The Best of Bavaria plus Frankfurt

Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrival in Munich

   With its traditional beer halls, designer shops, trendy restaurants and international business, Munich is a mix of old and new, German and cosmopolitan. Largely rebuilt after World War II, the city still retains its old world charm, even in the midst of expansion and modernization. You’ve probably heard of the city’s world famous Oktobertfest, a once-in-a-lifetime party dedicated to that incredible Bavarian beer along with some of the local delicacies, including tasty schnitzel. But there’s much more to Munich than drinking, and on your holiday you’ll have the chance to discover the best this charming city has to offer. Don’t miss out on the beer halls and the breweries, but be sure to get off the beaten path to discover a Munich of your own. Much of the city’s past centers around World War II, and there are several ways you can explore this chapter of Munich’s history, including a day trip to the Dachau concentration camp and a special tour focusing on Hitler and the local activities of the Third Reich. Munich is also a center of industry and there is nowhere better to experience this than BMW World. Moving slightly farther afield, Neuschwanstein Castle makes the perfect day trip, perched high in the hills over a verdant valley. Munich’s variety means there’s more than enough to satisfy even the most diverse groups of travelers. Let your curiosity guide you as you explore this unique German city.

   When you arrive in Munich, a driver will be waiting to meet you and will then bring you to your centrally located accommodation.

   

   See the City from Above

   Although not a city of skyscrapers, Munich offers numerous wonderful viewpoints. The best panoramic views of the Old Town are available from the St. Peter's Church (or "Old Peter," as the locals call it) viewing platform, which is climbed by thousands of visitors every day. Climb the 300 stairs (no elevator available) for the breathtaking views of the Frauenkirche and the Town Hall. Munich's highest point, the Olympic Tower, offers views over the whole city and on a clear day the Alps beyond. You can even enjoy a unique perspective on the city via a modern zeppelin, although these rides are offered rarely, and book up quickly (the zeppelin is generally used for tours of Lake Constance, on the Swiss border).

   Suggestion to explore on your own

2. Day 2 Your First Full Day in Munich

   

   Munich Private Walking Tour

   Explore Munich's iconic historical landmarks, stunning churches, and renowned beer halls. This tour delves into the darker chapters of the city's 20th-century Nazi history, while also showcasing its vibrant, charming side. Along the way, you'll hear captivating stories and fascinating facts that bring the city’s rich past to life.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   See the City from Above

   Although not a city of skyscrapers, Munich offers numerous wonderful viewpoints. The best panoramic views of the Old Town are available from the St. Peter's Church (or "Old Peter," as the locals call it) viewing platform, which is climbed by thousands of visitors every day. Climb the 300 stairs (no elevator available) for the breathtaking views of the Frauenkirche and the Town Hall. Munich's highest point, the Olympic Tower, offers views over the whole city and on a clear day the Alps beyond. You can even enjoy a unique perspective on the city via a modern zeppelin, although these rides are offered rarely, and book up quickly (the zeppelin is generally used for tours of Lake Constance, on the Swiss border).

   Suggestion to explore on your own

   

   First Night, First Beers

   When in Munich, drink as the locals do. Munich has undoubtedly earned its title as “Beer Capital of the World,” so what could be a better activity for your first night than going to one of its famed beer halls or beer gardens, meeting locals, and hearing their stories? If you’re teetotal or raucous beer halls aren’t your thing, you can take a nice walk along Neuhauser Strasse, followed by the Kaufingerstrasse, leading to the city’s most famous square, the Marienplatz, with its magnificent city hall, the Neues Rathaus.

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

   Watch the video

3. Day 3 Your Second Full Day in Munich

   

   Hike the Alps

   Munich is inseparably connected to the Alps. If you're an active traveler, you shouldn't miss the chance to hike in the Bavarian Alps. The landscapes are lush, the valleys are full with hidden pastures, dairy farms, and huts, and you can head for ruined castles and well-preserved monasteries when the weather refuses to cooperate. There are a range of different hikes on offer, some easier hikes, some more challenging, to provide a fun, memorable day, no matter the weather.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 8 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

   

   Feast Your Eyes in the Alte Pinakothek

   Munich is a fantastic city for art and culture lovers. With over 80 museums – many of which are just €1 on Sundays – as well as art galleries, you can explore anything from ancient sculpture to cutting-edge contemporary design. Among them is the Alte Pinakothek, one of the world's oldest art galleries, dating back to 1836. This museum was intended by King Ludwig I to serve as the world's largest museum, as echoed by its impressive castle-like exterior.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

4. Day 4 Traveling to Regensburg by Train / Arrival in Regensburg

   Today you'll trade the Bavarian capital for Regensburg. At least one train an hour departs from Munich to Regensburg throughout the day starting early in the morning so we will book second class tickets for you based on your preferred departure time. If you'd prefer an upgrade for the first class, we can arrange that for an additional fee. The journey takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes. We will also have a driver pick you up at your accommodation and take you to the train station.

   

   You can upgrade your transfer

   Regensburg by Private Transfer

   Upgrade for an additional cost

   Mention Regensburg to any student of German or Czech history, and watch their ears perk up. This ancient city is perched above the foundations of Castra Regina, a Roman camp. The capital of Bavaria for 700 years, Regensburg hosted the Holy Roman Empire's parliament for centuries, making it a co-capital alongside Vienna (the town itself served as five separate independent states within the Holy Roman Empire, which had hundreds of members). The seemingly endless UNESCO-listed Old Town (the largest north of the Alps) is a reminder of the city's golden age, when the Stone Bridge across the Danube linked Venice to Northern Europe. This bridge made Regensburg the cultural center of southern Germany, and made its weavers and goldsmiths wealthy. Give yourself plenty of time to stroll Regensburg's streets. Visit the Gothic capital, and enjoy the city's famous sausages at the world's oldest continually open public restaurant, which is nearing its 900th birthday.

   

   Postcard Pics

   Regensburg's center is picturesque no matter where you go, but perhaps the best view is where the Old Town meets the New, via the connecting bridges. We recommend walking to the Stadtamhof quarter, from which you can take pictures of Regensburg's historic center from across the river, especially when the city is lit up by the sun during the Golden Hour.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

5. Day 5 Your First Full Day in Regensburg

   

   Regensburg Private Classic Walking Tour

   Explore the vibrant history of Regensburg, where patricians, bishops, saints, and artisans have shaped this medieval gem. On your tour, uncover significant landmarks like towering Gothic cathedrals, ancient stone bridges, and historic merchant houses. An expert guide will share captivating tales of noble families, daring traders, and local legends. Discover why Regensburg was a vital center during the Middle Ages and connect with the stories that define its rich heritage.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 1 hour 30 minutes

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   Sail to Valhalla

   A Neoclassical hall of fame based on Athens' Parthenon, Walhalla ("Valhalla") was built in the 19th century to commemorate great Germans, albeit with a definition loose enough to include Copernicus, Erasmus, Paracelsus, Catherine the Great, and others from places no longer considered German. Located along the Danube, the most scenic way to arrive is with an hour long boat ride. From April to October, ferries run three times a day from near the Stone Bridge.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

   

   The World's Oldest Public Restaurant

   Regensburg's Historic Sausage Kitchen is perhaps the world's oldest continuously open public restaurant, serving heavenly sausages for 850 years. Located next to the Old Stone Bridge, seating is limited, but we recommend carrying your sausages, with their mustard and homemade sauerkraut, with you along the river until you find a free bench, and enjoying the scenery from there.
   

   Suggestion to explore on your own

6. Day 6 Traveling to Nuremberg by Private Transfer / Arrival in Nuremberg

   Today you will be traveling from Regensburg to Nuremberg. Upon your preferred departure time, a driver will pick you up at your accommodations in Regensburg and take you directly to your hotel in Nuremberg. This non-guided transfer takes about 1.5 hours.

   Nuremberg in northern Bavaria is famous for its well-preserved medieval architecture and delicious local food. Head to the Old Town to see its houses, stone towers, and fortifications, and to marvel at the Schöner Brunnen ("Beautiful Fountain") located in the "Hauptmarkt" main square. Kaiserburg castle is the most famous place to visit here, with its impressive insight into the city's history. But, there is so much more to Nuremberg; this is a lively modern city with lots of interesting museums, different festivals and events and a great variety of international cuisine. Even among Germans, the city is known for its beer, sausages, and gingerbread, so come hungry!

   Upon arriving in Nuremberg, your driver will bring you directly to your accommodation.

   

   Climb the Castle Hill

   After getting settled, we recommend ascending through the city to the imposing castle at one end of the historic center. The castle and the neighboring city walls are considered one of the most imposing medieval fortifications in Europe. In contrast, the castle itself offers the best view of the city and its preserved center. Be sure to check out the castle gardens, which are a quiet retreat from the bustle of the city.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

7. Day 7 Your First Full Day in Nuremberg

   

   Old Town and Nazi Rally Grounds Group Walking Tour

   Join a group walking tour and discover this amazing medieval town with a professional guide. You'll dive deep into the city's sometimes dark history, including its ties to Nazism.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 4 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   See the City's Best Museums

   The National Germanic Museum is home to the country's largest collection of German art and culture. The museum has more than 1.3 million items, from antique toys and dollhouses to pivotal treaties, imperial seals, unusual musical instruments, and fine works of art. The museum is located on Kartäusergasse, which also hosts the Way of Human Rights, a monument dedicated to world peace that stretches all the way down the street. The city's other most famous museum is the Nuremberg Transport Museum, which is composed of the DB Museum (run by Deutsche Bahn, the German Amtrak) and the Museum of Communications.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

8. Day 8 Traveling to Rothenburg by Private Transfer / Arrival in Rothenburg

   Your private driver will pick you up at your accommodation in Nuremberg and bring you directly to your centrally located Rothenburg accommodation.

   Sitting on the banks of the Tauber river, Rothenburg is a German medieval go-to, picturesque and vivid, a true throwback to some other times. This walled town used to be one of the biggest places in Germany during Middle Ages, and has kept its charm to this day. Although small in size and population, Rothenburg is home to many festivals and events, so there is a good chance you'll stumble upon one or two while there. Photos do not really do justice to the town; its beauty and atmosphere inspired many German artists, writers and painters and it is known as the most romantic place in Germany.

   Upon arriving in Rothenburg, your driver will bring you directly to your accommodations.

   

   Night Watchman Private Tour

   A unique way to experience this picturesque medieval town, join a night watchman on his patrol, as he ensures a safe and peaceful night.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 1 hour

   Included in your vacation package price

9. Day 9 Traveling to Frankfurt by Private Transfer / Arrival in Frankfurt

   

   Charming Town, Charming Museums

   Despite its small size, Rothenburg punches above its weight, offering some fascinating museums. Museums like Walburga's House, the Crime and Punishment Museum, ad the City Museum bring the history of Rothenburg to life. All are interactive and informative, enjoyable for travelers of every age. Your local representative will recommend places that focus on both the city, and some more unusual topics.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

   Today you'll travel from Rothenburg to Frankfurt. Based on your preferred departure time, a driver will pick you up at your accommodations in Rothenburg and will bring you directly to your hotel in Frankfurt. The non-guided transfer takes about two hours, but if you'd like, we can add a stop along the way for a fee.

   The birthplace of German democracy, Frankfurt is now more famous for its bankers, and the skyscrapers they have funded. A hub from the very beginning (the name comes from a river ford used by the Franks who went on to conquer France), Frankfurt's airport offers flights to more destinations than any other, and you can seemingly take trains anywhere from here, too. This is one of Germany's most diverse cities, even when its famous trade shows aren't in town, yet next to the skyscrapers you'll find the restored old town that served as the brief capital of a democratic Germany during the failed 1848 revolutions, and remains a reminder of Frankfurt's time as one of the Holy Roman Empire's prime cities.

   Upon your arrival in Frankfurt a driver will take you directly to your accommodation.

   

   Enjoy Local Brews

   A pub crawl is ideal for experiencing Frankfurt’s vibrant nightlife. Germany's may be famous for beers, but don't miss out on Frankfurts speciality: Apfelwein. This sour hard cider is everywhere in Frankfurt and its surroundings (you can drink it "pure," but many order it mixed with sparkling water or carbonated lemonade to reduce the sourness). To head from bar to bar, visit Schweizer Strasse in Old Sachsenhausen. This tree-line commercial street houses plenty of pubs and taverns that brew their own Apfelwein, but naturally offer plenty of local beers and wines as well.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

10. Day 10 Your First Full Day in Frankfurt

    

    Frankfurt Group Walking Tour

    This comprehensive tour shows you around the best of Frankfurt in 3 hours. From grand squares and impressive bridges to Jewish memorials and other landmarks related to WW2, this tour offers you a great insight into the history and culture of Frankfurt.

    • Activity Level : Light
    • Duration : 3 hours

    Included in your vacation package price

    

    Riverside Museum After Museum

    The Museumsufer ("Museum Riverbank") is an area containing many of Frankfurt's best museums, lined up on or near the River Main. The collection is anchored by the Stadel, one of Germany's best art museums. The rest were built in the 1980s, either from scratch, or by restoring historic villas. Walk along the river, and you can find museums devoted to icons, applied arts, ethnology, film, architecture, communications, fine art, sculptures, contemporary art, Judaism, modern art, and Frankfurt's history.

    Suggestion to explore on your own

11. Day 11 Departure Day

    Based on your departure time, a driver will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to Frankfurt airport.