Enchanting Germany

Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Heidelberg, Würzburg, Nuremberg, Rothenburg, Oberammergau & Munich

Discover Bavaria at its best on our 10-day Enchanting Germany tour.  Brimming with rich history and culture, fairy-tale castles, stunning natural landscapes, and beer gardens galore, this charming region in southern Germany offers a unique blend of cosmopolitan flair and rustic charm along with Alpine ambience and Mediterranean splendor.  Our tour includes the major Bavarian cities of Munich, Nuremburg, Augsburg, and Heidlberg, as well as many exciting stops in between.  Flights, transfers, great hotels in the heart of each city, many meals, and a comprehensive sightseeing tour program are also part of this amazing deal. But, hurry to reserve your space—this is a fantastic vacation package that you won’t want to miss!

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Depart USA. Your fascinating journey begins as you depart New York this evening on your overnight flight bound for Frankfurt, Germany.

Day 2: Arrive Frankfurt/Wiesbaden. Arrive at Frankfurt International Airport. You'll be met by your tour director who will escort you to your hotel in nearby Wiesbaden, a historical city famous for its thermal springs and spa. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to indulge in a spa treatment or to explore the city at your own pace. We recommend a leisurely stroll along the "Füßgangerzone," the city's main pedestrian walkway, which offers an abundance of shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Later this evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel and orientation meeting with your travel companions. Dorint Palace Hotel or similar Dinner provided.

Day 3: Heidelberg & Wiesbaden. After breakfast this morning, depart Wiesbaden for the charming university city of Heidelberg. Set at the banks of the Neckar River, Heidelberg is steeped in tradition and history that dates back to the 5th century. Today, you'll immerse yourself in Heidelberg's rich history on your included city tour. The highlight of the day is your guided tour of the Heidelberg Castle, a wonderful combination of Gothic and Renaissance architecture.

Heidelberg is also home to one of Europe's oldest institutes of higher learning—the University of Heidelberg. Since its founding in 1386, the University has been a leader in scholarship, producing a lengthy list of eminent thinkers, including several Nobel Prize recipients. In addition to its notable alumni, Heidelberg also boasts Mark Twain as its most famous guest. It is even said that the city inspired Chapter 16 of Twain's masterpiece, Huckleberry Finn, thus ending his three-year-long bout with writer's block! Later today, return to Wiesbaden for overnight. Breakfast provided.

Day 4: Würzburg & Nuremberg. Have your cameras ready as you set out this morning on the picturesque drive to Nuremberg, stopping en route at Würzburg, a historical city in the Franconian wine region. Although nearly all of Würzburg was destroyed during World War II, most of the city has been painstakingly restored. On today's city tour, you will visit some of Würzburg's most important sites, including the Würzburg Residence. This former residence of the Würzburg prince-bishops is one of the most important baroque palaces in Europe and a UNESCO's World Cultural Heritage site.

After your tour, continue to Nuremberg for check-in at your hotel. Maritim Hotel or similar Breakfast provided.

Day 5: Nuremberg. Nuremberg, Bavaria's second largest city, offers a fascinating mix of quaint and cosmopolitan. Take it all in this morning on your sightseeing tour. You'll see the Palace of Justice, where the Nuremberg Trials took place, the Zeppelin Grounds, and the Court House before returning to the Altstadt (Old City), a medieval walled city with large pedestrian walkways.

In the Old City, conclude your tour with a visit to the Elizabeth and St. James Church and the Kaiserburg Castle, Nuremberg's most famous landmark. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure for independent exploration. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 6: Rothenburg & Augsburg. This morning, travel via the scenic Romantic Road to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany's well-preserved "Jewel of the Middle Ages." Enjoy a city tour of the ramparts, city gates, town hall and Jakobskirche (church), which houses an altar by the famous wood-carver Tilmann Riemenschneider. Continue to Augsburg for check-in and dinner at your hotel. Dorint Hotel or similar (B, D)

Day 7: Augsburg, Oberammergau & Hohenschwangau. After breakfast this morning, enjoy an excursion thru Bavaria. Your first stop will be in Linderhof to visit the famous Palace and grounds. After lunch, continue to Oberammergau, world famous for its Passion Play and its exquisite wood carving tradition. Here, enjoy a special opportunity to visit the Passion Play Theater.

Continue to Hohenschwangau where your hotel is nestled near the castle of the same name. Built on the remains of the medieval fortress Schwanstein. A family of knights constructed the fortress in the 12th century. When Crown Prince Maximilian acquired the ruins of the fortress in 1832, he converted them into a fairy tale castlee as fantastic and picturesque as possible, with decorative towers and turrets, portals, balconies, pillars, and much more. Schlosshotel Lisl or similar Breakfast provided.

Day 8: Hohenschwangau & Munich. Today, enjoy a visit to Schloss Neuschwanstein, considered by many to be the most splendid castle in Western Europe. Commissioned for construction by King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein served as part of Walt Disney’s inspiration for Cinderella’s Castle.

Later today, arrive in Munich, Germany's third largest city and one of Europe's most important cultural centers. Your panoramic tour of Munich will showcase many of the city's must-see sites, including the Old Pinakotheken Art Museum, which houses an impressive collection of works by European Masters; the Hofbräuhaus, one of the most famous beer halls in the world; the elegant National Theater and Royal Palace; the Viktualien Market, a large open-air market with colorful stall; and Marienplatz, the central square and heart of the city. Marriott Hotel Breakfast provided.

Day 9: Munich. Enjoy a full day at leisure to explore Munich on your own. Your local guide will be happy to make suggestions for independent exploration. From Marienplatz, it's short walk to many of Munich's cultural attractions and shopping and dining venues. We recommend a viewing of the daily performance of the moving figures of the glockenspiel at Marienplatz and a stroll along the grandiose Maximilianstrasse, a boulevard lined with prominent museums, upscale boutiques, and the red-granite Maximilianeum, seat of the Bavarian Parliament. Before you leave, be sure to sample some of some of Munich's gastronomic delights, including white sausage, and of course, locally-brewed beer.

This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your travel companions at a local restaurant. Breakfast & dinner provided.

Day 10: Depart Germany/ Arrive USA. After breakfast this morning, bid auf Wiedersehen to Germany as you transfer to the airport for your return flight to the USA. Breakfast provided.

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