Grand Tour of Germany: North to South, Cities to Castles

Today you explore maritime Hamburg before journeying to Berlin. With your guide you cruise the bustling harbour and the canals of the historic Speicherstadt warehouse district, a UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of red-brick gables, admire the spectacular wave-like Elbphilharmonie concert hall rising above the water, and stroll the elegant Alster lakes and arcades. In the afternoon you travel south by fast, comfortable train to Berlin, the reunited capital, arriving and settling into your central hotel. The water, architecture and change of pace are captivating. As the day ends, you begin to feel the creative energy of the capital. This evening, savour Berlin's lively dining scene in a characterful neighbourhood, perhaps with a first glimpse of the floodlit Brandenburg Gate. Rest well, ready to explore historic Berlin in depth tomorrow with your expert local guide.

Today you explore Berlin with your expert local guide, tracing the drama of the twentieth century. You stand before the neoclassical Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of German reunification, and take in the glass-domed Reichstag, the seat of parliament. You walk the grand boulevard of Unter den Linden, pause at the vast Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and stand at Checkpoint Charlie, the Cold War crossing. You trace surviving stretches of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery and the Berlin Wall Memorial, which recall the city's division and joyful reunion. The history is powerful and moving. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, having walked through modern history. This evening, savour Berlin's lively dining and bar scene. Rest well, ready to explore the city's artistic treasures tomorrow.

Today you delve into Berlin's art, culture and creative energy. You explore Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage ensemble of five world-class museums in the river Spree, coming face to face with the exquisite bust of Nefertiti, marvelling at the treasures of antiquity, and admiring masterpieces of European art, with the great domed Berlin Cathedral beside the river. You might visit the elegant baroque palace of Charlottenburg, or explore the trendy cafes, street art and galleries of neighbourhoods such as Prenzlauer Berg and Kreuzberg. The art and atmosphere are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, having explored Berlin's cultural riches. This evening, enjoy a final Berlin dinner in a lively quarter. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey south to baroque Dresden on the Elbe.

Today you travel south by fast, comfortable train to Dresden, the historic capital of Saxony on the river Elbe, arriving and settling into your hotel. With your guide you explore this magnificently rebuilt baroque city, once called the 'Florence of the Elbe', devastated in 1945 and beautifully restored, a moving symbol of reconciliation. You marvel at the reconstructed Frauenkirche, its great dome once again crowning the skyline, explore the sumptuous Zwinger palace with its art galleries and porcelain, and take in the Semper Opera House, the royal palace and the riverside terrace known as the Balcony of Europe. The beauty and resurrection are captivating. As the day ends, you settle into Dresden. This evening, savour Saxon cooking and wine in the atmospheric old town, with views of the floodlit domes and spires. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to Bavarian Munich.

Today you travel south to Munich, the proud capital of Bavaria, transferring by fast, comfortable train through the German countryside. On arrival you are met and settle into your hotel, then begin exploring this warm, convivial city with your guide. You stand on the vast Marienplatz to watch the figures of the famous Glockenspiel dance out from the ornate New Town Hall, wander the colourful Viktualienmarkt food market, and stroll the elegant streets, grand churches and squares of the old town. You feel at once the good cheer and easy charm of Bavaria. The warmth and change of mood are delightful. As the day ends, you settle into Munich. This evening, savour the celebrated Bavarian beer-hall experience, with hearty food, cool beer, brass bands and good cheer at a traditional hall such as the Hofbrauhaus. Rest well, ready to explore more of Munich tomorrow.

Today you explore more of Bavarian Munich at a relaxed pace. You might visit the opulent Residenz, the former royal palace of the Bavarian kings, with its treasury and lavish rooms, or the stunning Nymphenburg Palace on the city's edge, with its gardens and pavilions. You stroll the vast English Garden, one of the world's largest city parks, where locals cycle, picnic and even surf a standing wave on the Eisbach river, and pause at the Chinese Tower beer garden. You might admire the old masters of the Alte Pinakothek. The elegance and good cheer are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, having savoured gracious Munich. This evening, enjoy a Bavarian dinner in a lively tavern. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein above the Alps.

Today you journey south into the beautiful Bavarian foothills to the most famous castle in the world. You travel through rolling countryside and alpine scenery to the villages of Hohenschwangau and Fussen, where the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein rises like a dream on its wooded crag, framed by lakes and mountains. Built by the dreamy King Ludwig II and the inspiration for Disney's castle, it is a soaring fantasy of turrets and towers. You tour its lavish, opera-inspired interiors and cross the Marienbrucke bridge for the classic, breathtaking view of its turrets against the alpine backdrop. The fantasy and setting are magical. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel near Fussen, amid the beauty of the Alps. This evening, savour the mountain calm and a hearty Bavarian dinner. Rest well, for tomorrow you follow the Romantic Road.

Today you follow the Romantic Road, Germany's most beloved scenic route, north through gentle countryside, vineyards and walled towns. You wind through pretty villages and past medieval churches, perhaps pausing at the walled town of Nordlingen, set in a meteorite crater, or the storybook streets of Dinkelsbuhl, before arriving in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the jewel of the route and one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe. You wander its cobbled lanes of half-timbered houses, climb the ramparts of its complete medieval walls, and photograph the famous Plonlein corner. The charm and history are enchanting. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel within the walls, and, once the day-trippers leave, the town becomes wonderfully atmospheric. This evening, savour Franconian cooking and wine, perhaps joining the lantern-lit Night Watchman's tour. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to the Rhine.

Today you journey west to the romantic Rhine valley. After a final morning in Rothenburg, perhaps a last walk on the walls, you travel through the countryside to the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape where the great river winds between steep, vineyard-clad slopes crowned by medieval castles. You board a boat for a scenic cruise, gliding past hilltop fortresses and pretty wine villages and rounding the legendary Lorelei rock, before stepping ashore in the charming wine town of Rudesheim. You stroll its famous narrow Drosselgasse lane, lined with taverns and music, and enjoy a tasting of the crisp Rhine Riesling for which the region is renowned. The castles, vineyards and legends are captivating. As the day ends, you settle into your Rudesheim hotel. This evening, savour a convivial wine-tavern dinner. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to Cologne.

Today you journey down the Rhine to Cologne, the vibrant Rhineland metropolis. You travel north along the great river, perhaps pausing at the elegant riverside city of Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle meet at the Deutsches Eck, before arriving in Cologne. You explore its magnificent Gothic cathedral, one of the largest in the world, whose soaring twin spires dominate the skyline and whose treasures include the golden Shrine of the Three Kings; energetic visitors can climb its tower for sweeping views. You stroll the atmospheric old town and riverside, sampling the city's own crisp Kolsch beer in a traditional brewery tavern. The grandeur and warmth are captivating. As the day ends, you settle into your Cologne hotel, having crossed the whole of Germany. This evening, savour the lively old-town atmosphere, reflecting on your grand journey. Rest well, ready for your journey home tomorrow.

After a final morning in Cologne, perhaps a last look at the great cathedral or a riverside stroll, you are transferred to the airport for your onward international departure. You leave having made the ultimate grand tour of Germany, from north to south and cities to castles, maritime Hamburg, historic Berlin, baroque Dresden, Bavarian Munich, the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein, medieval Rothenburg on the Romantic Road, the castle-crowned Rhine and the cathedral of Cologne. The images stay vivid long after you land, the harbour and Elbphilharmonie of Hamburg, the Brandenburg Gate, the domes of Dresden, the turrets of Neuschwanstein, the half-timbered lanes of Rothenburg, the castles of the Rhine, and the great spires of Cologne. Germany offers extraordinary variety, history and beauty in abundance, and you depart with a deep and rich impression of this remarkable country, already dreaming of a return.