Great Cities and Castles Route (2025)

1. nap

Welcome to your tour with Europamundo!We’ll travel to Dresden, a city on the River Elbe, where you’ll be able to admire its stunning palace. Then, we’ll head to Bavaria, arriving in Bamberg, a lively and picturesque city—don’t miss Little Venice! Next, we’ll continue to Nuremberg, the second-largest city in Bavaria, renowned for its rich history. We suggest visiting the site where Hitler’s Coliseum once stood.

2. nap

Today’s journey will be full of surprises. From Kelheim, we’ll board a boat for a short cruise along the Danube valley, passing through the Danube Gorge. Our first stop will be Kloster Weltenburg, a beautiful Benedictine monastery founded in 1040. Next, we’ll visit Dachau, where we’ll tour the Nazi concentration camp museum. After having lunch, we’ll continue to Munich, where we’ll visit the impressive BMW Welt, a modern multifunctional exhibition facility of the prestigious German vehicle brand BMW Group. We’ll also see the park that houses the Olympiastadion, an architectural marvel where the 1972 Olympic Games were held. After this, you’ll have free time in the historic center. You can stroll through Marienplatz, the heart of Munich, visit the picturesque Viktualienmarkt open-air market, relax in the Englischer Garten, or enjoy the traditional beer houses.Note: In winter or when Danube’s water level is too low, the cruise will not operate. In this case, the journey will be made by road.

3. nap

Amidst alpine summits and breathtaking scenery, we’ll travel to Füssen and the Neuschwanstein Castle. We’ll take a bus to Mary’s Bridge to admire the fantastic views of the gorge. From here, you can either return on foot or by horse carriage (not included). Continuing along our Romantic Road, we’ll head to Rothenburg, a picturesque walled city where we’ll visit the beautiful Christmas Museum (admission included). We’ll then head to Frankfurt, Germany’s financial capital.

4. nap

Today, we’ll explore the Rhine and Moselle Valleys, two rivers full of history and dotted with charming villages. We´ll begin with a short cruise on the Rhine, between the villages of Rüdesheim and Sankt Goar, undoubtedly the most picturesque section of the river. Next, we’ll head to the Moselle River, stopping for lunch in Cochem, a picturesque village on the Rhine riverbank overlooked by its imposing castle, which dates back over a thousand years. Afterward, we’ll travel to Cologne, where you´ll have time to visit its impressive Gothic cathedral. Standing at 154 meters tall, it was the tallest building in the world until the late 19th century. You can also enjoy a walk along the Rhine River and through the lively city center before we continue to our hotel in Dortmund.Note: During fairs or congresses, accommodation may be in a nearby city.

5. nap

Today, we’ll embark on a magical journey, reminiscing about our favorite childhood stories and movies as we travel through the towns that inspired the Brothers Grimm, now known as the Fairy Tale Route. Our first stop will be Trendelburg, a picturesque walled village where we’ll visit the large medieval castle and its famous Rapunzel Tower (admission included).We’ll continue along scenic roads, crossing forests that will remind us of the tale of Hansel and Gretel. We’ll stop for lunch in Höxter, a vibrant town where we’ll visit Corvey Abbey, an ancient 9th-century monastery and World Heritage Site (admission included). We’ll then stop in Polle to visit the ruins of Cinderella’s Castle (admission included). Our journey will continue to Hamelin, renowned for the tale of “The Pied Piper of Hamelin”. After following the mouse tracks, we’ll proceed to Hanover, where there will be time to take a stroll near the old town hall.Note: During fairs or conferences, accommodation may be arranged in a nearby city.

6. nap

After breakfast, we’ll travel to Goslar, renowned for its magnificent medieval old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is famous for its half-timbered houses, cobblestone streets, and the majestic Church of St. Peter. At the height of its prosperity, Goslar was also a significant silver mining center, and the Rammelsberg Mines, which were in operation from the Middle Ages, have also been designated a World Heritage Site. We’ll include admission to the museum, where we’ll learn about the history of the mining activity. We’ll then head to Göttingen, a major university and scientific center, once home to the Grimm Brothers. You’ll have time to enjoy lunch and stroll through its historic center. In the afternoon, we’ll continue toward Thuringia, stopping in Bad Sooden, a beautifully preserved, picturesque spa town nestled in the mountains. Afterward, we’ll proceed to Eisenach, where we’ll take a walk through its stunning Baroque and Renaissance-style historic center, where you can find Bach’s birthplace, and Luther’s house.

7. nap

We’ll start the day by visiting the impressive Wartburg Castle (tickets included), a UNESCO World Heritage site where Martin Luther translated the New Testament into German. Afterward, in Eisenach, we’ll visit the Automobile Museum (admission included), located in the former main factory of East Germany´s automobile industry, where we’ll see a collection of vintage cars. You’ll then have some free time in the city to explore and enjoy lunch, and if you’re a music lover, you might want to visit the Bach House. Our journey will continue to Gotha, where we’ll admire its grand baroque palace (exterior visit) and charming historic town center. In Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia, we’ll discover a vibrant city featuring a magnificent cathedral and a medieval old town, including a beautiful bridge that has been inhabited for over 500 years.By late afternoon, we’ll arrive in Leipzig, one of Germany´s most historically and culturally rich cities. Home to famous composers like Bach and Wagner, Leipzig was also a major industrial center during the German Democratic Republic era and today has a population of over half a million.

8. nap

Leaving Leipzig, we’ll stop at the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, inaugurated in 1913 and standing 91 meters tall, commemorating a famous battle from the Napoleonic Wars. We’ll then continue to Dresden, the capital of Saxony, known for its Baroque and Renaissance architecture, grand palaces, and scenic walks along the Elbe River.Nearby is Meissen, renowned for its porcelain, which has been manufactured here since the 18th century. We’ll have time to stroll and enjoy lunch in the old town of this small, lively city, dominated by its large castle and cathedral.In Moritzburg, we’ll take a stroll through “Cinderella’s Castle,” located on an island in an artificial lake, featuring magnificent architecture and expansive gardens. Finally, we’ll continue to Berlin, arriving around 7:00 p.m.Our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful and lasting memories.Please, check the time of your flight in case you might need an additional night.