Great German Rail Ale Trail

DAY 1

We depart London St. Pancras International and travel by Eurostar to Brussels and onward by high-speed train to Düsseldorf. We enjoy a guided walking tour of Düsseldorf 'Altbier' including beer tasting followed by a welcome evening meal at the hotel.

DAY 2

This morning we enjoy breakfast at the hotel before continuing to historic Wernigerode, the capital of the Harz Region, at the foot of the beautiful Harz Mountains and our hotel for next three nights at the HKK Hotel, Wernigerode.

DAY 3

Today we enjoy an exhilarating ride aboard the Brockenbahn, a steam-hauled journey from Wernigerode through lush landscapes up to the summit of the Brocken mountain to Germany’s highest narrow-gauge station and the Harz region’s highest peak. Returning to Wernigerode, the remainder of the day is free to discover the market square in front of the picturesque town hall. Wander amidst the quaint half-timbered buildings overlooked by Wernigerode’s stunning castle before we reconvene for dinner at the HKK hotel.

DAY 4

This morning we enjoy a guided walking tour of Wernigerode. We then continue to Einbeck by private coach to discover a handsome town whose 600-year-old brewery is famous for strong Bockbier. Brewing tradition here dates back to the 14th century when every citizen had the right to brew beer. With 700 brewers in town, the city council would purchase the excess, exporting it far and wide, leading to Einbeck’s international renown.

DAY 5

Today we leave Wernigerode and transfer by rail to Nuremburg. After checking into our hotel for the next three nights, we enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Nuremberg that ends in style with a tour of the old cellar labyrinth of the Alstadthof brewery including dinner.

DAY 6

Today we visit the delightful city of Bamberg, whose cityscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bamberg is famous for its small breweries, arguably the most famous being the renowned Schlenkerla smoked beer. During our visit we enjoy a guided tour and lunch with a smoked beer at Schlenkerla’s quaint restaurant, before returning to Nuremberg for a free evening.

DAY 7

Heading southwards for the day, we arrive in Munich, learning about the city’s brewing history at the Oktoberfest Museum. After free time to explore the attractive centre around Marienplatz we enjoy a highlight with lunch at the famous Hofbräuhaus. In the 16th century Wilhelm V of Bavaria used to import Einbeck beer that he considered superior to the local brew, but eventually decided to found his own brewery in Munich, the Hofbräuhaus.

DAY 8

Leaving Nuremberg, we head to Cologne for a night at the Maritim Hotel. This evening we enjoy a Kölsch Beer tour with a local guide, ending with dinner at a traditional Kölsch brewery tavern.

DAY 9

We depart Germany, changing at Brussels for our onward Eurostar service to London St Pancras International.

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B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner