From Bavaria to Berlin

Join veteran WT Trip Leader Robert Sommer for our fascinating hiking and cultural adventure amid the castle-topped hills and medieval villages of Old Europe, with walks and hikes that bring us deep into an ancient heartland lost in time. An expert on Germany’s history, Robert was raised in the former East Germany and has a passion for introducing travelers to his homeland. Our journey bring us from impressive Nuremberg, with its moat and ancient city walls, to the Burgenstrasse (the Castle Road), where we hike a path between towering medieval fortresses perched atop crags. We also walk along the evocative Iron Curtain Trail to a tiny village that is now an open-air museum of the Cold War era, explore by punt boat in the Spreewald, a wetland dotted with the traditional farmsteads, and enjoy the Baroque treasures of Dresden, a riverside enclave hidden behind the Iron Curtain for 40 years. Along the way, we immerse ourselves in the legacy of ancient European kingdoms, hike in exquisite countryside, learn about the cultural differences that still exist between eastern and western Europe, taste regional cuisines, and of course, enjoy world-class beer tasting at local breweries. Our accommodations are a treat, including a castle-turned-hotel on the Castle Road and a former summer palace of the King of Saxony on the river in Dresden. Our grand finale finds us in breathtaking Berlin, now the cultural epicenter of Europe, where we “walk the Wall” and take in the delights of one of Europe’s greatest cities. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience this intriguing part of Europe with a true expert—Robert holds a PhD in German studies and is also a delightful Trip Leader with a great sense of humor and a wealth of knowledge.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

Days 1-2
Hilpoltstein / Nuremburg

From Munich, we head out to medieval Hilpoltstein, a small town of red-roofed houses in the heart of northern Bavaria with a castle ruin towering above it. In exquisite Nuremburg, we walk through themedieval Old Town, with its massive walls, brooding watchtowers, and moat. We also explore the dark chapter of Nuremberg’s history—its association with the Third Reich. Our explorations includes the Reichsparteitagsgelande, where Hitler staged some of his famous large rallies.

Days 3-4
Forchheim / The Castle Road / Pottenstein

After exploring the ancient Bavarian town of Forchheim, we hike along the Burgenstrasse for spectacular views of castle-topped hills along with medieval villages and half-timbered houses. One of our hikes brings us to lovely Pottenstein, known for its craft beer, and into the idyllic Püttlachtal and Klupertal valleys. We’ll head to a traditional brewery for beer tasting in Pottenstein.

Days 5-7
Iron Curtain Trail / Dresden / Spreewald

The historic Iron Curtain Trail once marked the physical and ideological border between eastern and western Germany. We hike the trail to the once-divided village of Modlareuth, now an open-air museum of the Iron Curtain era. Later we head to glorious Dresden, Saxony’s capital and a beautiful city of Baroque castles, churches, and palaces of golden sandstone along the Elbe River. We enjoy a walking tour and learn about Dresden’s legacy as “Florence on the Elbe.” After a day hike among the rock outcrops of Saxon Switzerland, now Saechsische Schweiz National Park, we head to romantic Meissen, famed for its porcelain, then take a traditional flat-bottomed boat through the Spreewald, a quiet rural delta of lagoons linked by wooden bridges and the farmsteads of the Slavic-speaking Sorb people.

Days 8-10
Potsdam / Berlin

Home to Prussian kings and German Kaisers for centuries, Potsdam retains its imperial character. On our walking tour includes Schloss Sanssouci, summer palace of Frederick the Great, Prussia’s most famous king. We then cross the famed Glienicke Bridge, once used to exchange captured spies during the Cold War, to enter Berlin, a city epic in its scale. One of our walks in Berlin follows the former path of the Berlin Wall and traces a path past Hitler’s former bunker and the site of the famous Checkpoint Charlie. Depart on Day 10.

For a more complete description, Download Full Detailed Itinerary

What the Trip is Like

WHAT THE TRIP IS LIKE
This trip is rated 2+, easy to moderate, according to our trip grading system. It is a town and country walking tour consisting of hikes of 2-5 hours. You carry just a daypack for any items you want to have with you during the day. Please note that although this is not a strenuous trip, you should be able to be on your feet for up to six hours a day. Our city walks can sometimes be as long as three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon, so you should be in shape and ready to walk. Our trail hikes will be on a combination of dirt, gravel, and rocky terrain, so footwear with good traction is highly recommended. Our luggage is transported for us by van, so it is always possible to ride in the van if you want to opt out of a day's hike.

Explanation of Trip Levels