Germany Grand Rail Loop
Starting and ending in Frankfurt, connect the Rhine, Cologne, Hamburg, Berlin, Rothenburg, and Munich by train.
A complete loop for first-time visitors to Germany, heading north from the western river valleys to Hamburg, east to Berlin, then south to Franconia and Bavaria, and returning to Frankfurt via Heidelberg. Stay only 1–3 nights in most cities, with most transfers being direct ICE trains. Ideal for travelers with a long vacation who want to see it all in one go. The trade-off is that Neuschwanstein Castle and Dresden are not included; adding them would require another 2–3 days.
Try to book saver fare ICE tickets as early as possible; Rothenburg requires transfers, and accommodation is tight during the Christmas season.
每日安排
第 1 天 · Arrive in Frankfurt
法蘭克福（羅馬廣場與新老城、法蘭克福大教堂（聖巴托羅繆皇帝大教堂）、鐵橋與美因河岸）
Take the S-Bahn from the airport to the city center (approx. 15 mins). Walk around the Old Town; keep the schedule light to adjust to jet lag.
住宿：老城與市中心
第 2 天 · Rhine Valley Train and Cruise
Take a train from Frankfurt to Bingen (approx. 1 hour), transfer to a cruise boat to Bacharach and Sankt Goar (approx. 2 hours in total).
Cruises are very limited from November to March; you can take the train along the left bank instead.
住宿：聖戈亞爾
第 3 天 · Head North along the River to Cologne
Take a train from Sankt Goar to Koblenz (approx. 30 mins), transfer to Cologne (approx. 1 hour), and walk around the Old Town in the afternoon.
住宿：老城北區
第 4 天 · Take the ICE North to Hamburg
ICE or IC from Cologne to Hamburg takes about 4–4.5 hours; walk around the city center in the afternoon.
住宿：老城與新城
第 5 天 · Speicherstadt and the Elbe
漢堡（倉庫城與智利大樓商行區、微縮景觀世界、易北愛樂音樂廳、聖保利棧橋與易北河老隧道）
Explore on foot combined with the U3 or ferries; walking from Speicherstadt to Landungsbrücken takes about 25 mins.
It is highly recommended to reserve time slots in advance for both Miniatur Wunderland and the Elbphilharmonie Plaza.
住宿：老城與新城
第 6 天 · Take the ICE East to Berlin
ICE from Hamburg to Berlin takes about 2 hours; take the S-Bahn or U-Bahn in the afternoon to walk around Mitte.
The Reichstag Dome requires a free online reservation in advance.
住宿：米特區
第 7 天 · Museum Island and the Berlin Wall
柏林（博物館島、柏林大教堂、柏林牆紀念園（貝爾瑙爾大街）、東邊畫廊（柏林牆））
Explore on foot combined with the S-Bahn and U-Bahn; walking from Museum Island to the East Side Gallery takes about 20 mins.
住宿：米特區
第 8 天 · Potsdam Palaces Day Trip
Take the S7 or a regional train from Berlin to Potsdam (approx. 40 mins), then take a local bus to Sanssouci Palace, returning in the evening.
Sanssouci Palace tickets are timed; book online in advance during peak season.
住宿：米特區
第 9 天 · Head South to Würzburg
ICE from Berlin to Würzburg takes about 3 hours 45 mins; visit the Residence in the afternoon and head to the Old Main Bridge in the evening.
住宿：維爾茨堡老城
第 10 天 · Medieval Town of Rothenburg
羅滕堡（集市廣場與市政廳鐘樓、聖雅各教堂（里門施奈德聖血祭壇）、普倫萊恩街角、羅滕堡城牆步道與勒德門塔）
Take a regional train from Würzburg, transferring at Steinach to Rothenburg (approx. 1 hour), and walk around the town.
You can join the Night Watchman Tour in the evening; tour groups are crowded during the day.
住宿：集市廣場老城區
第 11 天 · Transfer to Munich
Transfer via Steinach and Ansbach from Rothenburg to Munich (approx. 3 hours); walk around the Old Town in the afternoon.
住宿：老城區
第 12 天 · Palace and the English Garden
Take a tram to Nymphenburg Palace (approx. 30 mins), return to the city to visit the Residenz, and walk to the English Garden in the afternoon.
住宿：老城區
第 13 天 · Munich to Heidelberg
Munich to Heidelberg via Stuttgart or Mannheim takes about 3 hours; take the funicular up to the castle in the afternoon.
住宿：海德堡老城
第 14 天 · Philosophers' Walk and Return
Walk the Philosophers' Walk in the morning, and take a train to Frankfurt Airport in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour, sometimes requiring a transfer).