Day 1: Frankfurt - Eisenach - Weimar

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 - Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Depart from Frankfurt in the morning and drive eastward to Eisenach, dominated by the Wartburg Castle. Visit one of the most important buildings of German history and see the room where Martin Luther in only eleven weeks translated the New Testament. Three hundred years before, St. Elizabeth of Thuringia spent almost all her life at the Wartburg. Afterwards, we continue to a cultural treasure, Weimar, where numerous famous persons like Goethe, Schiller, Liszt and Richard Strauss lived and worked. In the evening our welcome dinner will be served at our hotel. Overnight at Hotel Leonardo or similar.

Day 2: Weimar - Dresden

Wednesday, November 20, 2024 - Thursday, November 21, 2024

After the breakfast drive to Dresden, the capital of the Free State of Saxony. On a city tour you will get to know one of the loveliest cities of central Europe. Due to its mild climate, the baroque architecture and the renowned museums, Dresden is also called ‘Florence of the Elbe’. See the Semper Opera House, the baroque Zwinger, the Green Vault or another important museum of your choice and, overall, the restored Frauenkirche. Nowadays, it is hard to believe that after the bombing in 1945 the city centre was completely destroyed. The rest of the day is free for own activities. Overnight at Park Inn o.s.

Day 3: Dresden - Wittenberg - Potsdam - Berlin

Thursday, November 21, 2024 - Friday, November 22, 2024

Today we return to the traces of Luther and visit Wittenberg where the reformation started on31.10.1517 when Martin, according to legend, nailed his 95 theses to the portal of the CastleChurch. Afterwards, we depart towards Potsdam and the impressive courtyards of Sanssouci Palace, the former summer residence of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia. In the late afternoon we arrive at Berlin. Overnight at Holiday Inn Express City Centre o.s.

Day 4: Berlin

Friday, November 22, 2024 - Saturday, November 23, 2024

During a big city tour we will show you all the highlights of Germany’s capital and most exciting city. See Brandenburg Gate, our parliament Reichstag, the victory column, Palace Bellevue, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Memorial Church, Checkpoint Charlie, remains of the wall, boulevard Unter den Linden and the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral). The afternoon is free for own activities like discovering the museums island or shopping in the numerous boutiques and department stores like KaDeWe. Take the opportunity to do an optional boat trip which gives you some memorable views from the channel Spree. Please just ask your guide! Overnight at Holiday Inn Express City Centre o.s.

Day 5: Berlin - Hamburg

Saturday, November 23, 2024 - Sunday, November 24, 2024

Today we are heading north. Our next stop is Hamburg. Enjoy all the main sights of this booming city like St. Michaelis Church, called Michel, St. Pauli quarter, Landungsbruecken, Speicherstadt and the brand-new HafenCity before discovering Germany’s largest port on a typical harbour cruise. The evening is free, maybe for a walk along the Reeperbahn? This amusement district originally was visited by sailors who were able to spend a whole six month pay in only one happy night. Nowadays, of course, you can also see more ‘civilised’ areas. Overnight at Best Western Queens Hotel o.s.

Day 6: Hamburg - Bremen - Hamelin

Sunday, November 24, 2024 - Monday, November 25, 2024

After breakfast departure to Bremen, the free hanseatic city at river Weser with an old tradition of seafaring. See ‘Roland’ at the market square, the cathedral, the city hall and the bronze statue of Grimms’ Bremer Stadtmusikanten. Rub the donkey’s hooves and a wish comes true! After a walk through the narrow streets of Schnoor quarter with tiny houses, we turn onto the famous German Fairy Tale Route. In the afternoon we reach Hamelin, a city known for the Pied Piper, another legend appeared in the writings of the Brothers Grimm. Its former wealthy – due to its favourable location as trading centre on the river Weser – was reflected in its lavishly decorated houses. The delightful centre is a listed site of historical interest. After the check-in at the hotel, we will celebrate our farewell dinner. Overnight at Mercure Hotel o.s.

Day 7: Hamelin - Frankfurt

Monday, November 25, 2024 - Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Along the river Weser we follow the Fairy Tale Route towards the small and unique city of Hann.Muenden. Never destroyed, Hann.Muenden belongs to the best preserved halftimbered places in Germany. Enjoy this jewel of Weser Renaissance style before we continue our trip to Frankfurt. On the further way to the south we will make stops along the road, depending on the weather and traffic situation. In the afternoon we reach Frankfurt where a panoramic city tour of Germany’s financial capital awaits us. Overnight at InterCityHotel o.s.

Day 8: Frankfurt - Wurzburg - Rothenburg

Tuesday, November 26, 2024 - Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Depart from Frankfurt in the morning for a picturesque drive through the Spessart mountains to Wuerzburg, on the banks of the river Main. Enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent Residence, a masterpiece of baroque architecture and UNESCO World Heritage Site. On the world famous Romantic Road we move on to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany’s wellpreserved ‘Jewel of the Middle Ages’. During a city walk, including a visit of St. Jacob’s Church with the Holy Blood Altar by Tilman Riemenschneider, you will experience the special flair of this unique town. Leisure time before in the evening our welcome dinner withcomplimentary drink will be served at the hotel. Afterwards, join an unforgettable tour with the Night Watchman. Overnight at Hotel Eisenhut or similar.

Day 9: Rothenburg - Augsburg - Munich

Wednesday, November 27, 2024 - Thursday, November 28, 2024

Today we continue our trip along the Romantic Road. See charming villages like Dinkelsbuehl or Noerdlingen before we arrive at Augsburg. We continue to the Bavarian capital, Munich. An orientation tour, passing Nymphenburg Castle and the Olympic Grounds, will give you a first impression of this splendid city before we check-in at our hotel. In the afternoon we will leave for a walk which will take us at 05:00 pm to the ‘Glockenspiel’ (carillon) at Marienplatz. The evening is free for own activities. Would you like to have a look into the ‘Hofbraeuhaus’ or to attend a concert or an opera? Please just ask your guide! Overnight at Hotel Erzgiesserei o.s.

Day 10: Munich - Garmisch - Partenkirchen - Ettal - Oberammergau - Fuessen

Thursday, November 28, 2024 - Friday, November 29, 2024

Depending on the weather conditions on this day, drive to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, situated at the foot of our highest mountain ‘Zugspitze’ and one of the most important wintersport towns in Southern Germany, before going on to the Benedectine abbey of Ettal and to Oberammergau. The village is internationally famous for its Passion Play – generally performed every ten years – and for its numerous buildings with tromp loeil (Lueftlmalerei) painted façades. On the way to our today’s destination, Fuessen, we will make a short stop at the glorious rococo church in Wies. On sunny days, from there you can already see the fantastic Bavarian Alps. Overnight at Luitpoldpark-Hotel o.s.

Day 11: Fuessen - Hohenschwangau - Linderhof - Rottenbuch - Fuessen

Friday, November 29, 2024 - Saturday, November 30, 2024

From Fuessen it is only a short trip to Hohenschwangau and – located on the rugged hill above – the breathtaking fairytale castle of King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein! After the guided visit we continue to Linderhof on a scenic Alps tour through Austria. Linderhof is the only palace ‘Mad King Ludwig’ lived to see completed. In the later afternoon we arrive back to Fuessen – not having missed to see another treasure of rococo architecture, the monastery church Rottenbuch. Overnight at Luitpoldpark-Hotel o.s.

Day 12: Fuessen - Lindau - Lake Constance

Saturday, November 30, 2024 - Sunday, December 1, 2024

In the morning, after breakfast and check-out, we are heading to Lake Constance which we will arrive at its north shore, located between Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Enjoy a walking tour of the beautiful village Lindau before we continue to Konstanz. The largest town at Lake Constance with a lot of historical interest is located at Germanys border with Switzerland and also the birthplace of Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin, the famous airship pioneer. Afterwards, we check-in at our hotel in the nearby city Singen. Overnight at Holiday Inn Express o.s.

Day 13: Lake Constance - Black Forest - Freiburg - Heidelberg

Sunday, December 1, 2024 - Monday, December 2, 2024

Today we enter the Black Forest, a region known not only for its delicious cake and the wooden cuckoo clocks but also for its spectacular landscapes. We will visit a clockmaker and, of course, you will have the possibility to taste the typical cake. Enjoy a drive through the beautiful countryside towards the idyllic town of Freiburg. After a city tour we continue to Heidelberg, the oldest German university town where you will see the inner courtyard of the impressive castle, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the wine cellar with its big barrel. In the evening, we will celebrate our good-bye to Romantic Germany with a great farewell dinner at famous Restaurant Zum Ritter St. Georg, built in the 16th century. Overnight at Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg o.s.

Day 14: Heidelberg - Ruedesheim - Frankfurt

Monday, December 2, 2024 - Tuesday, December 3, 2024

We leave Heidelberg in the early morning to take you to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, also declared UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its wines and vineyards. In Ruedesheim we board a steamer for a Rhine river cruise, passing fascinating castles, ruins and the legendary Loreley Rock. Maybe, from the deck of the ship, you will see the blond maid combing her hair. Our coach will awaits us in St. Goarshausen to bring us back to Frankfurt where our exciting journey ends with a small panoramic city tour of Germany’s financial capital at approx. 04:00 pm.