Castles, Medieval Towns & the German Black Forest
Castles, Medieval Towns & the German Black Forest
Day 0 Wednesday May 19th- NYC TO MUNICH FLIGHT
Day 1 Thursday May 20th– Arrive Munich (3 Nights)
Arrive at Munich International Airport (MUC) and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Your Bucket List Tour Guide will meet you at the hotel to help you settle in and begin acclimating to European travel. Rather than rushing into sightseeing after an overnight flight, spend the afternoon exploring the neighborhood around the hotel while learning how German public transportation, train stations, cafés, supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels operate. This relaxed introduction helps eliminate much of the uncertainty first-time visitors experience and makes the remainder of the trip far more enjoyable. An early Bavarian dinner and an evening stroll through the historic center help reset your body clock before a full night’s sleep. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Cocoon Stachus- https://cocoon-hotels.com/de/cocoon-stachus/
Day 2 Friday May 21st – Discover Munich
Spend the day exploring Munich’s beautiful historic center. We start today by going to Asamkirche in the morning before the crowds fill the pews. From here we venture to Marienplatz, where we will take in St. Peter’s Church and the Heilig-Geist-Kirche. For lunch we visit Viktualienmarkt and Café Frischhut. Next is the Residenz district, the Frauenkirche, and the city’s famous beer halls. This day focuses on introducing Bavaria’s history, culture, architecture, and food. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Cocoon Stachus- https://cocoon-hotels.com/de/cocoon-stachus/
Day 3 Saturday May 22nd– Munich at a Relaxed Pace
Rather than rushing off on a long excursion, enjoy another full day in Munich. Depending on interests, this day can include Nymphenburg Palace, the BMW Museum, the English Garden, additional museums, or simply more time exploring Munich’s neighborhoods, markets, and beer gardens. Keeping the pace relaxed early in the trip helps avoid the common mistake of trying to do too much too quickly. Having a little extra time will allow us to see any sites we may have missed due to earlier fatigue or unseen issues. If we have been keeping a solid pace we will now have time for additional “back pocket” sites or to revisit anything you truly loved. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Cocoon Stachus- https://cocoon-hotels.com/de/cocoon-stachus/
Day 4 Sunday May 23rd – Munich to Rothenburg ob der Tauber (2 Nights)
Pick up the rental car/van in Munich and begin the scenic drive northwest toward Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Arrive during the afternoon and settle into your hotel inside one of Germany’s finest preserved medieval towns.
Your immersion begins in the late afternoon with a sensory trip into the holiday season at the world-famous Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Village. Stepping inside before their 6:00 PM closing time allows you to explore this magical, snow-covered indoor world right as the heavy midday crowds pack up and leave. Afterward, take a leisurely stroll to a local bakery to sample a traditional Rothenburg “Snowball” (Schneeballen). Paired with a warm afternoon coffee, this crisp, iconic shortcrust pastry is the ultimate local delicacy to fuel your evening walk.
Once the daytime tour buses fully depart, wander the quiet cobblestone streets, market square, and atmospheric alleyways. As dusk turns to dark, stand before the iconic Plönlein intersection, capturing its half-timbered houses and glowing streetlamps completely free of the daytime crowds. After enjoying a candlelit dinner inside the medieval city walls, cap off your night by joining the town’s captivating Ghost Tour with the Town Executioner. Walking the dark alleyways under the cover of night, you will discover the thrilling secrets of medieval justice in an unforgettable evening experience that most day-trippers never get to see. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Hotel Eisen Hut – https://www.hotel-eisenhut.de/
Day 5 – Monday May 24th Rothenburg Walls, Vines, and Hidden Valleys
Spend the entire day exploring Rothenburg at a relaxed, blissful pace. Enjoy the peaceful morning hours before the crowds arrive by stepping onto the Tower Trail, walking the covered stone ramparts that encircle the entire old town in total morning solitude. Descend back into the heart of the city to step inside the hidden Monastery Garden of the former Dominican convent, a quiet geometric herb oasis tucked away from the main tourist paths.
In the afternoon, escape the city walls entirely to discover the stunning nature surrounding the fortress. Take a scenic detour along the Tauber Valley Wine Route, embarking on a peaceful vineyard walk along the sun-drenched hillsides just outside the stone ramparts. This trail guides you seamlessly into the Castle Gardens (Burggarten) for sweeping panoramic views, before leading you down a steep, winding path into the “enchanted forest” nestled below the cliffs. Deep in the valley woods, you will come face-to-face with the Topplerschlösschen, a bizarre and fascinating 14th-century fairy-tale tower built on a tiny stone pedestal.
An overnight stay allows you to experience both the quiet morning and evening hours that define the true magic of Rothenburg, ending your day with a relaxing glass of local Tauber Valley wine. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Hotel Eisen Hut – https://www.hotel-eisenhut.de/
Day 6 – Tuesday May 25th Rothenburg to Black Forest via the Romantic Road (4 Nights in the area of Freiburg im Breisgau)
Depart Rothenburg and continue south through some of Germany’s most scenic countryside toward Freiburg, the ideal base for exploring the Black Forest. Along your drive south, take a beautiful, winding detour through the central region to visit the picturesque timber-framed town of Gengenbach. Gengenbach feels like a living film set with its pristine medieval towers and cobblestone alleyways. After enjoying lunch at an authentic local tavern in this valley town, continue south toward your base city. Just before checking into your hotel, drive through the dramatic, towering stone arches of the Ravenna Gorge. This deep valley features a stunning, historic stone railway viaduct stretching high above the forest floor, offering a dramatic and distinctly atmospheric welcome to the southern Black Forest highlands. Arrive in Freiburg for a relaxing evening settling into your home for the next four nights. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Hotel Schloss Reinach https://www.schlossreinach.de/
Day 7 – Weds may 26th Freiburg im Breisgau
Enjoy Freiburg itself, one of Germany’s most attractive small cities. Explore the medieval old town, cathedral square, and historic city gates. As you wander the pedestrian lanes, you will constantly walk alongside The Bächle, Freiburg’s famous and unique network of tiny, crystal-clear water channels flowing directly through the cobblestone streets. Local lore says if you accidentally step into one, you are destined to marry a local! Head to the center of the market square to experience the Freiburg Münster tower climb. Scaling the historic stone steps of the cathedral’s open-lattice Gothic spire rewards you with an unmatched, bird’s-eye view over the red-tiled roofs, the university courtyards, and the dark green mountain ridges rising up right at the edge of the city. After descending, celebrate your first full day in the region with a glass of regional Baden wine in the lively square. Having now spent over a week traveling together, guests should feel comfortable navigating Europe independently. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Hotel Schloss Reinach https://www.schlossreinach.de/
Day 8 – Thurs May 27th Freiburg im Breisgau- Central Black Forest
Spend the day driving through the heart of the Black Forest visiting picturesque villages, waterfalls, traditional timber-frame architecture, local bakeries, scenic overlooks, and forest roads that most visitors never experience by train. Rather than rushing between attractions, the emphasis is on enjoying the landscape and atmosphere that made this region famous. Your morning begins with a beautiful mountain drive up to Feldberg, the highest peak in the entire Black Forest region. You can ride the gentle cable car (pending availability) up to the panoramic viewing platform to catch sweeping, crisp morning views that stretch all the way across the tree canopies to the Swiss Alps, on a clear day. From the peaks, wind back down the mountain roads to the shores of Titisee. This sparkling, glacier-carved mountain lake is surrounded by dense pine forests and features a lovely lakeside promenade perfect for a midday stroll, a light lunch, or ducking into a traditional bakery to sample an authentic slice of local Black Forest cherry cake. End your driving loop with a cruise along a section of St. Peter’s Way. This incredibly historic, panoramic mountain route winds past centuries-old high-altitude dairy farms, rolling alpine meadows, and the striking twin towers of the historic St. Peter Abbey. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Hotel Schloss Reinach https://www.schlossreinach.de/
Day 9 – Fri may 28th – Freiburg im Breisgau Black Forest Heritage Day
This flexible day is reserved for exploring the Black Forest natural wonders and heritage. The day focuses on some of the region’s most beautiful historic villages, allowing you to venture deeper into the sweeping forest roads, local craft shops, and misty valley overlooks that make the heart of this region so magical. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Hotel Schloss Reinach https://www.schlossreinach.de/
Day 10 – Sat May 29th Freiburg region to Heidelberg (2 Nights)
Enjoy a scenic drive north with your guide along the Neckar River valley toward Heidelberg, one of Germany’s most romantic cities. Settle into your hotel before heading out with your guide to explore the beautiful Old Town. Walk along the historic cobblestone pedestrian streets, vibrant squares, and the atmospheric university district. In the afternoon, cross the Neckar River to step onto the Philosopher’s Way (Philosophenweg). This famous hillside path offers a beautifully landscaped walk that rewards you with an unmatched, classic postcard view of the city, the river, and the castle ruins glowing in the late afternoon sun. Every day concludes with ample leisure time.
Overnight: IntercityHotel Heidelberg https://hrewards.com/en/intercityhotel-heidelberg
Day 11 – Sunday May 30th Heidelberg
Spend the day diving deeper into Heidelberg’s rich history alongside your guide. Your morning begins with a visit to the majestic ruins of Heidelberg Castle, where you can stroll through the expansive, dramatic Heidelberg Castle gardens, taking in the scenic valley vistas from the stone terraces. From the castle, head down to the river to cross the iconic Old Bridge and board a relaxing, scenic riverboat tour to Neckarsteinach.(pending availability). This cruise takes you past lush green hills, rolling vineyards, and historic fortresses, letting you experience the peaceful natural beauty of the Neckar Valley at a blissful pace. Return to the city for a relaxing evening dining at a traditional tavern. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: IntercityHotel Heidelberg https://hrewards.com/en/intercityhotel-heidelberg
Day 12 – Monday May 31st–Heidelberg to Koblenz & the Rhine Valley (2 Nights)
Check out of your hotel and drive north with your guide through the spectacular, vine-covered hills toward Koblenz, located where the Rhine and Moselle Rivers meet. This historic city serves as your perfect base for exploring Germany’s famous castle country. Upon arrival, head straight to the waterfront to board the spectacular Koblenz Cable Car (Seilbahn Koblenz). The aerial tram glides directly over the Rhine River, taking you straight up to the massive Ehrenbreitstein Fortress via cable car. Explore the sprawling fortress ramparts with your guide for sweeping panoramic views of the entire valley below. Descend back down to spend a relaxing afternoon walking the riverfront promenade and visiting the famous Deutsches Eck, where the two mighty rivers converge. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Hotel Trierer Hof – https://triererhof.de/
Day 13 – Tuesday June 1st – Koblenz Rhine Valley
Enjoy a fairytale driving day through the castle-dotted valley routes with your guide. Head first into the Moselle Valley to visit the breathtaking Burg Eltz. Squeezed into a hidden, forested valley, this medieval masterpiece has been owned by the same family for over 800 years and looks completely untouched by time. The castle is about a 20min mini hike from the parking lot. Afterward, make a scenic driving stop in the colorful town of Cochem and Reichsburg Castle, capturing photos of the dramatic fortress rising high above the steep vineyard slopes. Finish the journey with excellent regional food and world-class Riesling wine while taking in some of Germany’s most beautiful river scenery. Every day concludes with ample leisure time. Your guide is available to explore additional sites, run errands, and offer restaurant and meal recommendations.
Overnight: Hotel Trierer Hof – https://triererhof.de/
Day 14 – wednesday June 2nd Departure
Enjoy a final morning breakfast before your guide drives you directly to Frankfurt Airport for your flight home. Your vehicle transfer brings to a close a relaxed, perfectly paced journey through Southern Germany featuring medieval towns, rich local culture, spectacular scenery, historic castles, and meaningful time in the Black Forest.
INCLUSIONS
Hotels
Transfers
Transportation (car/van/ train and walk)
Entry fees as listed
Breakfast at hotel daily
Tours -excursions
Tour director/guide
EXCLUSIONS
Flights
Lunch andDinner
Taxi /Uber (excess use)
Souvenirs
Gratuities
Expenses of a personal nature.
*Alternate dates and itineraries are available upon request!!!
* If you like this itinerary or Germany is on your Bucket List remember that we specialize in customization. We can set up a tour tailored to your specific interests. Let us help you check it off the Bucket List!