Hanseatic Travels

Arrive in Frankfurt, and transfer to the city of Heidelberg.

Surrounded by mountains, forests, and the Neckar River, Heidelberg showcases a quintessential German landscape. Join your Tour Director as you drive through this granddaddy of all college towns, with its scores of bars, cafés, and shops. Get a beautiful view Germany’s oldest university —founded in 1386—from the Marktplatz, Heidelberg’s main square. 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 world, the Great Vat, which holds about 50,000 gallons of wine (possibly another contributing factor to the castle’s romantically off-balance appearance).

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 is considered to be one of the most important Renaissance structures north of the Alps, and the castle’s courtyard is home to the largest wine barrel in world!

Visit the town's historical Marktplatz, the Market Square.

Visit the 12th century castle.

Cruise along the most beautiful stretch of the Rhine River, surrounded by rocky cliffs topped with picturesquely crumbling castles and covered by the country’s most famous vineyards.

Discover Cologne’s long history with a local guide. See the Cathedral, a Gothic masterpiece that took seven centuries to build, the spooky St. Ursula Kirche, which is decorated with human bones, and the city’s Roman ruins.

Pause en route to Lubeck to visit fairytale Hamelin, the setting for the tale of the Pied Piper.

Travel north to the Hanseatic port of Lubeck.

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.

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.

This afternoon, journey to Berlin, the capital of Germany.

A local guide shows you the remnants of the Berlin Wall, torn down in 1989, as well as the Brandenburg Gate.

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 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.

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.