Self Drive - Southern Germany & Austria (11 days)

Upon your arrival into Frankfurt, pick up your rental car and self-drive to Baden-Baden. Non-stop drive should take just a bit under two hours.  

Interesting stops before you get to Baden-Baden would be:

• Mainz – wonderful Old Town with impressive Cathedral and the Gutenberg Museum of Print

• Worms – one of the oldest cities in Germany, home to the St. Peter’s Cathedral, one of the largest Jewish cemetery and the historic Rashi House and Synagogue, as well as the Nibelungen Museum  

• Heidelberg – fantastic University town, with gorgeous old town and impressive castle

Drive times:  

• Frankfurt – Baden-Baden – 1hr 45 min

• Frankfurt – Mainz – 40 min

• Mainz  - Worms – 40 min

• Worms – Heidelberg – 25 min

• Heidelberg – Baden-Baden – 55 min

Arrival into Baden Baden and check-in at your hotel.  

This afternoon, either stay in Baden-Baden or explore the nearby Black Forest.  

If you decide you are not tired and wish to do some exploring by car, we highly recommend taking the Schwarzwaldhochstrasse for the most scenic drive in the area. This road starts in Baden-Baden and ends in Freudenstadt. At times it will take you to elevation above 1,000 meters above sea level. You will pass by Hornisgrinde, the highest mountain of the forest at 1164 m,  just below it stop by the glacial lake of Mummelsee. For good hiking, stop at the Naturschutzzentrum Ruhestein with several different trails or at Schliffkopf where the Lothar trail starts. Finally, drive to Freudenstadt, a charming small town with typical arcaded houses and the largest market place in Germany.  

Non-stop drive from Baden-Baden to Freudenstadt would be just an hour, but with stops you will spend the whole afternoon on this trip.

Return to the Baden-Baden via Oppenau, Oberkich, Lauf, Buehlertal.  

Another loop back could lead south from Freudenstadt to Alpirsbacher Klosterbrau (Alpirsbacher Abbey), a home to a historic brewery (open till 5:00PM).  

This morning check-out of your hotel and enjoy another drive through the Black Forest. We recommend an early start today.  

First, we suggest you visit the Black forest Open Air Museum Vogstbauernhof, between Gutach and Hausach. Open daily from 9:00AM to 6:00PM. This is the best way to see the architecture and folk crafts of different areas of Germany.  

Next, drive to Triberg to see its Waterfall and charming Old Town.  

(Optional detour: Next, we also suggest a small detour to the Hohenzollern Castle, open every day from 10 to 5:30PM.  (Park on the parking lot below the castle – 2EUR per car, purchase your tickets there and take the shuttle bus to the top).)

Next, drive to the Lake Constance (Bodensee), your hotel is in Lindau.  

Depending on timing, consider visiting the Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen today. The museum is open from 9:00AM to 5:00PM (last admission is at 4:30PM). Ticksts are payable locally.

Evening arrival to the Lake Constance, check-in at your hotel.

Driving times:  

• Baden-Baden-Vogstbauernhof – about 1 hr 10 min

• Vogstbauernhof – Triberg – 25 minutes

• (Triberg – Hohenzollern Castle - 1 hr 15 min

• Hohenzollern Castle – Lindau – 2 hrs)

• Triberg – Friedriechshafen – 1 hr 45 min

• Friedrichshafen – Lindau – 25 min

This morning, check-out of the hotel and continue your drive to Füssen, to be your base to visit the Fairytale Castle of Neuschwanstein.  

Today, you will visit Castle. Please note that the entrance is arranged by appointments. Tickets will be booked for you in advance to be picked up at the ticket office and payable locally.  

It took 17 years and over 6 million Gold Marks to turn “Mad” King Ludwig II’s fantasy into reality.  Set in one of the world’s most beautiful locations, the castle overlooks the idyllic 700 year-old medieval village of Füssen.  The views from the castle and from the Marienbrücke Bridge are priceless.

Although the castle is still, to this day, unfinished, the interior is amazing.  Neuschwanstein is designed in the authentic style of old German knights’ castles and is decorated in themes from Wagner’s operas.  

In the afternoon, we suggest a drive to Linderhof, this is a spectacular drive through the mountains and by the lake Plansee.

Driving times:  

• Lindau to Hoehnschwangau – 1 hr 20 min

• Hohenschwangau to Lindau – 45 min

This morning, check-out of the hotel and continue your trip with a drive to Salzburg.  Since you have two sites on your agenda today, we recommend departing early in the morning.

First, you will drive to Eibsee southwest of Garmisch at the base of Zugspitze, to park your car before taking the cable car to Zugspitze or enjoy a hike by the lake at your leisure. The cable car runs half-hourly from 8:00AM to 4:45PM and the ascent takes about 30 minutes. Its operation is subject to weather. Tickets are not included and are payable locally.

After your Zugspitze adventure, depart towards Salzburg. On the way, stop to visit Hitler’s mountain residence.  

As Eagle’s Nest is quite close to Salzburg, you will have about two and a half hour to drive now before reaching Obersalzberg. To reach Eagle’s Nest, park at the Hintereck parking (all parking and entrance tickets are payable locally). Near the parking, you will find the Dokumentation Obersalzberg (open 9:00AM-5:00PM), where you can visit an interesting exhibition on the history of Hitler’s regime and WWII. This is also where underground bunker system can be accessed (on preset tours). From the parking, you will need to take the mountain bus up to Eagle’s Nest which now serves as a restaurant. Alternatively, you can hike up to the top (3.3 miles, about 2 hours).

After your tour, continue down the Königsee or Echo Lake, squeezed among the steep mountain peaks. On the way to Salzburg, you can also stop in the quaint mountain village of Berchtesgaden (or leave it to the day you return to Munich).  

Arrival into Salzburg, check-in at the hotel.

Driving times:  

• Hohenschwangau – Eibsee – 1 hr

• Eibsee -Obersalzberg -2.5 hrs

• Obersalzberg – Salzburg – 35 min

Today, enjoy Salzburg's Old Town with its world famous baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centers in Europe and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hellbrunn Castle can be visited today from 9:00AM-5:30PM. Manro Classic Auto & Musik Museum outside of Salzburg is open daily till 4:00PM.

Depart at your leisure to Munich. We suggest using the Deutsche Alpenstrasse (German Alpine Road), B305, Salzburg - south to Hallein, then on to Berchtesgaden, then follow B305 to Reit im Winkl and down to Bernau am Chiemsee. From there - after a short stop at Lake Chiemsee, even a visit at Herrenchiemsee Island with King Ludwig II's castle - on the Autobahn A8 to Munich.  

If you like coffee, you should stop at Irschenberg, where you find Dinzler's Coffee Roastery. You can have a look at their machinery, and at their restaurant and café you can have something to eat and try their different coffee varieties.

After arrival, check-in at the hotel. Drop off your car today.

Driving times:

• Salzburg – Betechsgaden – 35 min

• Bertechsgaden - Chiemsee – 1 hr

• Chiemsee - Irschenberg – 35 min

• Irschenberg - Munich – 35 min

Today at 10:00AM, meet your guide in the lobby for a half-day walking tour of Munich. The heart of the old town (Altstadt) is Marienplatz, a colorful square overflowing with flower boxes and dominated by the New City Hall.  You will see street musicians and artists as you stroll. Don’t miss the Viktualienmarkt, the open-air food market frequented by locals and tourists alike.  It’s a great place to pick up a fresh pretzel for a snack.

This afternoon, you will be joined by a driver to take a short drive to Nymphenburg Palace for a brief tour (brief so that you can enjoy the BMW museum as well).  This summer palace was first begun in 1664 and has been enlarged over the centuries.  Don’t miss the palace’s most famous feature – the Gallery of Beauties – 36 pictures of local ladies painted for King Ludwig.  

Next, your guide will take you to the BMW Museum, which displays all of the company’s accomplishments in the last century.  The building itself is almost a work of art and is reminiscent of the Guggenheim in New York.  You will learn the history of BMW and see some of the technical innovations happening in Munich.

Today, check-out of the hotel and meet your driver for the transfer to the train station (the hotel is about 3 blocks away from the station, if you don’t have too much luggage, this is possible to walk).

First class tickets will be reserved for your journey to Berlin on the 7:13AM train to Berlin.  

Upon arrival into Berlin at 1:08PM, private transfer to the hotel.  

This afternoon at 2:30PM, your guide will meet you in your hotel for an initial overview walk of Berlin.

Begin with a stroll with your guide along Unter den Linden.  Berlin's magnificent boulevard and the centerpiece of the Old Berlin, Unter den Linden leads from the Schlossbrücke Bridge to Pariser Platz at the Brandenburg Gate.  As you walk down this street, your guide will tell you some of the history of this area of the city, when Unter den Linden was originally a bridle path.

Opposite Pariser Platz from the Adlon you will find the symbol of Berlin – the Reichstag.  The Reichstag was built in the late 19th Century to house the German Parliament. The building was badly damaged by fire, and renovations did not start until well after the end of the Second World War – in 1957. As part of the rebuilding, the dome and most of the ornaments on the facades were removed. The latest rebuilding project began in 1995 transformed the Reichstag into a modern parliamentary meeting hall with an elliptical dome.  You will have a timed appointment to go to the top to see the panoramic city views.

You may also wish to stroll through one of Berlin’s most architecturally interesting neighborhoods - the Embassy Quarter.  In this area you will find several unique embassies, consulates and government buildings, as well as the official residence of the President- Schloss Bellevue.  While you will not be able to enter these buildings, your guide will be happy to discuss the myriad of different architectural styles.

Later you may visit to one of Berlin’s most interesting architectural landmarks of the 20th century.  The DZ Bank building was designed by Frank O. Gehry was finished in 2001. Berlin’s strict municipal building laws forced Gehry to place his characteristic organic architectural forms in the building’s interior. At the center of the building is a large, glass-covered inner courtyard, whose major element is a closed conference room in the shape of a freely formed sculpture that extends up over nearly four floors. The main exterior facing the Pariser Platz is made of bright lime sandstone and is characterized by extreme simplicity. Of particular interest are the unusually large windows, which consist of a only one huge slate that is set partly at a diagonal. Gehry’s typical architectural language shines through on the side facing the Behrenstrasse, where the living quarters are located. The façade is in the form of a wave and jumps upward in several distinct steps.

Today at 9:00AM, you will depart to Dresden by private vehicle. Upon arrival in Dresden, your guide for the day will meet you for your tour of the city.

Protected for centuries by mighty fortifications, the Saxon capital of Dresden developed splendor and activity.  Once known in the 18th century as the "Florence of the north" due to its priceless art treasures and exquisite architecture, Dresden is sure to enchant you after the big- city feel of Berlin.  Your guide will take you to the Altmarkt, the city's central square since the 13th C. (destroyed in 1945). It owes its present handsome and imposing aspect to the use of typical Dresden Baroque architectural forms in the rebuilding, which began in 1953.    

Today you will have the opportunity to visit one of Dresden’s treasures – the Green Vault.  The Green Vault houses a one of a kind collection of gemstones, gold, ivory, objects d’art and historic treasures.  

Your guide will also take you for a stroll on the Brühlsche Terrasse, a 930 meter long promenade above the River Elbe, known as "Europe's balcony".

If possible, your guide will also take you into the Frauenkirche.  Originally completed in 1743, the Frauenkirche, or Church of Our Lady, was an architectural masterpiece for its time.  The church’s most incredible feature was its bell-shaped dome of solid stone.  Unfortunately, the church was reduced to rubble after Allied bombing in World War II.  After an international rebuilding effort, the Frauenkirche has just recently reopened.  Your guide will be happy to describe the unique way this important Dresden monument was reconstructed.

No visit to Dresden is complete without a visit to the Zwinger, a beautiful Baroque structure housing several museums.  We recommend a visit to the Old Masters Gallery, to see Dresden’s priceless art collection including Raphael’s famous Angels.  You may also wish to visit the Porcelain Collection or the Armoury.

Later this afternoon, you will be joined by a driver.  For the finest cuisine for lunch, you will want to drive to Neustadt (New Town).  This area of Dresden is located across the Elbe River and is actually older than the Old Town, dating back to 1403.  Be sure to spend some time on Königstrasse (King Street). The unbroken rows of patrician houses, restored at great expense, provide a good impression of how Dresden used to look. The many inner courtyards are also worth a glance. Some accommodate tucked-away restaurants, while others invite you to spend some time shopping in their elegant boutiques and passageways full of stores.  Neustadt features a variety of excellent restaurants, including Caroussel, located in the Hotel Bülow-Residenz.  This fine dining establishment holds Saxony’s lone Michelin star and serves a variety of fish and game dishes.

For a light snack (or just a good photo opportunity), we can highly recommend a visit to Pfund – simply the most beautiful cheese shop in the world.  It’s a perfect stop for a snack or light meal and is located in Neustadt.  The interior is comprised of embellished tile paintings in a neo-Renaissance style and the hand-painted motifs were produced in the Dresden stoneware factory of Villeroy and Boch.  Don’t overlook the delicious chocolate bars here – they’re always a hit as a souvenir!

In this same area, you will also want to stop in Daniel Libeskind’s striking new Military History Museum, the highlight of your visit today.  This museum is much more than a historical look at war.  Instead, it asks difficult questions and makes guests think about the causes and consequences of war and violence.  The emphasis is on the human component of war, rather than the technical/military aspect.  This is the first war museum to open in Germany since reunification and has been the subject of much debate.

Evening return to Berlin.

This morning, your guide will take you for an exploration of post-World War II Berlin.  First you will drive into the eastern section of Berlin for a visit to the “East-Side Gallery.”  This is the longest cohesive section of the Berlin Wall.  This stretch of the Berlin Wall has been painted by various artists after the fall and it stretches for a mile or so.  You may stop to walk a bit and explore some of the different subjects portrayed.

You may also wish to make a visit to Checkpoint Charlie.  This unique museum, founded in 1962 beside the legendary Checkpoint Charlie border crossing, documents the history of the Berlin Wall.  Here you will find original objects from successful escapes under and over the wall.  

Just down the street from this museum is a very interesting new installation called the Topography of Terror.  For history lovers, this outdoor museum on the site of the former headquarters of the Gestapo and SS is an essential visit.  Just finished in 2010, the museum is an outdoor timeline of Nazi terror in Germany.  

We suggest that you spend the afternoon exploring the fantastic art museums of Berlin.  If you like contemporary art, we suggest you to visit the Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin's Museum for contemporary art located in the former railway station. The exhibition is dedicated to art from the second half of the 20th century and onwards.  This is perhaps the most important collection of contemporary art in Berlin.

The collection contains works from Staatliche Museen zu Berlin (National Museums in Berlin) as well as very many items belonging to the private Berlin collector, Erich Marx. At the core of the Marx collection are works by such internationally renowned artists as Andy Warhol, Cy Twombly, Robert Rauschenberg, Roy Lichtenstein, Anselm Kiefer and Joseph Beuys. The collection also includes over 450 drawings by Beuys, "The secret block for a secret person in Ireland", and about sixty by Warhol. Also on show are representatives of Minimal Art and the Provera.

You may also wish to spend some time at The DaimlerChrysler Collection, which is devoted to 20th century art.  This collection moved into its exhibition galleries in Haus Huth in Potsdamer Platz in October 1999. Haus Huth was built for the Huth family in 1912, by architects Conrad Heidenreich and Paul Michel. It is the only imperial German building in Potsdamer Platz to have survived both the war and Wall largely unscathed. The family wanted to store wine on the second and third floors, and so the architects recommended a steel skeleton structure that was well ahead of its time. This is why the building survived the air-raids. The building was originally a restaurant; wine merchant's shop and wine bar, and then became a private house and warehouse. Daimler-Benz, now DaimlerChrysler, acquired it with Potsdamer Platz in 1990.    

Today, check-out of the hotel and meet your driver for the transfer to the airport.