Compare Romantic Germany 2021 by Tauck vs Best of Germany - Classic Group Classic Group by Insight Vacations
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Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 14 days | 10 days |
Price From | $ 6,490 | $ 3,375 |
Price Per Day | $ 464 | $ 338 |
Highlights |
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Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
Physical Level |
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Travel Themes |
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Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
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Flights & Transport | No | Airfare included |
Activities |
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Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
Description |
Explore some of Germany’s greatest cities including Heidelberg, Munich, Dresden and Berlin… explore the Romantic Road & other scenic byways of the German countryside... discover fairy-tale forests and medieval castles… and gain insights into Germany, past and present. |
Tour the iconic sights of Berlin, see Oberammergau’s famous theater and enjoy the picture perfect vistas from the Niederwald Monument in Koblenz, on this tour of Germany’s splendour. Before the Bavarian Capital of Munich, Dresden’s spectacular cathedral and Baroque Zwinger Palace showcase the cultural treasures that survived the heavy bombing of World War Two. After enjoying the Glockenspiel shenanigans at the town hall, a scrumptious farm-to-table Dinner in Munich is the order of the day, prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients and washed down with a glass of Bavarian wine. Discover Nymphenburg Palace, the Baroque summer residence of Bavarian royalty that rivals Versailles in its scale and grandeur. Explore the palace's fairytale gardens, dotted with romantic castles and temples during your private tour. |
Day 1 Arrive Frankfurt
Tour begins at 6:00 PM, Hotel Villa Kennedy. A transfer is included from the Frankfurt Airport to the five-star Villa Kennedy, built around a Renaissance-style villa in downtown Frankfurt. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner.
MEALS : D
PORTOFCALL : Frankfurt, Germany
Day 2 Cruise the Rhine River to Rüdesheim
Begin today's travels aboard a morning riverboat cruise on the Rhine from St. Goarshausen to Rüdesheim. Glide past green hillsides and romantic castle ruins that line the storied banks and lush hilltops of the river. Disembark in the wine town of Rüdesheim for time at leisure; check out its famous Drosselgasse, a cobblestone lane of half-timbered houses, wine taverns and cozy cafes. Return to Frankfurt, where you're free to explore on your own tonight; your hotel is in easy reach of the pubs, restaurants and nightlife of the Left Bank district.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Rüdesheim, Germany
Day 3 Medieval Heidelberg to the Black Forest
Travel along the "Yellow Roads" through typical villages of the agricultural region known as the Bergstrasse en route to the enchanting medieval town of Heidelberg, where a tour leads you to the ruins of its Gothic castle that was the inspiration of poets and painters. Enjoy some free time in town before continuing to your hotel, Traube Tonbach, the grande dame of Black Forest spa resorts. Dine at leisure in the hotel tonight.
MEALS : B, D
PORTOFCALL : Heidelberg, Germany
Day 4 Luxury cars or cooking & Black Forest romance
Choose between a self-guided tour of the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart – a treasure trove of historic cars and exhibits that trace the evolution of the legendary automaker – or an interactive cooking lesson at the hotel, with chefs who’ll demonstrate the art of regional delicacies, from Maultaschen to Black Forest Cake. Enjoy time at leisure then join us for dinner at a romantic pudelstein hut in the Black Forest.
MEALS : B, L, D
PORTOFCALL : Baiersbronn, Germany
Day 5 A castle in Meersburg en route to Neuschwanstein
Drive the scenic Black Forest into the foothills of the Alps en route to a private visit and lunch at the Neus Schloss Meersburg ("New Castle in Meersburg"), a historic 18th-century former bishop's castle overlooking Lake Constance, now home to several museums. Continue on to the beautiful fairy-tale landscapes of Neuschwanstein, where the imagination is inspired by green meadows, dark forests and crystal clear blue lakes.
MEALS : B, L, D
PORTOFCALL : Oberammergau, Germany
Day 6 Neuschwanstein, Oberammergau and on to Munich
Start your day with an experience straight out of a storybook... a tour of Linderhof Palace. This opulent rococo showplace, enlarged by Bavaria's King Ludwig II from the 1860s to the 1880s, was greatly inspired by Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles, complete with a Hall of Mirrors and an exact (but smaller) copy of the French palace's Ambassador's Staircase. Then you're off to the village of Oberammergau; enjoy a walking tour with a local guide (including a visit to the venue of the Passion Play), followed by some free time to explore as you please. Along with the Passion Play, the village is also renowned for its tradition of skilled woodcarving and the charming lüftimalerei (frescoes) that decorate many homes, depicting scenes from Bavarian folktales. Depart Oberammergau and head to the legendary city of Munich, arriving early evening.
MEALS : B, L, D
PORTOFCALL : Oberammergau, Germany
Day 7 A day in Munich
Upon arrival, take a sightseeing tour of the Bavarian capital that includes the celebrated Maximilianstrasse, the 17th-century Residenz, and the old town hall. Explore more of Munich at your leisure this afternoon, or join us for a poignant to Dachau; this evening is free to spend as you please in Munich.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Munich, Germany
Day 8 Rothenburg on the Romantic Road
Today, you'll visit the medieval town of Rothenburg, on Germany's legendary "Romantic Road," where you'll have time to discover Rothenburg's sites including its renowned Gothic cathedral, cobblestone streets and gabled houses that have remained much the same over the centuries. Arrive late afternoon at your hotel in Bad Windsheim have dinner as you please in town.
MEALS : B, L
PORTOFCALL : Rothenburg, Germany
Day 9 "Horseless carriages" in Rothenburg, then on to Dresden
Depart Rothenburg, and then travel in style aboard old-timer Aaglander cars – “horseless carriages," complete with lunch and sparkling wine – before continuing on to Dresden. You'll stay in Dresden at an 18th-century palace, rebuilt in all its splendor as a luxury hotel, in the heart of the city’s historic center.
MEALS : B, L, D
PORTOFCALL : Dresden, Germany
Day 10 Baroque Art in the City of Dresden
Your journey continues today with a guided sightseeing tour of the city of Dresden. Before World War II, Dresden was known as The Jewel Box for its magnificent art treasures and Baroque architecture. Heavily bombed during the war, much of the city’s former glory has since been restored, including the Royal Palace, whose museum, dating back to the 1720s, displays some 4,000 works of art. Tauck’s private tour through the New Green Vault takes in Renaissance and Classicist treasures, including jeweled gems of gold, silver, ivory and mother of pearl. The afternoon and evening are free to explore on your own.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Dresden, Germany
Day 11 Dresden at leisure & on to Berlin
Spend the morning as you please in Dresden, exploring the city's museums and enjoying lunch at leisure, then travel to Berlin for a three-night stay at a five-star hotel in the heart of the German capital, overlooking the Gendarmenmarkt Square in the city's historic Mitte district. Have dinner at leisure at your hotel this evening.
MEALS : B, L, D
PORTOFCALL : Berlin, Germany
Day 12 A day well spent in Germany's capital city, Berlin
Join our local guide for a tour of remarkable Berlin, capital of a reunified Germany. View the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) and the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral); Unter den Linden Boulevard; Brandenburg Gate; the Reichstag; and Checkpoint Charlie, the controversial crossing point between the former East and West Berlins during the Cold War era. The remainder of the day is free to explore Berlin as you please.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Berlin, Germany
Day 13 Your choice of treasures in Berlin
Set off for Berlin’s Museumsinsel (Museum Island), not far from your hotel. This UNESCO World Heritage Site houses five museums and priceless cultural treasures that will astonish even the most seasoned museum visitor! You have your choice of guided visits at several museums today; your pass includes an audio guide for the museums of your choice. Then join us for a private cruise on the Spree river. Later, you'll have some time to explore more of Berlin as you like, perhaps sampling one of the locals’ favorite foods, currywurst, a dish so tasty and emblematic of Berlin that there’s a museum devoted to it. If you’re curious to see a remaining section of the Berlin Wall, you might go to the East Side Gallery, a stretch of wall inventively painted by commissioned artists after reunification to commemorate that momentous occasion. Please join us this evening for a farewell reception at the hotel followed by dinner at the trendy rooftop restaurant atop the German Bundestag (the restored Parliament building)... the views are spectacular!
MEALS : B, D
PORTOFCALL : Berlin, Germany
Day 14 Journey home
Our tours of Germany end in Berlin. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Regent Berlin to Berlin-Tegel Airport. You should allow 3 hours for check-in at the airport.
MEALS : B
PORTOFCALL : Berlin, Germany
Day 1: Welcome to Berlin
On arrival at Berlin's Brandenburg Airport, transfers depart at 10.30, 13:00 & 16:00. In the afternoon, perhaps visit the KaDeWe department store - the shopping centre of West Berlin which during 40 years of division, became the shop window of the West. At 18:30, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with your Travel Director and travel companions at the Kreuzberger Himmel restaurant. Discover how this establishment helps support refugees as they integrate into German society over a Welcome Dinner with wine.
Day 2: The Spirit of Berlin Relaxed Start
Join a Local Expert to see some of Berlin's many highlights. Travel along the Ku'Damm past the Memorial Church. Drive through the Tiergarten to see Norman Foster’s glass dome that crowns the reconstructed Reichstag building. Continue with a visit to the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of the reunification, and down along the Unter den Linden, past the Humboldt University and State Opera. Stop on Museum Island before enjoying a day at leisure in this once divided city. Perhaps take the opportunity to visit the glorious palace of the Prussian Kings at Potsdam?
Day 3: Dresden, a Baroque Phoenix on the Elbe
In Dresden, join your Local Expert to see the splendours of the city. From the Frauenkirche, which has risen again from the destruction of World War II, walk past ‘The Procession of the Princes', a mosaic of colossal proportions on the Royal Palace facade. See the enormous cathedral, Semper Opera House and Baroque Zwinger Palace. Although the town was heavily bombed during World War II, it still remains a treasure trove of early German history and medieval architecture.
Day 4: Nuremberg and the Bavarian Capital of Munich
In the morning, depart Dresden and travel south to Nuremberg with a stop to take in the former rally grounds. Continue on to the vibrant city of Munich.
Day 5: Jewels of Munich
In the morning, visit Nymphenburg Palace and join a Local Expert to explore the beautiful Baroque gardens. Then step inside to admire the interiors and artworks of this vast residence, one of the largest Palaces in Europe. Continue to the site of the 1972 Olympic Games for a visit to BMW Welt. See the worldwide headquarters of this Bavarian icon and enjoy the exhibition. Explore Munich with Insight Choice. Choose to join a Local Expert for a foodie walking tour in the city centre visiting the famous Viktualienmarkt and Marienplatz. Alternatively, go on a guided bike tour in the beautiful English Garden and see the famous Munich surfers. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Bavaria's capital city. Perhaps visit one of its many art galleries and museums, or relax and enjoy a coffee in the delightful Marienplatz?
Day 6: Into the Black Forest to Freiburg Relaxed Start
Take a delightful drive into the Black Forest as you make your way to Freiburg. This evening, savour a Farm-to-Table Highlight Dinner, sourced from fresh local ingredients.
Day 7: Medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber
The Black Forest is the land of cherry cake and cuckoo clocks, where traditional farmhouses dip their thatched roofs almost to the ground. Stop to meet the locals who still make cuckoo clocks by hand, a tradition passed down over 300 years. Venture to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the best-preserved town on the Romantic Road. Plunge back into the 16th century during your orientation as you walk through narrow cobbled streets lined with high-gabled houses to the market square, dominated by its Renaissance town hall. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure for further exploration on your own. For your Dine-Around Evening, choose from a hand-picked selection of restaurants within the walls of the Old Town.
Day 8: The University City of Heidelberg and Mainz Relaxed Start
Head through the valleys, where villages and isolated farms nestle beside fast-flowing streams, before travelling north to Heidelberg. Visit Heidelberg Palace, or Heidelberger Schloss in German, one of the world's most impressive palace ruins, synonymous with the Romantic Movement. Venture inside to see the Heidelberg Tun, a gigantic wine vat built into the building's cellar in 1591 and able to hold 130,000 litres. Hear its associated tales of the dwarf court jester, Perkeo. Spend time in the vast and insightful Apothecary Museum, before marvelling at the panoramic vistas of the city and Neckar Valley from the castle fortress. Your hotel is in the nearby town of Mainz, a bustling and important town since the time of the Romans, see half-timbered houses and medieval market squares that the city is known for.
Day 9: Castles of the Rhine Experience Relaxed Start
Begin the day with a relaxing cruise past steep-sided vineyards, half-timbered taverns, hilltop castles and the infamous Lorelei Rock. Arrive at Boppard and continue to Koblenz where a gigantic equestrian statue of Wilhelm I guards the junction of the Rhine and Moselle. Have your camera ready as you return along the eastern bank. Enjoy the scenic views from the mighty Niederwald Monument. In the evening, round off your German experience with a farewell Celebration Dinner overlooking the River Rhine, complete with local wine. Prost!
Day 10: Auf Wiedersehen Frankfurt
Your journey comes to an end after breakfast, with departure transfers arriving at Frankfurt airport at 08:00 and 10:00.