Highlights of Germany

(10 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Munich, Romantic Road, Nuremberg, Dresden, Potsdam, Berlin

This is the ultimate private luxury tour of Germany. It features the most popular destinations and most interesting experiences in Germany, including vibrant cities, atmospheric medieval villages, romantic castles, beautiful countryside, world-class cultural institutions, expansive gardens, and excellent beer and wine.

Begin in Munich, the dynamic capital of Bavaria. During a flexible walking tour with your private guide, see highlights of the Old Town such as interesting squares, the Neues Rathaus (City Hall), historic Frauenkirche church, the Viktualienmarkt outdoor food market, and the Residenz, the former royal palace. During leisure time, perhaps stroll through the leafy English Garden, browse for locally produced Nymphenburg porcelain or traditional Bavarian crafts, visit outstanding museums such as the Deutsches Museum (science and technology) or the Alte Pinakothek (European art), or enjoy a beer, one of Munich’s most famous products, in one of the city’s many beer gardens or at a beer hall such as the renowned Hofbrauhaus.

One day, take a private excursion into the beautiful Bavarian countryside to visit Neuschwanstein, the fairytale castle built in the 19th century for King Ludwig II. The model for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle, Neuschwanstein is a romantic vision of towers and turrets that rises out of a rocky hilltop and offers panoramic views of surrounding mountains, lakes and farmland. Also visit nearby Hohenschwangau, the neo-Gothic castle where Ludwig spent his childhood, as well as the Wieskirche (Church in the Meadow), a UNESCO World Heritage Site with spectacular Rococo interiors.

Next, transfer along the Romantic Road to the well-preserved medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. En route, tour interesting towns according to your interests. Options include Augsburg, notable for its Renaissance-era town center; Ulm, the birthplace of Albert Einstein and home of the Ulm Munster, whose ornate Gothic steeple is the tallest in the world; and Dinkelsbuhl, a walled town filled with cobblestone streets, historic burgher houses and ancient towers. In the atmospheric streets of Rothenburg, one of the most charming towns in Germany, see highlights such as the city walls, gate towers and St. James’s Church. You might also like to see sites related to Rothenburg’s Jewish history.

One day, enjoy a private excursion farther along the Romantic Road. Pass through rolling farmland and villages, stopping to visit local attractions according to your interests. Among the many options are seeing the Wurzburg Residenz, a Baroque palace and gardens that’s a UNESCO site; visiting Nordlingen, a town encircled by medieval walls that lies in the crater of an ancient meteorite; seeing the Stuppach Madonna painting by Matthias Grunewald; and tasting wine at cellars in the Franconia Wine Region.

Next, transfer to Dresden with touring en route. First, visit Nuremberg, a historically wealthy town and the center of the German Renaissance. See highlights such as the Old Town, castle, city walls and the Albrecht Durer House, where one of Germany’s greatest artists once lived. If desired, also see sites associated with Nuremberg’s World War II legacy, such as the Documentation Center of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds and the Memorium Nuremberg Trials. Continue to nearby Bayreuth, famous for its Richard Wagner Festival, to see the Opera House, a Baroque treasure, and perhaps one of the palaces and gardens in the vicinity. Time permitting, also visit Bamberg, a well-preserved riverside town and UNESCO site that’s also renowned for brewing excellent beer, including an unusual smoked beer.

Continue to Dresden, the capital of Saxony and a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Baroque art and architecture. Tour highlights of the city according to your interests, such as the Old Town; the Frauenkirche, a reconstructed Baroque masterpiece; and the outstanding art collections of the Green Vaults, Zwinger and Albertinum.

Next, transfer to Berlin, stopping en route to tour Leipzig. See highlights such as the historic Old Town, Art Nouveau shopping arcades, and the St. Thomas Church, where J.S. Bach was the choirmaster for 27 years.

Continue to Berlin, the vibrant capital of Germany and one of Europe’s most important cultural centers. During flexible private touring, see historical and cultural highlights such as the Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag and Holocaust Memorial. Opt to tour the Jewish Museum or one of the world-renowned institutions on Museum Island, such as the outstanding Pergamon Museum. Also visit Berlin’s most interesting neighborhoods, markets, food halls, art galleries, modern architectural landmarks and shopping districts according to your interests. One day, take a private excursion to nearby Potsdam, a UNESCO World Heritage-inscribed town, to see Schloss Sanssouci and other palaces, well-preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture, shops in the Dutch Quarter and Old Town, and, if desired, the Einstein Tower (Einsteinturm), an astrophysical observatory designed in an Expressionist style.

This tour can be extended to additional destinations in Germany, as well as in neighboring countries such as Austria, Switzerland, France, Poland and the Czech Republic.