Resist the alluring calls of Loreley and board your leisurely cruise along the Rhine. Glide past vineyard-clad hills, stopping for a Be My Guest experience. 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.
Enjoy a full day to explore Berlin on your terms. You might choose to join an Optional Experience uncovering the city’s defining moments with a Local Specialist visiting the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie and what remains of the Berlin Wall. Later, you could head out of the city on another Optional Experience to Potsdam and Wannsee to see the site of the 1942 Wannsee Conference, cross the Glienicke ‘Spy Bridge’ and wander through the UNESCO-listed gardens of Sanssouci Palace.
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, stroll through Marienplatz, and admire the impressive town hall with its charming Glockenspiel. A short walk from here takes you to the 13th-century St. Peter’s Church, the Viktualien food market square, and a traditional beer hall. Later, join a Local Specialist for a guided visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, a powerful experience that offers insight into this dark chapter of history.
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, say a fond farewell after a memorable holiday.