The definitive rail-friendly first trip to Germany linking Berlin's monuments, the UNESCO Rhine Gorge castles, walled medieval Rothenburg, and Bavaria's capital and Alpine castles.
Route overview
- Day 1 — Berlin: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Dome & Unter den Linden: Arrive at Berlin Hbf, walk Pariser Platz and the Brandenburg Gate, ascend the Reichstag glass dome (pre-booked free slot), and stroll Gendarmenmarkt.
- Day 2 — Berlin: UNESCO Museum Island, Berlin Wall & Kreuzberg: Explore the Neues Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie on Museum Island, visit the Bernauer Straße Wall Memorial, and dine at Markthalle Neun.
- Day 3 — Potsdam UNESCO Sanssouci Palaces Day Trip: Ride the S7 S-Bahn (35 min) to Potsdam for Frederick the Great's terraced Sanssouci vineyard palace and the Dutch Quarter.
- Day 4 — ICE West to Cologne Cathedral & Middle Rhine Gorge: Board the morning DB ICE Sprinter to Cologne (4 hrs), climb the Gothic Cathedral spire, then ride RB26 south to half-timbered Bacharach on the Rhine.
- Day 5 — KD Rhine Castle Steamer, Loreley & Marksburg: Cruise on the KD Rhine boat past Pfalzgrafenstein and the Loreley cliff to St. Goar and Boppard, tour undefeated Marksburg Castle, and taste slate Riesling.
- Day 6 — Romantic Road: Würzburg Residenz to Rothenburg ob der Tauber: Travel via Frankfurt and Würzburg (stopping at the UNESCO Baroque Residenz) to medieval walled Rothenburg ob der Tauber for the 20:00 Night Watchman tour.
- Day 7 — Rothenburg Town Wall Walk & Evening Arrival in Nuremberg: Walk the 2.5 km covered medieval ramparts and Plönlein in the quiet morning hours before taking regional rail to Nuremberg for Franconian Bratwurst and Rotbier.
- Day 8 — Nuremberg Kaiserburg & ICE to Munich Marienplatz: Tour Nuremberg's Imperial Castle and Albrecht Dürer's House, then take the 1-hour DB ICE to Munich for Viktualienmarkt and the English Garden beer gardens.
- Day 9 — Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle & Füssen: Ride the BRB regional train to Füssen, walk across Marienbrücke above Pöllat Gorge, tour King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle, and stroll Lake Alpsee.
- Day 10 — Munich Residenz Treasury, Nymphenburg & Departure: Visit the ornate Antiquarium at the Munich Residenz and Nymphenburg Palace before riding the S1/S8 S-Bahn to Munich Airport (MUC).
Rail & Transit Strategy
Book three long-distance DB ICE Sparpreis segments 6–12 weeks ahead (Berlin → Koblenz/Bacharach €29.99–€59.99; Frankfurt/Würzburg → Nuremberg → Munich €19.99–€39.99) and use a €58 Deutschlandticket or €29 Bayern-Ticket for regional hops to Bacharach, Rothenburg, and Füssen.
Day 1 — Berlin: Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag Dome & Unter den Linden
Arrive at Berlin Hbf, walk Pariser Platz and the Brandenburg Gate, ascend the Reichstag glass dome (pre-booked free slot), and stroll Gendarmenmarkt.
Day 2 — Berlin: UNESCO Museum Island, Berlin Wall & Kreuzberg
Explore the Neues Museum and Alte Nationalgalerie on Museum Island, visit the Bernauer Straße Wall Memorial, and dine at Markthalle Neun.
Day 3 — Potsdam UNESCO Sanssouci Palaces Day Trip
Ride the S7 S-Bahn (35 min) to Potsdam for Frederick the Great's terraced Sanssouci vineyard palace and the Dutch Quarter.
Day 4 — ICE West to Cologne Cathedral & Middle Rhine Gorge
Board the morning DB ICE Sprinter to Cologne (4 hrs), climb the Gothic Cathedral spire, then ride RB26 south to half-timbered Bacharach on the Rhine.
Day 5 — KD Rhine Castle Steamer, Loreley & Marksburg
Cruise on the KD Rhine boat past Pfalzgrafenstein and the Loreley cliff to St. Goar and Boppard, tour undefeated Marksburg Castle, and taste slate Riesling.
Day 6 — Romantic Road: Würzburg Residenz to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
Travel via Frankfurt and Würzburg (stopping at the UNESCO Baroque Residenz) to medieval walled Rothenburg ob der Tauber for the 20:00 Night Watchman tour.
Day 7 — Rothenburg Town Wall Walk & Evening Arrival in Nuremberg
Walk the 2.5 km covered medieval ramparts and Plönlein in the quiet morning hours before taking regional rail to Nuremberg for Franconian Bratwurst and Rotbier.
Day 8 — Nuremberg Kaiserburg & ICE to Munich Marienplatz
Tour Nuremberg's Imperial Castle and Albrecht Dürer's House, then take the 1-hour DB ICE to Munich for Viktualienmarkt and the English Garden beer gardens.
Day 9 — Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle & Füssen
Ride the BRB regional train to Füssen, walk across Marienbrücke above Pöllat Gorge, tour King Ludwig II's Neuschwanstein Castle, and stroll Lake Alpsee.
Day 10 — Munich Residenz Treasury, Nymphenburg & Departure
Visit the ornate Antiquarium at the Munich Residenz and Nymphenburg Palace before riding the S1/S8 S-Bahn to Munich Airport (MUC).