Your Privately Guided Rail Journey…
Day 1 – Arrive Berlin... Once again the Capital of Germany
Your guide is on-hand to greet you upon arrival and escort you by private car to the historic Adlon Kempinski, just steps away from Brandenburg Gate. You’ll receive a 2-day Museum Card so feel free to step out in this vibrant, friendly city and explore some of its world-class museums. This evening, sit down to an elegant candle-lit dinner specially arranged in the Reichstag. The 1894 Parliament building is once again the symbol of the German capital, now graced with an electrifying new glass dome designed by British architect Sir Norman Foster. Meals D
Day 2 – Private Car Sightseeing in Berlin
After breakfast, your guide is waiting to show you the highlights of the hometown city he loves! Exploring comfortably by private car, you’ll see City Hall and the iconic Brandenburg Gate, the sole remaining gate of 14 that were built in the late 1700’s. Designed as a triumphal arch for King Frederick Wilhelm II, its handsome classical style evokes the simplicity and elegance of the Athens Acropolis. You’ll also drive along the remains of the Berlin Wall, which fell 20 years ago in November, 1989. The afternoon is at leisure to explore at your own pace with your Museum Card. The Pergamon Museum, just one of four stellar institutions on nearby Museum Island , is not to be missed! Here you’ll find the amazing Pergamon Altar, a monumental Greek Temple of the 2nd century BC, discovered in Turkey and shipped to Berlin in the late 19th century. Meals B
Day 3 – First Class Rail to Dresden
The morning is yours to do as you please. Stroll along the famed Ku’damm, brimming with avant garde boutiques, old-fashioned street vendors, city residents, and delighted visitors from all over the world. Or, join an available excursion to one of the celebrated palaces of Potsdam: Sanssouci, the glorious Rococo palace where Frederick the Great escaped from the pressures of the Prussian Court. Or the Tudor-styled Cecilienhof Palace, site of the 1945 Potsdam Conference where Truman, Churchill and Stalin met to shape much of the post-war 20th century. Later, journey by first class rail to Dresden where a private car awaits to escort you to the elegant Taschenbergpalais Kempinski. Meals B
Day 4 – The Delights of Dresden, Privately Guided
After devastating destruction in World War II, the historic capital of Saxony has been masterfully restored to once again grace a sweeping bank of the Elbe River. You’ll be captivated by the city’s architectural splendor as you explore with your personal guide. Marvel at the magnificent Semper Opera House which witnessed the premiers of masterworks by musical greats like Wagner and Strauss. Then see the Zwinger Palace, heavily ornamented in grand Baroque style with carved garlands, nymphs and fountains. Gaze upon the grand spires of the Church of Our Lady, reduced to rubble during the War and now rebuilt. Then go inside the celebrated Green Vault to see a dazzling collection of precious objets d’art and a 41-carat green diamond! Meals B
Day 5 – Journey South into Bavaria
Private car transfers, luggage handling and first class rail make for a carefree journey! Relax and take-in the scenery. Upon arrival in Munich, you’ll be warmly greeted Bavarian style and escorted to the luxurious Kempinski Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten. Meals B
Day 6 – Much ado about Munich
Join your guide for a private walking tour in this friendly Bavarian city, focusing upon the treasures of Old Town. Stroll through the Marienplatz, dominated by the ornamented turrets of Town Hall, built at the end of the 19th century in the opulent neo-Gothic style favored by King Ludwig II. Be sure to look up so you can admire the much beloved mechanical figures of the Glockenspiel installed in 1904. Continue on to the Church of Our Lady, a distinctive red-brick edifice built in late Gothic style at the end of the 15th century. Its towering, 300-foot-high twin onion domes are an iconic feature of the Munich skyline. Then return to your hotel along Maximillianstrasse, the city’s most elegant thoroughfare. Meals B
Day 7 – Depart Munich
A private car brings you to the airport or rail station for your onward journey. Meals B
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