While many of the best tours of Germany in 2024 are led by big name tour companies like Adventures by Disney, Trafalgar, and Road Scholar, you’ll also find great group tours from with customizable itineraries from smaller tour operators as well. From floating down the Danube River on a luxury cruise or hiking through the world-famous Bavarian Alps or Black Forest with a group of family and friends, there’s a guided Germany tour to meet your interests.
2024’s Best Small Group Guided Germany Tours
Whether you’re traveling by sea, via walking trails, or on roads, everything is taken care of with these Germany tour packages, including transportation between activities, tours of famous landmarks and UNESCO World Heritage sites, and some meals. Here are my picks for this year’s top Germany tours.
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1. Germany: Berlin to Bavaria Tour
Abercrombie & Kent
Abercrombie & Kent’s Germany: Berlin to Bavaria small group luxury journey starts in Berlin, where you can learn the history of the city by visiting Checkpoint Charlie, the famous former border crossing between East and West Berlin; then on to East Side Gallery to view a host of murals on the longest-standing section of the wall. If you’re looking to try on the royal lifestyle for a day, you’ll like the visit to Proschwitz Castle for a manor tour and wine tasting in the castle’s vineyards.
You’ll also head to Neuschwanstein Castle, which was Walt Disney’s inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle. In Munich, a local food tour includes treats and drinks like Bavarian-style doughnuts, sausages, local cheeses, and of course beer. The third day in Munich on your Germany vacation is designed to give you a choice of outings that includes a city bike tour or a visit to Dachau Memorial on a guided visit to the World War II concentration camp.
- Length: 10 days
- Starting price: $10,495
- Average group size: 18 people
2. Sound of Music: Austria and Germany Tour
Trafalgar
Fans of the Julie Andrews movie The Sound of Music will love the Trafalgar tour of the same name that visits Austria and Germany. The nine-day tour takes you across the two counties to see the stunning landscapes and history that inspired the film. The tour starts in Munich, where you can see the Opera House and Hofbräuhaus or go to the Dachau Memorial Site. Then you’ll move to see Neuschwanstein Castle.
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On day five, the hills will come alive as the group journeys to Salzburg, home of the film’s iconic mountain scenes. There you’ll be able to visit some of the filming locations, tour the city, and enjoy dinner at a local bee farm. The tour concludes in Vienna, where your group gets a private tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s royal collection.
- Length: 9 days
- Starting price: $3,225
- Average group size: 29 people
3. Danube Christmas Markets River Cruise Tour
National Geographic Expeditions
One of the biggest perks of taking a river cruise with National Geographic Expeditions is that a National Geographic Expert and a National Geographic Photographer accompanies you on the trip. The company’s Danube Christmas Markets River Cruise starts in Budapest, Hungary, where you can explore local Christmas markets before boarding the river cruise and join in decorating the ship.
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In Bratislava, Slovakia, you can take a hike to the city’s castle or take a guided walk that includes seeing St. Martin’s Cathedral, where kings and queens of Hungary were crowned for years. A day in Vienna allows you to explore the Opera House and Schönbrunn Palace, the latter of which hosts a fantastic Christmas market. The trip ends with a day in Passau, Germany, where baroque architecture is abundant and the Christmas market in Cathedral Square welcomes everyone to enjoy the celebration.
- Length: 8 days
- Starting price: $4,995
- Average group size: 156 people
4. Berlin, Bavaria, and Black Forest Tour
Kensington Tours
If you’re looking for a private tour that includes just your family or friends, consider the fully customizable Berlin, Bavaria, and Black Forest tour from Kensington Tours. The all-Germany tour takes you from Berlin to Munich, with stops in Frankfurt, Oberwesel, and Heidelberg. While in Berlin, you’ll see the Charlottenburg Palace, which is the largest palace in the city, and the memorial of the Berlin Wall.
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Then you’ll move to Oberwesel, which is known for its historic military towers and wine production. Other points of interest on this 2024 Germany tour include exploring the Black Forest via zip-line or a toboggan run. In Munich, you’ll see the New Town Hall, which is known for its historic Glockenspiel, and experience an authentic beer garden at Viktualienmarkt Beer Garden.
- Length: 10 days
- Starting price: $8,929
- Average group size: Just your group
5. Romantic Germany Small Group Tour
Tauck
The Romantic Germany small group tour from Tauck is ideal for couples looking to get away and enjoy time savoring the sights and sounds of some of the most picturesque spots in the country. Limited to just 24 participants, it’s a good size for exploring destinations in depth with fellow travelers and guides.
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In 2024, this Germany tour starts with a day cruise along the Rhine River, where wine taverns and timbered houses dot the landscape. Car enthusiasts will enjoy being able to see the Mercedes-Benz Museum, and foodies will love dining at a Pudelstein hut in the Black Forest. Of course, you can’t visit Germany without seeing a few castles, and on this trip you’ll see the Neus Schloss Meersburg, Neuschwanstein, and Linderhof Palace.
- Length: 14 days
- Starting price: $7,990
- Average group size: 24 people
6. Adults-Only Danube River Cruise Oktoberfest Tour
Adventures by Disney
Adults looking for a getaway will enjoy the adults-exclusive Danube River Cruise Oktoberfest from Adventures by Disney. Sure, the cruise visits more than just Germany—Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary are on the itinerary as well—but you get two exceptional days in Germany culminating in a tour of a brewery that’s been open since the 13th century, plus a private Oktoberfest celebration.
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Other highlights of the river cruise include a food walking tour in Budapest, Hungary; a Mozart and Strauss concert at Schönbrunn Palace; and a walking tour of Salzberg with stops at the Mirabell Gardens and the Salzburg Cathedral. This exclusively adult sailing is for those 18 and older, and you can expect plenty of beer and wine from the region while touring and exploring.
- Length: 8 days
- Starting price: $5,699
- Average group size: 140 people
7. See it All In Germany: Fast Cars and Fairy-Tale Castles Tour
Black Tomato
One of the major perks of traveling with small luxury tour outfitter Black Tomato is the ability to completely customize your private Germany vacation, including the See it All In Germany: Fast Cars and Fairy-Tale Castles tour. The trip takes you to some of the best destinations in the country. In Berlin, you’ll see the Berlin Wall, the Palace of Charlottenburg, and experience the city’s nightlife.
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Then in the Black Forest, you’ll see some of the beautiful vistas from the edge of the forest and literally walk into a cuckoo clock. A highlight of the tour is flying high above Friedrichshafen for a private Zeppelin flight before touching down to enjoy dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant.
- Length: 12 days
- Starting price: $9,875
- Average group size: Just your family
8. The Best of Germany: Grand Cities, Castles, and the Romantic Rhine Tour
Road Scholar
On the 17-day Grand Cities, Castles, and the Romantic Rhine tour of Germany from Road Scholar, you can take a deep dive into the cities and culture of Germany. Road Scholar is an educational nonprofit tour company, and on this tour you’ll be able to participate in a class that teaches you basic German terms you can use throughout your vacation.
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Tour highlights include seeing Berlin from the top of the Deutscher Bundestag, the German Federal Parliament, a tour include the Royal Palace of Dresden, the Memorium of the Nuremberg Trials, and the Nymphenburg Palace in Munich. The tour concludes with a boat trip through the Rhine River Valley to the town of Bacharach, where everyone will enjoy lunch at a local vineyard.
- Length: 17 days
- Starting price: $6,949
- Average group size: 10 to 24 people
9. Walking Bavaria’s Lakes and Mountains Self-Guided Tour
Exodus Travels
For those looking to explore Germany on foot, the self-guided Bavaria’s Lakes and Mountains tour from Exodus Travels has a great itinerary and a very affordable price, too. The tour starts in Bad Tolz, where you hop a train to Lenggries, then walk along the Via Alpina trail, hiking around Mount Riederstein and along the shores of multiple lakes. Your tour price includes itinerary and maps, hotels, breakfasts, luggage transfers, walking transfers, and the help of a local agent.
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The best part about this Germany tour is that even though there’s a lot of walking and hiking, there’s also secondary transportation on some days, including bus, boat, and cable car journey that will take you from your ending point of the walk back to the main towns where you stay overnight. The longest walk is 11.2 miles on day two, and the shortest walk is 3.1 miles on day seven.
- Length: 8 days
- Starting price: $1,700
- Group size: Just your family (private self-guided tour)
