German Highlights with Oberammergau (ZDO)

12 Day Tour from Frankfurt to Frankfurt

2020 Tour Details

Germany is a country filled with spectacular scenery, medieval towns, fairytale castles, a fascinating history, and world-class beer. On this Germany tour, see Germany's highlights and visit its most famous cities, medieval towns, and scenic areas. Your vacation begins and ends in Frankfurt with overnights also in Cologne, Berlin, Dresden, Nuremberg, Munich, Oberammergau, and the Black Forest. You'll visit the must-see attractions in each city, including Cologne’s famous gothic cathedral, with its twin-steepled towers, and Berlin’s Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, badly damaged during the war and today a symbol of reconciliation.

Magnificent scenery also awaits you on this Germany vacation. Enjoy a Rhine cruise along the Rhine River’s most scenic section, with castle-crested hills, terraced vineyards, and pretty wine towns. Visit King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle, nestled high in the Alps. Drive on the panoramic German Alpine Road to beautiful Lake Constance, Europe's largest freshwater reservoir, and to the charming island of Lindau. Stop in Rothenburg, a walled town that has retained its medieval character, and enjoy Germany's lush Black Forest region, where you’ll learn about woodcarving and enjoy coffee and Black Forest Cake—a special experience included by Globus.

A tour to Germany would not be complete without sampling the local cuisine and beer. That's why Globus has included a beer at a famous brewery in Cologne, founded over 100 years ago. Bratwurst has been a tradition in Nuremberg for many centuries, and Globus has included dinner at a local Nuremberg restaurant to taste the traditional Nürnberger Bratwürste. But that’s not all…Globus has included first-class seats to the Passion Play in Oberammergau. Performed every 10 years and set with the majestic alpine scenery as a backdrop, it’s a magnificent experience.

From the beautiful scenery and exciting cities to the traditional food and wonderful beer, this Germany tour has it all!
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German Highlights with Oberammergau map

 Destinations & Sightseeing

FRANKFURT
A welcome dinner at a local restaurant and a farewell dinner
RHINE CRUISE
COLOGNE
Visit the cathedral; Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite enjoy a beer at the Cölner Hofbräu Früh
COLOGNE–BERLIN
By high-speed first-class ICE train
BERLIN
Guided sightseeing, take pictures of Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial, visit Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church
DRESDEN
Orientation, see the Zwinger Palace Courtyard
BAYREUTH
Orientation of Wagner’s city, of festival fame
NUREMBERG
Walking tour including the Old Town; Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite a special dinner at Bratwurst Röslein restaurant
ROTHENBURG
Walking tour of the walled town
MUNICH
Guided sightseeing, visit Marienplatz
OBERAMMERGAU
Passion Play
NEUSCHWANSTEIN
Guided visit of King Ludwig’s castle
LINDAU
Visit the island on Lake Constance
BIRNAU
Visit the baroque church
BLACK FOREST
Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Woodcarving demonstration and Kaffee und Schwarzwaldkuchen
HEIDELBERG
Walking tour of the Old Town; ride the funicular and visit the castle

Headsets throughout the tour.

The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:

  • Cologne Cathedral
  • Upper Middle Rhine Valley

Transportation:

Motorcoach; Rhine River cruise; first-class ICE train; funicular ride. Free wi-fi available on your motorcoach and in most hotel lobbies.

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Full buffet breakfast daily; 1 lunch in Oberammergau; 7 three-course dinners with wine, including a special welcome dinner and a farewell dinner in Frankfurt, and a special dinner in Nuremberg

 Itinerary

Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.

Day 1 ARRIVE IN FRANKFURT, GERMANY

Time to rest or to start exploring the bustling metropolis on the Main River. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

DinnerDinner

Day 2 FRANKFURT–COLOGNE

A special treat at the very start of your journey through Germany is a romantic RHINE CRUISE along the most scenic section of the Rhine River, with castle-crested hills, terraced vineyards, pretty wine towns, and the Lorelei rock. Disembark and drive to Cologne to visit the awesome gothic CATHEDRAL. Its twin 515-foot towers, five naves, splendid stained-glass windows, and the shrine of the Three Holy Kings are eloquent testimony to the quality of medieval engineering and craftsmanship. Afterwards, enjoy Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite a beer at the Cölner Hofbräu Früh, one of Cologne’s famous breweries.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 COLOGNE–BERLIN

Ride the ICE TRAIN to Berlin, capital of reunited Germany, where sightseeing with a Local Guide in the once-divided metropolis includes the elegant Ku’damm, the restored Reichstag, Charlottenburg Palace, a picture stop at monumental Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial, and the 210-foot Victory Column in the vast Tiergarten park. Visit the KAISER WILHELM MEMORIAL CHURCH with its bomb-damaged tower, drive along Unter den Linden boulevard, and pass the State Opera House and Checkpoint Charlie.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 4 AT LEISURE IN BERLIN

A full day at leisure gives you a chance to join one of our exciting optional excursions, like to nearby Potsdam.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 BERLIN–DRESDEN

Arrive in Dresden, former capital of Saxony. Badly damaged by Allied bombing in February 1945, the city has since been restored to its baroque splendor. During your orientation, see the Zwinger Palace COURTYARD to admire its impressive architecture; the magnificent baroque Semper Opera, originally built in 1841, once destroyed by fire, then destroyed by bombing, and finally restored in 1985; and the newly rebuilt Frauenkirche.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 DRESDEN–BAYREUTH–NUREMBERG

Stop in Bayreuth for an orientation of this city, of festival fame. Richard Wagner came to Bayreuth in 1871 and was not satisfied with the existing 18th-century theater, the Markgräfliches Opernhaus, so he had a new one built. Today, the Festival Hall is used exclusively for the Bayreuth Festival, and only works by Wagner are performed there. Continue to Nuremberg, the town of children’s toys and gingerbread. Admire the impressive medieval ramparts and walk through the pedestrian area of the charming Old Town to St. Sebald Church, painstakingly reconstructed as a monument to peace from the rubble of near-total wartime destruction, and admire the Schöner Brunnen, a 14th-century fountain dedicated to the Holy Roman Empire. It is said that it brings good luck to spin the two brass rings. Then, have Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite dinner at Bratwurst Röslein restaurant to taste the traditional Nürnberger Bratwürste.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 7 NUREMBERG–ROTHENBURG–MUNICH

In medieval Rothenburg, admire its ramparts and towers, cobblestone lanes, and 16th-century houses during your walking tour. Hear how the town survived the Thirty Years’ War, and shop for Christmas ornaments, for which this pretty town is famous. Next is the Bavarian capital, Munich. Tonight, you may wish to join an exciting optional dinner outing.

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 MUNICH–OBERAMMERGAU

Sightseeing with a Local Guide of Germany’s “Secret Capital” features the Olympic Stadium, built for the 1972 Olympics; the 1,000-foot-high Olympic Tower; and Königsplatz, used for Nazi rallies during World War II. Drive along the Ludwigstrasse, and see the Bavarian Arch of Triumph and Field Marshall Hall. Also visit lively MARIENPLATZ with the Old and the New Town Halls and the gothic Frauenkirche. In the late afternoon, drive to the romantic Passion Play town of Oberammergau, where you will stay for the next two nights.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 9 OBERAMMERGAU

Afternoon and evening are dedicated to the world-famous PASSION PLAY.

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 10 OBERAMMERGAU–NEUSCHWANSTEIN–LINDAU–BIRNAU–BLACK FOREST

Start today with a visit to King Ludwig’s magnificent NEUSCHWANSTEIN CASTLE, which inspired Walt Disney. Follow your Local Guide through this fairytale castle on its craggy outcrop high above a sparkling lake. Then, continue along the panoramic German Alpine Road to the sunny northern shore of Lake Constance, Europe’s largest freshwater reservoir. Visit the charming island of Lindau and the baroque CHURCH at Birnau before entering the lush Black Forest for your overnight stay.

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 11 BLACK FOREST–HEIDLEBERG–FRANKFURT

This morning, drive deeper into the Black Forest, then stop for Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite a WOODCARVING DEMONSTRATION and Kaffee und Schwarzwaldkuchen (coffee and Black Forest Cake). Arrive in Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town, of Student Prince fame. Time to stroll around in the Old Town, then ride the FUNICULAR up the hill and visit the red-walled CASTLE where the GREAT VAT, a 58,000-gallon 18th-century wine cask, attracts particular attention. Return to Frankfurt, where a farewell dinner has been prepared to say auf Wiedersehen!

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 12 FRANKFURT

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

Breakfast Breakfast

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Berlin
Munich
Oberammergau

Berlin

Discover Potsdam

Discover Potsdam

Discover the glory of Potsdam, including fabulous Sanssouci Palace; the FBI and KGB's Cold War spy-exchange bridge; and Cecilienhof Palace, where Truman, Churchill, and Stalin partitioned Germany at the Potsdam Conference.

Price Range: $$

Munich

Dinner at a Bavarian Beer Hall

Dinner at a Bavarian Beer Hall

Get a firsthand look at Munich's rich beer heritage as you visit an authentic Bavarian beer hall for a typical 3-course dinner with Bavarian beer!

Price Range: $$

Dachau Concentration Camp

Dachau Concentration Camp

Come face to face with the horrors of Dachau, Germany's first concentration camp and the model for the brutality of the Third Reich, during this moving visit of the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site.

Price Range: $

Oberammergau

Linderhof Castle

Linderhof Castle

Visit Linderhof, one of "Mad" King Ludwig's most magnificent castles, on this unforgettable journey into the forested valley of the Ammergau Alps.

Price Range: $

 Know Before You Go

These Know Before You Go travel tips are designed with you in mind, with helpful hints to help you prepare for and enjoy your escorted vacation. They are your guide to getting ready and contain general information on travel documentation, customs, and the country/countries you will be visiting, including budgeting, transportation, climate, languages, and much more. With Globus, you benefit from our experience.



* The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Globus).

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