Romantic Germany

The south of Germany offers a large variety of landscapes, picturesque villages, medieval cities and fairytale castles. The southern part of Germany offers a gorgeous natural setting, with clean air and pristine nature. The name of the tour, “Romantic Germany”, expresses the feeling that both German and foreign visitors experience when they see the treasures of western history, with its art and culture. It’s a fascinating trip back in time.

Frankfurt, the financial and commercial capital of Germany
Heidelberg, the oldest university town in Germany, with an idyllic location near the Neckar River. It looks like a fairytale town.
Freiburg, here you fi nd the Kaiserstuhl vineyardds and the famous Freiburg Cathedral, with the „most beautiful church tower in Christianity“.
Titisee, precious lake located on the “Clock route”. This is the largest lake in the Black Forest
Lindau, small island located on the shore of Lake Constance
Füssen, the most southern point on the “Romantic Route”
Neuschwanstein, the famous castle seems to have stepped off the pages of a fairytale
Oberammergau, picturesque village, famous for its Passion Play and crafts.
Ettal Abbey, Benedictine abbey
Garmisch Partenkirchen, capital of winter sports and Olympic Winter Games
Linderhof, one of the three castles commissioned by king Ludwig II of Bavaria
Munich, the cosmopolitan city of Munich still preserves the charm of a small town

TRAVELOGUE

Day 1: Frankfurt
Arrival at the airport and transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore Frankfurt at your leisure. Although visitors to Frankfurt first notice the impressive skyscrapers, the city offers a unique charm of its own. Enjoy a stroll along the beautifully preserved Römerberg square, walk along the banks of the Main and visit the city’s museums, the bars in Sachsenhausen, the famous “Fressgass” restaurant alley and the elegant Goethestrasse. Overnight accommodation.

Day 2: Frankfurt - Heidelberg – Freiburg (274 km/170 mi)
In the morning you travel to Heidelberg to visit the famous castle. Then you enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city. Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town, is one the most visited destinations in Germany. With its romantic atmosphere it seems to have stepped out of a fairy tale. Heidelberg is idyllically located between forests and vineyards near the Neckar River and boasts a vibrant student community, picturesque alleys, romantic spots and impressive cultural monuments. Continue your tour to Freiburg. Overnight accommodation.

Day 3: Freiburg – Lake Titi - Lindau - Füssen (268 km/166 mi)
After breakfast you enjoy a tour of Freiburg to explore the city. Here you find the Kaiserstuhl vineyards, the famous Freiburg cathedral with the “prettiest church tower in all of Christianity”. Small canals run along the streets of this old city, decorated with lovely mosaics. An absolute must is a visit to the gothic cathedral and a stroll through the city's medieval streets. Continue your trip to Lake Titi. Nestled along the “Cuckoo Clock Route”, this lake is the largest in the Black Forest. Brief stop and then you continue to Lindau, a small island in Lake Constance where you can see the 18-feet marble statue of the Seated Lion, the symbol of Bavaria, that guards the tri-border region between Germany, Austria and Switzerland. After a short stop you travel to Füssen, a mountain city east of Allgäu. Füssen boasts an interesting historic center and is the most southern point on the “Romantic route”. Overnight accommodation.

Day 4: Neuschwanstein - Oberammergau - Abadía de Ettal – Garmisch-Partenkirchen (80 km/50 mi)
In the morning you visit the Neuschwanstein castle, built by Ludwig II, also known as the Mad King. This Bavarian King had this castle built in a neo-romantic style between 1869 and 1886 to resemble the medieval castles of the German knights. The result was a fairy-tale like castle that served as the inspiration for Walt Disney when designing the castle of Sleeping Beauty in Disneyland. The rooms are ornately furnished and decorated with scenes from medieval legends. In the afternoon you travel to Oberammergau, a picturesque village, famous for its handicrafts and the yearly passion play performance. Then you visit the Benedict Abbey in Ettal. The monastery was originally founded in 1330 by the duke of Bavaria and Roman Emperor of Germany Louis IV. The emperor also donated to the church a delicate white marble Madonna statue that he had brought from Italy and that has been revered here ever since. In the 17th century, the Abbey was a popular pilgrimage destination. Even today many believers come from far and wide to see the Madonna. Continue your tour to Garmisch Partenkirchen, the capital of winter sports and the site of the 1936 Winter Olympics. Here you find Germany’s highest peak, the Zugspitze (2962 m/9700 ft). Overnight accommodation.

Day 5: Garmisch-Partenkirchen - Linderhof - Munich (90 km/56 mi)
In the morning you have to relax or to explore the city; there is also the possibility of taking the cable car to the top of Zugspitze (tour not included in this package). In the afternoon you travel to Munich. Along the way you visit the Linderhof caste. This is one of three castles built by king Ludwig II of Bavaria, the same king who had the famous Neuschwanstein castle built. Construction of the castle began in 1874 and took four years. This is the only one of the three castles that was completed and the only one where the king, also known as the “Mad King”, lived during a significant amount of time. Overnight accommodation.

Day 6: Munich
Alter breakfast you visit the gardens of the Palace of the Nymphs. This baroque palace was the summer residence of the Bavarian kings and the birthplace of king Ludwig II. Then you visit the center of the city and see the main tourist attractions of Munich. Munich, the capital of Bavaria and internationally known for its Beer Festival, celebrated every year in September, is near the Alps. The city's best known monument is the Frauenkirche church. The spires of this gothic cathedral can be seen from miles away and haves become Munich’s signature monument. Also worth visiting is the Marienplatz square with its clock tower. Since the founding of the city, the Marienplatz has been the geographic and social center of Munich. Today the bells of the neo-gothic clock tower chime every day at 11 a.m., noon and at 5 p.m. In the afternoon you are free to explore the city at your leisure. In the evening you will enjoy a Bavarian Night at the famous Hofbräuhaus, with music and folk dancing and a typical Bavarian buffet dinner. Overnight accommodation.

Day 7: Munich - Rothenburg ob der Tauber - Frankfurt (396 km/246 mi)
After breakfast we continue to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. After a visit of this nice medieval town we continue to Francfort airport. End of the tour.

THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES

Transportation by tour bus for the duration of the program

Accommodations in the hotel category of your choice

Breakfast (buffet) in all hotels

Admission to the castels in Heidelberg, Neuschwanstein and Linderhof

Bavarian Night, with music, folk dancing and typical dinner buffet.

Sightseeing and excursions as listed in the program

English speaking tour guide for the full length of the tour

Please note: The program descriptions are recommendations only and can be fully adjusted to your interests. We can offer customized trips for your specialized or professional groups. Ask for prices.