Germany Trip Plan:
German Castles, Churches, and Cathedrals

[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 1: Arrival in Germany

• Arrive in Frankfurt International Airport (FRA)
• Pick up a rental car (pls. coordinate with your favorite rental car provider.) and drive to your vacation rental apartment. To save even more consider using public transportation, which is excellent in Germany.
• For each apartment we have detailed maps and driving directions available.
• Arrive at your home away from home and get settled in the apartment
• Possibly buy some groceries (see our grocery store list in the appropriate destination guide), and explore the local surroundings by foot.
• Have a nice dinner (see a list of great restaurant choices listed in our dining guide) Or, consider preparing your own meal in the apartment (see link to our German recipes collection below.)

Cathedral Wetzlar
[ source: Flickr]

Day 2: Visit Wetzlar's historic Old Town and Cathedral

• Visit Wetzlar's historic old town
• A special highlight is the Wetzlar Cathedral (Wetzlarer Dom)
• 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 (see our Wetzlar destination guide.)

[ source: Wikipedia]

Day 3: Explore 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 in our Braunfels destination guide.)

Castles on Rhine River
[ source: Flickr]

Day 4: Travel to the Rhine river and visit the Rhine castles

Drive to a town near the Rhine River (e.g., Rüdesheim, Boppard), park your car, and take a boat tour on the Rhine River. You can enjoy the views from the boat that will take you up and down the Rhine river.
• There is a large number of castles between Mainz and Bonn along the Rhine river and particularly in the narrow gorge that connects Bingen and Koblenz were the river only has a length of 35 miles. Here you can find the largest cluster of castles in a river valley in the world.
• In the evening return back to your home away from from home

Flickr
[ source: Flickr]

Day 5: Visit the Cathedral of Cologne

• Enjoy a day in the city of Cologne, visit the cathedral, go shopping and sightseeing
• Cologne is a 2 hour drive from Waldgirmes or Wetzlar
• From there in the evening travel to Trier. We recommend to stay there in a local bed & breakfast or hotel for that night.

Porta Nigra Trier
[ source: Flickr]

Day 6: Visit the Porta Nigra in Trier

• The Porta Nigra in Trier is a large city gate that dates back to the Roman times. It is also the largest city gate north of the Alps. Today it is part of the World Heritage Sites.
• Spend more time in Trier, visit St. Matthias Abbey Church and Trier Cathedral (St. Peters Dom)
• Return to your apartment in Waldgirmes or Wetzlar in the evening.

Heidelberg Castle
[ source: Flickr]

Day 7: Heidelberg, the Romantic Castle

• Schloss Heidelberg is a famous ruin and landmark of Germany located on Heidelbergs hillside, the Königsstuhl.
  Spend some time in Heidelberg, have a great dinner, and return back to your apartment in Wetzlar or Waldgirmes. This concludes your Germany vacation.

How do you like this Germany trip idea?

Share your feedback and comments. You can also enter more travel tips and recommendations here.