Romantic Getaway to Germany Tour: An Unforgettable Experience

Unconventional though it may be, your personal fairytale will begin in the high-rise metropolitan of Frankfurt, where your feet will first touch German soil. Upon arrival, pick up your rental car and set off on your adventure.

Gaze out the window as skyscrapers give way to rolling hills, then forests and finally vineyards. It won’t be long — roughly 90 minutes —before you find yourself in the charming town of Würzburg, the northern gateway to the Romantic Road.

The strength of character defines this place and its people. After being left in ruins following an airstrike in 1945, its citizens insisted that Würzburg be restored to its pre-war glory. They succeeded and today the town charms its visitors with a variety of architectural styles — Romanesque, Baroque, and Rococo — a domineering fortress and delicious white wine.

Begin your exploration at the 11th century Romanesque St. Kilian Cathedral in the center of the old town, then step into the neighboring Domschatz to see the opulent riches. Move on to Neumünster, a former abbey, and admire its spectacular red sandstone baroque façade. Although modest, the Rathaus (town hall) is also worth a visit, as is the adjoining Grafeneckart — a little museum with an exhibition of photographs and a 3D model of the city that depicts the devastation left behind by the 1945 bombing.

In the afternoon, cross the Alte Mainbrücke — Würzburg’s oldest bridge — and walk up to the town’s most identifiable landmark: the Marienberg Fortress. Aside from postcard scenery, this historic fortress offers gardens and several museums for you to explore. While you’re on this side of the river, visit the Käppele — an 18th-century chapel, which affords beautiful views of the fortress and old town.

A stay in Würzburg wouldn’t be complete without visiting the UNESCO-listed Residenz, one of the most impressive Baroque palaces in Germany. Take a turn through its gardens, admire its grandiose interiors, and don’t forget to look up when you get to the Treppenhaus (staircase) to see the largest fresco in the world.

Finish your day with a glass (or two) of the area’s celebrated white wine at the Juliusspital, which not only bears historical importance as a medieval wine cellar and hospital but also has the distinct honor of being the second-largest winery in Germany and a brilliant place to try the local drop.

Begin your day with breakfast and a final glance at Würzburg, before hitting the road to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Leave before midday and arrive at five past the Middle Ages, in a town that seems untouched by the hands of time.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber boasts a colorful history dating back to 950 AD. Throughout its life, it saw prosperity, wealth, and recognition by the Holy Roman Empire, until everything came to an abrupt halt in the 17th century. The Thirty Years’ War and the Black Plague left the town poor, powerless and unable to grow, keeping it frozen in time.

When you arrive, you’ll have a chance to explore its cobbled lanes, colorful squares, historic churches and feel a part of a bygone era as you walk along its medieval city wall. Venture down to the gothic Rathaus (town hall) and climb the tower for views over the red roofs of the old town. If the weather is nice, meander through the Burggarten, a lovely park that replaced the castle in 1356 following an earthquake, and enjoy vistas over the Tauber Valley.

The town’s most notable churches, the 15th-century Jakobskirche and 10th-century St-Peter-und-Pauls-Kirche, are renowned for their intricate wood-carved altars, while the many local museums offer an insight into medieval life: from tools of the trade to instruments of justice and torture. Round off the day by tipping your hat to Rothenburg’s former mayor — who drank a jug of wine in order to save the town from destruction — with a crisp Franconian vino.

Fairytale forests, open fields, and sleepy townships await you, as you spend the day finding out what earned the Romantic Road its name. Cast your medieval life aside after breakfast and head to Augsburg, stopping at quaint villages along the way. Visit Feuchtwangen, adored for its traditional half-wooden gabled houses, Dinkelsbühl, famed for its historical city wall, and Donauwörth, a 5th-century fishing village which boasts an artistic culture and picturesque waterside vistas.

But save some energy for Bavaria’s third-largest city, Augsburg. With a history colored by Roman conquests, medieval trading, benevolent bankers and military operations, it’s a fascinating place. Begin your exploration in the heart of the old town at the Rathaus. If you have a moment, pop into its Goldener Saal — a golden hall, which has been restored to reflect the city’s historical opulence. Climb the neighboring Perlachturm to see the city and — if weather permits — the peaks of the Alps. Then venture down Maximilianstrassße, one of Ausburg’s main roads, and past the Fuggerpalast, one of the first secular Renaissance buildings in Germany.

Continue down to the Schäzler Palais and pop inside to see the works of German painters and marvel at its celebrated Rococo mirrored ballroom. Cross the former city moat and walk to the Fuggerei, the oldest social housing complex in the world, which still charges residents just one euro per year. If you’d like to see what it looks like inside, you’re in luck. One of the apartments has been preserved in its original state and serves as a museum to offer a glimpse into the lives of its first occupants.  As evening draws near, settle into one of Augsburg’s many traditional beer gardens and mingle with the locals.

No fairytale would be complete without a castle. On day four you’ll get to see the one that inspired Sleeping Beauty’s Castle at Disneyland — Schlossß Neuschwanstein. Begin the day with breakfast before leaving Augsburg for the enchanting town of Füssen. Take a few minutes to walk its streets and admire the colorful architecture of the churches, old houses and market squares. If you have a few extra minutes, stroll down to the Lech Falls and feel the bridge tremble beneath your feet under the force of the gushing water.

Next, make your way to the village of Hohenschwangau where you’ll discover two of Bavaria’s most impressive castles. The first will be the Schloss Hohenschwangau, which presides over the village from atop a hill. See where King Ludwig II, the fairytale king (also known as the mad king), spent his childhood and tour the castle’s rooms. The Tasso Room is particularly telling of Ludwig’s famed eccentricity — the king had holes drilled into the ceiling and filled with glass, so that when servants placed candles in the attic above, it resembled the night sky.

Schlossß Neuschwanstein, the king’s key architectural accomplishment, will be the second castle you’ll visit. Sitting on a peak, surrounded by a breathtaking landscape of the Bavarian Alps, the castle is magic. Take a horse-drawn carriage up to its entrance and drink in the splendor of its romantic spires, cylindrical towers and broad white walls. Take a tour of the castle and see Wagner-inspired quarters, a secret grotto passageway, a wooden bed that took years to carve, and a two-story throne room.

After your tour, walk to the Marienbrücke, an outlook that offers iconic views of the castle, before returning to Hohenschwangau. If you haven’t had your fill of the dreamy scenery, stay for dinner and enjoy more castle views at one of the local restaurants.

Wake up to a delicious breakfast before seeing what else Bavaria has to offer. Begin the day’s exploration at Schlossß Linderhof — a whimsical palace built by King Ludwig II. Set in a picturesque alpine valley, Linderhof embodies the dreamy qualities of its surroundings. Inside you’ll find a hall of mirrors, a disappearing table, an ivory chandelier and an ostrich-feather carpet among the king’s flamboyant appointments. Come during the warmer months (April-October), and you can also see the landscape garden and its buildings, including the Venus Grotto — an artificial cave with a lake, on which King Ludwig II demanded to be rowed around aboard a swan boat.

Spend at least a part of your day in the nearby village of Ettal, where mountain scenery meets a majestic Benedictine monastery, Kloster Ettal. The abbey — which was founded in 1330 and has undergone several transformations — is best known for its spectacular Baroque dome as well as its decorative frescos.

Kloster Ettal has two other historically significant and palate-pleasing points of interest — a brewery and distillery. Both are more than 400 years old and specialize in producing drinks typical of the area. Take a tour and get a glimpse into how the enterprising Benedictine monks started the beer and Klosterliqueur (a sweet herbal digestive) production, and how they successfully continue it to this day. You’ll even get to sample the beverages.

Before the day is out, skip over to Oberammergau, a quaint village renowned for traditional wood carving as well as “Lüftlmalerei” — beautiful frescos painted on Bavarian houses. Walk through the streets and see if you can recognize fairytales, religious scenes or Bavarian cultural motifs on the buildings. Then, if time permits, head to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and check out the site of the 1936 winter Olympic games. Wander around the historical Ludwigstrassße, and spy Germany’s tallest mountain, the Zugspitze.

Now that you’ve become acquainted with the countryside, it’s time for a change of scenery. After breakfast leave the mountains, valleys, fields, and lakes behind and travel north to Bavaria’s capital, Munich. While probably best known for its Oktoberfest beer festival, this multi-faceted city has many historical, modern, and cultural charms to offer a savvy traveler.

Start your exploration at Marienplatz — a large square in the center of Munich’s old town. Aside from playing host to street performers, restaurants, cafes, and shops, Marienplatz is also home to one of Munich’s most impressive buildings, the gothic revival Neues Rathaus (literally “new town hall”). Come by at the right time and you’ll see the Glockenspiel on its tower come to life and reenact a wedding and a coopers’ dance from the 16th century.

From here, head to the Frauenkirche. According to legend, the devil helped to build the church but was outsmarted and in a fit of rage stomped his foot leaving a footprint that can still be seen to this day. Next, check out the luxury stores on Maximilianstrassße, before continuing on to Odeonsplatz. Take in the sights of the square and see if you can work out why the Theatinekirche is one of the most abhorred buildings in Munich (hint: look at the paint job).

As Germany’s largest city palace, the Residenz is a spectacular sight to behold. Wander its chambers, rooms, and halls, and witness the opulence of the lives the Bavarian royals led. Then, stroll through narrow alleyways until you reach the famous Hofbräuhaus — one of Munich’s oldest beer halls. Continue your city tour by climbing the tower of Alter Peter (St Peter’s church) for views over the city and the Alps, then follow it up with a “Helles” (pale lager) or sausage at the Viktualienmarkt — a historic open-air market, which boasts stalls of fruit, vegetables, gourmet honey, cheese, meat, wine, and flowers. Finally, wander down to the 14th century Sendlinger Tor — one of three authentic city gates.

If time permits head to the Englischer Garten — one of the world’s largest parks. Stroll its paths, see the famed surfers who perform tricks on the Eisbach rapids, or relax in the beer garden under the Chinisischer Turm (Chinese Tower). Finish the day with a pork knuckle or Käsespätzle (cheese noodles) at one of Munich’s many Bavarian restaurants.

Sneak in a bit of culture on your last day in Munich. Head down to the Kunstareal (the art district) after breakfast, and visit one of its many galleries and museums. Then drop your car off at the airport, board your plane and wave a final goodbye.