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Travel to Europe (To-Europe) · Independent 1st class rail & cruise tour

9-Day German Highlights 1st class Rail & Cruise (9R03)

Nine-day self-guided German rail and cruise tour from Frankfurt through Rhine Valley and Romantic

Illustration of 9-Day German Highlights 1st class Rail & Cruise (9R03)

Travel to Europe's 9-day German Highlights tour is a first-class rail and river cruise package for independent travellers who want structure without a guide. You begin with a private transfer from Frankfurt International Airport to Rudesheim am Rhein in the Rheingau Wine Region, where you spend two nights. Day 2 is an all-day Rhine River Cruise through the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Rhine Valley aboard a KD Weisse Flotte ship. From there, first-class trains carry you through the Romantic Road, stopping in Würzburg (with its Prince Bishops Residence), Rothenburg ob der Tauber (including an evening Night Watchman tour), and Nuremberg (Imperial Castle). You spend two nights in Munich, with one day dedicated to an escorted coach excursion to Neuschwanstein and Linderhof castles, then finish in Heidelberg. Throughout, buffet breakfasts are included daily, along with extensive museum and attraction admissions. The itinerary and tour information sheets guide you at each stop, making this suitable for first-time self-guided travellers and history enthusiasts alike.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is 660 USD above half the double rate, a significant premium
  • Only breakfast is included; all other meals are not covered
  • Day 7 is an escorted coach tour; other days are self-guided except for the Night Watchman tour

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Rudesheim am Rhein

    Frankfurt Int. Airport / Rudesheim

    Private transfer from Frankfurt International Airport to hotel in Rudesheim am Rhein. Explore the Drosselgasse and vineyards.

  2. Day 2overnight: Rudesheim am Rhein

    Rhine River Cruise through the Upper Rhine Valley

    All-day Rhine River Cruise on a KD 'Weisse Flotte' ship from Rudesheim through the scenic Upper Rhine Valley (UNESCO World Heritage Site), stopping at Oberwesel, St. Goar and Bacharach.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Wurzburg

    Wurzburg

    Train from Rudesheim to Wurzburg (about 2.5 hours). Visit Fortress Marienberg and the Prince Bishops Residence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Rothenburg ob der Tauber

    Rothenburg ob der Tauber

    Regional rail from Wurzburg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Evening English-speaking Night-Watchman tour.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Nuremberg

    Nuremberg

    Rail from Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Nuremberg (under 1.5 hrs). Visit the Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle) and medieval Old Town.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Munich

    Munich

    High-speed ICE train from Nuremberg to Munich (about 1 hr 20 min). Sightseeing and self-guided walking tour of the city center.

  7. Day 7overnight: Munich

    Escorted coach tour to the Royal Castles

    All-day escorted coach tour via Oberammergau to Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle, including a guided tour of the castle interior.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Heidelberg

    Heidelberg

    Speed-train InterCity (IC) from Munich to Heidelberg (about 3 hours), plus taxi transfer to the hotel. Walking tour of the Old Town and Heidelberg Castle.

  9. Day 9rail

    Frankfurt Int. Airport

    Tour ends. Taxi transfer to Heidelberg Central Station and 1st-class rail to Frankfurt International Airport (about 90 minutes total).

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2All-day Rhine River Cruise aboard a KD Weisse Flotte ship through the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Rhine Valley, stopping at Oberwesel, St. Goar, and Bacharach
  • Day 4Evening English-speaking Night Watchman tour of Rothenburg ob der Tauber's medieval Old Town walls and streets
  • Day 7Full-day escorted coach tour to Linderhof Palace and Neuschwanstein Castle with guided castle interior tour

Included

  • Private transfer from Frankfurt Int. Airport to hotel in Rudesheim am Rhein
  • All Day Rhine River Cruise through the Upper Rhine Valley (KD Koln-Dusseldorfer, 'Weisse Flotte')
  • 1st class rail tickets throughout with seat reservations on High-Speed ICE and speed rail journeys
  • Admission to Wurzburg Residence and Marienberg Fortress
  • English-speaking Night Watchman tour in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
  • Admission to the Imperial Castle, Deep Well and Sinwell Tower in Nuremberg
  • Ticket for unlimited public transportation within Munich
  • Admission to Munich Residence Museum, Treasury, Cuvillies-Theatre, Hall of Fame and Statue of Bavaria, Nymphenburg Palace and Park, Marstallmuseum, Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain
  • All-day escorted coach tour to Oberammergau and the Royal Castles (Neuschwanstein Castle and Linderhof Palace), with admissions
  • Taxi transfer Heidelberg Central Station to hotel
  • Airport shuttle transfer from Heidelberg hotel to Frankfurt Int. Airport
  • Buffet breakfast daily
  • 8 nights hotel accommodation per itinerary

Not included

  • Airfare from/to your origin to/from Frankfurt International Airport
  • All meals other than breakfast
  • Gratuities (tips)

Questions travellers ask

Is all rail travel included?
Yes. First-class rail tickets are included throughout the tour with seat reservations on high-speed ICE and regional trains.
Is this an escorted tour or self-guided?
Self-guided. Travel to Europe provides day-by-day itinerary and tour information sheets. One exception: Day 7 is an all-day escorted coach tour to the Royal Castles; most other days you explore independently.
Which trains are used?
Regional trains connect Rudesheim to Würzburg, Rothenburg, and Nuremberg. An ICE high-speed train runs from Nuremberg to Munich and Munich to Heidelberg.
What museums and attractions are included?
Admissions include the Würzburg Residence and Marienberg Fortress, Nuremberg's Imperial Castle, Munich museums (Residence Museum, Nymphenburg Palace, Marstallmuseum), and Linderhof and Neuschwanstein castles. The Rhine cruise and Night Watchman tour are also included.
How much walking is involved?
Expect city walking tours in Munich, Heidelberg, and Nuremberg, plus castle climbing at Neuschwanstein. This is a moderate-activity tour.

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