Romantic Road Bavaria Salzburg Rail Tour. This beautifully-designed tour covers places like Wurzburg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber along the Romantic Road from Frankfurt to Munich (the tour can also be booked from Munich to Frankfurt).
One of the highlights of this tour is a visit of Garmisch-Partenkirchen – the mountain resort where Germany´s highest mountain – the Zugspitze – is located. It also includes a comprehensive admission package as well as an English speaking city tour in Rothenburg ob der Tauber!
Wurzburg Residence ©Romantische Straße Touristik Arbeitsgemeinschaft GbR
The rail tour includes unrestricted 2nd-class Rail tickets (see the tableau this is already included in the price of your tour) and there is an option to upgraded to 1st-class Rail for the long distance train rides . This is just an extra of US $ 129.00 per Person and includes seat reservations! Here you also find everything else that is included: rail tickets, tours and admissions.
Price per Person
| two sharing a double room | one in a single room | three sharing a triple room |
| US $ 1,379 | US $ 2,199 | US $ 1,199 |
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:
View 10 Day Romantic Road, Bavaria & Salzburg Rail Tour (10R07) in a larger map
Day 1 Frankfurt
It only takes 11 minutes from the Airport local train station located below baggage claim in arrival Hall 1 of Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) to Frankfurt Central Station where your hotel is located in short walking distance. Frankfurt is a very modern metropolis which nevertheless offers many historic sites such as the Romerberg (hill of the Romans) with its beautifully restored timber-framed houses, of course the Goethe Haus where the world famous poet once lived, the Paulskirche, symbol for democracy and freedom in Germany, “Alt-Sachsenhausen“, where in Schellgasse number 6 you will find Frankfurt’s oldest timber-framed house which was built around 1291, to name only a few of Frankfurt’s historic landmarks.
Romer, Opera House, Skyline of Frankfurt © Thomas H. Giesick
The Frankfurt museum riverbank is one of the most important locations for museums in Germany and Europe. The exhibition buildings are lined up on both sides of the Main riverbank, several famous museums are to be found in the city centre. Visit the “Stadel“, the German Museum of Architecture as well as the Museum of Applied Art or the “Schirn Kunsthalle” to name only a very few. Don’t miss out on Frankfurt’s “Zeil“, a huge pedestrian zone where shopping is the name of the game. So, if you arrive early enough in Frankfurt, visiting this interesting metropolis is certainly worthwhile.
Day 2 Aschaffenburg und Wurzburg
Today you will have an early start: Take a train from Frankfurt Int. Airport on to Wurzburg.
Wurzburg Residence ©Romantische Straße Touristik Arbeitsgemeinschaft GbR
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!).
Town Hall of Rotheburg ob der Tauber ©Romantische Straße Touristik Arbeitsgemeinschaft GbR, Sebaldus Church and Imperial Castle in Nuremberg ©Thomas H. Giesick
Day 3 Day trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber
It only takes about an hour by regional train from Wurzburg Central Station to get to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The charming medieval town, towering above the “Tauber” river, is located at the cross-way of the Romantic Road (running from Wurzburg to Fussen/Alp Mountains) and the Castle Road (running from Mannheim/Heidelberg to Prague). Enjoy visiting the Old Town with the historic City wall (can be walked on). A highlight for many is “Kaethe Wohlfahrt Christmas Wonderland” which is open all year. Added to the store is the Christmas Museum which is worth visiting if you are interested in the history of Christmas and Christmas decorations. The price of your tour includes an English-speaking escorted walking tour which will take place at 2 pm. At your convenience take the train from medieval Rothenburg ob der Tauber back to Wurzburg Central Station, where your hotel is located.
Day 4 Nuremberg
High-Speed “ICE” rail will take you from Wurzburg Central Station to Nuremberg Central Station. Travel time is only about an hour. Your hotel is located in walking distance from Nuremberg Central Station (which is located just outside the Old City Wall surrounding Nuremberg Old Town and the Imperial Castle). Nuremberg’s history reaches back to the year 1050, its name “nourenberc” translates into “rocky hill”. Nuremberg’s famous landmark, the “Kaiserburg” (Imperial Castle), towers above the Old town, which is protected by the five kilometers long city wall, many towers and gates can still be visited. The medieval Castle is one of the most important imperial palaces dating from the middle ages from the 11th century (admission included). In the Third Reich Adolf Hitlers´Nazi Party had chosen Nuremberg for their Nazi Rallies and if you are interested in that part of history you may want to visit the Documenation Center Nazi Rally Grounds which are located just south of the Old Town. When exploring the beauty of Nuremberg’s medieval Old Town you may want to start right at the Koenigstor (“Kingsgate”) which is the gate right across from Nuremberg Central Station. 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 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” (franconian wine).
Day 5 Day trip to Bamberg
Today you will make a day trip to a 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 landmarked. A highlight in Bamberg is the New Residence and Rose Garden (admission included). Construction of the New Residence began in 1613 and the palace has over 40 staterooms 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.
Day 6 Day trip to Bayreuth
In morning take the train from Nuremberg to Bayreuth the town of the popular Richard Wagner festivals. The New Town Residence (admission included) was built in Bayreuth after the Old Palace burned down. Margravine Wilhelmine had considerable influence on its final form, designing some of the rooms herself, including the Cabinet of Fragmented Mirrors and the Old Music Room with its pastel portraits of singers, actors, and dancers. The Palm Room with its outstanding walnut paneling is a typical example of the Rococo style in Bayreuth. See the Margravial Opera House (admission included), built between 1744 and 1748, one of the few remaining 18th-century theatre buildings in Europe. The interior of this theatre with its tiers of boxes, made entirely of wood, was designed by Guiseppe Galli Bibiena from Bologna, the most important theatre architect of his day. Margravine Wilhelmine, a sister of Friedrich der Große (Frederick the Great), Margravine Wilhelmine converted the Old Palace into a charming little summer palace. Her audience room, the Music Room, the Japanese Cabinet as well as the Chinese Mirror Cabinet are splendid examples of Rococo architecture. The Margravine, who was a theater buff, also had an artificial amphitheater ruin erected, in which she herself appeared along with the writer and philosopher Voltaire. A particular highlight of a tour of the palace is the interplay of water fountains in the grottos. At your convenience take the train back to Nuremberg.
Day 7 Munich
On board of the High-speed train “ICE”, it takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Nuremberg to Munich. The price of your tour already includes a ticket for unlimited free use of public transportation within Munich (also to Munich Int. Airport) as well as 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.
Munich Town Hall, Hohensalzburg in Salzburg and Garmisch-Partenkirchen ©Thomas H. Giesick
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 Day trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Garmisch-Partenkirchen – the mountain resort town is located close to the border of Austria and in the midst of beautiful mountain scenery at the foot of Germany´s highest mountain – the “Zugspitze” (2971m, 9714ft.).
You will have great views of the mountain area and it is possible of course to visit the Zugspitze or – maybe even nicer – take a beautiful hike into the neighboring mountains Kreutzeck (5,417 ft.) and Osterfeldkopf. Here you can walk on the AlpspiX (which is free of charge): two steel beams form a floating X over a vertical drop of more than 3,000 ft. You have great views of the “Höllental” below and also of the (mostly) snow-covered Zugspitze which is just across from the Osterfeldkopf. For details about this day trip please also see Thomas’s Blog: Alp Mountains (Zugspitz area) – Daytrip by Rail from Munich.
In 1936 the Winter Olympic Games took place in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and each year a variety of Nordic and alpine World Ski races are held here. The Olympic Ski Stadium was built by the Nazi Regime. Just a couple of walking minutes from the Stadium you will find the Partnach Gorge, definitely worth a visit. The gorgeous gorge has been formed by the Partnach, a mountain stream – you may want to take a light rain jacket when going in there!
Day 9 Day trip to Salzburg
In about 1.5 hours you will get to Salzburg – located right across from the German border. Salzburg is a beautiful town close to the Alps, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the world famous composer.
Salzburg is a city which can be explored by foot and your tour package contains a suggestion for a walking tour. Along this tour, you will be able to see Mirabell Palace and Park and it is very nice to walk through Mirabell Garden towards the River Salzach. You will walk by Mozart’s Residence where Mozart family moved to in 1773 when the house in which Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had been born became too small. The building now accommodates a museum showing the various stations of the lives of the Mozart family.
A highlight, of course, is Hohensalzburg Fortress, built in 1077. It is the largest, fully-preserved fortress in central Europe. The medieval princes’ apartments and the Fortress Museum are of particular interest. Since 1892 the fortress can easily be reached by funicular railway departing from the Festungsgasse.
The Franciscan Church is a Gothic-style Church with an impressive ceiling; the tower holds one of the oldest preserved bells made by the master bell-founder, Jörg Gloppischer, in 1468. You will find Mozart’s Birthplace, which today is a museum, amidst small shopping streets. In this beautiful historic part of the town, you also find a wide choice of restaurants for dinner.
Day 10 Munich Int. Airport
Today your tour ends after breakfast. Depending on the departure time of your flight from Munich International Airport take the train to Munich International Airport at your convenience. As an option, you may also consider extending your stay in Munich and/or return to Frankfurt or Frankfurt International Airport by train or coach. We will be happy to arrange those options for you. Please note that this tour can also be booked vice versa, from Munich Int. Airport to Frankfurt Int. Airport!
Would you like to download an overview of the 10 Day Romantic Road, Bavaria & Salzburg Rail Tour (10R07) as a pdf to print it out or to forward it to a friend? Please download it right here:This is already included in the price of your tour
| Day 1 - Frankfurt Int. Airport to Frankfurt/ Frankfurt | Unrestricted ticket (not restricted to a specific time or train type) from Frankfurt Int. Airport to Frankfurt Central Station (travel time about 10 minutes) | Hotel Concord (or similar if not available), located within 5 walking minutes from Frankfurt Central Station | |
| Day 2 - Frankfurt to Wurzburg/ Wurzburg | Ticket - also valid for High Speed-Rail-Train "ICE" trains) from Frankfurt Central Station via Aschaffenburg to Wurzburg (travel time about one hour) | Hotel Wurzburger Hof (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Wurzburg Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Frankfurt, Admission to the Wurzburg Residence and Marienberg Fortress (open March 16th to October, closed on Mondays) |
| Day 3 - Day Trip to Rothenburg ob der Tauber/ Wurzburg | Ticket from Wurzburg to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and back (travel time about one hour one way) | Hotel Wurzburger Hof (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Wurzburg Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Wurzburg, English-speaking walking tour of the historic Old Town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber |
| Day 4 -Wurzburg to Nuremberg/ Nuremberg | Ticket - also valid for High Speed-Rail-Train "ICE" trains) from Wurzburg to Nuremberg (travel time about one hour) | Hotel Victoria (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Nuremberg Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Wurzburg, Admission to the Imperial Castle in Nuremberg, admission to the Deep Well and to the Sinwell Tower |
| Day 5 - Day Trip to Bamberg / Nuremberg | Ticket from Nuremberg to Bamberg (travel time about one hour one way) | Hotel Victoria (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Nuremberg Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Nuremberg, Admission to the New Residence & Rose Garden in Bamberg |
| Day 6 - Day Trip to Bayreuth/ Nuremberg | Ticket from Nuremberg to Bayreuth (travel time about one hour one way) | Hotel Victoria (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Nuremberg Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Nuremberg, Admission to the New Palace & Court Garden in Bayreuth, Admission to Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth, Admission Hermitage & Court Garden in Bayreuth |
| Day 7 - Nuremberg to Munich/ Munich | Ticket - also valid for High Speed-Rail-Train "ICE" trains) from Nuremberg to Munich (travel time about one hour) | King´s Hotel Center (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Munich Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Nuremberg, Admission Residence Museum, Treasury, Admission Cuvilliés-Theatre, Admission Hall of Fame and Statue of Bavaria, Admission Nymphenburg Palace and Park, Admission Marstallmuseum and Museum of Nymphenburg Porcelain |
| Day 8 - Day Trip to Salzburg/ Munich | Ticket - also valid for High-Speed "Rail-Jet" trains) from Munich to Salzburg and back (travel time about 1:40 hrs one way) | King´s Hotel Center (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Munich Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Munich |
| Day 9 - Day Trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen/ Munich | Ticket from Munich to Garmisch-Partenkirchen and back (travel time about 1:20 hrs one way) | King´s Hotel Center (or similar if not available), located within 10 walking minutes from Munich Central Station | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Munich |
| Day 10 - Munich Central Station to Munich Int. Airport/ Munich Int. Airport | Ticket from Munich Central Station to Munich Int. Airport (travel time about 45 minutes) | no hotel needed | Buffet breakfast at your hotel in Munich |
Your tour package includes all tickets, vouchers and information necessary to enjoy a great independent tour. The tour package also contains tour information sheets (20-35 pages) with general information about the tour and a day by day itinerary which you can download from our website once your booking is confirmed.
This is not included in the price of your tour
- Airfare from your origin to Frankfurt International Airport /from Munich International Airport to your origin
- all meals other than breakfast (which is included)
- gratuities (tips)
You have booked the tour already and would like to download the to-europe tour information package for this tour now? Please download them right here:
ROMANTIC ROAD, BAVARIA & SALZBURG Hello Thomas, Heather and I thoroughly enjoyed our rail tour, everything went without a hitch. The trains were well organized at sensible times and your information was spot on…. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and would have no hesitation in recommending your tours to other visitors to Germany. Many thanks once again kind regards – Alastair and Heather, Melbourne, VIC Australia
We are fortunate to have travelers from all over the world on our pre-packaged tours and we would love to have your feedback! If you have been traveling along this tour with us please leave us a review below – we greatly appreciate your time! (your Email address will not be displayed)
Submit your review | |
I cannot emphasize how well everything was planned out. Every day was a breeze to check into hotels, board trains, and navigate cities. I would without hesitation book a trip through to-europe again. Thank you so much for the experience! (pro tip: if you have the time, add the Neuschwanstein bus tour to this package and make it 11 days, the bus tour was 10/10)
You must be logged in to post a comment.