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Grand Tour of Germany

with Black Forest & Swiss Alps extension

Duration: 15 or 18 days
Group size: 15-38
Reviews: 17

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Get swept up in Germany’s impressive history and inspired beauty.

Discover storied landmarks and crumbling castles as you travel from Hanseatic Hamburg to the Rhine Valley, where the Middle Ages come to life. Soak up history in Berlin, see striking architecture in Dresden, then take in the beauty of Bavaria in Bamberg and Munich. From north to south, this tour delivers the very best Germany has to offer.

Your tour package includes

13 nights in handpicked hotels
13 breakfasts
6 dinners with beer or wine
1 wine tasting
1 beer tasting

Included highlights

Brandenburg Gate
Sanssouci Park
Zwinger Palace
Leipzig
Rothenburg ob der Tauber

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Day-by-day itinerary

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Overnight Flight1 night

Day 1: Travel day

Board your overnight flight to Hamburg today.

Hamburg2 nights

Day 2: Arrival in Hamburg

Included meal: Welcome dinner

Welcome to Germany! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Hamburg

Included meal: Breakfast

Join a local expert on a guided tour of Hamburg, Germany’s second largest city and a historic port on the Elbe River.

Pass by the neo-Renaissance Rathaus, the city hall
Admire St. Michaelis Church, the largest Baroque church in northern Germany
Explore the Speicherstadt, the city’s historic harbor district

Enjoy a free afternoon in Hamburg or add an excursion.

Hanseatic Lübeck

Excursion (additional cost)

Berlin2 nights

Day 4: Transfer to Berlin & sightseeing tour

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel to Berlin, where a local guide introduces you to the monuments of the city’s intricate past as well as the signs of its re-emergence as a vibrant cultural center.

Discover the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of a reunited Berlin
See the Holocaust Memorial and the Berlin Wall's East Side Gallery
Journey down Unter den Linden, the city’s most elegant boulevard, passing the Reichstag and the UNESCO-listed Museum Island

This evening, sit down for an included dinner with your group.

Day 5: Free day in Berlin

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Berlin or add an excursion.

World War II Walking Tour

Excursion (additional cost)

Dresden2 nights

Day 6: Dresden via Potsdam

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Make your way to Dresden, stopping along the way to admire the city of Potsdam on a guided sightseeing tour.

Step inside Cecilienhof Palace, which was the site of the Potsdam Conference’s iconic photograph of Truman, Churchill, and Stalin
Enter Sanssouci Park and view Sanssouci, the former palace of Frederick the Great

Continue on to Dresden and sit down for an included dinner.

Day 7: Sightseeing tour of Dresden

Included meal: Breakfast

Set off on a guided tour of Dresden, once considered to be the most beautiful city in the world.

Stroll through the Old Town and pass the renovated Semper Opera House, site of the Saxon State Orchestra
Admire the Dresden Frauenkirche and statue of Martin Luther
See the Zwinger Palace, a striking example of Baroque architecture, and walk through the palace gardens

Spend a free afternoon in Dresden or add an excursion.

Görlitz

Excursion (additional cost)

Bamberg2 nights

Day 8: Bamberg via Leipzig

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Drive to Leipzig, an important trading center, for a guided walking tour.

Stroll past 16th-century buildings in the historic Market Square
Visit Mädler Passage, a famous shopping arcade that was once a fair trade building
Admire the Renaissance architecture of the Old City Hall
Pass St. Nicholas Church, St. Thomas Church, and the Bach Museum

Then, continue on to Bamberg, where you'll enjoy dinner and a Rauchbier tasting at a local restaurant.

(Please note: Some departures may overnight in Würzburg, Bayreuth, or Coburg instead of Bamberg.)

Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Bamberg

Included meal: Breakfast

Set off with a local guide on a walking tour of Bamberg, a UNESCO-listed city.

Admire the towering Bamberg Cathedral and surrounding square
Pass the Baroque New Palace
Stand in awe of Old Town Hall, built in the middle of Regnitz River
Visit the quaint fishermen’s village of Little Venice

Enjoy a free afternoon in Bamberg or add an excursion.

Historic Nuremberg

Excursion (additional cost)

Munich3 nights

Day 10: Munich via Rothenburg ob der Tauber

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel to Munich, stopping en route in Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a sightseeing tour of the town's picturesque squares.

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Day 11: Sightseeing tour of Munich

Included meal: Breakfast

Get to know the Bavarian capital on a guided tour.

Travel past the Englischer Garten and fashionable Schwabing district
Enter the Nymphenburg Palace, the Baroque home to past Bavarian royalty
Walk from Odeonsplatz through the Hofgarten to view the Residenz, once home to the Wittelsbach dukes of Bavaria
Explore Marienplatz, Munich’s medieval heart, and see the famed Glockenspiel

Enjoy a free afternoon in Munich or add an excursion.

Dachau

Excursion (additional cost)

Day 12: Free day in Munich

Included meal: Breakfast

Spend a free day in Munich or add an excursion.

Neuschwanstein Castle & Lunch

Excursion (additional cost)

Rhine Valley2 nights

Day 13: Sightseeing tour of Heidelberg

Included meal: Breakfast

Transfer to the Rhine Valley today. Stop in Heidelberg along the way, where you'll get to know the romantic cityscapes and Baroque architecture on a guided tour.

Wander through Heidelberg’s elegant Market Square in the city’s Old Town
Explore the grounds of Heidelberg University, the oldest university in Germany
Take a funicular ride to the city’s rose-colored hilltop castle for panoramic views of the Old Bridge and the Rhine River below

Day 14: Rhine River cruise

Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner

Start your afternoon with free time for lunch in the town of Rüdesheim am Rhein. Then, take in the spectacular sights of the UNESCO-recognized Rhine River Valley on a scenic cruise to Sankt Goar, passing castles from the Middle Ages (seasonal, April–October).

After disembarking, celebrate your trip during a wine tasting and farewell dinner at a local vineyard.

Flight Home

Day 15: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the Frankfurt airport for your flight home or continue your journey in the Black Forest region.

Extension to Black Forest & Swiss Alps

The Black Forest is famous as the setting for all those fairy tales, and it’s a beautiful part of Germany—plus it’s got really amazing cake. Continue your trip to explore this stunning region with your Tour Director, then head to Lucerne, Switzerland, for a sightseeing tour of the Alpine town.

Black Forest1 night

Day 15: Sightseeing tour of the Black Forest

Included meal: Breakfast

Transfer through the Rhine Valley to explore more of the Black Forest with your Tour Director in the lead.

Visit the Black Forest Open Air Museum to learn about the region’s history, culture, and tradition (seasonal, late March–early November)
Try a slice of Black Forest cake, named for the tart cherry liquor that gives it its signature taste
Marvel at regional artifacts inside the Black Forest Museum during free time
Admire one of the world's largest cuckoo clocks
Head back to Freiburg, stopping at Lake Titisee for free time along the way

Swiss Alps2 nights

Day 16: Swiss Alps via Lucerne

Included meal: Breakfast

Journey across the border from Germany to the Swiss Alps, stopping in the lakeside city of Lucerne for a guided tour of this idyllic Alpine town.

View the Lion Monument, a tribute to the Swiss Guards who sacrificed their lives in Paris during the French Revolution
Pass hand-painted facades that line the cobbled streets of the Old Town
Cross the medieval Kapellbrücke, a covered wooden footbridge spanning the Reuss River, and view the Water Tower
See the Jesuit Church, the first large Baroque building of its kind to be built north of the Alps in Switzerland

Day 17: Free day in the Swiss Alps

Included meal: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in the Swiss Alps or add an excursion.

This evening, sip a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.

Mount Pilatus

Excursion (additional cost)

Flight Home

Day 18: Departure

Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)

Transfer to the Zurich airport for your flight home.

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Reviews

4.3 average

Our reviews are authentic and unedited.

03/02/2020 by 2nd time traveler Sandra G.

Need more re free time. Too much bus travel and hotel stays too short.. Might want to re-route. Food at provide hotels for dinner not good quality. Need to warn people about difficult excursion levels.

Go Ahead Tours replied on 03/02/2020

Dear Sandra, Thank you for taking the time to sha...

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Changes needed

10/28/2019 by 5th time traveler Anonymous

Maybe the title of the tour says it all, "Grand Tour of Germany", but although it was an introduction to the large geography of Germany, I felt it was instead a one note of WW11. Certainly, the history of the war and recovery of the area is hugely significant, but the tour lacked any introduction t...

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11/18/2019 by 6th time traveler Robbie B.

on the long bus rides between towns need to watch a movie related to the area or filmed in the area or something about the area. The long bus rides are very boring.

Grand Tour of Germany was a Grand Time!

07/15/2019 by 4th time traveler Dana E.

My husband and I had a wonderful time on the Grand Tour of Germany with the post tour extension to the Black Forest Region and Switzerland. This was our third Go Ahead trip and it did not disappoint. We loved our tour guide, Alex. He was so much fun and offered great insight. Having such an entertai...

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Too Too Much Not Enough Time

07/22/2019 by 2nd time traveler Elsa S.

This was my first tour and I am not sure if I would go again based on my experience. Would I recommend it to my friends? I am not sure. The tour director was excellent as was the itinerary. What i did not enjoy was that there was too much to see in a very short time. I had very little time to so...

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Go Ahead Tours replied on 07/22/2019

Dear Elsa, Thank you for your review. We are glad ...

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Hotels, flights & FAQ

Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.

Hotels

We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.

Ameron Hotel Flora

Welcome to the heart of Lucerne! your smart business hotel offers a prime location and that certain "extra" of kindness and hospitality. Nature meet...

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NYX Hotel Munich

This artsy hotel is located in the Obersendling district. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and sauna. Nearby you’ll find the Hellabrunn Zoo, the Theres...

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Grand Hotel Europe

This Belle Époque hotel is located near the lake promenade. Guests enjoy a restaurant, bar, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Lake Lucerne, Chapel B...

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Mercure Hotel Hamburg City

This modern hotel is located in the Hamburg-Mitte neighborhood. Guests enjoy a sauna, restaurant, and bar. Nearby you’ll find markets, a chocolate fac...

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Best Western Hotel Bamberg

The Best Western Hotel Bamberg is a new and cozy hotel right between the station and the historic centre. All rooms and suites are equipped with sound...

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Hotel Europa Bamberg

Italian atmosphere and heartly hospitality are awaiting you in our house. The Hotel Europa with 24-hour front desk is located in the centre of the cit...

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Abba Berlin Hotel

This contemporary hotel is located in Berlin center. Guests enjoy a restaurant, lounge-bar, and fitness room. Nearby, you'll find exclusive boutiques ...

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NH Dresden

This modern hotel is located in the Leipziger Vorstadt neighborhood, north of the Dresden city center. Guests enjoy a fitness room, bar, and restauran...

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Hotel Stadt Freiburg

This upscale, contemporary hotel is located in the Stühlinger district of the Black Forest Region. Guests enjoy access to a spa, bar and restaurant, a...

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Mercure Wiesbaden City

This modern hotel is located in the city center. Guests enjoy room service, free Wi-Fi, and a bar. Nearby, you’ll find Wilhelmstrasse, Museum Wiesbade...

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Flights

Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.

Add our airfare package and you'll get:

Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes

Find out more about flights

FAQ

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Passport & visa requirements

This tour visits Germany (and Switzerland on the tour extension). In order to enter these countries, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
There is no visa required for U.S. or Canadian citizens.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.

Tour pace

You will walk for at least 1.5 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved roads and cobblestone streets, with few hills.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times, as well as getting in and out of boats.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation & arrival information

Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead arrive in Hamburg and depart from Frankfurt (or Zurich on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
A Rhine River cruise is included in the price fo your tour.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.

Baggage allowance

Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.

Clothing & packing tips

We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).

Health

There are no major health risks associated with traveling to any of the countries on this tour.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.

Cuisine

German food is hearty and substantial. Among the specialties are dumpling stews, sauerkraut, sausages, smoked cheeses, and dark breads. Bavaria produces some of the world’s purest beers, and white German wines are exceptionally good.
On the tour extension, Swiss food is varied and sophisticated, and some popular dishes include sausages, breaded veal fillets, freshwater fish, and cheese dishes such as fondue and raclette. Be sure to try Swiss chocolate, which is among the world’s finest.

Electricity & air conditioning

All destinations visited on this tour operate on the European standard 220-240 volts and use Types C or F plugs with two small, round pins. (You may also use a Type J plug with three small pins on the tour extension in Switzerland.)
We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
The strength of the air conditioning in European hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons, and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.

Connectivity

Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

Time zones

All destinations visited on this tour are one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and six hours ahead of Eastern Time (ET).
When it’s noon in New York, it’s 6pm on tour.

Currency

You will use the euro in Germany (and the Swiss franc in Switzerland on the tour extension).
Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.

Tipping

At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
We recommend tipping the equivalent of $7USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
Tips can only be paid in cash.

Purchasing excursions on tour

Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on your tour.
Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa, or MasterCard as payment for optional excursions.
Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

Dates & prices

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