Day 1

Berlin
Arrival at the airport and transfer to hotel.

 

Day 2

Berlin
Since the Berlin Wall came down in late 1989 Berlin has continued to evolve into a thriving metropolis. A local expert guide introduces you to the monuments to Berlin’s intricate past as well as signs of its re-emergence as a vibrant cultural centre. Arrive at the Brandenburg Gate, once the symbol of the undeclared Cold War, and now the symbol of a reunited Berlin. See the site where Checkpoint Charlie once guarded the border between East and West Germany. As you see where the Berlin Wall actually stood, imagine the bleak watchtowers and piercing spotlights that guarded “the border.”Journey down Unter den Linden, once considered one of the world’s most elegant boulevards. Take a walk through history on this insider’s tour of Berlin during World War II, detailing the rise and fall of Hitler and the Third Reich. Return to hotel for overnight.

 

Day 3

Berlin – Potsdam (40km/30min)
Travel to Potsdam, the pride and joy of former East Germany. Once the royal playground of Prussian king Frederick the Great, Potsdam was also the location where American, British and Soviet leaders drew up plans for the post war administration of Germany at the Potsdam Conference in 1945. A guided tour will introduce you to the Neues Palais, the last great Prussian baroque palace ever built, and Cecilienhof, where Truman, Stalin and Churchill gathered to plan the end of World War II. Overnight.

 

Day 4

Potsdam – Dresden (215km/3h)
Leave Potsdam for Dresden today. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour of Dresden, once considered by many to be the most beautiful city in the world. Pass the renovated Semper Opera House and a statue of Martin Luther. Visit the New Green Vault, as well as the magnificent Zwinger Palace, now home to the works of such luminaries as Raphael, Dürer and Titian. You’ll also visit Striezelmarkt, one of the oldest Christmas markets in Dresden.

 

Day 6

Dresden – Zgorzelec (350km/4h)
Today, pass the time at your leisure in Dresden or embark on an optional excursion to Gorlitz, Within easy reach of Dresden and Leipzig is Gorlitz, one of the most beautiful towns in Germany. On a guided tour visit The Holy Trinity Church which houses a perfect model of the Holy SepulchrerJerusalem. Continue on to Zgorzelec, located a stone’s throw away at the German-Polish border.

 

Day 7

Zgorzelec - Bamberg (160km/2h)
Travel to Bamberg by way of Weimar, where you’ll enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the city. This intellectual hub nurtured the genius of Goethe, Nietzsche and Schiller, as well as the entire Bauhaus architectural movement. The city also gave rise to the Weimar Republic, the failed attempt to establish a liberal German democracy between the two World Wars. 

 

Day 8

Bamberg - Rothenburg (140km/1h40min)
Today’s guided tour leads you through the plain, islands and seven hills of Bamberg. Wander through the historic Old Town, named a UNESCO World Heritage site for its well-preserved medieval buildings and feel, which was spared any destruction during World War II. See the Bamberg Cathedral, a Romanesque structure with four imposing towers, which ranks as Bamberg’s most famous landmark. Then pay a short visit to “Little Venice,” an old colony of quaint fishermens houses on the banks of the river Regnitz. Visit Rothenburg, the best-preserved walled town in Germany. During the Middle Ages, Rothenburg was Germany's second-largest city, with 6,000 inhabitants. Today, it is a favorite for those seeking a slice of quaint Medieval Germany. Stay overnight.

 

Day 9

Rothenburg – Munich (250km/3h30min)
This morning, travel to Munich, a city renowned for its festive and charming traditions. Travel past the Olympic Stadium, the fashionable Schwabing district and the Residenz, once home to the Wittlesbach dukes of Bavaria. Pay a visit to Nymphenburg Palace and continue to Marienplatz, Munich’s medieval heart, where you’ll see the city’s famed Glockenspiel.

 

Day 10

Munich
Take advantage of your free time today for a walk in the Englischer Garten or a visit to the BMW museum. Or head into the Bavarian mountains on an optional excursion to Neuschwanstein, the fairytale castle of Mad King Ludwig. This excursion also includes a visit to scenic Oberammergau, known throughout the world for its open-air staging of the Passion Play, Germany’s oldest festival. 

 

Day 11

Munich 
Transfer to the airport.