Pearls of Thuringia 2026

Duration

8 Days

Departure Dates

8th September 2026

Prices from

£2,349 Per person

Discover the history and culture of Germany on this action-packed tour based in the beautiful capital of Thuringia. Explore the charming cities of Erfurt, Eisenach, and Weimar, experience a moving tour of the Buchenwald Memorial, visit extraordinary castles, and descend into superb caverns. Enjoy an historic tram charter and travel on the picturesque Thuringian Mountain Railway as we take you on a journey through this incredible region.

Overview
Itinerary
Further Information
Departure Dates
Helpful Links

Erfurt ©Shutterstock

8 days from £2,349

DEPARTS

Tuesday 8 September 2026

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Discover the culinary highlights of Erfurt on a guided tour
Enjoy an historic tram charter through Gotha
Explore the magnificent Friedenstein Castle including the Ekhof Theatre
Travel on the scenic Thuringian Mountain Railway
Marvel at the incredible caverns of Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes
Discover Eisenach and Weimar on fascinating walking tours
Visit the extraordinary Wartburg Castle
Experience a moving tour of the Buchenwald Memorial
Stroll through the treetops at the impressive Hainich National Park

Also included in your Tour Fare:

7 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 4 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 Erfurt and our hotel for seven nights, the InterCity Hotel, where we check in and enjoy our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, our guide will meet us for our culinary walking tour of Erfurt to discover the many treasures this beautiful city has to offer. We enjoy our lunch in a local restaurant before spending the remainder to the day at leisure to explore further.

B, L

DAY 3

This morning, we take the train to Gotha where we enjoy a charter on an historic tram at Gotha Waldbahn which has been operating for over 125 years. In the afternoon, we visit the magnificent Friedenstein Castle which rises above the city and is a well-preserved monument of the early Baroque period in Germany. Here, we explore the buildings, gardens, and collections plus a visit to the Ekhof Theatre, a jewel of theatre history, before returning to Erfurt in time for our evening meal.

B, D

DAY 4

Today, we transfer to the Oberweissbacher Bergbahn (the 'Thuringian Mountain Railway') for a journey on the funicular railway through a romantic gorge with beautiful views of the forest. We enjoy our lunch together before continuing to the Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes for a guided tour of the caverns and caves full of stalactites and stalagmites when we learn the history of the mine.

B, L

DAY 5

After breakfast, we travel by coach to Eisenach where our guide meets us for a fascinating sightseeing tour of this historic city visiting the highlights. Afterwards, we visit the famous Wartburg Castle, the first castle in Germany to be placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and we enjoy a guided tour of this extraordinary palace before returning to Erfurt in time for our evening meal.

B, D

DAY 6

Today, we visit Weimar for a walking tour of this cultural gem, home to many of Germany's most influential writers. This afternoon, we visit the Buchenwald Memorial which holds immense cultural and historical significance, and we explore the history of the camp on a moving tour.

DAY 7

After breakfast this morning, we visit the 'City of Roses' at Bad Langensalza, a town that blooms in every corner with fantastic gardens and colourful half-timbered houses. This afternoon, we visit the Hainich National Park where we walk amongst the treetops on the treetop trail through the foliage of stately trees with impressive views of this remarkable forest. This evening, we return to Erfurt for our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 8

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

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTEL

InterCity Hotel, Erfurt

Ideally located close to the main railway station and the city centre, the InterCity Hotel offers a pleasant and relaxing stay and a stylish breakfast restaurant serving a rich buffet breakfast each morning. The modern 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	£2,349
Supplement for Eurostar Plus upgrade	£150
First Class rail travel to/from Germany, including Eurostar Plus	£2,549
Join & Leave at Erfurt	£1,999
Single Traveller Supplement	£300
Deposit	£235

7 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 4 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’

Number of passengers:

Date	From Price	Book Now	Callback
8th September 2026	£2,349 Per person	Book Now	Callback

Can't see a date that suits you? Please register your interest for additional departures on this tour.

Register interest

Enter your details to receive updates on upcoming departure dates for the Pearls of Thuringia 2026 rail tour.

InterCity Hotel, Erfurt

Oberweissbacher Bergbahn

Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes

Hainich National Park

Gotha ©Shutterstock

Gotha Tram

Friedenstein Castle ©Shutterstock

Thuringian Mountain Railway ©Shutterstock

Saalfeld Fairy Grottoes ©Shutterstock

What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

View Dates and Book

Why Book with Railtrail

Railtrail Tours is a family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years – Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care

Unique Experiences

Our tours are unique to us, created by our team of rail travel experts who each have a lifetime of knowledge and experience in the rail holiday industry

Financial Protection

Railtrail Tours are members of ABTOT and ATOL, meaning you can relax knowing that you are fully protected when booking any holiday with us.

Loyalty Rewards

For every pound spent you will receive Loyalty Points on return from your holiday, which can then be used as a discount on future bookings.

Award Winning Team

We were proudly awarded Silver at the British Travel Awards for ‘Best Small Travel Company for Rail Holidays’ in 2024.

More about us

Destinations

Tour Types

Pearls of Thuringia 2026

Register interest

What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

Why Book with Railtrail

Unique Experiences

Financial Protection

Loyalty Rewards

Award Winning Team