Self-Drive Tour of Berlin and Dresden: 10 Days of Exploration

Founded in the 13th century Berlin’s eventful history is one of frequent, radical changes

with dazzling epochs alternating with darker eras. However the formerly divided city has

s쳮ded in becoming a vibrant metropolis set in the heart of Europe. With more than 170

museums and collections offering everything from the ancient (Egyptian Nefertiti and the

Greek Pergamon Altar) to the ultra-modern.

Accommodation:

Novotel Berlin Mitte or similar (2 nights)

Drive from Berlin to Dresden where we have arranged your overnight stay, This will allow

you a glimpse of the varying charms of Saxony’s 1000 years history. Dresden’s historical

center is located on the left bank of the river Elbe. The Royal Palace was built in the15th

century and having been destroyed by fire in 1701 was rebuilt but again destroyed by the

bombings of 1945. It has now been reconstructed as a museum complex. The reconstruction

in 2005 of the 18th century Frauenkirche church’s steeple which rises above Dresden’s

skyline is an impressive symbol of international reconciliation after World War II.

Accommodation:

Best Western Macrander Hotel Dresden or similar

Leave Dresden and worth a stop is Modlareuth, a small village situated partly in Bavaria and partly in Thuringia. With the northern part in East Germany and the southern part in West Germany in 1966 a wall was erected splitting the village apart (like Berlin). Since 1989 the wall, together with towers, helicopter and vehicles, stand as an open air museum and tells the story about the village and its wall. Continue your drive through Bavaria to Bayreuth with its Baroque Opera House, considered the most beautifully preserved in Europe. Every summer Wagner’s operas are performed during the month-long Richard Wagner Festival. Continue on to Nuremberg where we have arranged your overnight stay. Here you will see the city’s unique mixture of modern with its almost thousand years of historical past. Life here is colorful all year round, with its green meadows on the banks of the River Pegnitz and its park containing one of Europe’s largest and most beautifully landscaped zoos. Worth a visit is the Courtroom where Nuremberg’s famous Wartime Trials took place from 1945-6. The city offers a large selection of bars, cafes and restaurants serving gourmet food to

delicious local food to Turkish fast food. A great treat would be a visit to the opera or ballet at the State Theatre.

Accommodation:

Ramada by Wyndham Nuernberg Parkhotel.

From Nuremberg drive to Rothenburg, Germany’s best preserved walled town. Walk through the city’s two main market streets, crammed with picture-perfect houses, cafes and restaurants. Visit the Medieval Crime Museum to explore the unusual law enforcement techniques used by local rulers in medieval times. Before leaving Rothenberg try some of the city’s authentic food, the schneeballen which is egg dough fried and sprinkled with powdered sugar or covered with chocolate. Continue on through Bavaria to Munich, where we have arranged your overnight stay. A city of museums, romantic castles and palaces, gardens and parks, the baroque Nymphenburg Palace with Park and Pavilions was the summer residence of Bavarian monarchs and houses several outstanding art collections. Among Munich’s many museums is the Alte Pinakothek – one of the oldest and most important galleries in the world with more than 800 European art masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the Rococo period. Munich has seven Michelin- starred restaurants, and many locally owned restaurants offering regional fare and of course Germany’s famous beer gardens.

Accommodation:

Novotel Muenchen City or similar.

Today visit the village of Oberammergau, famous for its production of the Passion Play. Firstperformed in 1634, as a result of a vow made by its inhabitants for God to spare them the bubonic plague then sweeping the region, it has been performed every 10th year ending with a zero. Oberammergau has a long tradition of woodcarving, and there are dozens of woodcarver shops with pieces ranging from religious subjects to toys. Many of the homes and buildings have frescoes of traditional Bavarian themes, fairy tales or religious scenes.

Accommodation:

Hotel Azenberg Stuttgart or similar

From Stuttgart your drive takes you to Heidelberg, a jewel of German cities. Here you will find many places of interest. The best way to enjoy the old town is to simply wander around and see what you come upon, it doesn't cover a particularly large area, so there's no chance of you getting lost and you''ll find plenty of opportunities to pick up some souvenirs or stop for a coffee and some traditional local food. Also the must visit is the Heidelberg Castle which is included for you.

Accommodation:

Hotel NH Heidelberg or similar.

Leave Heidelberg and drive to Koblenz. French joie de vivre and German tradition have produced a truly unique cultural fusion in Koblenz, characterized by cozy wine taverns, narrow alleyways, romantic spots and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere. The Four Towers, as the oriels of four Baroque houses on each corner of the main street crossing are known, are the perfect place to begin a stroll through the Old Town. Other top attractions include the Guard House, which dates to 1689, and the Schängel fountain, which stands in the courtyard of the Town Hall and is one of the city's main landmarks. No visit to Koblenz would be complete without taking a breathtaking cable car ride above the Rhine to the Ehrenbreitstein Fortress which is included for you. Further up the Rhine is Cologne, one of the oldest cities in Germany and where we have arranged your overnight stay. At the beginning of the 18th century Italian expatriate Johann Farina created a new fragrance and named it after his hometown Cologne – hence Eau de Cologne (Water of Cologne). Cologne is also famous for its Cathedral, begun in 1248 the construction of this Gothic masterpiece took place in stages and was not completed until 1880. The city is proud to be the home of one of Europe’s oldest universities, the University of Cologne.

Accommodation:

Mercure Hotel Koeln Belfortstrasse or Similar.

Say your goodbyes to Cologne then travel to the 2,000-year-old city of Frankfurt, where we have arranged your overnight stay. The city has an appealing variety of historic buildings, and boasts a famous opera house, thriving theater district, scores of bars, cafes and restaurants. Frankfurt has much to offer and its open and hospitable atmosphere stems from its centuries-old role as a trading center. Enjoy the experience of traditional Frankfurt cuisine at one of the city’s many cozy cider bars and enjoy a glass of their traditional cider with small cheeses marinated in an onion sauce, or pork chops served with sauerkraut.

Accommodation:

DORMERO Hotel Frankfurt or similar