Overview
Architecturally spectacular and endlessly engaging, defined by their history and cultural heritage, Germany’s great cities evoke powerful emotions.
This comprehensive introduction to the highlights of Germany takes in the eclectic charms of Berlin, now enjoying a renaissance as a wellspring of European style, and Dresden, a city which charms with Baroque masterpieces and superlative art collections.
There are visits too to enchanting cities such as Nüremberg, Leipzig and Würzburg, and an included short river cruise along the stunning River Rhine, so celebrated in music and legend.
We end with a two night stay in medieval Heielberg, only included as a brief stop by most other operators.
Itinerary
Day 1 London, Berlin
Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service® transports you from your front door to London Heathrow Airport in time for a direct scheduled British Airways flight to Berlin. Upon arrival we transfer to the 4? Maritim Hotel or Movenpick Hotel in the centre of this bewitching capital, where we will be staying for the first three nights. Dinner is included at our hotel this evening.
Day 2 Berlin
Berlin is perhaps the most interesting and significant city of the 20th century - celebrated, vilified, ravaged, isolated, divided and reborn in less than 100 years.
Visitors will find echoes of Berlin’s Cabaret-era decadence, its pre-war pomp and war-time devastation, its Cold War symbolism and post-reunification exuberance, along with a fascinating older history reflected in elegant squares such as the Gendarmenmarket and iconic structures from the Reichstag to the Brandenburg Gate.
Our guided orientation tour is the perfect introduction, leaving time at leisure to make your own discoveries or take advantage of peerless shopping opportunities.
Day 3 Berlin (Potsdam)
A short drive from the vibrant German capital is the more sedate town of Potsdam, seat of Frederick the Great’s government. Marvel at the splendour of the Sansouci Gardens on our included excursion - you may also wish to tour the palace itself (payable locally). Our tour also takes in the exclusive suburb of Neubabelsberg and the quarters occupied by Churchill, Stalin and Truman during the Potsdam Conference of Summer 1945, which convened to consider the fate of Germany in the aftermath of the Nazi surrender.
Day 4 Berlin - Leipzig - Colditz - Dresden
A German journey begins today as we travel to Dresden by way of Leipzig and Colditz Castle. Leipzig, attractively located at the confl uence of the Weisse Elster and Pleisse rivers, has an extraordinary musical heritage, as home to both Felix Mendelssohn and Johann Sebastian Bach, and we make a stop to visit St Thomas Church, where Bach served as choirmaster for more than 25 years and where he is laid to rest.
The history of Colditz is more immediate - this Renaissance castle, immortalised in the 1955 film The Colditz Story, gained notoriety as a World War II prisoner-of-war camp, housing Allied soldiers considered dangerous or elite.
Despite its remote aspect and maximum security measures, Colditz still boasted one of the highest records of successful escape attempts. Our hotel in Dresden is the 4? Westin Bellevue, where dinner is included on this, the first of two nights.
Day 5 Dresden
Affectionately known as ‘the Florence on the Elbe’ for its Italianate architecture and artistic treasure trove, Dresden is a delight to explore. Our short orientation walking tour introduces its many highlights, and the remainder of the day is at leisure to focus on the attractions that particularly interest you, from the magnificent Baroque Zwinger palace, with its world famous art collections, to the iconic Frauenkirche, an international symbol of reconciliation.
Day 6 Dresden - Bamberg - Coburg - Nüremberg
With an early start, we are able to make two memorable visits en route to our next overnight stop, Nüremberg. Bamberg is the dream city of Emperor Heinrich II, for a short time the centre of the Holy Roman Empire and today UNESCO World Heritage listed for its sublime medieval heart.
Whilst in Coburg we visit Schloss Ehrenburg, official residence of the Dukes of Coburg from 1547 to 1918, where richly decorated apartments once used by Queen Victoria may be viewed. Dinner is included at our hotel in Nüremberg, the 4? Maritim.
Day 7 Nüremberg - Rothenburg - Würzburg
We continue today to the 1,000-year-old town of Rothenburg, where history is ever apparent in its majestic churches and grand patrician houses, and onwards to yet-more-ancient Würzburg to visit the vast and superbly frescoed Baroque Residenz, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy an included dinner at the 4? Maritim Würzburg hotel.
Day 8 Würzburg - Wiesbaden - Mainz
After breakfast, we travel towards the city of Wiesbaden, lying at the foot of the Taunus Mountains. Wiesbaden was the inspiration to many artists and composers such as Brahms, Wagner and the Expressionist painter Alexey von Jeawlensky. On arrival your tour manager will introduce you to the city with an orientation tour, after which you are at leisure. Our hotel is the 4? Favorite Parkhotel (new for 2013) by the river Mainz, a short drive south of Wiesbaden.
Day 9 Mainz - Rhine river cruise - Heidelberg
We make the short journey to the banks of the Rhine for a short cruise to enjoy the beautiful and ever-changing scenery of this legendary river. Later, we transfer to Heidelberg, particularly noted for its awe-inspiring medieval castle and breathtaking views of the River Neckar. Our hotel for two nights is the 4? Crowne Plaza, and dinner is included this evening.
Day 10 Heidelberg
Today is a free day for you to explore the picturesque city of Heidelberg.
Extend your stay in Berlin or Heidelberg - call 0800 988 5823 for more details.
Day 11 Heidelberg - London
After breakfast, we transfer to Stuttgart Airport in time for a direct scheduled British Airways flight to London Heathrow, where members of our airport team greet you and show you to your VIP Home Departure Service vehicle, waiting to take you home.
IMPORTANT TOUR INFORMATION
With so many highlights to see, this is a fast-paced and busy itinerary. This is not suitable for clients with walking difficulties.
Included
- 10 nights in hotels (accommodation as specified or similar)
- 15 meals: 10 breakfast & 5 dinner (breakfast on days 2-11 and dinner on days 1, 4, 6, 7 and 9)
Included excursions and visits:
- Tour of Berlin by local guide
- Excursion to Potsdam and the Sanssoucci Gardens
- Orientation tour of Leipzig and a visit to Colditz Castle
- Orientation walking tour of Dresden
- Visits to Bamberg and Schloss Ehrenburg in Coburg
- Visit to Rothenburg and the magnificent Residenz in Würzburg
- Orientation tour of Wiesbaden
- River cruise on the Rhine
Plus all these benefits:
- Titan’s VIP Home Departure Service®
- Check-in service by Titan staff with porterage
- Services of an experienced Titan tour manager
- Scheduled British Airways direct flights
- First class coaches with experienced drivers
- Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
- All airport taxes, security charges, and applicable fuel surcharge
- UK Air Passenger Duty of £13 per person
- ATOL Protection fee
