Great Rail Journeys
Bavarian Christmas Markets
5 daysfrom $1,868
PTG Tours · Escorted tour
Berlin, Dresden and The Harz Mountains
Travel from London by rail through Germany, spending time in Berlin and Dresden before reaching the Harz Mountains and its famous narrow-gauge steam railways.
Day by day
- Day 1railovernight: Cologne
London - Brussels - Cologne
Meet Tour Manager Kevin at St Pancras. Late morning Eurostar to Brussels, break for light lunch (not included), then on to Cologne. Welcome dinner in a local restaurant.
- Day 2railovernight: Berlin (2 nights)
Cologne - Berlin
Free morning. German high speed ICE train (first class) from Cologne to Berlin, arriving 17:47. Check in to hotel by the station.
- Day 3railovernight: Berlin
Berlin
Optional visit to Berlin Technical Museum's railway section in the old Anhalter roundhouse, or explore the city, Potsdam (steam tug "Gustav") or branch lines with a city transport pass.
- Day 4railovernight: Dresden (3 nights)
Berlin - Dresden
09:01 train to Dresden (arr 11:07), check into hotel. Afternoon suburban train to Radebeul for a narrow-gauge steam train to Radeburg and back.
- Day 5railovernight: Dresden
Dresden - Freital-Hainsburg
Train to Freital-Hainsburg for a steam-hauled ride on the Weiseritztal narrow gauge railway. Return to Dresden; optional 15-inch gauge park railway visit or free time.
- Day 6railovernight: Dresden
Dresden - Bad Schandau
Train to Bad Schandau, ferry over the river, walk to the Kirnitzschtalbahn vintage electric tramway (8km through a national park to Lichtenhainer Waterfall) with guided depot visit. Return to Dresden by paddle steamer on the River Elbe through Saxon Switzerland.
- Day 7railovernight: Wernigerode (3 nights)
Dresden - Wernigerode
Train to the half-timbered town of Wernigerode (arr c.13:20), check in to the railway-themed Hotel Altora near the station. Afternoon option: castle visit by road train, or steam trip up to the Brocken summit.
- Day 8railovernight: Wernigerode
Harz narrow gauge railway
3-day pass for the Harz narrow gauge railway; suggested itinerary or explore independently, e.g. steam train to the Brocken summit with stops at Schierke and Drei Annen Hohne.
- Day 9railovernight: Wernigerode
Harz narrow gauge railway
Continue exploring the Harz network, e.g. bus (pass included) to the UNESCO town of Quedlinburg and steam train back to Wernigerode, a 97km steam journey.
- Day 10railovernight: Wuppertal
Wernigerode - Wuppertal
Train via Goslar and Hannover to Wuppertal (arr 13:38). Wuppertal is home to the "Schwebebahn" hanging monorail; pass included to ride the full 13km line.
- Day 11rail
Wuppertal - Cologne - Brussels - London
Regional train from Wuppertal (08:20) to Cologne, ICE (first class) to Brussels (arr 11:35), Eurostar (dep 12:52) to London (arr 13:57). Edinburgh flyers connect via Cologne airport.
Not included
- Light lunch break in Brussels on Day 1
