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Day 1: Sunday - Frankfurt – Eisenach – Weimar – Zwickau 
Depart from Frankfurt in the morning and drive to Eisenach, dominated by the Wartburg Castle. Visit one of the most important edifices of German history and see the room where Luther used to live and work for many years and spent the last years of his seclusion. Continue to Weimar, one of Germany’s greatest cultural treasures. Poets like Schiller and Goethe, musicians like Liszt and Richard Strauss, writers like Nietzsche and Gropius have lived and worked there. On to Zwickau were in times of the German Democratic Republic the popular car, the Trabbi was built. In the evening enjoy your 3-course dinner. (D)

Day 2: Monday - Zwickau - Dresden - Meissen - Leipzig 
After breakfast we go on to Dresden. On a city tour you will see one of the loveliest cities of central Europe – “Florence of the Elbe” it was called and see the important sights like the just restored Frauen-kirche, the Semper Opera House, Green Vault, the Baroque Zwinger and many more. Continue to Messen, where we will pay a visit to the world famous porcelain manufactory and museum before we go on to Leipzig. (B/O)

Day 3: Tuesday - Leipzig - Wittenberg - Potsdam - Berlin 
This morning enjoy an city tour of Leipzig, including St. Thomas Church, where J.S. Bach has spent many years as leader of the choir, Auerbachs Cellar and so on. Continue via Luthers Wittenberg, where reformation started when he pinned his 95 thesis to the portal of the church. Onward we go via Potsdam and Sanssoucis Castle to Berlin. (B/O)

Day 4: Wednesday - Berlin 
Today we visit all the main sights of Germanys most important and most exciting city. See Brandenburg Gate, Check Point Charlie, our Parliament Reichstag, Berlin cathedral and the former seat of the communist government of East Germany. Also included in our city tour is a boat trip which gives you a view to some important sights from the channels. Rest of the day is free for own activities like exploring the numerous, well known museums, or roam around the many boutiques and department store like the KaDeWe. (B/O)

Day 5: Thursday - Berlin – Hamburg
In the morning we are heading north. Next stop is Hamburg. Enjoy a city tour including all the main sights of this impressive city like the Michel, Reeperbahn, Alster and many more. In the evening you can optionally enjoy an excursion to Hamburgs Reeperbahn. This amusement quarter originally was for homecoming sailors only, who were able to spend a whole 6 month pay in only one happy night… Today of course we will see some more “civilized” areas only. (B/O)

Day 6: Friday - Hamburg - Bremen - Celle 
In the morning departure for next stop – Bremen - the Free Hanseatic City, with an old tradition of trade and seafaring. See the picturesque market place, with the statue of “Roland”, the old town, the city hall and the cathedral. And continue down south to the well preserved city of Celle. See the market square with its beautiful half-timbered houses, and the Dukes Castle which roots back to the 12 century and has been restored to a beautiful Renaissance palace in the 15th century. (B/O)

Day 7: Saturday - Celle - Hamelin - Hofgeismar - Frankfurt 
Today we’ll drive along the German Fairy-Tale Road and start in Hamelin, the city of the pied piper. We continue south and will make stops along the fairytale road depending on the weather and traffic situation. In the afternoon we reach Frankfurt, where after a tour through the traditional and modern city will have a farewell dinner in one of the local restaurants, where you may try the local specialty - cider or Apfel-wein as the locals call the rather sour stuff. (B/D/O)

Day 8: Sunday - Frankfurt, Ruedesheim, Rhine Cruise, Heidelberg, Wiesloch 
Depart from Frankfurt in the morning and drive to Ruedesheim, famous for its wines and vineyards. Take a short Rhine cruise, passing romantic castles. Motor coach to Heidelberg where we visit the inner courtyard of the impressive castle and its wine cellar with the big barrel. Continuing on a walking tour of the beautiful old university town. In the evening enjoy a 3-course welcome dinner with a welcome drink. (B/D)

Day 9: Monday - Wiesloch, Baden-Baden, Lake Constance 
After breakfast depart for the Black Forest, a region known for the cuckoo clocks. See the town of Triberg and Lake Titisee. Arrive at the north shore of Lake Constance in the afternoon and enjoy a walking tour of the picturesque Lindau. From here it is just a few minutes to Bregenz – well known for the famous festival taking place every July/August. (B/O)

Day 10: Tuesday - Lake Constance, Hohenschwangau, Neuschwanstein Castle, Garmisch-Partenkirchen 
Today we move into the Allgäu, viewing the fantastic Bavarian Alps. In Hohenschwangau we visit the fairy tale castle of King Ludwig II, Neuschwanstein. Stop at another architectural treasure, the glorious rococo church Wies. In the late afternoon we arrive in the Olympic town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. (B)

Day 11: Wednesday - Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Linderhof Castle, Oberammergau, Etta, Munich 
Less known but even more beautiful than Neuschwanstein is Linderhof Castle, which we visit in the morning. Continue to Oberammergau, home of the famous Passion Play which takes place every 10 years. The last event took place in the year 2000. Stop at the Benedictine Monastery of Ettal. On to Munich, with optional „Bavarian Evening“ inclusive dinner and entertainment. (B)

Day 12: Thursday - Munich,  Nuremberg
Enjoy an extensive tour of Munich, showing you all the main sights of the splendid Bavarian capital incl. Nymphenburg Palace. Afternoon drive to the historic city of Nuremberg, with its unique medieval city center.  Walking tour to see the most interesting sights.  Stop at the Reichsparteitagsgelande, courtroom 600 of the famous Nurmberg Trails and also more joyous places like gingerbread-bakeries and Bratwurst stands. (B/O)

Day 13: Friday - Nuremberg, Castle Road, Rothenburg 
AAfter breakfast drive  along the Castle Road to the Romantic Road. Arrive in Rothenburg in the early afternoon. After a walking tour of the charming town incl. the Jakobskirche a church with an altar by T. Riemenschneider, free time for exploring on your own. In the evening enjoy a 3-course fare-well dinner at your hotel. (B/D/O)

Day 14: Saturday - Rothenburg, Wuerzburg, Frankfurt 
Early in the morning we leave for Wuerzburg. Enjoy a tour of the magnificent Residence, a masterpiece of German Baroque architecture. Arrival at Frankfurt in the afternoon. (B)




B=Breakfast; D=Dinner; O=Overnight    ditst8