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Self-Drive Romantic Road

Sail down the beautiful rivers

Exeter International White Glove Self-Drive Program Includes:

A pre-programmed GPS system for you to use while in Europe.
Every day will be set up for you and you can’t get lost!
24-hours local help line available to you as you travel and manned exclusively by Exeter local staff.
Our expert advice in finding the perfect car for your trip. Your car will be waiting for you to pick up locally and will show you exactly where to return it when you are finished.
The freedom to deviate and explore on your own and then jump back into your planned itinerary at any time.

For custom luxury travel, tours and self drive programs to Germany, please contact one of our travel experts.

White Glove Self-Drive Downloadable PDF

Download PDF Itinerary here.

PRICING FROM

$4,000 per person, based on two guests traveling together. The cost of the car rental is not included and will be quoted separately based on the clients’ preferences. Please contact Exeter International for specific pricing and availability.

Arrival | Würzburg Würzburg, Germany

Today you will arrive in Frankfurt. Upon your arrival, pick up your rental car and head towards Würzburg, located about 1,5 hours from Frankfurt. Check-in at your deluxe hotel. After some time to settle in, drive to the city center (about 20 minutes) to meet your local guide.

Würzburg is the center of the Franconian wine region, and the cultural hub of Lower Franconia. Like Dresden, the city was severely damaged during WWII but experienced an extensive renovation that brought all the historical sites back to life.

Your guide will take you first to see the Residenz – the prince bishops’ palace considered a master work of XVIII century German Baroque. This vast complex offers magnificent state rooms, as well as beautiful frescos throughout. Later, continue your stroll through the lively Old Town across the Alte Mainbrücke (Old Bridge) to the Marienberg Fortress, built on a hill overlooking the river Main and the city surrounded by vineyards. The Fortress was built on the site of an old Celtic stronghold, and there is also a museum illustrating the over thousand-year history of the city.

To finish the day, your guide will take you to visit one of the most unique places in Würzburg, the Hospitals. Originally created to provide charitable care for the old and the sick, these institutions are nowadays house of over one hundred elderly residents, and they operate as a self-financing foundation, being the main source of income their own vine-growing. Guests can sample some of the varieties and also enjoy some delicious local meal.

Exeter Services: Guide (3 Hours)

Hotel: Schloss Steinburg

Nuremberg | Nuremberg Nuremberg, Germany

Today, we recommend that you visit the nearby city of Nuremberg, located about 1,5 hours away, where you will meet a local guide for an overview tour.

The city’s history reaches back to the year 1050, its name “nourenberc” translating into “rocky hill”. Nuremberg’s famous landmark, the Kaiserburg (Imperial Castle,), towers above the Old town, which is protected by the 3-mile-long city wall with its many towers. Another site you may enjoy in the Old Town is Albrecht Dürer House, where you can see the workshop of the greatest artist of the German Renaissance.

If you wish, your guide will also show you The Nuremberg Courthouse. An exhibition provides details on the trials which took place in Courtroom 600 after World War II. (If it is a weekday, there may be a Trial taking place in the Court Room, so it will not be possible to see it.)

Later, on your own and on your way back to Würzburg, you can head to the former Nazi parade grounds, just outside the city center, where you will see Nuremberg’s former WWI memorial along with the largest Third Reich ruins in the world. You can also visit the Documentation Center, located in the Congress Hall, one of the foremost examples of Nazi architecture that is still intact.

Return to Würzburg for an evening at leisure.

Exeter Services: Guide in Nuremberg (4 Hours)

Hotel: Schloss Steinburg

Romantic Road | Romantic Road Romantic Road, Germany

Begin your Romantic Road journey today. We recommend that you to stop at some of the charming towns along the route, like Wertheim or Weikersheim, where you can see the magnificent Renaissance castle and its Versailles-style garden.

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is your highlight today. A free Imperial town, Rothenburg is located in the Tauber Valley, at the intersection of the Romantic Road and the Castle Road. Considered an architectural jewel in the region, it features a completely preserved XIV century medieval town wall, a historical Market Place with a Gothic and Renaissance Town Hall and several churches.

Afterwards, we suggest to first stop at the Market Place of Feuchtwangen, where you can buy the famous and delicious pralines! Continue to the charming town of Dinkelsbühl, lying in the idyllic Wörnitz Valley. This is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the country. Enjoy a stroll along the walls and through the cobblestoned streets, filled with colored houses full of history.

Head south towards Munich, where you will check into your luxury hotel.

Originally founded as a fortified trade settlement on the bank of the Isar River in the 12th Century, Munich was later granted a monopoly in the salt trade, which was so important in the Middle Ages, thus gradually growing in wealth and importance. In the early 16th century, it became the capital of Bavaria and reached its greatest growth in the 19th Century. Famous for hosting the annual Oktoberfest beer festival, Munich also has a multitude of architectural monuments, excellent historic sights, museums, and shopping.

Note: The total driving time without stops is about 3 hours.

Exeter Services: No Services

Hotel: Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten

Munich | Munich

This morning, meet your guide for an overview tour of the city.

You will first head to Marienplatz (Mary’s Square), which has been Munich’s focal point since it was first laid in the 1300s. It is here where the famous Glockenspiel Clock can be seen! Next, you may wish to see the historic Frauenkirche church, whose towers were the only parts that survived the war bombings. It is one of Germany’s largest Gothic buildings, able to accommodate a congregation of up to 20,000.

Your guide will also take you to 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. On your way there, you may want to step inside St. Peter’s Church, the oldest parish church in the city and referred by locals as “Old Peter”. If you are interested, you can climb the 300 steps to the tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city center, reaching as far as the Alps during clear days.

Continue your tour with a stop at Feldherrnhalle – Field Marshals’ Hall, a monumental loggia modeled after the one in Florence, and mostly known for being the site of the brief battle that ended Hitler’s Beer Hall Putsch in 1923.

You will finally reach the Residenz – the former residence of the Bavarian kings. Restored to its original form after the bombings of the Second World War, the huge palace complex now contains seven courtyards, lavish living quarters and several museums, as well as the richly gilded Rococo Cuvilliés Theater. You will see the outside and will also stroll along Ludwigstrasse, one of the four royal avenues in the city. If you wish, you can also head to the Englischen Garten, the largest urban park in the world.

Exeter Services: Guide (4 Hours)

Hotel: Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten

Bavaria | Bavaria Neuschwanstein - Bavaria, Germany

This morning head into Bavaria and into the Alps. Today you may visit Neuschwanstein, one of the most recognized symbols of Bavaria. 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 nearby town are priceless.

Although the castle is still, to this day, unfinished, the interior is stunning. Neuschwanstein is designed in the authentic style of old German knights’ castles and is decorated in themes from Wagner’s operas. The castle is extraordinarily busy all summer long. We avoid lines as much as possible by booking a pre-set entrance time. Should there be any change in timing today, your guide will advise you. You will also have tickets to get to the castle in the horse and carriage system operated by the castle administration.

After your visit, you may want to visit the village of Oberammergau for a bit of exploration. Oberammergau is most known for its Passion Play – first performed in 1634 and still performed once every 10 years. Come back in 2020 to see the next performance! It’s a very picturesque village, as residents have a tradition of painting frescoes on their houses with scenes from fairy tales, folk life and bible scenes. If you want to pick up a souvenir here, Oberammergau is famous for its wood carving.

If you wish, you can also visit the Wies Church (Wieskirche), a UNESCO-protected baroque landmark. Completely unassuming from the outside, the interior of this church is magnificently decorated and is a highlight of Bavarian rococo architecture.

Exeter Services: No Services

Hotel: Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten

Munich | Munich Munich, Germany

Today we recommend you visit Berchtesgaden, located in the border with Austria. Here you will reach Hitler’s mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden – Eagle’s Nest. This mountaintop chalet remains today in its original condition. You’ll have to take a local, specially-equipped bus to the top of the mountain to reach it, then take an elevator built directly into the mountain.

Alternatively, we suggest a day trip to Salzburg or a day at leisure in Munich to visit one of the wonderful museums in the city, followed by a stroll through the pedestrian historic center.

Exeter Services: No Services

Hotel: Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten