12 Day Germany's Cultural Cities & The Romantic Road With Oberammergau Passion Play

This enchanting journey offers the best of Germany. Travel to some of the country's most iconic cities, view its stunning countryside and experience the epic Oberammergau Passion Play. Your tour opens in Berlin. This city blends a deep history, a modern flare and multi-cultural influences.

Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.

Start your day by getting acquainted with Berlin’s main sights with an expert guide. Reflect at the Holocaust Memorial before continuing on to the lively Potsdam Square. Stroll down Niederkirchner Strasse to see remnants of the First Wall and walk through the “Topography of Terror” exhibition, delving into the rise and fall of the Third Reich. See Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous crossing point between East and West Berlin. Explore the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt square, pass through the colorful Old Town, and head down Avenue Unter den Linden to Brandenburg Gate.

This afternoon you may choose to join an optional excursion outside the city to visit Potsdam and the famous Cecilienhof Palace.

Feel like a local when you travel to Hamburg, hopping on the sleek ICE train that connects all the major German cities and reaches speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. Take in “the Venice of the North,” with winding canals and an impressive harbor that made it a center of trade for centuries. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before getting the lay of the land on a brief orientation tour.

The evening is yours to explore as you wish. Perhaps you will take an optional evening cruise, admiring the cityscape as you coast along.

Today, it’s your choice! Enjoy a narrated cruise around the massive Hamburg shipping port, including the historic Warehouse District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site -OR- visit the International Maritime Museum which houses nine levels of sea-faring adventure including exhibits on Viking dragon boats, deep-sea diving, and a ship simulator.

Later we gather for a walking tour of the Reeperbahn area, Hamburg’s red light district, immortalized as the place where the Beatles cultivated their fame in the early 1960s. Join in the fun with your “singing and ukulele playing local Beatles expert” and travel down memory lane.

Made famous by the Pied Piper in the stories of the Brothers Grimm, Hamelin is your next stop. Feel like you have stepped into the pages of a storybook when the “Pied Piper of Hamelin” leads you through the city, playing catchy tunes as you discover Hamelin’s charming Tudor-style architecture. Continue on to the medieval university town on Marburg, with its endless alleys and stairways that lead to the castle perched high above.

Enjoy a leisurely morning before joining a local expert on a sightseeing tour inspired by the Brother’s Grimm. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm studied in Marburg and found its narrow alleys, timbered houses and cobblestone streets a source of inspiration. Visit the Marburg Landgrave Palace, set dramatically atop the city. The remainder of the day is yours to explore one of Germany’s most romantic cities.

Journey to the perfectly preserved medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located in the middle of the famous Romantic Road and in the heart of the Franconia wine region. En route, make a stop in Würzburg, a Bavarian wine town known for its lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture. Enjoy time to explore the town on your own before continuing to Rothenburg, located high on a plateau overlooking the Tauber River. Arrive at your city center hotel, the perfect location to discover this captivating town.

Take an evening stroll to a local restaurant where you’ll enjoy a tasting of local wines followed by a traditional German dinner. Later, join a colorfully costumed local expert for the famous “Night Watchman” walking tour of this medieval town.

Walk to a nearby bakery and taste a favorite treat of the locals – “schneeball” pastries, also known as “snowballs.” Then, enjoy a private tour through the famous Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Museum, enjoy an ornament-making demonstration, and shop for handmade Christmas trinkets. The remainder of the day yours to explore this charming city.

Today we make our way through mountains and along winding country roads for a tour inside the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. Built by the “crazy” King Ludwig II, it is the most photographed castle in Germany. Next, continue to the quaint, picturesque village of Oberammergau.

This afternoon, witness a performance of the epic Passion Play. The original performance dates back to 1634. During the Thirty Year War, Oberammergau was spared the Black Plague and for this reason, the citizens vowed that every ten years they would give a play to honor the last days of the life of Christ. The performers of this once-in-a-decade event are all native to the village. To lend authenticity to the performance, the cast start to grow their hair and beards more than a year in advance.

Also, the intricate costumes are made locally by the villagers. During a break in the performance, join your fellow travelers for dinner before returning for the remainder of your Passion Play performance.

Today we travel to Munich, the exciting capital of Bavaria. Feel the energy of this lively city during a tour that highlights Olympic Park, the world-famous Glockenspiel; and Marienplatz, a beautiful square surrounded by shops, restaurants and cafés. Enjoy time to explore Munich before gathering with your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner celebrating the end of your memorable trip.

This morning your tour comes to a close.