Great German Rail Ale Trail 2026

Duration

8 Days

Departure Dates

2nd May 2026

Prices from

£2,265 Per person

Indulge in a fantastic tour of German beers discovering regional differences of taste, language, culture, and lifestyle. Discover Düsseldorf's Altbier and Einbeck's Bockbier, experience an exhilarating journey up the Brocken Mountain, and enjoy free time to explore the quaint town of Wernigerode and the vibrant city of Munich.

Overview
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Düsseldorf ©Shutterstock

8 days from £2,265

DEPARTS

Saturday 2 May 2026

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Enjoy a guided tour of Düsseldorf’s Altbier
Experience an exhilarating steam-hauled journey up the Brocken Mountain
Marvel at the panoramic views at the summit of the Brocken
Take a guided walking tour of picturesque Wernigerode
Visit the home of bock beer in Einbeck
Discover historic Nuremberg on a guided tour
Tour the Fels Labyrinth of Altstadthof Brewery
Explore the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city of Bamberg
Enjoy free time to explore Munich
Indulge in lunch at the world-famous Hofbräuhaus

Also included in your Tour Fare:

7 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 5 evening meals and 2 lunches
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

DAY 1

Travelling by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Brussels, then onwards to Düsseldorf where we enjoy a guided tour of Düsseldorf's Altbier including a beer tasting. Afterwards, we make our way to the Mercure Hotel for our overnight stay where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we continue to historic Wernigerode, the capital of the Harz Region, at the foot of the beautiful Harz Mountains where we transfer to the HKK Hotel, our hotel for the next three nights. After we are checked in, we enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings ahead of our evening meal together at a local restaurant.

B, D

DAY 3

Today, we enjoy an exhilarating ride aboard the Brockenbahn, a steam-hauled journey from Wernigerode through scenic landscapes up to the highest peak of the Harz region. At 1,125m altitude, Brocken Station is the highest narrow-gauge station in Germany and offers a breathtaking panorama of the Harz National Park. Returning to Wernigerode, the remainder of the day is free to discover the market square in front of the picturesque town hall and wander amidst the quaint half-timbered buildings overlooked by Wernigerode's stunning castle before we reconvene for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 4

This morning, we enjoy a guided walking tour of Wernigerode before continuing by private coach to Einbeck where we discover a handsome town whose 600-year-old brewery is famous for strong Bockbier. Here, we have a guided tour of Einbeck Brewery where brewing tradition 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 and export it far and wide, leading to Einbeck's international renown. Afterwards, we return to Wernigerode in time for our evening meal.

B, D

DAY 5

After breakfast today, we leave Wernigerode and transfer by rail to Nuremberg where we check-in to the InterCity Hotel, our hotel for the next three nights. We enjoy a guided tour of the city visiting the sights and ending in style with a tour of the old cellar labyrinth of the Altstadthof Brewery before our evening meal together at a local restaurant.

B, D

DAY 6

Today, we visit the delightful city of Bamberg, a town famous for its small breweries and whose cityscape is a UNESCO World Heritage site. During our visit, we enjoy a guided tour followed by lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Nuremberg for an evening at leisure.

B, L

DAY 7

After breakfast this morning, we journey south for the day arriving in Munich where we enjoy free time to explore the attractive centre around Marienplatz before meeting for our lunch at the famous Hofbräuhaus. In the 16th century, Wilhelm V of Bavaria would import Einbeck beer which he considered superior to the local brew before eventually deciding to found his own brewery in Munich, the Hofbräuhaus. Afterwards, we retrace our steps to Nuremberg for our final evening at leisure.

B, L

DAY 8

We bid farewell to Nuremberg and to Germany, returning by rail to Brussels, where we will join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTELS

Mercure Hotel, Düsseldorf

Located in the heart of Düsseldorf and close to the railway station, the Mercure Hotel offers a signature restaurant serving a selection of international and regional specialties, a relaxing bar, and a terrace – perfect for enjoying an Altbier! The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom with a hairdryer, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

HKK Hotel, Wernigerode

Ideally positioned close to the historic old town centre and the Wernigerode narrow-gauge railway station, the stylish HKK Hotel offers a restaurant serving culinary delights from all over the world, a welcoming bar, and a relaxing wellness centre including a sauna, gym, and jacuzzi. The modern bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, and tea/coffee making facilities.

InterCity Hotel, Nuremberg

Located close to the railway station, the modern InterCity Hotel offers a pleasant and relaxing ambience including a restaurant serving regional and international dishes plus a cosy bar. The stylish bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, and free Wi-Fi.

FARES

From London St Pancras International:
Standard Class rail travel to/from Germany, including Eurostar Standard	£2,265
Supplement for Eurostar Plus upgrade	£100
First Class rail travel to/from Germany, including Eurostar Plus	£2,415
Join at Düsseldorf & Leave at Nuremberg	£2,105
Single Traveller Supplement	£220
Deposit	£230

7 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 6 evening meals and 2 lunches

Eurostar and rail travel to and from Germany in the class of your choice

All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

Important – Please select the number of passengers before proceeding to ‘Book Now’

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Mercure Hotel, Düsseldorf

HKK Hotel, Wernigerode

InterCity Hotel, Nuremberg

Brockenbahn

Wernigerode ©Shutterstock

Wernigerode Castle1 ©Shutterstock

Wernigerode Castle2 ©Shutterstock

Brockenbahn1 ©Dirk Bahnsen

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Great German Rail Ale Trail 2026

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What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

Why Book with Railtrail

Unique Experiences

Financial Protection

Loyalty Rewards

Award Winning Team