The Best of Germany - 10 days

Be captivated by the old world charm of Rothenburg and Nuremburg and the amazing re-birth of Dresden to its former baroque splendour.

Included Premium Highlights

    * Visit Neuschwanstein, the fairy tale castle built in the 19th century by 'mad' King Ludwig II

Included Personal Insights

    * Hear about the origins & artisan manufacture of the Black Forest cuckoo clock

Included Other Excursions & Sights

    * See Römerberg Square, the cathedral & Goethe's house in Frankfurt
    * Ascend to the terrace of Heidelberg Castle for views over the old town & Neckar River
    * Enjoy a scenic drive through the Black Forest
    * See the source of the mighty River Danube
    * See Munich's Olympic Stadium, Marienplatz, Town Hall & Glockenspiel
    * Visit the Passion Play village of Oberammergau
    * Visit the Wieskirche, a masterpiece of Bavarian rococo
    * See the city walls & tour the old town of Nuremberg
    * Explore Rothenburg-ob-der Tauber, the most well-preserved medieval town in Germany
    * Visit the famous musical city of Bayreuth
    * In Dresden, see the Frauenkirche, mosaic mural, Opera House & Zwinger Palace
    * Drive along Berlin's Unter den Linden past the Humboldt University & Opera
    * See the Br&enburg Gate & Reichstag building

Included First Class Services

    * Escorted by a professional Tour Director
    * Headsets for all guided visits & walking tours
    * Luxury air-conditioned 40 seat coach with extended leg room & on-board restroom
    * Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes & porterage
    * Insight Traveller document wallet, map book journal & information pack
    * Airport arrival & departure transfers at scheduled times on Day 1 & Day 9
    * Should your flights not coincide with these arrival & departure transfers, please make your own way to/from the airport

Included Quality Dining

    * Highlight Dinner of local cuisine in medieval Rothenburg (HD)
    * Choose from a selection of local Munich restaurants on your Dine-Around evening. (DA)
    * 8 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 2 three-course table d'hôte Dinners, or Buffets, plus tea or coffee (D)
 

Day 1 - ARRIVE FRANKFURT – WIESBADEN

Welcome to a contrasting journey of cosmopolitan cities, historic old towns and breathtaking natural scenery. On arrival at Frankfurt Airport, your transfer leaves for Wiesbaden at 09:30 & 12:00. Your luxury hotel is a member of the ‘Leading Hotels of the World’ nestled in the centre of this elegant spa town, opposite the magnificent Kurhaus. Tonight, join your Tour Director for a Welcome reception with drink and a light meal.

Hotel: Nassauer Hof

Meals: Welcome Reception

Day 2 - CASTLES OF THE RHINE EXCURSION

Begin the day with a relaxing cruise past steep sided vineyards, half-timbered taverns, the Cat and Mouse castles and the notorious Lorelei Rock. Alight at Boppard and continue to Koblenz where a gigantic equestrian statue of Wilhelm I guards the junction of the Rhine and Moselle. Cameras at the ready as you return along the eastern bank. Drive up to the twin castles of the ‘Enemy Brothers’ - from the ruined Liebstein fortress there is a fine panorama. Your next scenic viewpoint is at the mighty Niederwald Monument, comprising a 32 ton statue of Germania. Back in Wiesbaden you are at leisure.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 3 - WIESBADEN - HEIDELBERG - BLACK FOREST

Head to Heidelberg, on the banks of the River Neckar. Enjoy the view from the heights of the castle fortress before a guided visit. See the Great Wine Vat, with its associated tales of the dwarf court jester, Perkeo! Now it’s into the Black Forest, land of cherry cake and traditional farmhouses which dip their thatched roofs almost to the ground. Climb up to the High Road for superb views, then wind through the valleys and pine forests to visit one of the centres of the local cuckoo clock industry. Time then to browse among the shops and admire the brightly coloured houses before reaching your hotel.

Hotel: Maritim Titisee

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dinner

Day 4 - BLACK FOREST – MUNICH

Leave the Black Forest via the small town of Donaueschingen, where a fountain forms the official source of the river Danube. Drive along the flower-decked shores of Lake Constance, which marks part of the Swiss border. Pass through the heart of Bavaria to fun-loving Munich. Your orientation tour shows you the Olympic Stadium, university, Victory Arch and ends in the Marienplatz, where crowds gather outside the Town Hall to watch the figures of the Glockenspiel stage an elaborate performance. Tonight, perhaps consider a lively evening at one of Munich’s famous ‘Bier Kellers’?

Hotel: Sheraton Munich Arabellapark

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 5 - BAVARIAN ALPS EXCURSION

Travel into the beautiful German Alps to visit the village of Oberammergau, home since 1634 of the Passion Play. After seeing the immense Theatre and colourfully-painted chalets, continue along part of the Alpine Road amidst beautiful scenery to the Wieskirche, a masterpiece of Bavarian rococo. Now to the ‘fairy tale’ castle Neuschwanstein, perched on a spectacular Alpine mountainside. This was Ludwig II’s favourite castle, though he spent little time here before his death. Visit exuberantly decorated apartments, including the Throne Room and Lohengrin Grotto. Return to Munich where you are at leisure.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 6 - MUNICH - ROTHENBURG

Drive north across the Danube to Nuremberg, still entirely enclosed by its fortifications. Witness the charming blend of stone and timbered dwellings in the Old Town as well as the massive ramparts. Perhaps shop for delicious Lebkuchen (gingerbread) before continuing to Rothenburg-ob-der Tauber, the most well-preserved town on the Romantic Road. Plunge back into the 16th Century as you walk through narrow cobbled streets lined with high-gabled houses to the market square dominated by its Renaissance town hall. This evening, you are offered a selection of restaurants to choose from for your dining pleasure.

Hotel: Eisenhut

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Dine Around

Day 7 - ROTHENBURG - BAYREUTH - DRESDEN

Journey through wooded Swiss Franconia, passing rocky crags and ‘Hansel and Gretl’ style villages, to reach Bayreuth, famous for its annual Richard Wagner Festival. Your journey continues behind the former iron curtain to the ‘Florence of the Elbe’, Dresden.

Hotel: Westin Bellevue Dresden

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 8 - DRESDEN - BERLIN

Join a local guide to see the splendours of the city. From the Frauenkirche, which has risen again from the destruction of World War II, walk past ‘The Procession of the Dukes’, a mosaic of colossal proportions on the Royal Palace façade. You also see the enormous cathedral, Semper Opera House and baroque Zwinger Palace. Now head north to the historic German capital.

Hotel: Marriott

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 9 - BERLIN SIGHTSEEING

A guided sightseeing tour takes you along the Unter den Linden past the Humboldt University and Opera. Stop on Museum Island before passing the Brandenburg Gate, symbol of the reunification. See Norman Foster’s glass-dome atop the reconstructed Reichstag building and drive through the Tiergarten. Spend the afternoon at leisure or take an optional excursion to Potsdam, site of the post war meetings which resulted in the division of the city? This evening to round off your tour, enjoy a farewell Celebration Dinner with wine at a lively Berlin restaurant.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast / Celebration Dinner

Day 10 - BERLIN

Your tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Departure transfers arrive at Berlin’s Tegel Airport at 08:00 & 10:00.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast
 

Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the commencement of your tour. All prices are quoted in local currency. Payment can be made in cash or by Visa, Mastercard or American Express. To help your pre-tour budgeting we suggest you allow approximately EURO 45 per person per day for optional excursions.

MUC01 - BIERKELLERS DINNER
Lively Bavarian dinner with music, drinks and entertainment in one of Munich's famous "Bierkellers". EURO 47

DRS01 - PILLNITZ PLEASURE PALACE
Sail back in time on a voyage by historic paddle steamer along the River Elbe to enjoy a guided tour of the gorgeous Pillnitz Pleasure gardens. EURO 38

BRL01 - HIGHLIGHTS OF FORMER EAST BERLIN
We visit the iconic 'Reichstag' dome for panoramic views of the city from this futuristic structure atop the historic parliament building. Afterwards, we visit the remains of the Berlin Wall, and finally drive to Checkpoint Charlie and visit the museum documenting nearly 30 years of dramatic escape attempts across the 'Iron Curtain'. EURO 33

BRL02 - POTSDAM & SANS SOUCI EXCURSION
We drive to Potsdam for a guided tour of the beautiful Cecilienhof Palace where the Potsdam Declaration was signed in 1945. We carry on to another UNESCO World Heritage site; the magnificent Sanssouci Palace and the terraced gardens of Frederick the Great. EURO 42

BRL09 - BERLIN BY NIGHT & DINNER
A scenic drive through the historical centre of Berlin with views of illuminated historical monuments. See the Unter den Linden, Brandenburg Gate and many more. After the orientation drive, we visit the Viewing Tower for spectacular views over the city. EURO 52