The Romantic Road Self-drive Experience

Welcome to Germany! Pick-up of rental car upon arrival and transfer to your hotel. Rest of afternoon at leisure. Munich - one of the top European travel and business destinations. Munich's Italianate architectural splendor and old-world charm adds a Southern European touch to the city. The Bavarian capital with more than 100 theaters and museums and a multi-ethnic community offers a very vivid cultural life. The annual Oktoberfest with more than six million visitors during sixteen days has turned into a global trademark. And it's just a stone's throw away from the beautiful Bavarian Alpine scenery. For further activities we recommend the following options (not included). Exploring Munich : Major sights include the Königsplatz with its Greek and Roman inspired architectural setting, Odeonsplatz, Ludwigstraße and the university quarter of Schwabing. Interesting is to visit the BMW-World next to the Olympic Park and a photo stop at Nymphenburg Castle, once the summer residence of the Bavarian kings. Visit one of the many beautiful Christmas markets in town. A visit to the BMW Museum and the adjoining BMW World or a tour of the Allianz Arena, the home soccer stadium of FC Bayern Munich depending on schedule including even a soccer match.

A drive through the beautiful Upper Bavarian landscapes offering you a great many impressions of the marvellous Alpine scenery on your way to the “Royal countryside”. Visit to Linderhof Castle, the most intimate of Ludwig's castles. (Option of a guided tour of the castle and/or in the gardens.) Onward drive to Neuschwanstein and short stop at Oberammergau, the village famous of its Passion Play. You will see a lot of houses whose walls are painted in the style of the so called “Lüftmalerei” depicting religious motifs as well as scenes from every-day-life. Find out about the myth of King Ludwig II, the most enigmatic of the Bavarian Kings. Known for his affinity with extravagance and fine arts he was called “The Fairy Tale King”. Herrenchiemsee and Linderhof castles are considered as his top architectural achievements. Neuschwanstein is the best known and, regarding its setting, most spectacular of the royal Bavarian castles. It served as inspiration for Walt Disney's fairy tale castle. In the late afternoon you will be driving North along the Romantic Road that runs from the Alps to the River Main, from Füssen to the city of Würzburg. It is one of Germany’s most popular tourist routes. The name Romantic Road expresses what both domestic and international travellers feel on seeing Medieval towns or the fairy tale castle at Neuschwanstein: fascination and the sense of being transported back in time. Arrival at Augsburg in the early evening.

Augsburg is one of Germany's oldest cities and exhibits a wealth of architecture, ranging from Medieval guild houses, the magnificent Town Hall with its Golden Hall to the residence houses of the Fugger, a wealthy banking dynasty. Worthwhile visiting is their social housing complex, the Fuggerei from the 16th-century. Highlights of Augsburg's sacral architecture are the St. Mary's cathedral (11th c.) and the onion-domed Sankt Ulrich and Afra Abbey. Guided walking tour in the morning, afternoon at leisure.

This morning you will continue North along scenic stretches of the Romantic Road, will pop into the medieval small town of Nördlingen that sits within a crater, created by a half-mile-wide meteorite that hit the Earth, the site of Nördlingen today about 15 million years ago. You will arrive in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in the early afternoon. Exploring Rothenburg ob der Tauber is like a journey through a thousand years of history that seems to be passing by in the very moment. Why don't you go on a leisurely walking tour to discover a very well-preserved old town with its ramparts, fountains and gables, a city gate and the impressive townhall building in the half-timbered architectural style? One of the highlights is the altar in the church of St. Peter and Paul, a masterpiece of the sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider. Arrival in Würzburg in the early evening. (260 km)

Today you will enjoy a free day to explore the city and these are our recommendations (not included): The city is located in Northern Bavaria on the River Main, the seat of a catholic Archbishop and known for its lavish baroque and Rococo architecture with the 18th-century Residenz Palace being a highlight of this period. Würzburg is located within the heartlands of the Franconian wine country with vinyards on both sides of the River Main that add a particular flavour to the scenery. Many wineries produce the distinctive Bocksbeutel (bottles with flattened round shapes). Würzburg is a small city and its centre best explored by foot. This morning we recommend you a leisurely walking tour in the heart of town including a visit of the cathedral (Dom) and the Marienkapelle (Chapel of Our Virgin Mary), a highlight of the gothic sacral architecture of the 14th/15th century. Worthwile is a visit of the Würzburg Residenzin the late afternoon where you can join a live guided tour in English (not included). The former residence of the Würzburg prince-bishops is one of the most important Baroque palaces in Europe and was built by the then unknown architect Balthasar Neumann in the 18th century. You will be impressed with the Imperial staircase with its fresco paintings by the Venetian artist Tiepolo. The Fortress Marienberg is seen from almost everywhere in Würzburg. Originally, there was a Celtic palisade castle at this site. 704 AD the first Würzburg church was erected here. Why don't you just walk up there with your guide, join a tour and learn about its history from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period. Visit of a winery and wine sampling. Many wineries offer wine tastings. Regardless of whether you opt for grapes processed for the traditional Bocksbeutel bottle from a top class wine estate like the famous Julius Spital or a refreshing wine from a young winegrower in the countryside – this will be a unique experience for you.

Before continuing towards Boppard we recommend you to visit the Rococo garden in Veitshöchheim. They are considered as one of the most attractive of its kind in Europe. Situated at a short distance from Würzburg it is worth an excursion not only for garden enthusiasts and, by the way, easily accessible by boat from Würzburg! The gardens are decorated by numerous sandstone sculptures, artificial ruins, the Grottenhäuschen (cave house). Have a stroll through the garden, as the prince-bishops did in past times, through the shady arbours and to the exotic pavilions. In the afternoon you will reach the Middle Rhine Valley and discover many castle ruins en route. (240 km)

In the morning you will enjoy your drive along the picturesque road that follows the course of the river. Arrival in Frankfurt in the afternoon. Frankfurt is the most international city in Germany, the largest financial centre on the continent, the historical city of coronations, the city of Goethe and the Frankfurt School of philosophy. What about taking the elevator up to the viewing platform of the Main Tower? From a height of 200 m you will enjoy fascinating views across the city. 2 nights in Frankfurt. (125 km)

The modern metropolis offers many historic sites such as the Römerberg (hill of the Romans) with its beautifully restored timber-framed houses, of course the Goethe Haus where the world-famous poet once lived, “Alt-Sachsenhausen“, where in Schellgasse Nr. 6 you will find Frankfurt’s oldest timber-framed house, built around 1291. Frankfurt’s “Zeil“, a big pedestrian zone offers excellent shopping venues. In the afternoon time for shopping.

Transfer to Frankfurt airport, drop off rental car and departure.