14-Day France & Germany Rail & Self-Drive Combination Tour (14RS01)

Many highlights along this beautiful 14 Day France & Germany Rail & Self-Drive Combination Tour: Romantic Road, Royal Castles, Alp Mountains, Lake Constance, Black Forrest, Paris, Strasbourg, Heidelberg, Wurzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Munich, Lindau, Triberg & Rothenburg ob der Tauber

France and Germany Rail and Self-drive combination tour from/to Paris Int. Airport! Visit Paris, Strasbourg, Heidelberg and Munich as well as the Romantic Road (Rothenburg ob der Tauber!), the Royal Castles (Linderhof & Neuschwanstein), scenic Alpine roads, Lake Constance (Lindau Island Hotel!) and the Black Forest (Triberg!). The tour includes second class Rail tickets which can be upgraded to 1st-class for just US $ 199 per person.

Fly in and out of Paris and start your tour right from the airport with a private transfer to your hotel located in Paris City Center. (see the tableau this is already included in the price of your tour). Here you also find everything else that is included: rental car, tours and admissions.

Price per Person

two sharing a double room	one in a single room	three sharing a triple room
US $ 2,859	US $ 4,799	US $ 2,459

*includes an upgrade from an executive size car to a luxury size car.

Would you like to submit your personal information so we can check availability for your specific travel dates for this beautiful tour? On our BOOKING INQUIRY page you find a form which you may use to forward your personal information:

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DAY 1 Arrival in Paris

Start your France & Germany Rail & Self-drive Combination Tour by private transfer from Paris Int. Airport to your hotel in Paris. Paris- a city full of romance, culture and historic highlights. Don´t miss to visit the Louvre Museum – one of the greatest art galleries in the world, where you can find thousands of classic and modern masterpieces. To walk through the Louvre is to walk through the history of France and into the heads of kings and revolutionaries.

DAY 2 Paris

Your France & Germany Combination tour continues with a full day of Sightseeing in Paris. With your 2 Day Hop-on Hop-off Paris city tour pass you can easily move around Paris – from the upper deck – you will enjoy great 360 degree panoramic views of Paris. The tour passes by Notre Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture built in 12th century, the Musee d’Orsay and the Galaries Lafayette, one of Paris’ premier department stores; after shopping do not forget to enjoy the great Paris city views from the terrace. The Hop-on Hop-off Paris City tour will also take you to the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, one of the most famous streets in the world, to the Arc de Triomphe and to the Grand Palais, where varying exhibitions present work of arts by famous painters, from Monet to Picasso.For a great view of the Eiffel Tower take the double decker bus across the river, you may want to hop off at Trocadero, site of the Palais de Chaillot. The hill across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower is a great spot to take a photo of the world famous Paris landmark. You should hop off right at the Eiffel Tower. The iron lattice tower is the tallest building in Paris (1063 ft.). Many couples plan a visit of the tower during sunset – for a spectacular view of the “City of Lights”, as Paris is often referred to. If you do not want to tour Paris on board of the bus all day you may want to spend the afternoon joining a tour of trendy Marais, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Paris with many narrow historic streets and with an even larger number of shopping opportunities! The English-speaking walking tour is a free tour (you may want to tip the guide after the tour) and it focuses on authentic Paris lifestyle: private home architecture, sophisticated fashion shops and unique art galleries. As an alternative you may want to spend the afternoon by visiting one of the famous museums in Paris. You can hop off at the Musee du Louvre, originally a royal fortress, where you can spend several hours exploring the museum which houses 35,000 works of art, definitely a “must-see” when you are in Paris and  have not visited the Louvre before. There is plenty to do all day and, when the day goes by, the Paris´ nightlife is legendary, of course!

DAY 3 Strasbourg, Baden Baden and Heidelberg

After breakfast take the ICE or TGV from Paris to Strasbourg. Pick up your Rental Car (GPS included) at Strasbourg Central Station and drive towards Baden-Baden. The exclusive thermal spa resort is located at the foothills of the Black Forest in the south-western part of Germany. With its elegant flair and stylish way of life, Baden-Baden is a paradise for those who cherish life’s pleasures and wish to recharge their batteries.

From Baden-Baden it takes about an hour to Heidelberg. Your Tour package includes a suggestion for a walking tour through the Old Town, a “must do” – of course – is a visit of the ruins of Heidelberg Castle which is idyllically towering above the Old Town located at the Neckar River. If you do not want to take the walk up there is also a mountain train which you could take. From the Castle you have a beautiful view over the city and the Neckar River. The historic Old Town is a lively city with many students living there. In your tour information sheets you will find a recommendation where to go for a typical dinner.

DAY 4 Castle Road and Rothenburg ob der Tauber

In the morning drive from Heidelberg along the Castle Road to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, one of Germany`s most beautiful medival cities. You enjoy a scenic drive along the shores of the Neckar River and you may want to consider to visit Castle Guttenberg and Grosscomburg Monastery located in the town of Schwäbisch Hall along the way.

Taking a walk thru the charming little town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber is truly a journey back in time. The town once was a powerful free imperial town and its monuments, landmarks and buildings still bear witness to these days. Marvel at the half-timbered buildings and at town walls which have stood for hundreds of years, protecting the city since the Middle Ages. Visit the town’s most famous spot, the Ploenlein square, probably the most photographed place in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Also very interesting to see is the Spitalbastei Gate, created by Leonhard Weidmann, the Latin inscription on the gate reading: ” Peace to those who enter, health to those who leave”. The Gothic St. James Church is the town’s most prominent church, here you can take a minute and relax in quietness while you enjoy the beauty of the famous Altar of the Holy Blood and the Twelve Apostles Altar. Every step you take in this old town is a step thru history with yet another beautiful spot to be discovered around the corner.

Rothenburg also offers museums which are cultural highlights, such as the Doll and Toy Museum where the history of playthings is shown, as well as the Crime Museum, where the visitor gets an insight into the law and especially its execution during the last 700 years. A highlight will be the English-speaking tour with the Night Watchman which starts at 8pm (included).

DAY 5 Day Trip to Wurzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg

Follow the Romantic Road via Creglingen (Riemenschneider Altar in the Church of the Lord), Weikersheim (Renaissance Palace and Garden) and Bad Mergentheim (you might want to visit the market place) to Würzburg where your hotel is located in the Old Town. The city is idyllically located in the midst of vineyards, with the medieval Fortress Marienberg towering above. Wurzburg is an old bishop’s seat and a lively town, proudly presenting monuments of different eras. Culture, art, history and hospitality are ever-present in this remarkable city! Fortress Marienberg (admission included), Wurzburg´s landmark, has of course changed its appearance a great deal since it was first mentioned, today the oldest part of the fortress is the “Rundkirche” (round church) which was built in the year one thousand. The Cathedral, the Marienkapelle, the “Alte Mainbrucke” (old bridge across the river Main ), the Juliusspital and the “Kappele” are musts, but make sure that you do not miss out on the “Furstbischofliche Residenz“, Prince Bishops Residence (admission included). This “Palace above all Palaces” is today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy this beautiful town which offers not only cultural but also culinary highlights such as the hearty cuisine and, of course, the world famous Frankenwein (Franconia wine!).

After one hour drive you will get to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city of Bamberg. Bamberg is a rarity even by German standards, as the basic fabric of the Old Town is largely obtained, over one thousand (!) buildings are land marked. A highlight in Bamberg is the New Residence and Rose Garden (admission included in your Central Germany Self-drive Tour & Cruise package). Construction of the New Residence began in 1613 and the palace has over 40 state rooms featuring stucco-work ceilings, furniture and tapestries from the 17th and 18th centuries. Another main attraction in Bamberg is the Imperial Cathedral which was built in the 13th century. Take a look at the magnificent marble tomb of the founder and his wife, a masterpiece of the German sculptor Tilman Riemenschneider. And do not miss to take a look at the Bamberg Horseman. This statue most likely dates to the period from 1225 to 1237.

From Bamberg it takes about 45 minutes to Nuremberg. The city’s history reaches back to the year 1050, its name “nourenberc” translating into “rocky hill”. Nuremberg has Nuremberg’s famous landmark, the Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle, admission included), towers above the Old town, which is protected by the 5 kilometers long city wall with its many towers. The historic flair of Nuremberg with the Old Town surrounded by historic City Walls and the impressive Imperial Castle (which has never been conquered) let Adolf Hitler during the Third Reich choose Nuremberg as the location for their Nazi Party Rally Grounds. Within the monumental Congress Hall a museum and documentation center opened in 2001. Its permanent exhibition “Faszination und Gewalt” (Fascination and Terror) is concerned with the causes, connections, and consequences of the Nazi movement in Germany. If you are interested to visit the Rally Grounds you may also take a look at our blog “Documentation Center Nazi Rally Grounds”.

When exploring the beauty of Nuremberg’s mediaeval Old Town one can start at the Koenigstor (“Kingsgate”), from where the timber framed buildings, the Gothic Church of St.Lawrence and the Church of St.Sebaldus can be easily reached by foot. Right next to the Koenigstor there is the Handwerkerhof (craft center), here you will feel like you are back in the medieval times, there are craft workshops like they used to have a long time ago as well as a gingerbread bakery. Make sure to enjoy a Nuremberg Bratwurst along with a beer or a glass of Frankenwein. In the evening drive back to your hotel in medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

DAY 6 Romantic Road to Dinkelsbuhl and Nordlingen and Munich

Continue your France & Germany Rail and Self-drive Combination tour through Bavaria and follow the Romantic Road towards Nördlingen. Driving time to Nördlingen is just about 1.5 hours and you will have plenty of time to visit some of the small towns along your way. On this part of the Romantic Road you find Schillingsfurst (you may want to visit the baroque Castle), Feuchtwangen as well as the former Free Imperial Town of Dinkelsbuhl with its charming Old Town. The historical old town with 16 towers, fortifications and magnificent patrician buildings is under a preservation order. The most important sights include the Minster of St. Georg, one of Germany´s most beautiful late Gothic hall churches, the ‘Weinmarkt‘ (wine market), the ‘Deutsches Haus’, the old hospital, the town mill and the picturesque ‘Rothenburger’ pond alongside the town wall. From Dinkelsbuhl follow the Romantic Road via Wallerstein to Nordlingen. The former Free Imperial Town of Nordlingen still has an almost complete medieval townscape. It is the only town in Germany with walls and battlements that can be walked all the way round. The historical old town is dominated by its landmark, the late Gothic hall Church of St. George, with its 90 m high bell tower ‘Daniel‘, which can be climbed 365 days a year. From Nordlingen drive on to Munich. On your way you may want to visit Nymphenburg Palace.

DAY  7 Munich

Today you have free time for sightseeing in Munich, your tour package already includes admission to many sights in Munich (Munich Residence and Residence Museum, Treasury, Cuvilliés-Theatre, Hall of Fame and Statue of Bavaria, Nymphenburg Palace and Park, Marstallmuseum, Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain) and with your tour package you will also receive walking suggestions for a self-guided walking tour through Munich City Center.

Along this walking tour you will visit the Marienplatz with the New Town Hall (with the “Glockenspiel”), the Konigsplatz (King´s Square), cultural center in the 19th century and later, during the “Third Reich”, site of Nazi Party mass rallies and location of the Nazi Party headquarters in Germany, the English Garden as well as the the State Opera House. You will be able to visit famous churches like Munich Frauenkirche, “Dom zu Unserer Lieben Frau (Cathedral of Our Dear Lady), with a height of 325 ft. a Munich landmark, St. Peters Church, built in the 14th century and the Asam Church, which was built as a private chapel and integrated into an apartment building. The tour will pass by the most famous Munich shopping streets (Kaufinger street and Neuhauser street) as well as by the “Viktualienmarkt”, a traditional farmers market (open every day except on Sundays). The tour will take you by the famous “Alois Dallmayr” luxury delicatessen and coffee store as well as to the Hofbrauhaus of course, probably the world’s most popular beer hall. This may be a great place to enjoy a hearty dinner and a fresh Mass of beer (one mug holds 33.8 US fl oz)!

DAY 8 Linderhof Palace and Hohenschwangau

In the morning enjoy a scenic drive towards the German Alp Mountains and visit Linderhof Palace and Park in Ettal on your way (about 100 kilometers/60 miles from Munich) to Hohenschwangau. Linderhof Palace was King Ludwig II´s Villa and the only building he totally completed during his lifetime. You may also stop in Oberammergau before you continue your drive on your way from Munich to Linderhof Palace where you can take a look at the “Passionstheater  Oberammergau” (site where the famous Passion plays are taking place once in a decade).

On your way to Hohenschwangau you will drive through the Austrian Alp Mountains for a little while before returning back to Germany. You may consider to take a break in Reutte to follow the “footsteps of a Knight” at the Museum located at Ehrenberg Castle. The exhibition at the Castle focuses on the medieval period of history.

DAY 9 Neuschwanstein Castle, Fussen, Lindau and Lake Constance

Start the day with a visit of Neuschwanstein Castle. The picture of Neuschwanstein is probably present in everybody’s mind. Be prepared that reality will surpass all pictures and imaginations: Neuschwanstein seems to be taken out of a fairy tale! Seeing the castle from the outside is unforgettable, a tour of the insight, which was originally built for the one famous inhabitant Ludwig II (admission included), will make the picture perfect! Make sure to take some time to explore the castle grounds and the amazing view of Neuschwanstein from the bridge!

Before you head west towards Lake Constance you may want to follow the Romantic Road for a short drive (30 minutes) to visit the World famous Pilgrimage Church of ‘Flagellated Savior in the Meadow’, a late work of the brothers Dominikus and Johann Baptist Zimmermann. The “Wieskirche” is located near the small town of Steingaden.

From Hohenschwangau drive to Füssen and follow the German Alpine Road to Lindau Island – located at Lake Constance. Along the Alpine Road you will pass the cities of “Lindenberg”, Oberstaufen, Immenstadt and Bad Hindelang. With a short detour it is also possible to visit the Duke-Abbot´s Residence in the city of Kempten (admission included – closed on Mondays!).

The scenic Old Town of Lindau is built on an island which is connected to the main land by a bridge. Lindau’s famous harbour, which is still regarded today as the most attractive anywhere on Lake Constance, was completed in 1856. The 6m high monument with the lion looking over the lake is located at the port entrance. It is a work by the sculptor Johann von Halbing. The Bavarian heraldic emblem flanks the harbor entrance together with the 33m high lighthouse. Thousands of lights create a magical harbor atmosphere.

Visit the historic Town Hall with its colorful facade which was first built 1422-36 and re-built in Renaissance style in 1578. The oldest building in Lindau is the “Peterskirche” (Church of St. Peter) which was built 1100 and is situated next to the Church of St. Stephan (built 1180).

DAY 10 Triberg and Black Forest

Drive from Lindau along the shores of Lake Constance towards Friedrichshafen and on to Castle Meersburg which is the oldest inhabited Castle in Germany. After visiting Castle Meersburg continue to Basilika Birnau. The pilgrimage church is located above beautiful vineyards from where you can enjoy a stunning view of Lake Constance.

Follow the road along Lake Constance toward Donaueschingen. In Donauesching you might want to visit the source of the River Danube, the so-called “Karstaufstoßquelle”. It has been identified as the historical source of the Danube ever since the Roman general Tiberius visited it in 15 BC. The source is framed in a romantic wrought iron basin, which lies in the palace grounds right next to the Prince of Fürstenberg’s Palace.

From Donaueschingen you need another 50 minutes to Triberg. When people tell you they are going to go visit the Black Forest, chances are pretty good they mean they are headed to Triberg. In a region that is laden with tourist attractions, there is none that compares to this small city in the centre of the Black Forest! Deep in the heart of the Black Forest, Triberg is home to the highest waterfall in the country. After your visit of the waterfall you might want to visit one of the most beautiful churches in the Black Forest, the Wallfahrtskirche Maria in der Tannen (Church of Our Lady of the Fir Trees). It is located on the western edge of town, just a 10-minute walk from the center. Triberg also claims to be the birthplace of the cuckoo clock, so if you’re in the market for a traditional timepiece, this is the place to find it. Nearly every restaurant and café offers the famous Schwarzwalder Torte (Black Forest Cake). Give it a try!

DAY 11 Freudenstadt and Strasbourg

From Triberg take a scenic drive along the “Schwarzwaldhochstrasse” (Black Forest Mountain Road) to Freudenstadt. Along the way from Triberg towards Freudenstadt you may consider to stop at the Black Forest Open Air Museum Vogtsbauernhof where the Black Forest culture and history come to life. Visitors will find out how people lived and worked in Black Forest farmhouses during the last 400 years. As well as six fully-furnished farmhouses from different parts of the Black Forest, the visitors will find a labourer’s cottage and about 15 outbuildings, such as mills, sawmills, storehouses, a distillery and a chapel, fields, kitchen gardens and a herb garden. The museum presents the many different faces of life in the Black Forest: its architecture, traditions, customs and trades, and the way people lived and farmed throughout the ages.

When traveling on you will find scenic places along your route where you can take a short break and enjoy the views of the Black Forest. In Freudenstadt you will find Germany´s largest market square. In the late afternoon/evening continue on to Strasbourg where you return your car in the City Center.

DAY 12 Strasbourg

Today you have a full day to enjoy the beautiful city of Strasbourg! Your Tour package includes a suggestion for a walking tour through the historic Old Town of Strasbourg. A “must do” – of course – is a visit of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame. The Cathedral is the landmark of Strasbourg and – until 1874 – it was the tallest church in the world.

Along your walking tour you will also visit the Barrage Vauban (from where you have a great view of the Old Town with the medieval bridge Ponts Couverts and the Cathedral), Petite France (an old quarter from the Middle Ages with beautiful half-timbered houses), Place du Corbeau (where you also find the restaurant “Au Canon” where the beer Kronenbourg was first brewed), Palais Rohan (the former residence of the prince-bishops and cardinals), Place Gutenberg (located in the center of medieval Strasbourg), the beautiful preserved medieval building Maison Kammerzell as well as the Place de la Republique (located in the so called “German District”).

In your tour information sheets you will also find a recommendation where to go for a typical lunch or dinner.

DAY 13 Strasbourg to Paris

After breakfast take the ICE or TGV to Paris. Travel time is about 2.5 hours! After you dropped off your baggage at your hotel (located in walking distance from Paris Est. Station) you will still have time that day to do some more sightseeing in beautiful Paris.

DAY 14 Paris Airport

Based on your departure time a private transfer will take you from your hotel directly to Paris Int. Airport.

 Would you like to download an overview of the 14 Day France & Germany Rail & Self-Drive Combination Tour (14RS01) as a pdf to print it out or to forward it to a friend? Please download it right here: 

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This is already included in the price of your tour

Day - Travel / Destination	Train Tickets	Accommodations	Other Services
Day 1 - Paris Airport to Paris/ Paris	no train ticket needed	Peyris Hotel (or similar if not available)	Private transfer from Paris Airport to you hotel
Day 2 - Paris	no train ticket needed	Peyris Hotel (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Paris, Hop-on Hop-off City Tour thru Paris
Day 3 - Paris via Strasbourg to Heidelberg/ Heidelberg	Train ticket from Paris to Strasbourg (travel time about 2:20 hrs)	Hollander Hof (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Paris, Executive size Rental car with automatic transmission, with GPS and a comprehensive insurance package for the duration of your tour
Day 4 - Heidelberg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber/ Rothenburg ob der Tauber	no train ticket needed	Hotel Spitzweg (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Heidelberg, Englisch-speaking walking tour with the Night Watchman
Day 5 - Day trip to Wurzburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg/ Rothenburg ob der Tauber	no train ticket needed	Hotel Spitzweg (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Admission to the Residence and Marienberg Fortress in Wurzburg, Admission to the New Residence and the Rose Garden in Bamberg, Admission to the Imperial Castle in Nuremberg
Day 6 - Rothenburg ob der Tauber to Munich/ Munich	no train ticket needed	King´s Hotel First Class (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Admission to Nymphenburg Palace and Park
Day 7 - Munich/ Munich	no train ticket needed	King´s Hotel First Class (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Munich, Admission Residence Museum and Treasury, Cuvilliés-Theatre, Hall of Fame and Statue of Bavaria, Nymphenburg Palace and Park, Marstallmuseum and Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain
Day 8 - Munich to Hohenschwangau/ Hohenschwangau	no train ticket needed	Hotel Muller (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Munich, Admission Linderhof Palace & Park (Ettal) and Neuschwanstein Castle (Hohenschwangau)
Day 9 - Hohenschwangau to Lindau/ Lindau	no train ticket needed	Hotel Reutemann und Seegarten (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Hohenschwangau
Day 10 - Lindau to Triberg/ Triberg	no train ticket needed	The Best Western Plus Schwarzwald Residenz (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Lindau
Day 11 - Triberg to Strasbourg/ Strasbourg	no train ticket needed	The Best Western Monopol Metropol (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Triberg
Day 12 - Strasbourg	no train ticket needed	The Best Western Monopol Metropol (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Strasbourg
Day 13 - Strasbourg to Paris/ Paris	Train ticket from Strasbourg to Paris (travel time about 2:20 hrs)	Peyris Hotel (or similar if not available)	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Strasbourg
Day 14 - Paris to Paris Airport/ Paris Airport	no train ticket needed	no hotel needed	Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Paris, Private transfer to Paris Airport

The tour package we provide includes a day by day itinerary as well as all tickets, vouchers and information necessary to enjoy a great independent tour. It also contains general information about the cities you visit which you can downloaded from our website once your tour is confirmed.

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This is not included in the price of your tour

• • Airfare from/to your origin to/from Germany

• • all meals other than breakfast (which is included)

• • gratuities (tips)

• parking fees

You have booked the tour already and would like to download the to-europe tour package for this tour now? Please download them right here:

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 5-Days Romantic Road Self-Drive Tour Just to say we thoroughly enjoyed our trip, the weather was lovely and the towns and villages very pretty and interesting. We especially liked the Hotel Spitzweg and the charming owner. The car was great, and the SAT NAV fantastic! Have not used one before but just great to whizz into a town and be taken to the door. All in all, a great trip and thank you again for organising everything for us.– Anne H. 

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