Duration: 12 Days
Spectacular scenery, medieval towns, fairy-tale castles, a fascinating history, and world-class beer…this is Germany! On this comprehensive tour, you’ll see the country’s highlights and visit its most famous cities, as well as its medieval towns and scenic areas. Your holiday begins and ends in Frankfurt with overnights in the Rhineland, Hamburg, Berlin, Leipzig, Nuremberg, Munich, and the Stuttgart area.
Magnificent scenery awaits you on this value-minded Germany holiday. Enjoy a cruise on the Rhine River, passing castle-crested hills, terraced vineyards, and pretty, historic towns. In Bavaria, see King Ludwig II’s 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle, nestled high in the Alps. Drive along the Romantic Road with its charming villages, cobblestone streets, walled cities, half-timbered houses, and scenic countryside, and stop in Rothenburg, a walled town that has retained its medieval character. Among the tour highlights is Lübeck, a Hanseatic city and UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in the 12th century and Veste Coburg Castle, one of Germany’s largest castle complexes. Today, the fortress houses the former art collections of the dukes of Coburg.
You’ll also enjoy the must-see sights in the cities, including Munich’s Marienplatz, the main square in the city. In Dresden, see the Zwinger Carillon Pavilion, where the 40 bells of the Glockenspiel sound every quarter of an hour. From the beautiful scenery and exciting cities to the historic sights and fun experiences, this Germany tour has it all!
Traveller Notes
Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, complimentary headsets, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!
Special Departures
September 27 Departure – Oktoberfest
December 6 & 13 Departures – Christmas markets. Included visits to Cologne, Lübeck, Dresden, Nuremberg, Rothenburg, and Munich Christmas markets.
Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and travel companions. (D)
Today's highlight is an included Rhine cruise to enjoy scenic views of the Rhineland, including the famous Lorelei rock. Next is the city of Cologne, the city known for its joyous attitude, with free time to visit the city centre. Today's Distance: 193 mi/ 310 km (B)
Journey into Niedersachsen to visit Hamelin. Admire its town centre with the historical buildings and magically fancy gables echoing the "Pied Piper" legend. Continue to Hamburg. Today's Distance: 304 mi/ 490 km (B)
Start the day with an orientation drive in Hamburg, one of Germany's greatest maritime cities. Later, depart for Lubeck, formerly a free Hanseatic city and independent state. Lubeck, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered the cultural capital of northern Germany. Thomas Mann, Gunther Grass, and Willy Brandt-all Nobel laureates-were among the famous residents of this city. Later, arrive in Berlin and enjoy your first evening in the capital of Germany. Today's Distance: 249 mi/ 400 km (B)
No longer divided but every bit as fascinating, Berlin was once the city of contrasts with the wall separating two different worlds. Now, the city has developed into a harmonious blend of new and old, preserving its historical buildings and impressive boulevards as well as creating brand new buildings in the contemporary architectural styles. See all of this on the included city sightseeing with a Local Guide. Consider an optional excursion this afternoon. (B)
Travel southwest to Dresden, the old capital of Saxony and at one time called the "Florence on the Elbe." On the included guided sightseeing tour, see the Zwinger Carillon Pavilion where the 40 bells of the Glockenspiel sound four times per hour, and much more. Then it's on to Leipzig, where composers Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn lived the last years of their lives. It was Mendelssohn who founded the Leipziger Conservatory in 1843. Today's Distance: 224 mi/ 360 km (B,D)
Leave Leipzig to visit Weimar, home to many intellectuals of the past but mainly known for the name given to the historical period of the "Weimar Republic." This city is also famed as the home of the Bauhaus architectural movement in the 1920s. Next stop is Coburg. Visit the dominating and mighty Veste Coburg Castle, built in 1225. Today, the castle houses the former art collections of the dukes of Coburg. Continue to Nuremberg and admire its town centre, dominated by the imperial castle. Today's Distance: 249 mi/ 400 km (B)
As you leave Nuremberg, stop for a photo at the famous Zeppelinfield. On the way to Munich, visit the quaint Medieval village of Rothenburg on the Romantic Road. Marvel at its towered gates and battlements, squares of half-timbered houses and decorated fountains. Today's Distance: 217 mi/ 350 km (B)
With a Local Guide, take advantage of the included sightseeing tour of the city known as Germany's "Secret Capital." Time to admire the beautiful main square, Marienplatz, do some shopping, and sample Munich's famous beer! (B,D)
Leave Munich and drive into the heart of the Bavarian Alps to see the most famous 19th-century, neo-romantic castle of the world, King Ludwig II's fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle. Overnight in a lovely village outside Stuttgart. Today's Distance: 192 mi/ 310 km (B,D)
The day starts with a scenic drive for a taste of the Black Forest landscapes and villages, followed by a visit to Heidelberg-location of Germany's oldest university and inspiration for the German Romantic movement. From here, continue to Frankfurt. Today's Distance: 155 mi/ 250 km (B)
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
