8-Day Germany & Switzerland Rail Circle Tour (8R06)

Start your tour with a ride on the commuter train from Munich Int. Airport directly to Munich Central Station. Your hotel is located in short walking distance from the station. The price of your tour 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)!

In about three hour train ride by speed rail, from Munich to Heidelberg Central Station you will continue you Germany and Austria Rail tour. Since the station is a little bit outside of the Old Town, where your hotel is located, your tour already includes a taxi transfer from Heidelberg Central Station to your hotel. Heidelberg is a beautiful historic town located along the banks of the Neckar River and the most significant sight is certainly the ruin of Heidelberg Castle, which is towering above the city. Since your hotel is located right inside of the Old Town of Heidelberg it is easy to explore historic Heidelberg by foot. Your tour package will include walking tour suggestions for the Old Town. Along the walking tour you will see the Old Bridge from where you have a nice view of the Old Town and the Castle ruins above. You will also pass by the “Marktplatz” (market place) which is the main square of Heidelberg, the “Peterskirche” (St. Peter´s Church) and the historic University of Heidelberg. Heidelberg´s University was founded 1386 and it is the oldest University in Germany and with more than 30.000 students it is still one of the most important universities in Germany today. If you want to enjoy a view over Heidelberg and the Neckar River you may want to walk up to the grounds of the castle ruins or – for a small fee, take  the historic funicular up and down Heidelberg Castle.

By taxi transfer, you will get from your hotel to Heidelberg Main Station from where you take the Speed train to Bern. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote about Bern: “It is the most beautiful that we have ever seen”. Albert Einstein lived here from 1903 until 1905. Don´t miss to visit the Cathedral of Bern. It is Switzerland’s largest ecclesiastical building. Construction started in 1421, the spire was finally completed in 1893. At its portal you can see a depiction of the Last Judgment. Climb up Switzerland´s highest church to have a marvelous view cross the city and into the Bernese Mittelland and the snow-capped mountains of the Bernese Oberland. The Old Town ob Bern is very scenic and it has a unique medieval character. The historic center, almost completely surrounded by the Aare River, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Very unique are the numerous arcades you will find in Bern.

After a long day you may want to have something to eat at the Schwellenmätteli, a famous restaurant in Bern. Located on the banks of the River Aare you’ll feel like you’re on an island vacation.

In less than one hour the Speed Rail will take you from Bern to Interlaken. Interlaken (Latin for “between the lakes”) is nestled between two lakes: Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. It also affords a view of the world famous Icy Icons: the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The Jungfrau – Top of Europe – can be reached by train. The tour does not include the tickets for the train journey up to the mountain since it will not be worth going up there if you have bad weather. Even in the summer time there can be days with snowfall and fog. However, if the weather is nice we recommend to go – this wonder-world of eternal snow and ice is absolutely stunning. Tickets can be bought right at the Interlaken West Station (where you arrived). Visit the Ice Palace and its sculptures or enjoy the breathtaking views from the Sphinx look-out terrace over the Aletsch Glacier, the longest ice stream in Europe, to the surrounding mountain peaks of the neighboring countries.

Day 5 “Golden Pass” Panorama train ride to Lucerne / Lucerne

In the morning take the Scenic-Panorama “Golden-Pass”-train ride from Interlaken to Lucerne. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and an important tourist destination due to its location on the shore of Lake Lucerne – within sight of Mount Pilatus and Rigi. The train ride will be an absolute highlight of your tour, the Swiss Alp Mountain Scenery is just beautiful! Visit the Chapel Bridge: It is a 14th century wooden bridge crossing the Reuss River in the Old Town. The Chapel Bridge with the octagonal water tower is a famous landmark of Lucerne.

You will come across 17th century triangular painted roof panels lining the ceiling of this covered bridge, recounting important events from Swiss history and mythology. it is the most photographed monument in Switzerland. Don´t forget to visit one of the world’s most famous monuments: The Dying Lion of Lucerne. It was carved out of natural rock by a renowned Danish/Icelandic sculptor, commemorating the hundreds of Swiss guards who were massacred during the French Revolution in 1792. Mark Twain says about the Lion of Lucerne that it is the saddest and most moving piece of rock in the world.

In less than one hour you will be in Zürich. As a lifestyle capital located on the water, Zürich offers the unique mix of discovery, pleasure, nature, and culture. The finest culinary highlights, unlimited shopping pleasure, over 50 museums and more than 100 galleries, Switzerland’s liveliest nightlife, numerous events and countless green oases in the center of the city tempt guests to linger and enjoy. If you want to have a glorious view of the Old Town, Grossmünster Church, City Hall, the Limmat river, the University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Visit Lindenhof, a haven of peace and tranquility in the heart of the city. At the church “Fraumünster” you can find glass windows that have been created by Marc Chagall. If you want to do some shopping a visit of the “Bahnhofstrasse” is a must. The street runs from the Main Station right down to the lake. It is said to be among the most beautiful shopping areas in Europe and with its boutiques and stores it is also known to be one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping streets in the world. In Zürich, you might want to look for a new Swiss-made watch, but you definitely have to try a piece of the Swiss Chocolate (Frey or Lindt).

Day 7 Munich

The direct train ride from Zurich to Munich Central Station, where your hotel is located, takes a little over four hours so you will have some additional time for sightseeing in Munich that day! The admission ticket 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) is still valid today and and, since you most probably have not had the time to visit all of the sights at the start of your tour, you will have an additional opportunity to do so today.

Day 8 Munich International Airport

Today your tour ends after breakfast. Depending on the time of your departure flight from Munich Int. Airport you may still have some additional time for sightseeing today. The admission ticket to many sights in Munich is still valid! The direct commuter train takes about 40 minutes from Munich Main Station to Munich International Airport.