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Ffestiniog Travel · Escorted tour

Narrow Gauge Steam in Eastern Germany (2027)

Fifteen-day escorted narrow-gauge steam railway tour across eastern Germany

Illustration of Narrow Gauge Steam in Eastern Germany (2027)

Ffestiniog Travel's 15-day escorted tour showcases narrow-gauge steam railways and high-speed mainline routes across eastern Germany, from Cologne to Wuppertal. The journey combines heritage railway excursions with stays in good-quality hotels positioned near major stations, allowing easy access to explore historic city centres. You travel with a tour leader from London, and an InterRail Pass grants unlimited standard-class travel on all main-line services between heritage railway stops. The itinerary features nine named narrow-gauge lines, including the Radeburg and Weisseritztalbahn near Dresden, the Zittau lines toward the Czech border, the Cranzahl steam branch, the Molli coastal railway, Rügen Island's Rasending Roland, and three days on the Harzquerbahn network in the Harz Mountains with a 3-day rover ticket and optional daily excursions. You ride the Schwebebahn hanging railway at Wuppertal and visit Wernigerode, a half-timbered town with a 12th-century castle, and Stralsund, a former Hanseatic port. The pace is relaxed, with five nights in Dresden and four in Wernigerode, allowing time to experience both the railways and the regions they serve.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure listed: September 2027. Confirm availability with Ffestiniog Travel before committing.
  • The from-price includes only one evening meal; most other dinners are at your own expense.
  • Days 11-13 in Wernigerode offer optional escorted excursions; you may explore independently with the Harz Rover Ticket instead.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Cologne

    London to Cologne

    Mid-morning departure on Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels Midi, where we make an onwards connection by high speed train to Cologne. Our hotel tonight is a short walk from the station.

  2. Day 2overnight: Dresden

    Onwards to Dresden

    We take a mid-morning ICE travelling via Frankfurt before turning eastwards to Dresden for a 5-night stay. Our hotel is located adjacent to the main station. Enjoy a three course meal in the hotel restaurant.

  3. Day 3overnight: Dresden

    Dresden Area Narrow Gauge

    There are two narrow gauge steam lines which are almost within the city limits so we are able to ride both the Radeburg and Weisseritztalbahn, built in the late 19th Century and still in daily operation.

  4. Day 4overnight: Dresden

    Döllnitzbahn Festival

    Our visit coincides with the Open Monuments weekend and traditionally the Döllnitzbahn holds a transport festival. We ride the line from Oschatz to Glossen where we find a Feldbahn and there is also the spur to Kemmlitz.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Dresden

    Zittau

    We travel by rail a short distance from Dresden to the nearby Czech border and arrive in Zittau to find another steam hauled line which operates two branches to Kurort Oybin and Jonsdorf, before returning to Dresden in the afternoon.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Dresden

    Cranzahl & Oberwiesenthal

    A full day excursion beginning with a journey towards Chemnitz, then the branch line to Cranzahl. Here we find a steam train waiting to take us to Oberwiesenthal, in sight of the Czech border, before returning to Dresden.

  7. Day 7overnight: Stralsund

    Stralsund & the Baltic Sea

    Travelling via Berlin we arrive in Stralsund, once the second most important Hanseatic port. Our hotel for 3 nights is located adjacent to the station.

  8. Day 8overnight: Stralsund

    The Molli

    From Stralsund we take a short journey westwards via Rostock to Bad Doberan, home of the line affectionately known as the Molli, which travels through the streets to the coastal resort of Bad Kühlungsborn.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Stralsund

    Rügen Island

    The Island of Rügen is a favourite seaside destination for German tourists and the railway with its steam trains, nicknamed ‘Rasender Roland’, is an important attraction.

  10. Day 10overnight: Wernigerode

    Inland to the Harz Mountains

    Travelling on the main line we make our way to the old town of Wernigerode, full of half-timbered buildings and sitting high above the town is the 12th Century Castle. Wernigerode is the northern terminus of the Harzquerbahn (HSB), and we stay here for 4 nights.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Wernigerode

    Harz Narrow Gauge Railway

    The HSB is the biggest network on this tour. We include a Harz Rover Ticket for unlimited travel and your tour leader will offer an optional escorted excursion each day, including a trip to the summit of the Brocken by steam train.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Wernigerode

    Harz Narrow Gauge Railway

    The HSB is the biggest network on this tour. We include a Harz Rover Ticket for unlimited travel and your tour leader will offer an optional escorted excursion each day, including a trip to the summit of the Brocken by steam train.

  13. Day 13railovernight: Wernigerode

    Harz Narrow Gauge Railway

    The HSB is the biggest network on this tour. We include a Harz Rover Ticket for unlimited travel and your tour leader will offer an optional escorted excursion each day, including a trip to the summit of the Brocken by steam train.

  14. Day 14railovernight: Wuppertal

    West to Wuppertal

    Time to leave the mountains behind and head west to Wuppertal, where our hotel is close to the station for a 1-night stay. The afternoon is free to travel on the Schwebebahn hanging railway which runs along the Wupper Valley.

  15. Day 15rail

    To London

    After a leisurely breakfast we take a morning train via Cologne to Brussels where we finally connect with the Eurostar service to London St Pancras, arriving late afternoon.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Ride two narrow-gauge steam lines in the Dresden area: the Radeburg and Weisseritztalbahn, built in the late 19th century and still in daily operation
  • Day 6Take a full-day excursion by rail toward Chemnitz, then board a steam train from Cranzahl to Oberwiesenthal in sight of the Czech border
  • Day 8Travel on the Molli, a narrow-gauge railway that runs through the streets from Bad Doberan to the coastal resort of Bad Kühlungsborn
  • Day 11Use your included Harz Rover Ticket for unlimited travel on the HSB network; take an optional steam train excursion to the Brocken summit
  • Day 14Explore the Schwebebahn, a hanging railway suspended above the Wupper Valley at Wuppertal

Included

  • Travel throughout in Standard Class
  • Standard Class InterRail Pass
  • Excursions as listed
  • 3-day Harz Rover ticket
  • Accommodation in good, quality hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
  • 1 evening meal
  • Services of a tour leader from London and throughout the tour

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. All InterCity journeys are included with a Standard Class InterRail Pass valid for the tour duration, plus reserved seats. Heritage railway excursions on nine named narrow-gauge lines and a 3-day Harz Rover Ticket are included. First Class upgrade is available on request.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Escorted. Ffestiniog Travel provides a tour leader from London throughout the entire 15 days. Optional daily excursions are offered in the Harz Mountains.
Which narrow-gauge railways are featured?
The Radeburg and Weisseritztalbahn (Dresden area), Döllnitzbahn (Saxony), Zittau narrow gauge, Cranzahl steam branch, the Molli (Bad Doberan to Bad Kühlungsborn), Rasending Roland (Rügen Island), and Harzquerbahn (Harz Mountains). You also ride the Schwebebahn hanging railway at Wuppertal.
What hotels are included?
The tour uses four hotels, all located close to stations: CityClass Hotel am Dom (Cologne, 1 night), IntercityHotel (Dresden, 5 nights), IntercityHotel (Stralsund, 3 nights), Weisser Hirsch (Wernigerode, 4 nights), and Spark by Hilton (Wuppertal, 1 night).
What is not included in the tour price?
Most meals beyond breakfast and one evening dinner are not included. You arrange these at your own cost.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes city walking tours in Dresden, Stralsund, Wernigerode, and Wuppertal. Optional daily excursions in the Harz Mountains may involve walking; confirm with the tour leader.

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