Germany's Cultural Cities Featuring the Romantic Road

Your tour opens in Berlin, Germany's capital. Maintaining a blend of deep history, modern flare and multi-cultural influences, Berlin has served as a European icon for centuries. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner featuring authentic cuisine. (D) Stay: Hotel Riu Plaza (2 Nights)

Start your day by getting acquainted with Berlin's main sights with an expert guide. Reflect at the Holocaust Memorial before continuing on to the lively Potsdam Square. Stroll down Niederkirchner Strasse to see remnants of the First Wall and walk through the “Topography of Terror” exhibition, delving into the rise and fall of the Third Reich. See Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous crossing point between East and West Berlin. Explore the beautiful Gendarmenmarkt square, pass through the colorful Old Town, and head down Avenue Unter den Linden to Brandenburg Gate. This afternoon you may choose to join an optional excursion outside the city to visit Potsdam and the famous Cecilienhof Palace. (B)

Feel like a local when you travel to Hamburg, hopping on the sleek ICE train that connects all the major German cities and reaches speeds of up to 200 miles per hour. Take in “the Venice of the North,” with winding canals and an impressive harbor that made it a center of trade for centuries. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before getting the lay of the land on a brief orientation tour. The evening is yours to explore as you wish. Perhaps you will take an optional evening cruise, admiring the cityscape as you coast along. (B/L) Stay: Reichshof - Curio by Hilton (2 Nights)

Today, it's your choice! Feel as if the world has shrunk around you at Miniature Wonderland, home to the largest model railway system in the world with over ten awe-inspiring themed landscapes -OR- visit the International Maritime Museum which houses nine levels of sea-faring adventure including exhibits on Viking dragon boats, deep-sea diving, and a ship simulator. This evening, gather for a walking tour along Reeperbahn, Hamburg's red light district. The area has been immortalized as the place where the Beatles cultivated their fame in the early 1960s. Join in on the rock-legend fun with a local Beatles expert, who wields a ukulele as you travel down memory lane. (B)

Made famous by the Pied Piper in the stories of the Brothers Grimm, Hamelin is your next stop. Feel like you have stepped into the pages of a storybook when the “Pied Piper of Hamelin” leads you through the city, playing catchy tunes as you discover Hamelin's charming Tudor-style architecture. Your journey continues to the medieval city of Marburg whose enchanting atmosphere has inspired many of Brothers Grimm fairy tales. This picturesque city is your home for the night. (B) Stay: Vila Vita Hotel

Journey to the perfectly preserved medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, located on the Romantic Road and in the heart of the Franconia wine region. En route, make a stop in Würzburg, a Bavarian wine town known for its lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture. Enjoy time to explore the town on your own before continuing to Rothenburg, located high on a plateau overlooking the Tauber River. Arrive at your city-center hotel, the perfect location to discover this captivating town. Take an evening stroll to a local restaurant for a taste of local wines followed by a traditional German dinner. Later, join a colorfully costumed local expert for the famous “Night Watchman” walking tour of the medieval town. (B/D) Stay: Hotel Altes Brauhaus (2 Nights)

Gather at the famous Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Museum and be treated to a private tour. See an ornament-making demonstration and shop for handmade Christmas ornaments. The remainder of the day is yours to do as you choose. (B)

Make your way through mountains and along winding country roads as you leave Rothenburg behind for a tour inside the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle. Built by King Ludwig II, it is the most photographed castle in Germany. Continue to Munich, the vibrant capital of Bavaria. Your evening is free to explore the city independently. (B) Stay: Eurostars Grand Central Hotel (2 Nights)

Come to know the energy of this lively and fascinating city during a walking tour that highlights the world-famous Glockenspiel and Marienplatz – a beautiful square surrounded by shops, restaurants and cafés. This afternoon, it's your choice! Venture to the innovative BMW World to learn the history of this dynamic global automaker -OR- embark on a poignant journey through history at the Dachau Memorial, the former concentration camp where you will learn about the terrors of war and the resilience of the human spirit. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a beer tasting followed by a farewell dinner in one of Munich's most famous restaurants. (B/D)

Your tour comes to a close today. (B)