Europe Itinerary: German Vista

This European Itinerary at a Glance

Highlights of this Germany tour are a drive along the Romantic Road past small villages to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairytale castle of King Ludwig II nestled in the beautiful Bavarian Alps. You’ll even stay in a charming hotel beautifully located between Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau Castle, the family home of King Ludwig.

4 Unique Experiences on This Trip

Guided sightseeing in Dresden, with a visit to the Courtyard of Zwinger Palace
An overnight stay in the medieval town of Rothenburg
Guided visit of King Ludwig’s castle in Neuschwanstein
Visit Marienplatz in Munich, and enjoy a farewell dinner at a local beer garden

Duration: 8 Days

Available: May-September

This Itinerary is Ideal For: All

Day 1 in Germany

Arrive in Berlin, Germany

Time to rest or to start exploring the German capital. At 6 p.m., meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel.

Day 2 in Berlin

Berlin

Sightseeing with a Local Guide in the once-divided metropolis includes the elegant Ku’damm, the restored Reichstag, Charlottenburg Palace, a picture stop at monumental Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial, and the 210-foot Victory Column in the vast Tiergarten park. See the Kaiser Wilhem Memorial Church with its bomb-damaged tower, drive along Unter den Linden boulevard, and pass the State Opera House and Checkpoint Charlie. An optional excursion to nearby Potsdam is available.

Day 3 from Berlin to Dresden

Berlin–Dresden

Arrive in Dresden, former capital of Saxony. Badly damaged by Allied bombing in February 1945, the city has since been restored to its baroque splendor. During your guided walking tour, visit the Zwinger Palace COURTYARD to admire its impressive architecture; the magnificent baroque Semper Opera, originally built in 1841, once destroyed by fire, then destroyed by bombing, and finally restored in 1985; and the newly rebuilt Frauenkirche.

Day 4 of European Destinations

Dresden–Weimar–Rothenburg

In Weimar, follow your Tour Director for a pleasant walk through this pretty town. See the houses where great poets like Goethe and Schiller lived and the theater where the Weimar Constitution was drafted. Highlight is an overnight stay in medieval Rothenburg with its ramparts and towers, cobblestone lanes and 16th-century houses. Hear how the town survived the Thirty Years’ War and shop for Christmas ornaments.

Day 5 in Rothenburg and Neuschwanstein

Rothenburg–Neuschwanstein

Drive along the scenic Romantic Road past small villages and towards the Bavarian Alps, where two of Bavaria’s most famous castles are situated. Stay overnight in a charming hotel beautifully located between Hohenschwangau Castle, where King Ludwig spent much of his youth, and NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, which you will visit with a Local Guide. This castle became the most famous of all and was inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Day 6 in Oberammergau

Neuschwanstein–Oberammergau–Munich

Arrive in Oberammergau and see the theater where the Passion Play is held, then, continue to Munich, Germany’s “Secret Capital.” Your orientation drive features the Olympic Stadium, built for the 1972 Olympics; the 1,000-foot-high Olympic Tower, the Ludwigstrasse, and the Bavarian Arch of Triumph and Field Marshall Hall. Also see the Königsplatz, and visit MARIENPLATZ with its Old and the New Town Halls and the gothic Frauenkirche. For those interested, an optional excursion to Dachau is available.

Day 7 in Munich

Munich

Today is your chance to join an optional excursion to spectacular Berchtesgaden and Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest (weather-permitting). In the evening, a farewell dinner at a lively Biergarten is the best way to celebrate the success of your German vacation.

Day 8 in Germany