Itinerary
- Day 1
Frankfurt
You'll arrive in Frankfurt and have the day to check out the city on your own schedule. This afternoon, meet your Travel Director for a walk through Römerberg and the financial district. Tonight there's a Welcome Reception with the group, which includes light food and a welcome drink to kick things off.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome Reception with light dinner and welcome drink)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sheraton Offenbach)
Included Activities
- Orientation of Römerberg
- Orientation of the financial district
Optional Activities
- Explore Frankfurt sights independently
Landmarks Römerberg - Day 2
Rhine River - Cologne
Climb aboard for a leisurely cruise down the Rhine, passing by vineyard-covered hills along the way. There's a Be My Guest lunch experience where you'll sit down with locals and hear their stories. After that, head to Cologne and get an orientation of the city, including the Gothic cathedral.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch overlooking the Rhine Valley with local legends and stories about knights)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Mercure Koeln Belfortstrasse), Hotel (Steigenberger Köln)
Included Activities
- Rhine River cruise
- Be My Guest experience
- Orientation of Cologne Cathedral
- Orientation of Cologne city
Landmarks Cologne Cathedral Lorelei Rock 
- Day 3
Hamburg
Travel through Lower Saxony's green countryside and arrive in Hamburg. Your Travel Director shows you around the city's famous sights. The afternoon is yours to wander along Mönckbergstrasse, check out brewhouses, visit the seafaring heritage sites, or book an optional harbour cruise. Dinner happens back at your hotel.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at the hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Crowne Plaza City Alster)
Included Activities
- Orientation of Hamburg's iconic sights
Optional Activities
- Guided cruise through Hamburg harbour
- Visit one of the city's brewhouses
- Explore Mönckebergstrasse
- Day 4
Berlin
Follow the Elbe Valley from Hamburg, crossing into what used to be East Germany before reaching Berlin. A Local Specialist takes you through unified Berlin's major landmarks, including the Reichstag, Tiergarten, Brandenburg Gate, and Unter den Linden.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Catalonia Berlin Mitte), Hotel (Sheraton Grand Esplanade, Catalonia Berlin Mitte)
Included Activities
- Visit to Neo-Renaissance Reichstag
- Visit to Tiergarten
- Visit to Brandenburg Gate
- Visit to Unter den Linden
- Guided sightseeing tour with Local Specialist
Landmarks Reichstag Brandenburg Gate Tiergarten Unter den Linden 
- Day 5
Berlin
You have a full day in Berlin to do what interests you. There are optional guided experiences with a Local Specialist covering the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, and Berlin Wall sections. Or head out to Potsdam and Wannsee to see historical sites and the UNESCO gardens at Sanssouci Palace.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Catalonia Berlin Mitte), Hotel (Sheraton Grand Esplanade, Catalonia Berlin Mitte)
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Holocaust Memorial
- Visit to Checkpoint Charlie
- Tour of remaining Berlin Wall sections
- Excursion to Potsdam and Wannsee
- Visit to Glienicke 'Spy Bridge'
- Exploration of UNESCO-listed Sanssouci Palace gardens
Landmarks Holocaust Memorial Checkpoint Charlie Berlin Wall Memorial Sanssouci Palace Glienicke Bridge 
- Day 6
Dresden
A short drive south takes you to Dresden, known as the 'Florence on the Elbe'. You'll learn how the city was rebuilt after World War II as you walk past beautiful Baroque buildings. See the Semper Opera, Zwinger Palace, and the restored Frauenkirche. Optional experiences are available if you want to dig deeper.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Bilderberg Bellevue Dresden)
Included Activities
- Stroll through historic center of Dresden
- Visit to Semper Opera
- Visit to Zwinger Palace
- Visit to Frauenkirche
Optional Activities
- Guided exploration of Dresden's treasures
Landmarks Frauenkirche Semper Opera House Zwinger Palace 
- Day 7
Nuremberg
Start at Mödlaruth, a village called 'Little Berlin', to visit its open-air museum about divided Germany and see original wall sections. Later you'll reach Nuremberg and get an orientation showing the castle ramparts and Hauptmarkt square with its striking Frauenkirche. The rest of the day is free to wander.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (NH Collection Nuremberg City), Hotel (Park Plaza Nuremberg)
Included Activities
- Visit to Mödlareuth open-air museum
- View of original Berlin Wall section
- Orientation of Nuremberg castle ramparts
- Visit to Hauptmarkt main square
- Visit to Frauenkirche
Optional Activities
- Indulge in local specialities
Landmarks Nuremberg Castle Hauptmarkt Frauenkirche (Nuremberg) 
- Day 8
Rothenburg - Munich
Walk the narrow lanes of Rothenburg, a medieval town that looks like it's stopped in time, with its complete fortified walls still intact. The market square has beautiful half-timbered houses and the Old Town Hall. Then drive through Bavarian countryside heading toward Munich.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Westpark)
Included Activities
- Stroll through Rothenburg medieval town
- View of fortified medieval walls
- Visit to market square
- Visit to Old Town Hall
Landmarks Rothenburg ob der Tauber 
- Day 9
Munich
This morning, a Local Specialist guides you through the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial. Later in Munich, you'll see the Cathedral of Our Lady's distinctive towers, stroll through Marienplatz, and check out the impressive town hall with its Glockenspiel. A walk takes you to St. Peter's Church, Viktualienmarkt food market, and traditional beer halls.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Westpark)
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
- Visit to Cathedral of Our Lady
- Stroll through Marienplatz
- Visit to town hall with Glockenspiel
- Visit to St. Peter's Church
- Visit to Viktualienmarkt food market
Optional Activities
- Visit traditional beer halls
Landmarks Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Cathedral of Our Lady (Munich) Marienplatz St. Peter's Church (Munich) Viktualienmarkt - Day 10
Neuschwanstein Castle - Black Forest
Travel through countryside to Neuschwanstein Castle, King Ludwig II's retreat. Continue into the Black Forest, the mystical landscape that inspired the Brothers Grimm. Tonight, have dinner and learn from a local expert about Hofgut Sternen's design and Black Forest traditions during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at Hofgut Sternen with presentation about innovative design and Black Forest traditions (MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience))
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hofgut Sternen)
Included Activities
- Visit to Neuschwanstein Castle
- Dinner at Hofgut Sternen with local expert presentation
Landmarks Neuschwanstein Castle - Day 11
Heidelberg - Frankfurt
Learn about centuries-old cuckoo clock making during a Dive Into Culture experience in the Black Forest. Then head to Heidelberg to see the castle ruins and the Baroque Old Town. Grab any last-minute shopping before driving to Frankfurt. Tonight, gather for a Farewell Dinner with the friends you've made.
- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell Dinner)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sheraton Offenbach)
Included Activities
- Cuckoo clock making demonstration and learning experience
- View of Heidelberg Castle ruins
- Visit to Heidelberg Baroque Old Town
Optional Activities
- Last-minute shopping
Landmarks Heidelberg Castle 
- Day 12
Frankfurt
After breakfast, you'll say goodbye after your time traveling through Germany.
- Meals
- Breakfast
