Imagine floating down the Danube River on a luxury river cruise or hiking through the Black Forest on a Germany vacation with a group of family and friends. On a group tour of Germany, those two things can be a reality—sometimes even on the same trip. Along the way, you’ll be escorted by expert guides who set up everything from activities to meals.
While many of the best tours of Germany are led by some of the big tour names in the industry like Adventures by Disney, Trafalgar, and Road Scholar, there are also some unique tours from lesser-known companies like Black Tomato, which specializes in custom-built itineraries. No matter what you want to see or do in Germany, there’s a trip that will fit your wants and needs.
10 Great Germany Tours for 2023 and 2024
These 10 fantastic Germany tours take travelers to some of the most well-known spots around the country in just a few days. 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 some meals.
1. Abercrombie & Kent Germany: Berlin to Bavaria
A new tour that Abercrombie & Kent has launched is the Germany: Berlin to Bavaria small group journey. The tour starts in Berlin, where travelers learn the history of the city by visiting Checkpoint Charlie, the famous former border crossing between East and West Berlin. Then the group will go to the East Side Gallery to see a host of murals on the longest-standing section of the wall.
Those looking to try on the royal lifestyle for the day will enjoy the tour of Proschwitz Castle, where you tour the manor and enjoy a wine tasting at the castle’s vineyards. Travelers will also see Neuschwanstein Castle, which was Walt Disney’s inspiration for Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle.
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In Munich, a food tour includes local treats and drinks like Bavarian-style doughnuts, sausages, local cheeses, and of course beer. The third day in Munich is designed to give travelers a choice of outings that includes a city bike tour or a visit to Dachau Memorial on a guided visit to the Holocaust concentration camp.
- Length: 10 days
- Starting Price: $9,895
- Group Size: 18 people
2. Trafalgar Sound of Music
Fans of the Julie Andrews movie, The Sound of Music will love the Trafalgar tour of the same name. The nine-day tour takes you across Germany and Austria to see the stunning landscapes and history that inspired the film. The tour starts in Munich, where you’ll 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 iconic mountain scenes for The Sound of Music. Here, you’ll be able to see some of the filming locations, tour the city, and enjoy dinner at a local bee farm. The tour concludes in Vienna, where the group gets a private tour of the Kunsthistorisches Museum’s royal collection before it opens to the general public.
- Length: 9 days
- Starting Price: $2,426
- Group Size: 29 people
3. National Geographic Expeditions Danube Christmas Markets River Cruise
One of the biggest perks of taking a river cruise with National Geographic Expeditions is that there is a National Geographic Expert and a National Geographic Photographer that accompany guests on the trip. For the National Geographic Expeditions Danube Christmas Markets River Cruise, the tour starts in Budapest, Hungary, where travelers can explore local Christmas markets before boarding the river cruise and take part in decorating the ship.
In Bratislava, Slovakia, guests 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 travelers to see the iconic 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
- Group Size: 156 people
4. Kensington Tours Berlin, Bavaria & Black Forest
If you’re looking for a private tour that includes just your family or friends, consider the Kensington Tours Berlin, Bavaria & Black Forest tour. The all-Germany tour takes travelers from Berlin to Munich, with stops in Frankfurt, Oberwesel, and Heidelberg.
While in Berlin, your family will be able to see the Charlottenburg Palace, which is the largest palace in the city, and the memorial of the Berlin Wall. Then you’ll move to Oberwesel, which is known for its historic military towers and wine production.
Other points of interest on this trip 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: $7,741
- Group Size: Just your group
5. Tauck Romantic Germany Small Group
The Tauck Romantic Germany Small Group tour 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. The small group tour has just 24 people, an ideal size that also allows more time in the top destinations.
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The tour starts with a day cruise along the Rhine River, where wine taverns and timbered houses dot the landscape. Car enthusiasts will love 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: $7,890
- Group Size: 24 people
6. Adventures by Disney Danube River Cruise Oktoberfest (Exclusive Adult Sailing)
Adults looking for a getaway will enjoy the Adventures by Disney Danube River Cruise Oktoberfest. Even though the cruise visits more than just Germany—Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary are on the itinerary as well—travelers 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 guests can expect plenty of beer and wine from the region while touring and exploring.
- Length: 8 days
- Starting Price: $5,499
- Group Size: 140 people
7. Black Tomato See it All In Germany: Fast Cars & Fairy-Tale Castles
One of the major perks of traveling with small luxury tour outfitter Black Tomato is the ability to completely customize your trip, including the See it All In Germany: Fast Cars & 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.
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
- Group Size: Just your family
8. Collette Germany’s Cultural Cities
Travel through the heart of Germany with the Collette Germany’s Cultural Cities tour. The 11-day trip allows travelers to explore Berlin, Hamburg, then Munich. In Berlin, travelers will experience the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Berlin Wall, along with having some time on their own. Getting from Berlin to Hamburg is exciting with a ride on the ICE Train, which can go as fast as 200 miles per hour.
Once everyone is settled in, the fun of Hamburg begins with a trip to see the largest model train system in the world, and follow in the Beatles’ footsteps in Reeperbahn. History fans will love the day spent in the preserved medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, where the group will get a private tour of the Käthe Wohlfahrt Christmas Museum. Then in Munich, you can visit the Glockenspiel and go to the Dachau Memorial.
- Length: 11 days
- Starting Price: $2,699
- Group Size: 44 people
9. Road Scholar The Best of Germany: Grand Cities, Castles and the Romantic Rhine
On the Road Scholar The Best of Germany: Grand Cities, Castles and the Romantic Rhine, travelers take to the road over 17 days to see the stunning cities of Germany. Since the tour is so long, there is a great class that teaches guests basic German terms, which is helpful for the duration of the trip.
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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: $6,339
- Group Size: 10 to 24 people
10. Exodus Travels Walking Bavaria’s Lakes and Mountains (Self-Guided)
For those looking to explore Germany on foot, the self-guided Exodus Travels Walking Bavaria’s Lakes and Mountains tour is ideal. 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 tour is that even though there’s a lot of walking and hiking, there is 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: $1,599
- Group Size: Just your family
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