Germany is a country filled with spectacular scenery, medieval towns, fairytale castles, a fascinating history, fun oompah music, and world-class beer. On this Germany tour, you’ll see Germany’s highlights and visit its most famous cities, as well as its medieval towns and scenic areas. Your vacation begins and ends in Frankfurt with overnights also in Düsseldorf, Berlin, Nuremberg, Munich, Oberammergau, and the Black Forest. You’ll visit the must-see attractions in each city, including the famous gothic cathedral in Cologne, with its twin-steepled towers, and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin, badly damaged during the war and today a symbol of reconciliation.
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 Schwarzer Stern restaurant.
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, Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite enjoy a beer at the Cölner Hofbräu Früh, one of Cologne’s famous breweries. Continue to charming Düsseldorf, the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, for your overnight stay.
Ride the EUROCITY 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.
A full day at leisure gives you a chance to join one of our exciting optional excursions, like to nearby Potsdam
On your way south through what used to be the “other” Germany, visit Leipzig, an important center since the Middle Ages. See the Thomaskirche, where J.S. Bach worked, and the Market Square with its fine renaissance buildings. 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, Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite enjoy a dinner at Bratwurst Röslein restaurant to taste the traditional Nürnberger Bratwürste.
Join the Romantic Road and arrive in medieval Rothenburg with its ramparts and towers, cobblestone lanes, and 16th-century houses. 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
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
A full day at leisure. Choose from our optional excursions to make the most of your stay in this romantic area.
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, then continue west and visit the baroque CHURCH at Birnau. Enter the lush Black Forest and Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite enjoy a special welcome by the Drubba family at their hotel, Hofgut Sternen.
This morning, drive deeper into the Black Forest,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 with wine has been prepared to say auf Wiedersehen.
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
History of Germany is very long and ancient. The credit for this distinct land goes to the Roman leader Julius Caesar, who referred the region, east of the Rhine as Germania. During the ancient times, Germania was ruled by different emperors like Romans and Franks.
During the Middle Ages, regional dukes, bishops and princes experienced huge power at the cost of the emperors. It was in 1517 that Martin Luther directed the Protestant Reformation against the Catholic Church. A major destruction was caused to Germany when the Thirty Years' War broke out lasting from 1618 to1648. This war was so devastating that it killed more than ¼ of the population of Germany. As the war ended, it marked the end of Holy Roman Empire too and a new modern nation developed. Germany was then divided into various independent states, such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Prussia.
With the Industrial Revolution, Germany’s economy flourished, leading to the growth of cities and emergence of Socialist movement. Education system developed as the universities became world class centers for science and humanities. Arts and music also thrived, which is why Germany is so artistic even today.
In 1930s, the Great Depression hit Germany very hard. This led to unemployment and distrust on the government. By 1933, the Nazi party came to power under the rule of Adolf Hitler, who established a totalitarian regime. Anyone who opposed the government was killed or imprisoned. In the German-occupied areas, the genocide program called as The Holocaust killed million Jews as well as five million others including Poles, Russians, Soviets and Romans.
With the advent of Cold War, Germany got divided into two parts: democratic West Germany and communist East Germany. It was in 1989 that the Berlin wall was destroyed and the Soviet Union collapsed. In 1990, the East Germany and West Germany reunited. Today, Germany remains the one of the economic powerhouses of Europe. It is this vast history of Germany which makes it culturally and financially rich yet modern nation.
Berlin is the capital as well as the biggest city of Germany. It is a melting pot of culture, history and modernity. Berlin is famous for its art, architecture and nightlife. It is the one stop destination for the music lovers and this is the reason it has largest independent music and theatre scene in Europe. Artists and commoners from all over the world visit Germany just to witness its lifestyle, music and art.
Munich is among the most beautiful and greenest cities of Germany. It is world famous for its Oktoberfest, a beer fest which attracts more than 6 million visitors every year. Though it is a historically rich city, it has a modern vibe which is quite visible in its modern architecture and bustling nightlife. Here you will find the latest automobiles and technology going hand in hand with the pastoral style. It has lush green parks, gardens and great museums. Munich offers a lot to see and do to its visitors which makes it a top tourist destination of Germany.
Frankfurt is the banking and business center of Europe. It is a modern city with rich culture, history and an awesome dining scene. Tourists can indulge in a great dining experience in Frankfurt’s best cider houses and enjoy the local flavours of their cuisine. As this city is regarded as the financial center of the country, its gleaming skyscrapers are most prominent in the scene. Frankfurt also offers a list of cultural and tourism activities like the world famous Book Fair which occurs in the month of October. Apart from this, Frankfurt has fine museums, galleries and gardens to see.
The ethnic groups of Germany or the people of Germany are called as Germans. Germans are considered as very hardworking and efficient people who like to do their work with full thriftiness. They give priority to punctuality, privacy and structure and also religiously follow it. They value time a lot and that is why they are very organized in following their schedules and agendas. Germans strive for perfection and precision in whatever task they acquire. At first meeting German people may seem as very rude and unfriendly but that is just how they are. They do feel the need of community and belonging. Germans hardly compliment anyone but they do not shy away in telling you how they feel about you even if you are a stranger. Germans are good guests as they always bring flowers or wine to their hosts. Not only that, they are also great hosts. Overall, Germans are indeed very intelligent people and along with that they are reserved and focused. Older generation may seem a bit rude but younger people are not exactly like that. They enjoy dining out, partying and company of others.
Climate of Germany is moderately continental and generally do not have longer periods of hot or cold weather. This quality makes it a year round destination for travelling. January is the coldest month with average temperature of 3 degrees and July is the warmest month with the temperature reaching to 24 degree Celsius.
During winters, snowfall is quite frequent but not that abundant. Coldest time when temperature goes down to minus is very short lived as it only lasts for few days. Summers are very pleasant in Germany as it is not very sunny or warm. Rain falls throughout the year but most of the rainfall occurs during summers.
Best time to go Germany is from May to September when the weather is pleasant and stable. In the month of September, there is a less chance of rain and thunderstorm.
During summers, it is suggested to carry light clothing for the day and a light summer jacket or sweater for the night. It is also better to carry umbrellas and raingear for the unexpected rainfall which can occur.
During winters, it is suited to carry heavyweight sweaters, jackets and warm clothing. Hat, gloves, scarf and raingear is must.
Germany is a part of Euro Zone and that is why its currency is euro (€). Euro has been appointed as Germany’s currency in 2002 and until that time Deutsche Mark (DM) was the primary currency of Germany. In this country cash is considered as the king as people still prefer paying through cash and many restaurants and shops do not accept cards.
Exchanging currency in Germany is easy as there are many banks and exchange bureaux, which can be found at airports, railway stations and even at some big hotels. The quickest and easiest way to exchange the currency in Germany is to use an ATM. There are plenty of ATMs in Germany and can be accessed 24*7. The exchange rate of 1 euro to rupee is 77.53
Germany is a place for the night owls and party lovers as it is well known for its nightlife. If you are a party animal or a music freak, the bars and clubs in the biggest cities of Germany, like Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich, etc will cater your every desire. There are numerous bars, clubs and pubs which offer amazing night scenes with party going from dawn to dusk. So, dance till your legs hurt and drink as much as you want because the party isn’t stopping.
The official language of Germany is German. Around 95% of the population speaks German as their first language. English is considered as the second language of Germany as most of the people learn it during their schooling. Other languages that are spoken in Germany other than German and English are: French, Russian, Turkish, Polish, Spanish, Romani, Danish, etc. Moreover, German is the official language of the European Union and one of the three working languages of the European Commission.
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