, as well as the Baroque-style Old Town. Spend the rest of the afternoon finishing up some last-minute shopping before continuing on to Frankfurt. Tonight we enjoy a Farewell Dinner with your newfound friends, reminiscing over the iconic and unexpected highlights of our trip.
After breakfast, we say a fond farewell after a memorable holiday.
Price Includes
What's Included- - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- - Optional Experiences and free time
- - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
- - 4 Dinners (D)
- - 11 Breakfasts (B)
- - 1 Lunch (L)
- Spend the day exploring the sights of Frankfurt.
- Enjoy a trip to Cologne and admire its spectacular cathedral.
- Cruise beneath the semi-ruined castles and terraced vineyards. Sleepy villages slip by as you saunter upstream to the Lorelei Rock where the enchantress lured sailors to their doom.
- Spend the day basking in the iconic sights of Hamburg and appreciating the local delicacies.
- During a sightseeing tour with your Local Specialist, admire Berlin landmarks like the Tiergarten and the neo- Renaissance Reichstag.
- Take in panoramic views of the city from the observation platform of the Berlin TV Tower.
- Stroll through the historic center of Dresden and learn about the city's reconstruction.
- Visit the village of Mödlareuth and gain insights into its divided history at the town's open-air museum.
- Explore Nuremberg, perhaps indulging in the wonderful food at the Haupmarkt main square.
- Visit the medieval center of Rothenburg.
- During your orientation of the city with your Travel Director, see Feldherrnhalle in the Odeonsplatz, the Palace of the Dukes of Wittelsbach, the English Garden, the Hofbräuhaus, St. Peter's Church and the famous Marienplatz.
- Admire the magical countryside at the Neuschwanstein Castle.
- See the magnificent castle built in red sandstone, overlooking the Student Prince’s town.
- In a medieval castle, enjoy an exclusive lunch and be transported back to a time of kings and knights.
- Tonight, a Local Specialist will introduce you to Hofgut Sternen as a sustainable destination in the heart of the Black Forest. Learn how they work to conserve their beautiful environment through using their own energy plant and working with the natural resources of the region.
- Watch as skilled craftsman capture the distinctive sound of the cuckoo demonstrating the centuries' old craft of clock making in the Black Forest.
Optional Experiences
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.
The Fab Four and Hamburg Harbor Cruise (Available on Day 3)See where the Beatles lived and developed the skills to become the biggest band in the World, where Paul McCartney and Pete Best were arrested, and much more. Take a selfie with the Fab Four at the Grosse Freiheit. Then, have a drink with us on a cruise around Europe's third largest port, where over 12,000 ships move 92 million tons of cargo in over 4 million containers around the world.
Adult Price: €39 Berlin by Twilight with Dinner (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: €72 Berlin's Secret Past Revealed (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: €35 Bridges, Lakes & Prussian Royalty (Available on Day 5)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 riverside in a former royal hunting lodge and enjoy regional specialties in a charming setting.
Adult Price: €83 Dresden Royal Treasury and Moritzburg Castle (Available on Day 6)See the highlights of the fabulous Green Vault, one of the richest treasure chambers in Europe, with your Local Specialist. Afterwards, let us take you out of Dresden to Moritzburg Castle, to discover its opulent baroque interior. The surrounding woodlands were once a favorite hunting area for the Kings of Saxony.
Adult Price: €63 Nuremberg Rally Grounds and the Historical Center (Available on Day 7)Today we will make our way to the rally grounds and unfinished Congress Hall of the former Nazi Party. Here we will meet our local Expert who will show us around the vast area and detail the Party's fascination with rallies and also the causes and consequences of National Socialism. We also see Zeppelin field with the Tribune and the Luitpoldhain (the former Luitpold arena). Later we visit the Main Square of Nuremberg where you can turn the Golden ring on one of the oldest fountains of Germany and make your wish.
Adult Price: €41 Nuremberg's Medieval Secrets Uncovered (Available on Day 7)Tonight, explore the Nuremburg overlooked by so many, Our Local Specialist shines a light on the darkened alleyways and hidden corners of this medieval masterpiece, bringing it to life. Turrets, towers and tales of a bygone era, it wont be long before you realise there is so much more to this city than beautiful fountains, plum men and lebkuchen, you certainly want to hang around for a while.
Adult Price: €38 Bavarian Evening (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: €81 The Dachau Memorial Site (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: €38