Day : 1
Arrive in Munich, Germany
Number of Days : 1
Time to rest or to start exploring the lively Bavarian capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner with wine at your hotel. (D)
Day : 2
Munich–Regensburg
Number of Days : 1
Sightseeing with a Local Guide of Germany’s “Secret Capital” features the Olympic Stadium, built for the 1972 Olympics; the 1,000-foot-high Television Tower; Königsplatz, used for Nazi rallies during World War II; and the column with the eternal flame, dedicated to the Holocaust victims. Drive along the Ludwigstrasse, and see the Bavarian Arch of Triumph and Field Marshall Hall. Also visit lively MARIENPLATZ with the Old and the New Town Halls and the gothic Frauenkirche. Arrive in Regensburg, where guided sightseeing features the Stone Bridge, the oldest preserved bridge of its kind in Germany; the Porta Pretoria, built in the 2nd century by Emperor Marcus Aurelius; and St. Peter’s Cathedral. Afterwards, [LF] visit the DOCUMENT SNUFF FACTORY and hear about a former fashionable tradition: “tobacco-snuffing.” (B)
Day : 3
Regensburg–Nuremberg
Number of Days : 1
Visit the THURN UND TAXIS PALACE, a former Benedictine monastery that was converted into the residence of the Princes of Thurn und Taxis in 1812. This family started the first large-scale postal service in Europe in the 15th century. You cannot leave Regensburg without tasting the local sausages, therefore, [LF] a light lunch has been included at the Historic Sausage Kitchen, where you can try a “medieval hot dog.” Continue to Nuremberg, known for its children’s toys and gingerbread. Admire the impressive medieval ramparts as you walk through the pedestrian area of the charming Old Town and see St. Sebald Church, painstakingly reconstructed as a monument to peace from the rubble of near-total wartime destruction. Also admire the Schöner Brunnen, a 14th-century fountain dedicated to the Holy Roman Empire. It is said that it brings good luck to spin the two brass rings. (B,L)
Day : 4
Nuremberg
Number of Days : 1
Excursion to Bamberg & Bayreuth. Look forward to an exciting day. First, stop in picturesque Bamberg, the city with the largest historical center in Germany and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll on the cobblestone streets, and admire the architecture of the houses. Then, [LF] enjoy a “smoked beer,” a type of beer with a distinctive smoke flavor imparted by using malted barley dried over an open flame. Continue to Bayreuth for an orientation of this city of festival fame. Richard Wagner came to Bayreuth in 1871 and was not satisfied with the existing 18th-century theater, the Markgräfliches Opernhaus, so he had a new one built. Today, the Festival Hall is used exclusively for the Bayreuth Festival, and only works by Wagner are performed there. Return to Nuremberg. (B)
Day : 5
Nuremberg–Rothenburg–Stuttgart–Black Forest
Number of Days : 1
A short drive delivers you to medieval Rothenburg with its ramparts and towers, cobblestone lanes, and 16th-century houses. Hear how the town survived the Thirty Years’ War, and shop for the town’s Christmas ornaments. On to Stuttgart for [LF] an exciting visit to the MERCEDES-BENZ MUSEUM. Then, enter the Black Forest for your overnight stay. (B,D)
Day : 6
Black Forest–Friedrichshafen–Oberammergau
Number of Days : 1
Enjoy the scenic drive to Lake Constance, where [LF] a fascinating visit to the ZEPPELIN MUSEUM has been included to learn about the Zeppelin airships that crossed the Ocean in the 1930s, like the famous Hindenburg. Continue to the Passion Play village of Oberammergau, where you will stay for the next two nights. (B)
Day : 7
Oberammergau
Number of Days : 1
Excursion to Neuschwanstein. The highlight today is [LF] a visit to King Ludwig’s magnificent NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, one of Germany’s most famous castles and inspiration for Walt Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Castle at his theme park. Follow your Local Guide through this fairytale castle on its craggy outcrop high above a sparkling lake. Also visit the MUSEUM OF THE BAVARIAN KINGS and enjoy a HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE RIDE. (B,D)
Day : 8
Oberammergau–Munich
Number of Days : 1
A leisurely morning with the possibility to join an optional excursion to visit King Ludwig’s Linderhof Castle before returning to Munich. The afternoon is at leisure in Munich. You can return to Marienplatz and explore its many enticing shops. This evening, a special farewell dinner has been prepared at one of Munich’s lively restaurants to say, “Auf Wiedersehen!” (B,D)
Day : 9
Munich
Number of Days : 1
Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.
