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The castles of Germany are among the most magical sights in Europe. We’ve composed a rail tour that connects several of the most spellbinding. It’s a journey through three German cities steeped in history, each within easy reach of soaring schloss that could have been lifted from a fairy tale.
Each stop of the rail tour is a chance to experience Germany's rich heritage and see some awe-inspiring sights. Hopping aboard slick high-speed trains, our tour removes the complications so you can relish every moment of a journey through landscapes that time forgot. With fascinating urban attractions to explore along the way, it is a sublime way to see Germany's finest castles.You rail adventure includes:
Welcome-Package
Rail travel in First-Class
4**** hotel accomodation in all cities
Full breakfast for all guests in all hotels
Airport Transfer At Arrival and Departure
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Itineraries
Day 1
Arrival in Munich
The enthralling tour begins in the Bavarian capital, Munich. It is a city bursting with historical landmarks, including a collection of regal palaces. It is the ideal base to visit Neuschwanstein castle, an emblem of Germany and one of the most photographed sights in Europe.
• Start your journey through history in the Altstadt (old town), spending time in Marienplatz, the city’s ome public square.
• Survey the city from the pretty clock tower of the 11th-century St. Peter's Church.
• Sop under the imposing Frauenkirche before drinking in the elaborate décor of Asamkirche.
• Enjoy a flavour of Bavaria with a stein of house-brewed Dunkel beer in the legendary Hofbräuhaus.
Day 2
Day trip to Füssen
This is the day to see your first castles, the unearthly Neuschwanstein (Schwangau) and stunning Hohenschwangau Castle nestle a short distance from each other in the Bavarian alps.
Trains zip to Füssen in around two hours. The pretty town is a gateway to the two majestic castles.
• Start at the soaring Neuschwanstein castle. The white towers rising above the alps must be seen to be believed.
• A guided tour is required to explore the castle's interior. It's less striking than the captivating exterior but offers an intriguing insight into the life of King Ludwig II of Bavaria, aka The Mad King.
• Be sure to head to the nearby hilltop by foot or horse and carriage to drink in stunning views from the perfect vantage point. Fill your memory card with photos and relish the grandeur of a castle that inspired Walt Disney. Look out for Hohenschwangau Castle in the distance.
• Make time to tour Hohenschwangau Castle, the 19th-century palace and childhood home to King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
• Grab a late plate of schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) in Füssen or head back to Munich to dine on spätzle in a welcoming bierkeller.
Day 3
Full day in Munich
A final day in Munich is a chance to encounter more royal heritage and appreciate stately architecture.
• Get your morning started by sampling Bavarian delicacies in the centuries-old farmers market, Viktualienmarkt.
• Head out to the sumptuous Nymphenburg Palace on the outskirts of the city. Take time to tour the regal home, the impressive summer residence of the House of Wittelsbach.
• Return to central Munich via the fetching 19th-century public square, Odeonsplatz.
• Fill your day admiring art from different periods at the galleries in the Kunstareal museum quarter.
• Wrap up an action-packed day in Munich at the Nationaltheater München, the renowned opera house where Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde premiered.
Day 4
ICE-train to Stuttgart
Next stop, Stuttgart. It’s just a couple of hours by high-speed ICE trains through picturesque towns and verdant countryside. The capital of Baden-Württemberg is known as a car manufacturing hub, but that belies the beauty of the palatial castles in and around Stuttgart, not least the arresting Hohenzollern castle perched on a hilltop.
• Grab a bite to eat at the bustling Markthalle Stuttgart market and get ready to explore Stuttgart's highlights.
• Visit the regal Ludwigsburg Residential Palace, the largest royal estate in Germany.
• Return to the city centre to see the aptly named Old Castle. The first structure was raised in the 10th century, and the boxy castle is an imposing sight.
• Explore the narrow alleyways of the surrounding old town and linger in the handsome Schillerplatz public square.
• Sample the local speciality maultaschen (filled dumplings) in a homely restaurant in Stuttgart-Mitte, the city centre.
Day 5
Day trip to castle Hohenzollern
Day 5 is dedicated to visiting the transcendent Hohenzollern Castle. It is another fabled schloss, this time soaring skywards from the top of Mount Hohenzollern.
• Although rebuilt in the mid-nineteenth century, a castle has stood on the site since the 11th century. A tour of the seat of the House of Hohenzollern shines a light on nearly one thousand years of compelling history.
• Explore Prussian history and take a moment to see the grounds and the adjacent forest.
• Make time to admire the stunning views from afar. If you’re lucky, any fog has settled around the castle for an utterly romantic vision.
• Return to Stuttgart for the evening, perhaps in time to see the sunset over the city from the café-bar in the lofty Stuttgart TV Tower.
Day 6
Full day in Stuttgart
The last day in Stuttgart promises more timeless wonders and a peek into Baden-Württemberg’s richly layered heritage.
• Make a visit to the august Neues Schloss overlooking the Schlossplatz square. The baroque castle has a long royal pedigree but now serves as a municipal office.
• Dive into regional history at the absorbing History Museum of Württemberg.
• Squeeze in another royal marvel by visiting the delightful Schloss Solitude, a hunting lodge commissioned by Charles Eugene, Duke of Württemberg.
• Conclude your whirlwind tour of Stuttgart with shopping and dinner in the dynamic Konigstrasse.
Day 7
Train ride to Heidelberg
The final section of the tour takes you to charming Heidelberg, home to the extraordinary Heidelberg Palace. It's a short train ride from Stuttgart, leaving ample time to explore this jewel on the river Neckar.
• Waste no time and head to the 16th-century palace that dominates the skyline, Heidelberg Palace. Despite being partially ruined, the striking structure is one of the best-known palaces in Germany.
• Be sure to see the famous Heidelberg Tun, an immense wine barrel in the cellars.
• Relish impressive views over Heidelberg and the Neckar river, then head down to see them up close from the 18th-century Karl Theodor Bridge.
• Spend the evening wining and dining in the café-filled Heidelberger Marktplatz.
Day 8
Full day in Heidelberg
The final full day of this castle-filled tour ends with a chance to explore the calm and attractive streets of Heidelberg.
• Start with a tour of the ruined Tiefburg, a medieval castle with a classic moat and the hallmarks of a traditional medieval fortification.
• Take a detour to see the renowned Heidelberg University, established in 1386.
• Head up the Church of the Holy Spirit's tower for more views to fill your camera's memory card.
• Trek up the enigmatically named Philosophers' Way for more stunning views of Heidelberg.
• Cherish a final night in Germany with a bowl of warming gulyassuppe (A thick, moreish soup) and a glass of cooling lager in a traditional brauhaus.
Day 9
Departure from Heidelberg/Frankfurt
It’s time to bid Auf Wiedersehen to the mesmerising castles and palaces of Germany after a tour that will create indelible memories.
• Squeeze in a cruise on the river Neckar for a unique perspective of the radiant Heidelberg Palace.
• Or steal a peaceful moment on the riverbanks and the Berge du Neckar greenspaces.
• Before you leave, grab some souvenirs in Heidelberg’s busy Hauptstrasse shopping street.
The following services can be booked optionally:
International Airfare to Arrival and Departure City
