8-Day Great Cities and Castles Route Tour from Berlin: Nuremberg, Munich, Frankfurt, Dortmund, Hannover, Eisenach and Leipzig｜1 Dinner Included

What you'll experience

Highlights

8 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Berlin - Dresden - Bamberg - Nuremberg

   Total distance covered: 540 km.
   Scenery: Forests, hills, and little villages along the way.
   
   
   07:30 a.m. - Departure from Berlin.
   10:00 a.m. - Arrival in Dresden. Known as the pearl of the River Elbe, this city was once the residence of the kings of Saxony. The grand palace stands as a testament to Dresden's glorious historic past. We'll have time to stroll and explore.
   12:00 p.m. - Departure from Dresden. We'll head south towards Germany, stopping at a service area for lunch.
   04:15 p.m. - Arrival in Bamberg. This lively and beautiful city is a must-see. Enjoy a stroll through "Little Venice," with its picturesque canals and monumental heritage, making Bamberg one of Germany's most enchanting cities. We'll have time to explore.
   05:30 p.m. - Departure from Bamberg.
   06:30 p.m. - Arrival in Nuremberg. Bavaria's second-largest city, Nuremberg, features a historic castle, ancient walls, and an old university. The city also holds significant reminders of World War II and the Nazi era. Despite being completely destroyed during the war, Nuremberg has risen from its ashes. We'll have time to wander through its bustling center. Accommodation.
   
   Note: All mentioned hotels below are for your reference only, you might also check-in other same-level hotels.

   Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Nh nuernberg city(BAHNHOFSTRASSE 17 -19 CP 90402 Nuremberg)
2. 2

   Day 2 — Nuremberg - Kloster Weltenburg - Dachau - Munich

   Total distance covered: 250 km.
   Scenery: Valleys, lush meadows, and industrial cities along the banks of the Danube.
   
   08:00 a.m. - Departure from Nuremberg. Today's journey will be full of surprises.
   09:45 a.m. - Arrival in Kelheim, a city on the banks of the Danube. We'll board a ferry (scheduled for 9:50 a.m.) for a forty-minute cruise along the Danube, in the area known as the "Danube Gorge". We'll arrive at Kloster Weltenburg, a stunning Benedictine monastery founded in 1040, with time to explore.
   12:00 p.m. - Departure from Kloster Weltenburg. We'll continue our journey along little roads.
   01:30 p.m. - Dachau. We'll have time for lunch before we visit the concentration camp museum in the outskirts of Munich, a reminder of the harrowing times of Nazism. There will be time to tour the complex. At the start of the afternoon, we'll continue to Munich, where we'll visit the impressive BMW Welt, a modern multifunctional exhibition facility of the prestigious German vehicle brand BMW Group. We'll also see the park that houses the Olympiastadion, an architectural marvel where the 1972 Olympic Games were held. After this, you'll have free time in the historic center. You can stroll through Marienplatz, the heart of Munich, visit the picturesque Viktualienmarkt open-air market, relax in the Englischer Garten, or enjoy the traditional beer houses.
   
   Note: In winter or when Danube's water level is too low, the cruise will not operate. In this case, this section of the circuit will be adapted so we can stop to visit Landshut. Kloster Wetelbug will also be closed in winter, but you will still be able to see it from the outside.
   
   Note: During the Beer Festival, accommodation may be in the vicinity of Munich.

   

   Dachau Concentration Camp

   

   Marienplatz

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Holiday inn munich sud(KISTLERHOFSTRASSE 142), Leonardo munich olimpiapark(Dauchauer Str 199 CP 80637 MUNICH)
3. 3

   Day 3 — Munich - Füssen - Rothenburg - Frankfurt

   Total distance covered: 575 km.
   Scenery: Stunning landscapes featuring mountains, lakes, and picturesque villages.
   
   07:30 a.m. - Departure from Munich.
   09:30 a.m. - Füssen. Nestled in the Bavarian Alps, this charming town is home to the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. With our guide, we'll walk to Mary's Bridge to take in the breathtaking scenery of the gorge. You can return to the bus on foot or by horse carriage (not included).
   11:30 a.m. - Departure from Füssen. We'll head towards the Rhine Valley, stopping at a motorway service area for lunch.
   03:15 p.m. - Rothenburg. Often considered the prettiest village in Germany, Rothenburg is located on the Romantic Road and boasts a beautifully preserved medieval quarter. We'll visit the Christmas Museum (tickets included) and have time for a walk.
   04:45 p.m. - Departure from Rothenburg.
   07:15 p.m. - Frankfurt. Before settling into our hotel, our guide will drop you off near Römer Square in the city center. Enjoy some free time to explore.

   

   Neuschwanstein Castle

   

   Rhine Valley

   

   Christmas Museum

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Best western macrander frankfurt(Strahlenbergerstraße 12, 63067 Offenbach am Main, Alemania), Crowne plaza frankfurt congress(Lyoner Str. 44 -48)
4. 4

   Day 4 — Frankfurt - Cruise on the Rhine - Cochem - Cologne - Dortmund

   Total distance covered: 369 km.
   Scenery: Picturesque landscapes following the Rhine and Moselle Valleys, with charming villages along the way.
   
   08:00 a.m. - Departure from Frankfurt. Today, we'll explore the stunning Rhine and Moselle Valleys, two rivers rich in history and dotted with picturesque villages.
   09:00 a.m. - Rüdesheim am Rhein. This charming medieval village is bustling with tourists and commercial activity. After some free time, we'll go on a two-hour boat ride on the Rhine. We'll cruise along the most scenic part of the river, featuring fortresses, medieval villages, ancient churches, and hillside vineyards. We'll arrive in Sankt Goar and continue our journey along scenic roads toward the Moselle Valley.
   12:15 p.m. - Cochem. A picturesque village dominated by its castle which dates back over a thousand, years, Cochem is the perfect spot for lunch and a leisurely walk.
   03:00 p.m. - Departure from Cochem.
   04:45 p.m. - Cologne. We'll visit its impressive Gothic cathedral, which, at 154 meters tall, was the tallest building in the world until the late 19th century. Enjoy a walk along the Rhine River and through the lively city center.
   07:00 p.m. - Departure from Cologne for our hotel.
   08:15 p.m. - Dortmund. Accommodation.
   
   Note: During fairs or congresses, accommodation may be in a nearby city.

   

   Cochem Castle

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Nh dortmund(Königswall 1, 44137 Dortmund, Alemania), Mercure hagen(Wasserloses Tal 4 58093 HAGEN ALEMANIA)
5. 5

   Day 5 — Dortmund - Fairy Tale Route - Hanover

   Total distance covered: 290 km.
   
   Today, we'll embark on a magical journey, reminiscing about our favorite childhood stories and movies as we travel through the towns that inspired the Brothers Grimm, now known as the Fairy Tale Route.
   
   08:00 a.m. - Departure from Dortmund.
   10:15 a.m. - Arrival in Trendelburg, a picturesque walled village where we'll visit the large medieval castle and the famous Rapunzel Tower (admission included) – we'll see the princess´s long blonde braid which still hangs from the window.
   11:15 a.m. - Departure from Trendelburg. We'll continue along scenic roads, crossing forests that will remind us of the tale of Hansel and Gretel.
   11:45 p.m. - Höxter. We'll have time for lunch in this lively small town.
   01:00 p.m. – Höxter. We'll drive a few kilometers to the banks of the Weser River.
   01:15 p.m. – Corvey Abbey (admission included). We'll take time to visit this ancient monastery, a spiritual, cultural, and economic center that served as a driving force for Christianization in Europe. Founded in the ninth century, it is now a World Heritage Site.
   02:15 p.m. –Departure from Corvey Abbey.
   02:45 p.m. –Polle. We'll visit the ruins of Cinderella's Castle (admission included).
   03:30 p.m. – Departure from Polle.
   04:15 p.m. –Hamelin - renowned for the tale of "The Pied Piper of Hamelin." We'll immerse ourselves in the Grimm Brothers´'story, following the mouse´s footprints through the city. There will be time for a walk.
   05:45 p.m. - Departure from Hamelin.
   06:45 p.m. - Hanover. We'll take a walk near the old town hall before heading to our hotel.
   
   Notes:
   -On some dates, the accommodation might be in Cologne or another nearby city, in which case, the departure from Cologne on Thursday will be at 07:30 a.m.
   -Corvey Abbey is closed from November to February.

   

   Hamelin

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Maritim airport hotel hannover(MaritimstraBe 1 CP 30855 Langenhagen), Vienna house by wyndham remarque osnabrueck(Natruper-Tor-Wall 1, 49076 Osnabrck, Alemania)
6. 6

   Day 6 — Hanonver - Goslar – Göttingen - Bad Sooden - Eisenach

   Total distance traveled: 283 km
   Scenery: rolling hills covered with lush forests, landscapes dotted with gabled-roof houses, and picturesque valleys where small rivers wind through traditional villages.
   08:00 a.m. – Hannover. Departure after breakfast.
   09:45 a.m. – Goslar. Stop to explore this town that once held the status of Free Imperial City, with a magnificent medieval old town designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights include the Market Square with its fountain crowned by an imperial eagle, as well as the Guild Hall. Time to stroll around half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and the majestic Church of St. Peter.
   11:30 a.m. – Departure from Goslar towards Rammelsberg Mines. We will learn about the history and operation of this former industrial complex, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although the mines were exploited since the Middle Ages for non-ferrous metal production, their peak came at the end of the 16th century when they became a major silver mining center. Admission to the museum included.
   12:45 p.m. – Departure from Rammelsberg Mines.
   1:30 p.m. – Göttingen. Time to explore the historic old town and have lunch in this city whose university—considered the best in Germany—has educated many figures of great importance in European and world history. You’ll be surprised to discover the tributes to many of them on marble plaques scattered throughout the city.
   3:30 p.m. – Departure from Göttingen. We continue our journey through Thuringia, traveling past rivers, hills, and green valleys.
   4:15 p.m. – Bad Sooden. Brief stop to visit this small and picturesque spa town nestled among mountains, beautifully preserved and known for its many healing springs.
   5:30 p.m. – Departure from Bad Sooden.
   6:30 p.m. – Eisenach. Arrival in this city with a splendid Baroque and Renaissance old town, home to the birthplace of Bach—one of the greatest composers in music history—and the house where Martin Luther, the theologian and monk who launched the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, spent much of his childhood. Dinner included and transfer to the hotel.

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: IncludedStay: Pentahotel eisenach(Weinbergstrae 5,)
7. 7

   Day 7 — Eisenach - Gotha - Erfurt - Lepizig

   Total distance covered: 218 km.
   Scenery: We'll journey through the lush, green heart of Germany, surrounded by magnificent forests and medieval towns where church spires and towers rise above red-tiled rooftops.
   
   Note: We recommend wearing comfortable shoes for the visit to Wartburg Castle.
   
   After breakfast, we'll visit the magnificent Wartburg Castle (tickets included), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This fortress holds a key place in history as the location where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German, making the Scriptures accessible to the general public and laying the foundation for Protestantism.
   Later, we'll have free time for lunch in Eisenach. If you're passionate about music, you may want to visit the Bach House, dedicated to one of the greatest composers in history. Alternatively, you can explore the Automobile Museum (admission included), located in the former main plant of East Germany's automobile industry, home to a fascinating collection of vintage vehicles.
   01:30 p.m. – Departure from Eisenach.
   02:15 p.m. – Gotha. We'll make a brief stop to explore the medieval heart of the city, where you'll see beautiful buildings from the early days of industrialization. From the outside, we'll admire the immense Baroque palace—one of the largest in Germany.
   03:30 p.m. – Departure from Gotha.
   04:00 p.m. – Erfurt. Arrival in the capital of Thuringia, a vibrant city with a remarkably well-preserved historic center. You'll see its majestic cathedral and numerous churches, towers, and chapels in impressive German Gothic style. A highlight of the city is the Krämerbrücke, a stunning medieval bridge that has been continuously inhabited for over 500 years. At 120 meters in length, it is the longest bridge with buildings in all of Europe.
   05:30 p.m. – Departure from Erfurt.
   07:30 p.m. – Leipzig. We'll arrive in the early evening in one of Germany's cultural and historical treasures. Leipzig was home to renowned composers such as Bach and Wagner. It was a major industrial hub during the East German era, and today, it's a dynamic city of over half a million people.
   09:00 p.m. – Transfer to the hotel.

   

   Wartburg

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Pentahotel leipzig(Großer Brockhaus 3, )
8. 8

   Day 8 — Berlin

   Our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful and lasting memories.
   
   Please note that the detailed itineraries are based on "planned" schedules and could be affected by various factors such as traffic, customer delays, mechanical issues, etc. It´s advisable not to book a flight or train with a tight schedule without considering these factors. Always allocate extra time in your schedule for unexpected events.
   
   
    

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: Excluded

What's included

Cancellation policy

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