Germany Trip Plan:
Historic Castles in Hesse
If castles are your thing, this 7-10 day package may be just what you're looking for. Arrive in Frankfurt, pick up your rental car, and drive to one of our featured vacation apartments in the beautiful Lahn river valley. This package makes it possible to tour many of the most historic and well-preserved medieval castles and towns in Hesse. Braunfels, Weilburg, Limburg: these and other castles have their own special charm, and you can visit as many or as few as you like from your home away from home.
Note: This is a trip plan (self-driving, stay in a vacation apartment, explore on your own)
Duration: 7 - 10 days
Recommended Destination Airport: Frankfurt Airport
Trip Plan Details:
If castles are your thing, this 7-10 day package may be just what you're looking for. Arrive in Frankfurt, pick up your rental car, and drive to one of our featured vacation apartments in the beautiful Lahn river valley. This package makes it possible to tour many of the most historic and well-preserved medieval castles and towns in Hesse. Braunfels, Weilburg, Limburg: these and other castles have their own special charm, and you can visit as many or as few as you like from your home away from home.
Cost Estimate:
We compiled some starting prices and rough estimates to help you better with your Germany trip planning.
| Lodging: | starting at $700 for 2 persons / 10 days |
| Admissions: | starting at $500 for 2 persons / 10 days |
| Car Rental: | starting at $600 / 10 days |
| Gas: | starting at $200 / 10 days |
| Estimated Total Cost: | 2 persons, starting at $2100 / 10 days |
| 4 persons, starting at $2600 / 10 days | |
Notes: The 7 day version of this vacation package is very packed, but still doable without too much stress . The good thing is that you can change the order of the visits based on your preferences or weather conditions easily. Most of the castles have opening times around the week during season, therefore making changes if needed should be easy. If you have 10 days at your disposal we recommend spending extra time in Frankfurt, Bad Homburg, and Wetzlar to visit more historic sights. You can of course change the order and mix these days in between (in case you've seen enough castles the previous day.) |
Travel Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Germany
- Arrive in Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
- Pick up rental car (pls. coordinate with your favorite car rental provider)
- Drive to vacation rental apartment in Waldgirmes or Wetzlar. For each apartment we have maps and driving directions available.
- Arrive at your
home away from home
and get settled in the apartment - Possibly buy some groceries (see grocery list for Wetzlar / Waldgirmes), and explore the local surroundings.
- Have a nice dinner (see a list of great restaurant choices in Wetzlar or Waldgirmes.)
Day 2: Visit Wetzlar's historic Old Town
- Visit Wetzlar's historic old town
- Depending on your interest you may want to schedule a local tour guide (they speak English) to provide you with a guided tour (see travel guide for details.)
- Have lunch or dinner in one of the great restaurant choices available in Wetzlar's historic old town.
- Stroll through the charming streets of Wetzlar, sit in one of the beer gardens or bistros around Wetzlar's famous Dom (cathedral.)
- Have an Italian ice cream in one of the recommended ice cafes.
Day 3: Explore the Braunfels and the Braunfels Castle
- Visit Braunfels and the famous Braunfels castle
- Depending on your interest you may want to schedule a local tour guide (they speak English) to provide you with a guided tour (see travel guide for details.)
- Have a great dinner near the Braunfels castle (see list of restaurant choices.)
Day 4: Visit Weilburg and the Weilburg Castle
- Visit Weilburg and the Weilburg Castle
- Weilburg's historic old town also provides more sightseeing opportunities (see our travel guide for more details.)
Day 5: Visit Limburg and the Limburg Castle
- Visit Limburg and the Limburg Castle
- Limburg's historic downtown also provides more sightseeing opportunities
Day 6: Visit the Greifenstein Castle
- Visit the Greifenstein Castle and the German Bell Museum. Use the opportunity for hiking in the nearby beautiful forests. Afterwards have lunch or dinner in an authentic German restaurant (see travel guide for details.)
- OR: As an alternative visit the Roman Fort Saalburg, and have a nice dinner in Usingen's historic old town afterwards.
Day 7: Check out Büdingen and Castle Ronneburg
Visit Büdingen and the 13th century built Ronneburg Castle. Büdingen is known for its medieval stronghold, which is still in good condition, and for its timber-framed houses
Day 8: Spend a day in Frankfurt am Main
Spend a day in Frankfurt am Main, visit its historic sites and museums (e.g., the Senckenberg museum.)
Day 9: Bad Homburg and Taunus Therme
Spend a day in Bad Homburg (e.g., spend a morning or afternoon at Taunus Therme, or the nearby Seedammbad.) In the evening enjoy great food and gambling at the Bad Homburg Casino.
Day 10: Concluding your Vacation...
Spend another day in Wetzlar's historic old town and conclude your vacation with an authentic German dinner in a great restaurant. We recommend the Naunheimer Mühle
(see the Waldgirmes Destination Guide > Dining Out for more details.)
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Where to Stay?
We feature nice vacation rentals and holiday apartments in destinations that are part of this trip plan. Click on a picture of the destination below where you would like to stay, then browse the vacation apartments, pick one you like, and fill out the Check Availability form with your desired travel dates. If you would like to stay in different locations please submit multiple inquiries, specifying the desired travel dates for each vacation apartment where you would like to stay. We will back to you with a free quote quickly (typically within 1-2 business days.)
Bad Homburg vor der Höhe
Bad Homburg vor der Höhe (official: Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe) is the main town of the Hochtaunuskreis, Hesse, Germany, on the southern slope of the Taunus, bordering among others Frankfurt am Main and Oberursel. The town is best known for its medically…
Braunfels
Even just a simple walk past Braunfels' market place and into the outer rings of the castle walls will amaze you since it takes you back to medieval times.
Related: Braunfels travel guide
Büdingen
Büdingen is a town on the eastern edge of the Wetterau region, in the state of Hesse. It is known for its largely still intact medieval stronghold and its beautiful preserved timber-framed houses.
Related: Büdingen travel guide
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is the largest city in the state of Hesse, known for its futuristic skyline and international airport. A number of family outings make this an efficient, and unforgettable, vacation experience: Treat yourself to a spa-treatment at the nearby…
Related: Frankfurt travel guide
Greifenstein
Greifenstein is a community in the Lahn-Dill-Kreis in Hesse, Germany. Its administrative seat is Beilstein. Greifenstein covers 67.43 km² on the eastern slope of the Westerwald range. Its name comes from the castle of the same name in the constituent…
Related: Greifenstein travel guide
Limburg an der Lahn
Limburg an der Lahn (officially: Limburg a. d. Lahn) is the district seat of Limburg-Weilburg in Hesse, Germany.
Related: Limburg an der Lahn travel guide
Waldgirmes
Waldgirmes is a small, charming village near Frankfurt in the midst of lush meadows and beautiful forests. It is located in central Hesse, from where all kinds of activities are possible: watch the castles go by on a Rhine river cruise, paddle on a canoe…
Related: Waldgirmes travel guide
Weilburg
Weilburg is, with just under 14,000 inhabitants, the third biggest town in Limburg-Weilburg district in Hesse, Germany, after Limburg an der Lahn and Bad Camberg.
Related: Weilburg travel guide
Wetzlar
Wetzlar, in central Hesse, features an amazingly well-preserved and restored Old Town (Altstadt), with historic plazas, a 13th century Cathedral (Dom) and scores of half-timbered houses. Choose one of several vacation homes in the Old Town itself!
Related: Wetzlar travel guide
How to maximize your savings and spend less during your Germany vacation?
You can cut down your vacation costs significantly by following these simple rules:
- Instead of eating out in restaurants most of the time your vacation rental apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen. By preparing your breakfast and dinner yourself you can save lots of money, but you can also live a more authentic Germany vacation by trying out local foods and recipes. (see some German recipe suggestions.)
- Use public transportation instead of a rental car. We provide you with links and details on how to get around using public transportation. Check out the corresponding Live Like a German travel guide for more details.
Tags: castle germany, castles germany, castles in germany, castle tour germany