This full-day tour begins in Frankfurt with a 1-hour drive south to Heidelberg, widely considered the most beautiful town in Germany.
Heidelberg is Germany’s oldest and most famous university town — renowned for its baroque Old Town (aka Altstadt), its beautiful riverside setting and, of course, the haunting hilltop Heidelberg Castle, which draws almost one million visitors each year.
That’s where this tour begins, amidst the famous ruins of the Gothic landmark palace.
Heidelberg Castle was once one of the grandest palaces of the Renaissance era — and one of the most notable ensembles of buildings in the Holy Roman Empire. The ravages of war and the forces of nature rendered it a ruins, however. Explore the huge courtyard and ravaged yet magnificent terrace. Then visit the wine cellar to see the Heidelberg Tun, the largest wine barrel in the world.
Then head to the oldest part of Heidelberg, the Altstadt, which extends along the Neckar River for one mile. Marvel at its Baroque and Renaissance architecture among the newer buildings, narrow streets and market squares, like Marktplatz and the Kornmarkt.
This medieval Old Town region is full of arts, history, science, shopping, eating and relaxing. Some of the points of interest here include the Church of the Holy Spirit, the most famous church in Heidelberg; the Kurpfälzisches Museum (aka Palatinate Museum) of art and archeology; Synagogue Square, a memorial to a synagogue that was burned down by the Nazi party in 1938; the Karl Theodor Bridge, commonly known as the Old Bridge, which crosses the Neckar River; world-famous Heidelberg University, the oldest university in Germany and much more.
From Heidelberg, it’s another 1-hour drive south to Baden-Baden, a spa town in southwestern Germany’s Black Forest. Explore the town on a walking tour of its well-groomed parks and thermal bath houses. Visit the town's top attraction, Kurhaus of Baden-Baden, for a tour of the spa resort, casino and conference complex. Then venture deeper into the Black Forest by coach to visit the Mummelsee, a popular tourist lake in nearby Seebach. This region is famous for its production of traditional German cuckoo clocks, so consider buying an authentic souvenir before the return journey to Frankfurt.
