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Travel to Europe (To-Europe) · Independent rail circle tour

8-Day German Fairy Tale Rail Circle Tour (8R07)

Brothers Grimm sites and Fairy Tale Route by rail across northern Germany

Illustration of 8-Day German Fairy Tale Rail Circle Tour (8R07)

Travel to Europe (To-Europe) offers an 8-day independent rail circle tour through northern Germany along the Fairy Tale Route, starting and ending in Frankfurt. The itinerary visits towns where the Brothers Grimm lived, studied, and worked: Hanau (their birthplace), Marburg (where they studied law), and Kassel (where they served as librarians). You travel by 2nd-class regional and long-distance trains, staying in 3-star hotels, with daily breakfast included and a guide book to deepen your understanding of the Grimm legacy. Day 2 takes you by train to three towns in one excursion to explore Grimm family homes and the Amtshaus where they lived. Day 5 includes a rail day trip to Bremerhaven's Harbor Worlds complex before returning to Bremen to see the famous Town Musicians statue. Day 6 brings you to Hamelin, the setting of the Pied Piper legend, with its beautifully restored Old Town. You navigate independently using provided itineraries and information sheets, making this tour well-suited to history lovers and independent travelers who appreciate flexibility and a strong cultural theme.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is USD 2,199, nearly double the per-person from-price of USD 1,359; confirm pricing for your party size.
  • All meals except breakfast are at your own expense; the package covers only daily hotel breakfast.
  • This is a self-guided tour with no professional tour manager or accompanying group; you navigate between cities and sites independently using provided itineraries and information sheets.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Frankfurt

    Frankfurt

    11-minute train from Frankfurt International Airport to Frankfurt Central Station (fare covered by the Frankfurt Card). Explore historic sites including the Romerberg and Goethe Haus.

  2. Day 2overnight: Frankfurt

    Day trip to Hanau, Gelnhausen und Steinau an der Strasse

    Visit places where the Brothers Grimm were born and grew up: Hanau (market square monument, Deutsche Goldschmiedehaus, Castle Philippsruhe), Gelnhausen (imperial fortress ruins, witch tower) and Steinau an der Strasse (the Amtshaus where the Grimms lived).

  3. Day 3railovernight: Kassel

    Marburg and Kassel

    Train to Marburg, where the Brothers Grimm studied law; visit the Landgrafenschloss and Elisabethkirche. Continue by train to Kassel, where the Grimms worked as librarians; visit Bergpark Wilhelmshoehe and the Hercules monument.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Bremen

    Hannoversch-Munden, Gottingen and Bremen

    Train to Hannoversch-Munden (half-timbered Old Town, Doctor Eisenbart Play), then Gottingen (University, the Gaenseliesel statue), then on to Bremen.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Bremen

    Day Trip to Bremerhaven

    Day trip by rail to Bremerhaven, visiting the Harbor Worlds (German Emigration Center, Zoo at the Sea, German Maritime Museum, submarine Wilhelm Bauer). Return to Bremen to see the Town Hall and Bremen Town Musicians statue.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Hamelin

    Hamelin

    About two hours by train to Hamelin, home of the Pied Piper legend. Visit the beautifully restored Old Town including the Rattenfangerhaus and the Glass Adventure World.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Frankfurt

    Frankfurt

    Flexible rail tickets allow most of the day in Hamelin before traveling back to Frankfurt (about 3 hours total).

  8. Day 8rail

    Frankfurt Int. Airport

    Short train ride (about 11 minutes) from Frankfurt Central Station to Frankfurt International Airport.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Day trip to Hanau, Gelnhausen, and Steinau an der Strasse to see the childhood homes and birthplace of the Brothers Grimm, including the Amtshaus where they lived.
  • Day 3Visit Marburg's Elisabethkirche and Landgrafenschloss, where the Grimms studied law, then train to Kassel to see Bergpark Wilhelmshoehe, where they worked as librarians.
  • Day 5Day trip by rail to Bremerhaven to explore the Harbor Worlds complex, including the German Emigration Center and German Maritime Museum, then return to see Bremen's Town Hall and Town Musicians statue.
  • Day 6Train to Hamelin, home of the Pied Piper legend, and visit the restored Old Town, Rattenfangerhaus, and Glass Adventure World.

Included

  • Frankfurt Card (free public transportation in Frankfurt and rail from Frankfurt Int. Airport to Frankfurt Central Station)
  • The book "The German Fairy Tale Landscape - The storied world of the Brothers Grimm"
  • Rail tickets throughout (2nd class, flexible/unrestricted on several legs)
  • Buffet breakfast daily
  • 7 nights hotel accommodation per itinerary

Not included

  • Airfare from/to your origin to/from Germany
  • All meals other than breakfast
  • Gratuities (tips)
  • Parking fees

Questions travellers ask

Is all the train travel included?
Yes. The package includes 2nd-class rail tickets for all journeys between the listed destinations. You may upgrade to 1st class for all long-distance rail tickets for an additional USD 129 per person, which includes seat reservations.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
Independent and self-guided. Travel to Europe provides a day-by-day itinerary and tour information sheets, but no tour manager accompanies the group. You navigate the rail network and sites on your own.
What is included in the price?
The from-price of USD 1,359 includes 7 nights' hotel accommodation, daily breakfast, 2nd-class rail tickets throughout, the Frankfurt Card for local transport and airport rail, and a guide book titled 'The German Fairy Tale Landscape, The storied world of the Brothers Grimm'.
What is not included?
Airfare to and from Germany, all meals other than breakfast, gratuities, and parking fees are not included.
When does this tour run?
The evidence pack does not list specific departure dates. Contact Travel to Europe (To-Europe) directly to check availability.
How much walking is involved?
Each day involves exploring historic towns and sites on foot, but there are no hikes or altitude challenges. The pace is suitable for those comfortable with city walking and standard luggage handling between stations and hotels.

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