Tour Duration: 10 days
Tour
Pace
This is a well paced tour with
two night stays
in Munich and Lucerne, allowing plenty
of time to explore the Christmas
MarketsCH
in each of these towns. The driving
distances between the other cities are
relatively
short.
DAY 1 – DEPART
USA
Overnight flight to
Frankfurt.
DAY 2 –
ARRIVE FRANKFURT
Welcome
to Germany! Transfers from
Frankfurt Airport to the tour hotel
depart at 09:30 & 12:00. Later our
orientation tour shows us Romerberg
Square, St Paul’s Church and
Goethe’s
birthplace. Tonight, we join our Tour
Director and fellow travellers for a
Welcome
Drink.
Hotel: Courtyard Marriott. (D)
DAY 3 – FRANKFURT
– MUNICH
We head to
Würzburg and drive
past the magnificent Residence Palace
before taking a stroll through the Old
Town.
From the statue–lined bridge we get a
good view of the Marienberg Fortress. Now
we drive to Rothenburg where we enter
through medieval walls and follow the
narrow
cobblestone streets to the Market Square
with its Town Clock. Perhaps pop into the
Christmas Shop before we follow the
Romantic Road to fun loving Munich.
Hotel: Hilton
Park/Arabella Sheraton Grand. (BB)
DAY 4 – MUNICH
SIGHTSEEING
Our
orientation tour shows us the Olympic
Stadium, Victory Arch and university.
Our tour concludes in the heart of Munich
– the Marienplatz with its Gothic Town
Hall and Glockenspiel. For those arriving
before Christmas there is time to shop
in the festive Xmas market. Tonight, why
not join the locals at the world famous
Hofbrauhaus? (BB)
DAY 5 – MUNICH
– SALZBURG
We pass Lake Chiemsee and cross the
Austrian border to Salzburg, "alive with
the sound of music". Here, our local guide
walks us through the gardens of the
Mirabell Palace where we have a great
chance to photograph the city skyline
crowned by the castle
heights. Then we cross the Salzach River
to see Mozart’s birthplace on the
Getreidegasse, a lively shopping street
lined with attractive wrought iron signs.
Now we follow the narrow lanes to the
Cathedral Square to view the ornate domed
cathedral and the splendid Residenz
Fountain. This
afternoon is at leisure.
Hotel: Castellani Parkhotel. (BB)
DAY 6 – SALZBURG –
INNSBRUCK
Our drive
takes us through snow capped
mountains to Innsbruck. We visit the
Wilten Basilica, decorated with cherubs and
angels and see the Imperial Palace and
Golden Roof. The rest of the afternoon is
at leisure. Tonight we enjoy our
Highlight Dinner of traditional Tyrolean
cuisine!
Hotel: Hilton. (BB,HD)
DAY 7 – INNSBRUCK
– LUCERNE
Delightful scenery
surrounds us as
we make our way to the Arlberg Tunnel.
We stop at Vaduz, capital of the
Principality
of Liechtenstein, at 16 square miles in
area, one of Europe's smallest countries.
After a chance to explore the town we
enter Switzerland and continue to lakeside
Lucerne. Our sightseeing will show us
the covered Chapel Bridge and the stirring
Lion Monument, dedicated to the Swiss
guards that died defending the French King.
Then we are at leisure to shop for
watches and chocolate. Tonight why not
join your
Tour Director for a Swiss fondue?
Hotel: Astoria. (BB)
DAY 8 – LUCERNE
This morning we take the
cable car
to the summit of impressive Mount
Pilatus, offering stunning views of Lake
Lucerne,
the countryside and hills around. Later,
back in Lucerne we are at leisure in this
beautiful city. Spend some time
exploring the old walls and watch towers
of the
medieval fortifications, lake–side walks
and excellent shops. (BB,D)
DAY 9 – LUCERNE
– FRANKFURT
We
visit the Rhine Falls before driving
into the Black Forest. We follow the
Rhine Valley north to Heidelberg where
we climb
up to the Castle for views of the old
town and the Neckar River. Then on to our
hotel in Frankfurt.
Hotel: Courtyard Marriott. (BB,D)
DAY 10 – RETURN TO
USA
After breakfast, our
transfer to Frankfurt
Airport’s Terminal 1 arrives at
09.00 and Terminal 2 at 09:15. (BB)
