Too many travellers think they know Germany. Theirs might be the country of oompah and sausages in Bavaria, the arty, hipster districts of Berlin, the cuckoo-clock villages in the Black Forest or wonky fairytale towns along the Romantic Road to Schloss Neuschwanstein – the original Sleeping Beauty castle. Each is brilliant, yet the more I see, the more I realise how extraordinary Germany is.
Nowhere else in Europe combines so much history or scenery – from white powder beaches on the Baltic coast to romantic river valleys like the Rhine or Elbe and corkscrew alps – with such excellence. If England had as many outstanding galleries, museums, brilliant nightlife, world-renowned beers or the best Christmas in the world, it’d be insufferable. Germany? Not a bit. Welcoming and relaxed, it has never been a more rewarding destination to travel. Given that autobahns and rail are the envy of Europe, it excels in that too.
Featuring hotels of character, and framed by mountains, this beautiful route reveals the best of southern Bavaria, a paradise for cyclists.
Discover the Wittelsbach family & their elegant capital, Munich. Remarkable museums & galleries full of wonderful treasures & paintings. Two marvellous country palaces at Nymphenburg & Schleissheim. Superior hotel in the historic central district. Excellent opera & chamber music, including Jonas Kaufmann & Anja Harteros in Andrea Chénier.
Explore the lakes and castles of Bavaria and the Austrian Tirol on foot on this one week holiday
A self-guided hike along the Rhine Gorge (UNESCO world heritage) from Bingen to Koblenz, through famous villages (Kaub, Bacharach, Boppard and Rhens) and the Loreley of legend. 20 castles and local Rieslings to delight in.
We follow the mighty Rhine through some impressive scenery by rail, from its mouth in the North Sea to its source in the Swiss Alps. Along our journey we travel on and alongside the river and visit sites that wouldn’t exist without this waterway.
Experience Leipzig’s wonderful production of Wagner’s ‘Ring Cycle’, conducted by Ulf Shirmer . Pre-performance lectures with exploration via piano of the complex leitmotif structures of each opera given by Peter Hill. Explore how Bach & other composers lived & worked in the city. Day spent in the court city of Weimar.
Discover the treasures of Berlin, Leipzig & Dresden by rail – three of Germany's most dynamic cities - on your way to Prague.
Cycle through Germany, Switzerland and Austria and explore beautiful Lake Constance & the dramatic Rhine Falls at your own pace
We explore one of Europe’s most beautiful areas by rail, combining the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany with journeys on scenic railways, chartered tram rides and museum and depot visits.
Steeped in folklore, the Brocken is considered the ‘mountain of the German people’. Paths crisscross the Harz uplands, revealing different aspects of this fascinating region, the spiritual heart of Germany.
