On a cruise of the Rhine River, any traveler will be amazed by stunning views of castles, vineyards and small villages. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Rhine River!

• The Rhine River is one of Europe’s most important rivers.
• In historic times, tribes settled along the banks of its waters and Julius Caesar bridged and crossed in in 53 BC.
• The Rhine has been a basis for European borders and also has been used by it’s inhabitants as a defense feature.
• Many vineyards and castles are scattered along the rivers banks.
• The river is 766 miles long and travels through 6 European countries including Germany and France.

The romantic Rhine River is one of Europe’s most legendary bodies of water. As you sail on the ships of Avalon Waterways, taking in the majestic views on Europe’s youngest fleet. Take a look at some of these great cruises here:

Here are some quick facts about the Rhine River:

• Continent: Europe
• Countries it flows through or borders: Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France & the Netherlands
• Length: 1,232 km (766 mi)
• Number of tributaries: 2
• Source: The Swiss Alps
• Mouth: Rotterdam into the North Sea
• There are two glacier top mountains in the Swiss Alps that primarily feed the river. One is named Hinter Rhine and the other is the Vorder Rhine which were the basis for being named the Rhine River.
• Although no “one” person is credited with discovering the Rhine, it is known that Julius Caesar once built a bridge across it.

The Rhine River, whose name comes from the Celtic word renos, meaning raging flow, is one of the most important waterways in Germany as it begins in the Swiss Alps and flows north and east through Germany into Holland’s North Sea. It is most famous for its legendary Lorelei rock and the imposing medieval castles that line its banks. Many German manufacturing and industrial cities are located along the Rhine, as the river is important for shipping and transportation.

If you are looking for an amazing getaway, the Rhine River is definitely the place for you as it offers fabulous cruises and amazing scenery. The Rhine River cruises are perhaps the most popular of all European river cruises, as they allow you to travel through amazing cities like Amsterdam, Cologne, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, & Basel. Some riverboats sail strictly on the Rhine River (known as the Rhein River in Germany), while others combine the Rhine with other waterways in Germany, Austria, Hungary or the Netherlands. Other than seeing amazing sites and scenery, you may also choose to stop in medieval towns to see works by Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali at the Museum of Fine Art.

The Rhine River is also interesting and attractive for visitors because of the large number of castles and old, charming little towns surrounded by fortified walls, towers and gates. Churches and wine growing villages are dispersed along the river that offers romantic scenery to everyone.  Whatever itinerary you choose, a Rhine River cruise allows you to experience some of Europe’s most interesting river ports.

The adventures that the Rhine River offers are extremely popular and fill up fast, so be sure to book your itinerary before you leave on your vacation. With your preparation prior to your departure, you will be sure to complete all of your desired escapades and create a truly memorable experience. If you are looking for anything like scenic cruises, inspiring art museums, medieval castles, and a vacation of a lifetime, the Rhine River is definitely the place for you. Don’t wait any longer to book your trip of the year for the ultimate getaway that you will never forget.

Germany is a country with rich history, quaint towns & modern cities. On a vacation to Germany, any traveler will be amazed by these breathtaking views!

Berlin is, perhaps, Germany’s most famous city. Don’t miss these sights in this great city on a vacation to Germany!

Stroll along the famed Unter den Linden avenue to the old town, known as Nikolai Quarter. Then continue to the Gendarmenmarkt, considered Berlin’s most beautiful square. Ask your Local Host about this and other walking routes around town.

Gemäldegalerie

The name means Picture Gallery, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better painting collection than these offerings from the 13th to 18th centuries by such luminaries as Bruegel, van Eyck, Rubens, and Rembrandt. Designed by Munich architects Hilmer & Sattler, the building is a work of art in its own right.

New National Gallery

A must for lovers of modern art.

Ku’damm – shopping

Take advantage of great shopping and fine restaurants on the Kurfürstendamm, or stroll along the Tauentziennstrasse. Visit the Europa Center and Europe’s largest department store, the KaDeWe.

Prater

Enjoy an hour beneath shady chestnut trees in Berlin’s oldest beer garden. Prater has many other areas as well, including a theater.

Türkenmarkt

The local market overflows with fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh-baked breads, and culinary wonders. Since it is located beside a canal, strolling through here is relaxing, and there’s a cozy park nearby.

Riesling, Beers, Bratwurst, Sauerbraten, Dumplings

Try German specialties, fine white wines, and delicious cream pastries.

Berlin nightlife

Stroll the Oranienburger Strasse, a popular place at night and an artists’ meeting point with plentiful cafes and restaurants. For good live music, visit a local Biergarten or Biersalon, or take in a show.

Americans with Central or Eastern European roots have a good chance of finding an ancestor or two in the emigration history of Hamburg. Between 1836 and 1914, 4 million people set sail for America from Hamburg’s Elbe River ports. Mostly from the lands of Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary, these were the true huddled masses—poor, unwashed, uneducated. Perfect targets for xenophobia.

In 1892, a cholera epidemic killed 10,000 people in Hamburg, causing an outcry against emigrants crowded into the filthy sleeping barracks on the America pier. Whether the epidemic started there or not, the foreigners were blamed and their numbers capped. Businesses that lived off the emigrant trade protested, and shipping magnate Albert Ballin hammered out a deal to build Hamburg’s version of Ellis Island.

On Veddel Island in the Elbe River, a quarantine complex was built in 1901 to shepherd emigrants hygienically from the Old World to the New. It had a train station, church, music pavilion, clean latrines and sleeping halls, and dining rooms with white table cloths. Pleasant surroundings, but a nightmare for the emigrants, who were interrogated, examined, tagged, and disinfected in gruff, military fashion.

Today, Hamburg preserves this link with America at the new BallinStadt, a museum and genealogy research center on Veddel Island. Like Ellis Island, BallinStadt recreates the emigrant experience using a restored sleeping barracks, artifacts ranging from antique toys to suitcases, and personal stories told through photographs and letters. Its emigrant database is linked to the U.S. census.

Oktoberfest in Munich is the mother of all drinking festivals. It might just also be the origin of a slew of clichés about Germans and their culture.

Take Lederhosen. It just wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without men in short leather overalls celebrating under the massive blue and white Oktoberfest tents. Lederhosen are a traditional costume tied to the German-speaking Alpine regions since the Middle Ages. Outside of Bavaria, the occasional Lederhosen-wearing gentleman may appear in public, but it’s rare and the man is probably over 60.

Oom-pah music played by a band of tubas and trumpets while beer drinkers link arms and sway to the oom-pah beat is another must-have at Oktoberfest. Does that mean Germans from Berlin to the Black Forest break out the tuba at the first opportunity? Hardly. Schlager is the music of choice when Germans gather to celebrate. These syrupy pop hits from the 1950s to today are branded into the minds of most Germans who sing along once the beer is flowing.

Speaking of beer, the beer stein is a favorite souvenir from Germany. The stein with its hinged lid was a 15th-century Bavarian attempt to keep the flies away during plague times. But today, if Germans aren’t drinking their beer out of the bottle, they drink it out of a glass, so finding a classic stein outside of a souvenir shop or selected areas of Bavaria is hard.

On a vacation to Germany, Munich is a must see destination. Make sure to include these sights on a vacation to Munich!

Museums

Munich has over 50 museums; Here are some ideas:

Alte Pinakothek

This glorious museum has an immense collection of paintings from the greatest European artists of the 14th through the 18th centuries, including Dutch and Flemish masters. See a self-portrait by Rembrandt and a Madonna by Leonardo da Vinci.

Deutsches Museum (German Museum)

Families and the technically minded will enjoy a fascinating few hours viewing the master works of science and technology.

Stadtmuseum

Wander the themed rooms of the Stadtmuseum. The collections include puppet theaters, thousands of musical instruments from around the world, more than 500,000 photographs, and a history of brewing.

BMW Museum, BMW World

For automobile fans and lovers of this classic car.

Villa Stuck

Paul Klee, referring to the Villa Stuck, called this museum mansion, designed by the artist and owner Franz von Stuck, “frighteningly wonderful.” Stuck’s unique design, which incorporates floors, ceilings, and walls into a single beautiful work of art, was celebrated immediately—even the furniture, which won a gold medal at the Paris World’s Fair in 1900.

Old City Walk

Take a fascinating walking route through the Old City and step back in time.

Asamkirche

The brothers Cosmas Damian & Egid Quirin seemed divinely inspired when they created a baroque church for themselves, which turned out so magnificent that their 18th-century compatriots forced them to make it accessible to the public. From the ornate façade to the ceiling fresco of St John Nepomuk, nearly every inch is a delight.

Schatzkammer der Residenz

See the former royal palace of Bavarian monarchs and stroll through the Schatzkammer (Treasury) halls. You’ll see lavish crowns from generations of monarchs, scepters and ceremonial swords, table wear, and extravagant crafts from China, India, Iran, Mexico, and Turkey.

Beer Steins, Cuckoo Clocks, Wood Carvings

It’s hard to imagine leaving Munich without a traditional German beer stein. Other traditional souvenirs include cuckoo clocks, wool clothing, and carved wood items.

Beer Gardens and Specialties

Countless beer gardens populate the city, and it’s a great chance to relax with the locals. There’s a wide variety of beers to choose from, and seats beneath shady trees are plentiful. Try German specialties including sauerbraten (marinated beef dish), dumplings (maybe ask for the lighter semolina dumplings), sauerkraut, some of the many different kinds of sausage, potato dishes, one of the famous white wines, or the milder radler or speze….and don’t forget gingerbread and delectable cream pastries.

Concerts and Opera

To round off a perfect day, experience a local concert or a night at the Opera.