With side trips into Switzerland and Austria
Be invited to the most beautiful sights on this romantic tour of Germany and experience the fascinating cultural heritage of its capital of Berlin, and Potsdam with its outstanding Sanssouci Palace. Enjoy an unforgettable Rhine river cruise while gliding along hillsides dotted with historical castle ruins. Travel on the Romantic Road and back to the Middle Ages and explore here the most photographed little towns of Rothenburg and Dinkelsbuehl, for hundreds of years still preserved in its original architecture. Stop over with us at charming Heidelberg which has inspired many songwriters and poets. Be a guest in one of Europe’s most elegant spa resorts of Baden-Baden and enjoy the scenic route of the fabled Black Forest to Schaffhausen in Switzerland to admire the impressive Rhine River Falls. Journey with us from Bavaria’s capital Munich through its picturesque Alpine country and visit dream-like Castle Neuschwanstein, the charming town of Oberammergau, for centuries wellknown for its unique wood-carvings and performance every ten years of the Passion Play. You won’t miss the lovely "Church in the Meadow” and travel to Salzburg in Austria, amidst a majestic Alpine beauty and have included its delight "Sound of Music Country” !
A warm welcome awaits you upon arrival airport by your Tour Director who will be with you from now on throughout your entire stay. Transfer to your hotel and join us this evening for a brief orientation and a welcome reception before dinner. (D/OV)
Your morning starts with a city tour of Berlin, once again capital of Germany passing historic "Alexanderplatz” with a drive to Checkpoint Charly, up to 1989 most infamous crossing point between Brandenburg Gate which has symbolized the former division and those who watched the Berlin Wall crumble will recognize this place which became perhaps the most vivid symbol of German reunification. - You will see the imposing "Reichstag” building of 1894 that once again houses the German Parliament. From here we pass the zoo of "Tiergarten”, a peaceful expanse of forest and lake and soon arrive prestigious boulevard "Kurfürstendamm” and its ruined Emperor Church kept as a reminder of World War II destruction. Time will be yours now for a lunch break before we continue with our drive to Potsdam to visit its outstanding Sanssouci Palace displaying a splendid collection of art and treasures. - Later, we return to our hotel again for dinner and overnight. (B & D / OV)
Following breakfast we leave Germany’s capital and motor westwards on the "autobahn” passing Magdeburg on the river Elbe, dominated by its 13th-century Gothic Cathedral and on to HANOVER, known for its annual International Fair. Upon hotel check-in the city tour will start with its splendid Town Hall and its domed tower, situated right next to a quaint lake. The "Marktplatz” and a graceful neo-Gothic market fountain of 1880 still preserves an old atmosphere and half-timbered buildings, especially the "Ballhof” is among others one of Hanover´s finest. - Time is left to visit also the city’s magnificent Herrenhausen Gardens, a beautiful English-style park and "Berggarten”, a botanical place with a display of orchids and cactuses. - Toward evening return to your hotel in time for freshening up and for dinner. (B & D / OV)
Today’s morning route takes you further south by way of Kassel, delightfully situated in a basin of the Fulda river valley and home of the Brothers Grimm, famous for their collections of fairy-tales. An orientation drive will pass along the city’s imposing Town Hall and runs straight to Castle Wilhelmshoehe, where Napoleon III was lodged after his capture at the Battle of Sedan in 1871. - After a break, your drive continues on the "autobahn” to Offenbach on the left bank of the Main river, near Frankfurt. Noted as the center of the German leather industry with an International Leather Goods Fair every year and known for its "Kaiser-Friedrich-Quelle”, a soda water spring with the highest alkaline content in Germany. Later, you will arrive at your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B & D / OV)
A most beautiful excursion is waiting toDay as your motor coach takes you to Germany’s heart of wine country to explore at first picturesque Ruedesheim and its much-visited alley "Drosselgasse” lined with a number of inviting wine-bars. Here, you will attend a wine tasting to enjoy some local vintages. Then you board a riverboat for a leisurely Rhine cruise passing castles crowning hills, lovely medieval towns and the legendary Loreley Rock where mermaids are said to have lured sailors to their death. We disembark at St. Goarshausen and continue with our excursion by motorcoach to Coblence to admire its commanding Citadel Ehrenbreitstein before we enter the enchanting Moselle Valley and drive to Cochem. Enjoy this wine town, over which looms a fortress with turrets and pinnacles, remains of the Castle Reichsburg and rebuilt about 130 years ago. Now, participate in another local wine tasting before our motor coach winds along through beautiful valleys and land of castles and vineyards. - During the afternoon return to Offenbach for dinner and overnight again. (B & D / OV)
We leave Offenbach This morning by way of Wuerzburg, a former seat of the prince-bishops and its landmark "Residenz”, Germany’s biggest Baroque palace. Soon after traveling on the Romantic Road and stop at walled town Rothenburg with its towers, gates and fountains preserved almost untouched since the 16th and 17th C. A walking tour will lead you to its old Town Hall of Renaissance and Gothic style, to St. James Church with a beautiful altar, a masterpiece by famous wood-carver Tilman Riemenschneider and to the medieval "Baumeisterhaus”, a restaurant dating back to 1596. -Free time will be yours to browse or shop around before we continue our toDay’s drive on the Romantic Road to Dinkelsbuehl, still surrounded by medieval ramparts and watch-towers ever since the 15th C. The old market place, half-timbered burgher houses and St. George’s Church of the year 1450 are among the most photographed sights in this town. - Enjoy some free time here as well and soon you will arrive at your hotel in Heilbronn in time for dinner. (B & D / OV)
After a hearty breakfast we leave Heilbronn this morning and journey through the lovely Neckar River Valley. It was here at Weinsberg during the 12th century that women in the surrendered Wartberg Castle were told by the enemy outside that they could leave but only what they could carry. Finally, the women came out carrying their husbands on their backs! Some later we shall arrive at Heidelberg, the jewel of ist Neckar river, dominated by its ruined castle from the 16th C. The City tour will show Germany´s oldest university with its beginnings of the 14th C., the market place and a knight mansion, built 1592 in Renaissance style. Drive-up the castle hill and visit its museum displaying a highlight of a great Wine Vat that holds a capacity of about 50.000 gallons. - Afterward, time is yours to enjoy from the castle terrace splendid views overlooking the town and river. - Then your route leads further south passing Karlsruhe, the seat of Germany´s Federal High Court and soon arrives at Baden-Baden, one of Europe´s most luxurious spa resorts. An orientation drive and an easy walking tour include the world-famous Casino and "Kurgarten" which has seen visitors like the King of Prussia, Napoleon III, Bismarck and Queen Victoria. (B & D/ OV)
A morning truly starts today with a scenic drive through the fable valleys of Black Forest by way of Freudenstadt, the most popular summer and winter sports resort, on to Titisee, situated right next to a picturesque lake of natural beauty. Shop here if you wish for unique cuckoo-clocks or just browse around before we arrive at the old university city of Freiburg to see ist landmark "Muenster", one of Germany´s most impressive cathedrals of the 13th C. - Time is yours again to do as you please. Then transfer to your hotel in the Glottertal Valley, the most charming location of the Black Forest region. (B & D/ OV)
Another fascinating tour will take you this morning first into Switzerland to Schaffhausen to view the Rhine River Falls, known as the most powerful in Europe and which German poet Goethe described as the "Source of the Ocean"! From here our route leads back to Germany with a next stop at the small town of Donaueschingen and its castle park to admire a monumental fountain, known as the Source of the Danube. - Further east and some later we travel along Lake Constance , the so-called "Three Country Lake", shares its fertile shores with Germany, Switzerland and Austria. At Lindau following the route north to Munich in Bavaria, our toDay´s destination and home for the upcoming three nights. (B & D/ OV)v
You start your day with a city tour of Munich´s old center and stop at "Marienplatz" to see ist great City Hall and famous "Glockenspiel". You visit the city´s landmark the Church of our Lady, built around 1465 and see the inside of the infamous "Hofbraeuhaus". Stopover at the Olympic Stadium with seating for about 80.000 visitors and which is covered by an outstanding tent roof construction. Close by the Nymphenburg Palace amidst a flower-filled park and visit here ist Royal Horse Carriage Museum with a splendid collection of coaches, sedan-chairs, the coronation coach of Emperor Karl VII and magnificent sleds used by eccentric King Ludwig II. - Return to the city center or back to your hotel and spend the rest of the Day as you like (B & D/OV)
Today´s beautiful drive takes you right into the magnificent Bavarian Alps with our first stop at Hohenschwangau to visit King Ludwig´s fairy-tale Castle Neuschwanstein. A private horse carriage will take you up the hill almost to its entrance to enjoy an inside tour of a number of rooms and apartments like King Ludwig´s incomparable bedroom of fine wood-carvings, others of Romanesque and Byzantine sanctuary, an artificial grotto, the Singers Hall with unique candelabra and chandeliers. Additional rooms reflecting themes of Richard Wagner´s operas like Tannhaeuser, Lohengrin and others. - Outside back again and from the "Marienbruecke" which spans a deep gorge, enjoy a great view of the Upper Bavarian mountains and its lakes. - From here your drive continues to Oberammergau, home of the world-famous Passion Plays. See ist Passion Theatre with seating for about 5.000 spectators and enjoy its beautiful painted burgher houses and wood-carving shops before we leave for another highlight today to stop at the Church in the Meadows. You will see its interior of marvelous wood-carvings, frescos, stuccoes and most colorful paintings of the 18th C. - With impressions of most beautiful sights, you will return to your hotel in Munich for dinner and another overnight. (B & D/OV)
A great sightseeing tour is waiting toDay in Austria as your motor coach takes you first along Bavaria´s largest lake "Chiemsee" and to the border of Austria soon into Salzburg. Dominated by ist 11th-century fortress "Hohensalzburg", truly one of Europe´s most loved cities. An orientation drive (dependable on restrictions) will pass the Horse Trough, used for the archbishop´s stables about 300 years ago and Festival buildings, the tour will lead to Mirabell Gardens with a stop to view remains of a luxurious mansion dating from the 17th C. Following an easy walk through the old center of Salzburg, you will enjoy the lively and picturesque pedestrian zone of "Getreidegasse" and Mozart´s birthplace with house number 9. See the "Domplatz" and its great Cathedral of 1655 and "Residenz" of the former archbishops and where Emperors Franz-Josef, Wilhelm I and Napoleon III met in 1871 after the battle of Sedan. Time at leisure to do as you like before we continue with our drive to Austria´s most lovely "Salzkammergut" and lake district Mondsee. Here you will be visiting its former Abbey built in a Baroque style, now a Parish church since 1740 und used for the wedding scene when making the beautiful film "The Sound of Music"! Take some photos or postcards with your return to Munich in time for freshening up at your hotel. - Tonight you are one of Munich´s famous restaurants for a special dinner, local music and folklore entertainment. In addition and as a surprise there will be a drawing of valuable gifts with everyone winning. We wish this last evening to be the most enjoyable one of your tour! (B & D/OV)
During the morning you leave your hotel for a transfer to Munich Airport. Here, your unforgettable tour Best of Germany ends, say "Auf Wiedersehen" now to your driver and Tour Director before your flight takes you back home! (B)
Travel around Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Italy!
17 day bus charter tour
Arrive Frankfurt and visit Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Interlaken, Gruyeres, Montreux, Interlaken, Zermatt, Locarno, Lugano, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Vienna , Salzburg and Munich.
The bus tour includes side-trips to the Black Forest, the Rhine Falls, Lake Geneva, Castle Neuschwanstein and Oberammergau.
You will also take a spectacular Danube River Cruise.