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Central Europe, 8 Days · Tailor-made by car
If you like being at one with nature, then this is the trip for you. Venture into the Black Forest, in the southwest of Germany. The Romans are said to have given it this name due to the density and darkness of its forests, which stretch across more than 6,000 square kilometres of mountains. Driving through it is an amazing experience and the most comfortable way to discover its hiking trails and towns. The roads are good and the scenery is so beautiful that you'll never want to say goodbye to this corner of the world. Set out on the Tour through the Black Forest and Lake Costance and visit stunning pocket-sized towns and cities that could have been plucked out of a fairy-tale. They're well integrated into nature and retain their cobbled streets and natural charisma. This is the case of Freiburg and Heidelberg, famous for being one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Germany. We'll also soak up the charisma of Baden-Baden, an elegant spa town famous for its casino and for being the favourite summer haunt of Europe's Belle Époque. In this area, you can do all kinds of outdoor activities, such as hiking, Nordic walking, canoeing, and so on. And what better way to do so than breathing in the fresh air on the shores of Lake Constance or Titisee. The former is the third largest in central Europe and straddles three different countries: Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Walk along its banks and discover cute places such as the medieval village of Lindau, Germany's 'Garden of Eden', or the historic town of Constance. But our tour doesn't end there. There'll also be a small foray into France, as we'll visit Strasbourg, the seat of the European Parliament and said to be one of the most beautiful and picturesque French cities, and the town of Colmar, aka the Wine Capital of Alsace, which has a truly stunning neighbourhood known as Little Venice. A trip accompanied by fine wines and local delicacies such as the world-famous Black Forest gateau. All with departure and arrival via two major European cities, Frankfurt (Germany) and Zurich (Switzerland). Nature, relaxation and peace in the verdant heart of Germany.
Departure date
Departures from December 2024 till December 2025
From
Dublin, Shannon, Cork...
Travel details
Day 1 City of origin - Frankfurt
Day 2 Frankfurt - Heidelberg - Baden-Baden
Day 3 Baden-Baden and surroundings
Day 4 Baden-Baden - France (Strasbourg- Colmar) - Freiburg
Day 5 Freiburg - Titisee - Lake Constance
Day 6 Lake Constance and surroundings
Day 7 Lake Constance - Zurich (Switzerland)
Day 8 Zurich (Switzerland) - City of origin
Return flight.
Stay in selected hotel in Frankfurt.
Selected meal plan in Frankfurt.
Stay in selected hotel in Baden Baden.
Selected meal plan in Baden Baden.
Stay in selected hotel in Freiburg.
Selected meal plan in Freiburg.
Stay in selected hotel in Constance.
Selected meal plan in Constance.
Stay in selected hotel in Zurich.
Selected meal plan in Zurich.
Rent-a-car.
Amount of the supplement for collection and return of the vehicle in a different office.
Accommodation taxes in Frankfurt direct payment in facility.
Accommodation taxes in Constance direct payment in facility.
Accommodation taxes in Switzerland direct payment in facility.
Possible toll charges.
Insolvency protection.
- Triple rooms in Europe are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.
- Check-in time at the hotel on the day of arrival depends on each establishment, but in no case will it be before 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.
- We recommend buying the so-called "Zürich Card", which can be found on sale at the central railway station, the airport or the Schweizer Heimatwerk store located on Uraniastrasse.This will give you free or discounted access to more than forty museums, public transport (including the cable car), guided tours, cruises along the River Limmat and many tourist attractions.It can also be bought online.
- Driving in Switzerland: 1. It's compulsory to drive with headlights on at all times, even on the brightest summer's day. Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers. 2. Speed limits. 2.1 Built-up areas up to 50 km/h. 2.2 Roads up to 80 km/h. 2.3 Dual carriageways and motorways up to 120 km/h. 2.4. There are many radars in Switzerland, especially in speed-controlled sections, and radar detectors are forbidden. Fines for speeding are very high, so make sure you stay within the limits at all times. If you are fined, the police can demand on-the-spot payment. 3. In Switzerland, blue road signs indicate secondary roads, while green ones indicate motorways. 3.1. Make sure that your rental car has a Swiss motorway vignette on the windscreen. This means you can use all Swiss motorways for free over a one-year period (in Switzerland there are no toll roads as such). 4. Studded tyres are allowed from October to April, but they're not allowed on most roads throughout the rest of the year. The speed limit with these tyres is 80 km/h. 5. A red warning triangle and a reflective yellow vest must always be carried in your car in the event of a breakdown or accident. 6. Alcohol. The legal limit is 0.25 g/l. There are severe penalties for drivers that exceed the allowed limit. 7. Parking. All the major cities in Switzerland have metered parking. 7.1. If you want to park on the street, take careful note of the road markings. Yellow line: parking prohibited. Blue line: free parking, but limited to one hour (except at night). You can get a blue parking disc free of charge at tourist offices in any city and it will be valid for the whole of Switzerland. White line: metered parking for a limited time (varies depending on the location). You have to pay at the special parking meters.
- The proposed excursions and tours for each day are purely suggestions, as you can tailor the trip to suit your times, tastes and needs.
- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.
- Hotels usually have cots available. Otherwise, babies will have to share a bed with an adult.
- To pick up your rental car, you'll need a credit (not debit) card in the name of the person who made the booking, who must also be the named driver of the vehicle.
- Consult the necessary documentation to enter the destinations visited and for transit in the countries where air stopovers are made.
- You must give notice that you are going to cross the border while collecting the vehicle. Authorisation may be required to drive through certain countries or areas/states (as is the case in the US and Canada). Depending on the conditions set out in the rental contract and the company hired, you might be charged a surcharge payable at the destination office.