Travel to the end of Germany’s famous Romantic Road to Neuschwanstein Castle, King Ludwig II’s fairy‑tale hilltop fortress and inspiration for Disney’s castle. Though never completed, its lavish halls reveal ornate furnishings and Wagner‑themed décor. Continue to Oberammergau to admire painted houses, meet woodcarvers and learn about its famed Passion Plays. Then visit Schloss Linderhof, Ludwig’s only finished Rococo retreat, with mirror halls, tapestry rooms and terraced gardens featuring grottoes.
Discover Munich’s most iconic sights. Wander the cobbled lanes of the Old Town and the sunlit courtyard of the Alter Hof. Explore the Residenz Museum and admire the late-Gothic twin domes of the Frauenkirche. Enjoy a Maß at the world-famous Hofbräuhaus and watch the Glockenspiel of the New Town Hall on Marienplatz. Browse the stalls of Viktualienmarkt and visit the Theatinerkirche, St. Michael and the ornate Asamkirche. Continue to Nymphenburg Palace with its gardens, BMW Welt and the Olympic Park. End your day with a trip to Lake Tegernsee in the Alpine foothills.
Travel along Lake Chiemsee to Herrenchiemsee, Ludwig II’s island palace replica of Versailles. Continue to Salzburg, renowned for its music festivals and dominated by Hohensalzburg Fortress. Admire Mirabell Garden, stroll Domplatz past the Cathedral and Residenz where emperors met in 1871. Wander Getreidegasse’s boutiques and cafés, passing Mozart’s Birthplace en route. Explore the Christmas Museum’s eleven themed exhibits.
On this full-day journey along the Romantic Road you visit Dinkelsbühl, renowned for its intact town walls, ornate patrician houses like Hezelhof and Deutsches Haus, and St. George’s Minster, a 15th‑century hall church. Enjoy lunch in Dinkelsbühl, then continue to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, the former Imperial City famed for winding alleyways, picturesque squares and well‑preserved walls. Wander its Gothic churches, historic market and ramparts.
Cross Lake Chiemsee by ferry to Herreninsel, a 240‑hectare island crowned by King Ludwig II’s Schloss Herrenchiemsee. Tour the Neues Palais, built 1878-85 as an homage to Versailles, featuring lavish state apartments and the 325-foot Hall of Mirrors. Explore the Augustinian monastery’s museum and two art galleries, showcasing royal portraits and historic artifacts. Wander the formal French Gardens, where whimsical fountains, classical statues, dragons and winged warriors adorn manicured lawns and parterres.
Visit Berchtesgaden, a historic Alpine town famed for its salt-mining heritage. Pass by the crystal-clear Lake Königssee, set beneath towering limestone cliffs. Then, climb the Kehlstein road to Kehlsteinhaus - the Eagle’s Nest (open May 9 to October 25) - via vintage bus and brass elevator, where you’ll enjoy sweeping mountain vistas and regional cuisine.
