Day 1 :
Depart from North America
- Fly to Germany:
Enjoy your overnight flight to Frankfurt.
Day 2 :
Arrive In Germany
- Rothenburg:
Arrive in Frankfurt, and transfer to the city of Heidelberg.
Day 3 :
Heidelberg
- Explore the Town:
See the altstadt, the country's oldest university, and the marktplatz.
- Heidelberg Castle visit:
Head up to Heidelberg Castle, which is still a little wobbly from its partial destruction during the Thirty Years’ War, a 17th-century attack by the French, and a major lightening hit in 1764. The castle’s courtyard is home to the largest wine barrel in the world, the Great Vat, which holds about 50,000 gallons of wine (possibly another contributing factor to the castle’s romantically off-balance appearance).
Day 4 :
Rhine Cruise & Cologne
- Rhine Cruise:
Cruise along the fortress-studded Rhine, its banks crowned by magnificent castles and breathtaking, vine-terraced hills.
- Marksburg Castle:
Visit the 12th century castle.
- Cologne:
Travel this evening to Cologne.
Day 5 :
Cologne
- See the City:
Discover Cologne’s long history with a local guide. See the Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that took seven centuries to build, the spooky St. Ursulakirche, which is decorated with human bones, and the city’s Roman ruins.
Day 6 :
Travel to Lubeck
- Hamelin:
Pause en route to Lubeck to visit fairytale Hamelin, the setting for the tale of the Pied Piper.
- Lubeck:
Travel north to the Hanseatic port of Lubeck.
- LEAP Debate the Great:
LEAP Activity | Debate the Great
Meet six influential figures from Germany’s history. Join a debate and argue their accomplishments to decide who the greatest German is.
Day 7 :
Lubeck
- Tour the Town:
A local guide introduces the former capital of the Hanseatic league of trading cities. Lubeck's medieval wealth is apparent in the buildings of the altstadt, which include the Rathaus, Marienkirche, and the Holstentor.
- Travel to Berlin:
This afternoon, journey to Berlin, the capital of Germany.
- Reichstag Views:
In the evening, climb the glass dome of the Reichstag for views of the city.
Day 8 :
Explore Berlin
- Berlin Wall:
A local guide shows you the remnants of the Berlin Wall, torn down in 1989, as well as the Brandenburg Gate.
- LEAP Ich bin ein Berliner:
- Add on: Potsdam:
Enjoy an afternoon visit to Potsdam and Sans Souci, with its Roman-style baths and lush gardens, where Frederick the Great was entertained by Voltaire and Bach.
- LEAP Guten Appetit!:
LEAP Activity | Ich bin ein Berliner
Step into the shoes of the people whose lives were impacted by the Berlin Wall. Participate in a group activity that involves reciting personal accounts of the event and discussing its repercussions. Live through their experiences and gain a personal insight into Germany’s history.
LEAP Activity | Guten Appetit!
Bring your appetite along with you and cook up a traditional German meal.
Day 9 :
Return Home OR Extend your Stay
- Depart from Switzerland:
Board your flight home or extend your European travels with an extra day in Berlin.
Extend your stay | Extra day in Berlin
Extend your stay in Germany by adding extra days in Berlin.
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