Day 1: UK - Frankfurt.

On arrival, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. Included meals: Dinner

Day 2: Frankfurt Area - Rhine Cruise - Cologne - Rhineland.

Today’s highlight is an included Rhine cruise to enjoy scenic views of the Rhineland, including the famous Lorelei rock. The next highlight is Cologne with free time to visit the city center. Included meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Rhineland - Hamelin - Hamburg.

Journey into the Lower Saxony region to visit Hamelin, exploring the beautiful medieval old town, with its Haemelschenburg Castle, the town centre’s colourful historical buildings or the Hochzeitshaus. Later, continue to Hamburg. Included meals: Breakfast

Day 4: Hamburg - Lübeck - Berlin.

Start the day with an orientation drive in Hamburg, one of Germany’s greatest maritime cities. Later, depart for Lübeck, formerly a free Hanseatic city and independent state. Lübeck, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered the cultural capital of northern Germany. Thomas Mann, Günther Grass, and Willy Brandt—all Nobel laureates—were among the famous residents of this city. Later, arrive in Berlin and enjoy your first evening in the capital of Germany. Included meals: Breakfast

Day 5: Berlin.

No longer divided but every bit as fascinating, Berlin was once the city of contrasts with the wall separating two different worlds. Now, the city has developed into a harmonious blend of new and old, preserving its historical buildings and impressive boulevards as well as creating brand new buildings in contemporary architectural styles. See all of this on the included city sightseeing with a Local Guide. Consider an optional excursion this afternoon. Included meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Berlin - Dresden - Leipzig.

Travel southwest to Dresden, the old capital of Saxony and at one time rightly called the “Florence on the Elbe.” See the Zwinger Carillon Pavilion where the 40 bells of the Glockenspiel sound four times per hour, and much more on your included sightseeing. Then it’s on to Leipzig, where composers Johann Sebastian Bach and Felix Mendelssohn lived the last years of their lives. It was Mendelssohn who founded the Leipziger Conservatory in 1843. Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Leipzig - Weimar - Coburg - Nuremberg.

Leave Leipzig to visit Weimar, home to many intellectuals of the past but mainly known for the name given to the historical period of the “Weimar Republic.” This city is also famed as the home of the Bauhaus architectural movement in the 1920s. Next stop is Coburg. Visit the dominating and mighty Veste Coburg Castle, built in 1225. Today, the castle houses the former art collections of the dukes of Coburg. Continue to Nuremberg for a visit to its town center, dominated by the imperial castle. Included meals: Breakfast

Day 8: Nuremberg - Rothenburg - Munich.

As you leave Nuremberg, stop for a photo at the famous Zeppelinfield. On the way to Munich, visit the quaint Medieval village of Rothenburg on the Romantic Road. Marvel at its towered gates and battlements, squares of half-timbered houses and decorated fountains. Included meals: Breakfast

Day 9: Munich

With a Local Guide, take advantage of the included sightseeing tour of the city known as Germany’s “Secret Capital.” Time to admire the beautiful main square, Marienplatz, do some shopping, visit one of the important museums, and sample Munich’s famous beer! Included meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Munich

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning Included meals: Breakfast

Prices shown exclude flights, call Cosmos to add flights

Cosmos brochure price in black from £1449

Travel 55 discount price in red from £1348

Telephone Cosmos on 0330 0588 237 and quote the code TRAVEL55