Berlin to the Black Forest

Day 1 – USA – Berlin

Fly through the night to Berlin.

Day 2 – Berlin

Guten tag! Welcome to Germany. Your private bus and driver will transport you to your hotel in this once divided city.

Day 3 – Berlin

Your Berlin City Tour includes a drive down the famous street of Kurfurstendamm to the Charlottenberg Palace, the Brandenburg Gate, the Alexanderplatz, and Checkpoint Charlie. Later visit the Pergamon Museum, with one of Europe’s finest collections of Greek art and artifacts.

Day 4 – Nuremberg

Travel to Nuremberg via Potsdam, site of the treaty defining the future of Germany after World War II. Also drive through Wittenberg, a key town in the Reformation, and Dresden, home of the famous porcelain dolls. Arrive in the medieval town of Nuremburg, a charming place famous for its half-timbered burgher’s houses, delicious gingerbread (Lebkuchen) and sausages (Rostbratwürste).

Day 5 – Heidelberg

Stop in the completely preserved walled city of Rothenburg, with its Gothic Rathaus, cobbled lanes, and gabled houses. Also visit Würzburg in the wine-growing Main River valley before arriving in Heidelberg, an ancient university town on the Neckar River celebrated in song and poetry. On either side of the picturesque Alte Brücke (Old Bridge), there are splendid views of the castle ruins, their red sandstone ramparts distinct against the green of the forest, and of the old town clustered around the Church of the Holy Spirit.

Day 6 – Heidelberg

Sail past medieval monasteries and fairy tale castles set high on crags on today’s Rhine River Cruise. Vineyards up the hillsides and islands in the river produce an ever-changing pattern of scenery. The legendary Lorelei Rock can be seen between Mainz and Koblenz. Along the entire length of the river, every castle, each island, even the rocks, has a tale of chivalry or legend. Next, ride a funicular up to Heidelberg Castle and see its 18th century wine barrel that holds 49,000 gallons of wine to this day! Stand at the viewpoint on the promontory and look out over the Neckar valley and the lovely Rhineland plain.

Day 7 – Munich

Transfer to Munich by way of Augsburg, home of the great medieval merchant dynasties. On your Munich City Tour see the Marienplatz, the Flower Market, the Glockenspiel, and Frauenkirche Cathedral, built in 1468. Also see Olympic Park, visit the BMW Museum and see
St. Peters church, founded in 1050 AD.

Day 8 – Munich

Visit two incredible castles built by “Mad” King Ludwig II, Linderhof and the royal castle of Neuschwanstein, which was Walt Disney’s inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disneyland. A tour of the interior, decorated with gilded paneling, heavy tapestries and acres of marble, reveals an other-wordly extravagance. The smaller Linderhof Castle lies deep in the forest in one of the wildest valleys of the Ammergau Alps. The hunting lodge was modeled after France’s Palace of Versailles. Continue to Oberammergau, a charming resort owing its fame to the internationally known Passion Play, which is performed here once every ten years. Celebrate your last evening in Germany with a Hofbrau Dinner, complete with brass bands, Bavarian songs, dirndls and lederhosen.

Day 9 – Depart

Board your flight home, with fabulous memories of Berlin to the Black Forest.