Day 1 Overnight flight to Germany (Frankfurt)
Day 2 Guten Tag Heidelberg 4/16
Heidelberg tour director-led sightseeing
Heidelberg Castle and wine barrel visit, Market Square
Details: Heidelberg tour director-led sightseeing
Set along the Neckar River and framed by forested hills, Heidelberg is the classic German university town. From the lively Marktplatz, you’ll spot Germany’s oldest university, founded in 1386, before heading up to the hilltop Heidelberg Castle. Damaged over centuries by war and even a lightning strike, the castle remains a romantic landmark, home to the enormous Great Vat, the largest wine barrel in the world.
Details: Heidelberg Castle and wine barrel visit Head up to Heidelberg Castle, which is still a little wobbly from its partial destruction during the Thirty Years’ War, a 17th-century attack by the French, and a major lightning hit in 1764. The castle is considered to be one of the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps, and the castle’s courtyard is home to the largest wine barrel in world!
Details: Market Square
Visit the town's historical Marktplatz, the Market Square.
Day 3 Heidelberg--Lake Constance 4/17
Travel to Lake Constance via Black Forest & Rhine Falls
Travel to France & Switzerland
Details: Travel to Lake Constance via Black Forest & Rhine Falls
You can almost hear the cackling sounds of Snow White’s wicked witch within the dense underbrush and dark blankets of fir and oak. Nothing precipitates nightmares of fairytale villains more than the dark recesses of the Black Forest. You are led into the shadows not by the famed breadcrumbs of Hansel and Gretel but rather by a safe bus ride. As you journey through the land of Brothers Grimm tales, you'll be unable to ignore the contrasting colors of the Alpine villages dotting the black countryside and surrounding Lake Titisee. Residents still can be seen wearing flamboyant traditional clothing. But whatever you do, be wary of old women offering you any apples
Day 4 Lake Constance--Munich 4/18
Travel to Munich
Hohenschwangau excursion
Hohenschwangau Castle visit, Neuschwanstein Castle and Queen Mary's Bridge photo stop
Bavarian bratwurst dinner
Details: Hohenschwangau excursion
Travel to the picturesque Bavarian village of Hohenschwangau which is located between two famous castles: Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. Visit Hohenschwangau Castle, the childhood residence of King Ludwig II, and enjoy a hike up towards Neuschwanstein Castle for breathtaking views of the castle and the surrounding Bavarian Alps.
Details: Hohenschwangau Castle visit
Learn about the castle’s history and its significance as the childhood home of King Ludwig II. The views from the castle are breathtaking, with the serene Lake Alpsee and the surrounding Bavarian Alps providing a picturesque backdrop.
Details: Neuschwanstein Castle and Queen Mary's Bridge photo stop
Enjoy a scenic walk up the hill to Neuschwanstein Castle and over to Queen Mary's Bridge (known locally as Marienbrücke) for unbeatable views of King Ludwig II's fairytale castle and the surrounding Bavarian Alps.
Day 5 Munich 4/19
Munich guided sightseeing tour
Marienplatz, Frauenkirche, Residenz, BMW Welt showroom visit, 1972 Olympia Park
Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit
Details: Munich guided sightseeing tour
Join a professional licensed tour guide for a whirlwind look at Munich. Founded in the 12th century by Henry the Lion, Munich now roars with the hustle and bustle of modern German life. As you pass by Marienplatz (named after the square’s gilded Virgin Mary and Child statue), mechanical knights joust and coopers dance to the folk-music chimes of the Neues Rathaus’s Glockenspiel. The twin onion-bulb towers of the Frauenkirche Cathedral frame this whimsical display, while the scents, sounds and colors of the nearby food market attempt to draw your attention elsewhere. Resist temptation and continue on to Olympiapark, a new suburb built for the 1972 Olympic Games. Pass by several museums, such as the BMW Museum, Alte Pinakothek (home to Munich’s most precious art collections), and the Deutsches Museum of science and technology.
Details: Marienplatz
Discover the area of Munich around Marienplatz, which is dedicated to the patron of the city. See the Neues Rathaus and observe the Glockenspiel on its facade. This is the fourth largest chiming clock in Europe, and stages an elaborate performance twice a day.
Details: BMW Welt showroom visit
Visiting the BMW Welt showroom is an immersive experience where you can explore the latest BMW models, learn about cutting-edge automotive technology, and enjoy the sleek, modern design of the venue.
Details: 1972 Olympia Park
See Olympia Park, the site of the 1972 Olympics. Buildings include the Olympic Stadium, Olympic Hall, and the Aquatic Center. Many cultural events are still held at Olympia Park.
Details: Dachau Concentration Camp & Memorial visit
A grim glimpse into the past, Dachau was the first of Nazi Germany’s camps and a model for the 3,000 work and concentration camps to come. A chilling memorial to the 206,000 prisoners who were interned in the camp from 1933 to 1945, the museum examines pre-1930 anti-Semitism, the rise of the Nazi party, and the documented lives of prisoners.
Day 6 Munich--Berlin 4/20
Travel to Berlin by train
Berlin city walk
Alexanderplatz, TV Tower, Neptune Fountain, Rotes Rathaus
Details: Berlin city walk
Explore Alexanderplatz, known to locals as simply "Alex", once a cattle market and now Berlin’s bustling central square. Gaze up at the iconic TV Tower, built by East Germany to showcase socialist strength. Nearby, admire the ornate Neptune Fountain and the striking red-brick Rotes Rathaus, Berlin’s historic town hall.
Day 7 Berlin 4/21
Berlin guided sightseeing tour
Checkpoint Charlie, Potsdamer Platz, Berlin Wall, Brandenburg Gate
Topography of Terror visit
Alexanderplatz scavenger hunt
Details: Berlin guided sightseeing tour
Join a professional, licensed tour guide as you discover one of the most historical cities in Germany. Although nothing remains of the mortar and cement-block barrier between East and West Berlin, the Berlin Wall (built in 1961; destroyed in 1989) is still a main “site” in Berlin. View the well-known Brandenburg Gate, once a main gate hidden behind a 10-foot barrier and now known for celebratory dancing on its flat top during the reunification. Travel to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, the most famous border crossing point. Checkpoint Charlie, once a wooden guard hut, was the most (in)famous border-crossing point between East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. All that remains of the checkpoint itself is a skeletal watchtower and a memorial of attempted escapees. Follow your guide as they lead you through the museum’s accounts of the most ingenious of these escape attempts— even a few by hot air balloon.
Details: Berlin Wall
Follow the route of the Berlin Wall viewing numerous crosses and wreaths to remind us of the tragedies which occurred after the wall was built in 1961.
Details: Brandenburg Gate
Spend time at the Brandenburg Gate, a triumphal arch, which stood in "no man's land" between East and West Berlin during the Cold War and became a symbol of a divided Germany. Enter the Room of Silence, built into one of the guardhouses, where visitors gather to meditate and reflect on Germany's past.
Details: Topography of Terror visit
The Topography of Terror in Berlin is a museum and historical site that chronicles the crimes of the Nazi regime, particularly those committed by the Gestapo, SS, and Reich Security Main Office. It offers exhibitions, educational programs, and includes historical remnants like a section of the Berlin Wall to provide a thorough understanding of this period.
Details: Alexanderplatz scavenger hunt
Take interactive learning to another level with a Tour Director-led scavenger hunt of Alexanderplatz, Berlin's most famous public square! Enjoy an after-dinner adventure, complete exciting activities and solve fun clues. Each clue and every activity is built to maximize on-tour experiential learning.
Day 8 Berlin 4/22
Jewish Museum visit
Optional Potsdam excursion $80
Neues Palais guided visit, Sanssouci Palace gardens, The Russian Colony
Details: Jewish Museum visit
Located on the line that once separated East and West Germany, this stirring museum was built in the shape of a warped Star of David and focuses on the realities of Jewish life in Germany, from ancient times up to the horrors of the Holocaust.
Details: Neues Palais guided visit
Visit the Neues Palais, ordered by Frederick the Great, including the Palace, the Grotto, and the Theater.