Munich

Sunday, July 20th to Wednesday, July 23rd

Before you reach Munich, you will be taken to Neuschwanstein Castle, a royal palace in the Bavarian Alps of Germany, the most famous of three royal palaces built for Louis II of Bavaria. Begun in 1869 and left unfinished at Louis's death in 1886, the castle is the embodiment of 19th century romanticism. In a fantastical imitation of a medieval castle, Neuschwanstein is set with towers and spires and is spectacularly sited on a high point over the Pöllat River gorge. In the evening you will arrive at the hotel in Munich. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy any way you please.

Munich throbs with haute-couture shopping, grand cathedrals, opulent palaces, vigorous music and art, and an abundance of gourmet restaurants, beer gardens and popular nightspots. On July 21st, you will get to know Germany’s “secret capital” on a sightseeing trip: Your walk will start at Marienplatz, the heart of the city. If you’re lucky, you'll be able to view a daily performance of the New Town Hall's glockenspiel. From Marienplatz it's a short walk to several landmarks, including four important churches. From there you will take a stroll along the grandiose Maximilianstrasse, on which there are prominent museums and upscale boutiques. The first part of the tour finishes at the Platzl (little square) with its Hofbräuhaus, probably the world’s most famous beer hall, where you can take a break with a liter-sized mug of frothy Bavarian beer.

In the afternoon you will visit the Residenz, once the royal palace of the Wittelsbachs, who ruled Bavaria from the 1200s through 1918. It evolved from a ducal palace, erected in 1550, into a grand royal palace. Consequently, it displays a spectrum of architectural styles. It was rebuilt after World War II and now houses several museums. The Residenzmuseum has the largest Renaissance room outside Italy, the ornate Antiquarium, and the impressive Emperor's Hall. The separate Schatzkammer museum showcases royal treasures.

On July 22nd, you will go to Dachau concentration camp memorial site. This camp was the first concentration camp in the Third Reich.

At noon, you will be taken back to Munich. The afternoon is at your disposal. You may want to go shopping in the pedestrian area from Marienplatz to Karlsplatz, which offers abundant shopping possibilities. Or visit one of the renown museums in Munich, such as the Deutsches Museum (German Museum) or the Alte Pinakothek (the Old Picture Gallery), which houses a world-class collection of 14th- to 18th-century paintings assembled by Bavaria's Wittelsbach rulers.

In the evening we will take you on a tour through Munich’s artists’ quarters and finish the night with a mug of beer in a jazz club. On the next day you will depart for the German Alps.