Germany

Great Rail Journeys creates every rail tour in Germany with care in order to ensure that our customers enjoy not only a wonderful travel experience with us but also obtain outstanding value for money.

The price of each of our Germany rail holidays includes all transport, a programme of excursions and activities that are designed to showcase the highlights of each destination we visit, accommodation and, where appropriate, selected meals. Some of our holidays, such as The Majestic Rhine and The Classic Danube, incorporate superb river cruises which provide our customers with an entirely new perspective on some of Germany's most stunning scenery.

From the magnificent snow-capped Alps that line southern Germany's border with Austria to the wide and pristine white sandy beaches that fringe the Baltic Sea at its northern tip, Germany possesses every kind of terrain and many areas of outstanding natural beauty. Unforgettable destinations include the Black Forest's fairy-tale inspiring expanse of dense evergreens and fir trees in which the mighty River Danube rises, the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge; a valley carved through slate rock by the river and which is renowned for its abundance of ancient castles and vineyards, and the Harz Mountains which offer a beguiling landscape of rugged peaks, wooded valleys, crystal lakes and waterfalls at the heart of Germany.

As with many western European countries, Germany's climate is generally temperate and extreme temperatures, either hot or cold, are rare. Rainfall can occur at any time of year although in winter, eastern Germany, where temperatures are generally lower than in the west of the country, is more likely to experience snow.

Bavaria, in the south, has a typically Alpine climate and is a popular destination with skiers and snow-sports enthusiasts in winter. German summers tend to be warm and sunny with temperatures falling between 20°C and 30°C although rainfall increases slightly during June, July and August.

Aspects of Germany's cuisine, such as the Black Forest Gateau, pork schnitzel and apfelstrudel (apple strudel) have gained popularity worldwide, but visitors on our tours will find many more specialities to enjoy. Wurst (sausage) is extremely popular; the country produces more than fifteen hundred different types, with individual regions producing their own unique variations. These are typically served with sauerkraut: finely shredded and fermented cabbage. Pork is the preferred meat and schweinshaxe - a pork hock served either roasted or boiled - is found on many German menus. Bread, of which there are more than six hundred varieties, and potatoes are both staples of German cuisine. Germany is also famous for its beer and produces a wide range of styles with pilsner, lager, weizen (wheat beer) and schwarzbier (black beer) among the most popular.