Beginning and ending in Frankfurt, see the best of Germany on this 11-day escorted tour. Visit Dusseldorf, the once-divided metropolis of Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich, the Passion Play town of Oberammergau and the Black Forest. But thatís just the beginning! Highlights include a Rhine cruise, a first-class train ride on the speedy EuroCity train between Dusseldorf and Berlin, a visit to the Cologne Cathedral, a visit to Bachís Thomaskirche in Leipzig, a stop in romantic Rothenburg, Munichís Marienplatz, a woodcarving demonstration in the Black Forest and a visit to Heidelberg Castle and King Ludwigís Neuschwanstein Castle.

View Dates and Prices Tour Highlights and Inclusions View Itinerary Tour Images

• Hotel accommodations for 9 nights
• One-way train travel aboard the EuroCity train between Dusseldorf and Berlin
• Transportation by deluxe motorcoach
• 17 meals (10 breakfast, 7 dinners)
• Sightseeing and scenic excursions per itinerary (admission to all attractions included in tour price)
• Services of a professional tour manager
• Baggage handling
• Taxes and service charges
• Cologne Cathedral
• Brandenburg Gate
• Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
• Bachís Thomaskirche
• St. Sebald Church
• Marienplatz
• Neuschwanstein Castle
• Lake Constance

Day 1 - Arrive in Frankfurt
Arrive in Frankfurt, check into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure exploring this bustling metropolis on the River Main. This evening, meet your tour manager and fellow travelers for a welcome dinner at your hotel. Overnight Sheraton Congress. (D)

Day 2 - Remagen / Cologne / Dusseldorf
Start the day with a Rhine River cruise, sailing past castles, vineyards and the Lorelai Rock. After we disembark, weíll drive to Remagen to see ruins of the bridge where American troops breached Hitlerís West Wall. Spend the afternoon in Cologne, where you will see the cityís Cathedral complete with 515-foot towers, five naves, splendid stained glass windows and the shrine of the Three Holy Kings. The day ends with our arrival in Dusseldorf, the capital of the North Rhine-Westphalia. Overnight Radisson Blue Scandinavia. (B, D)

Day 3 - Train to Berlin
Ride the EuroCity train to Berlin, capital of reunited Germany, where sightseeing with a local guide includes the elegant Kuídamm, the restored Reichstag, Charlottenburg Palace, a photo stop at Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Museum, and the 210-foot Victory Column in Tiergarten Park. We will also visit the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church with its bomb-damaged tower and drive along Unter den Linden Boulevard, past the State Opera House and Checkpoint Charlie. Overnight Arcotel John F. (B, D)

Day 4 - Berlin at Leisure
The entire day is yours to explore Berlin on your own. You may wish to join an optional excursion to Postdam. Overnight Arcotel John F. (B)

Day 5 - Leipzig / Nuremberg
As we travel south, stop in Leipzig for a visit to the Thomaskirche, where J.S. Bach worked, and the Market Square with its fine renaissance buildings. Continue to Nuremberg, the town of childrenís toys and gingerbread. It is also the birthplace of painter Albrecht Durer and poet and Meistersinger Hans Sachs. Admire the impressive medieval ramparts and walk through the pedestrian area of the charming Old Town. Visit St. Sebald Church, painstakingly reconstructed as a monument to peace from the rubble of near-total wartime destruction. Overnight NH Nurnberg City. (B, D)

Day 6 - Rothenburg / Munich
Today we travel Germanyís Romantic Road, which leads from the flat country towards the Alps. Enjoy a walking tour of medieval Rothenburg with its ramparts and towers, cobblestone lane and 16th-century houses. Next, head south to the Danube Valley and Munich. Tonight, you may wish to join an optional outing to the Hofbrauhaus. Overnight Ambiance Rivoli. (B)

Day 7 - Munich Sightseeing / Oberammergau
This morning embark on a guided tour of Munich including the Olympic Stadium, the 1,000-foot-high Television Tower, Nymphenburg Palace, the Marienplatz with the Old and New Town Halls and the gothic Frauenkirche. Late this afternoon, drive to the Passion Play town of Oberammergau. Overnight Ringhotel Bold. (B, D)

Day 8 - Excursion to Neuschwanstein Castle
A highlight of the day is a visit to King Ludwigís Neuschwanstein, one of the most famous German castles. Follow your local guide through this fairytale castle on its craggy outcrop high above a sparkling lake. The afternoon and evening is at your leisure. Overnight Ringhotel Bold. (B)

Day 9 - Lindau / Black Forest
Enjoy a leisurely drive along the panoramic German Alpine Road to the sunny northern shore of Lake Constance, Europeís largest freshwater reservoir. Visit the charming island of Lindau, then continue north to visit the baroque church at Birnau on the way to our hotel in the Black Forest. Overnight Best Western Hofgut Sternen. (B, D)

Day 10 - Heidelberg / Frankfurt
This morning enjoy a woodcarving demonstration before arriving in Heidelberg, Germanyís oldest university town. There will be time to stroll through town and have lunch on your own in the Old Town. Afterwards, enjoy a ride on the funicular to the red-walled castle where the Great Vat, a 49,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask, attracts particular attention. Later, we return to Frankfurt for a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers. Overnight Sheraton Congress. (B, D)

Day 11 - Tour Conclusion
Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning.