Germany: Berlin to the Rhine in 12 Days
Germany
Overview
Germany's ICE high-speed trains connect this route end to end: Berlin's layered 20th-century history, Dresden's rebuilt baroque old town, Munich's beer halls and Alpine reach, the university town of Heidelberg beneath its castle ruin, and finally Cologne's cathedral on the Rhine. No car needed anywhere on this route.
- Duration
- 12 days
- Pace
- Balanced
- Transport
- Public transport
- Estimated budget (comfortable)
- €1,300–€1,700
Route
Highlights
- The East Side Gallery and Museum Island in Berlin
- Dresden's rebuilt Frauenkirche and Zwinger Palace
- A beer hall evening and the English Garden in Munich
- Heidelberg Castle above the Neckar river
- Cologne Cathedral, one of Europe's largest Gothic churches
Worth knowing
- Twelve days moves quickly across five cities — an extra day anywhere helps
- Munich is significantly more expensive during Oktoberfest (late Sept–early Oct)
- Sunday closures mean many shops (not restaurants) are shut
Day by day
Day 1
BerlinMain activities
- Arrive, settle in
- Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag
Day 2
BerlinMain activities
- Museum Island
- East Side Gallery
Optional additions
- Checkpoint Charlie
Day 3
BerlinMain activities
- Free morning
- Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood
Optional additions
- Day trip to Potsdam's palaces
Day 4
Berlin → DresdenMain activities
- High-speed train (~2h)
- Frauenkirche and the Zwinger Palace
Optional additions
- Semperoper opera house
Day 5
Dresden → MunichMain activities
- High-speed train (~4.5h)
- Marienplatz and the Glockenspiel
Day 6
MunichMain activities
- English Garden
- Beer hall evening
Optional additions
- Nymphenburg Palace
Day 7
MunichMain activities
- Day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle
Day 8
Munich → HeidelbergMain activities
- High-speed train (~3h)
- Heidelberg Castle and the funicular
Optional additions
- Philosophers' Walk
Day 9
Heidelberg → CologneMain activities
- Train (~1.5h)
- Cologne Cathedral
- Old Town (Altstadt)
Day 10
CologneMain activities
- Climb the cathedral tower
- Rhine riverside walk
Optional additions
- Day trip along the Rhine Gorge
Day 11
CologneMain activities
- Free day — museums or a Rhine river cruise
Day 12
CologneMain activities
- Departure
Alternatives
Drop Dresden and Heidelberg, going Berlin → Munich → Cologne directly.
Add Hamburg for 2-3 days before Berlin, or the Romantic Road between Munich and Heidelberg.