Antwerp Walking Tour with Belgian Treats

It may be the diamond capital of the world, but Antwerp is also known for a number of other gems—maybe just not of the rock variety. Step onto the streets of Antwerp and take in the Golden Age art, sip Belgian beer, and taste the waffles, pralines, fries, and chocolates that make Antwerp, Antwerp. This walking discovery tour takes you through the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of the city. Continue on and enjoy tastings of other sorts—perhaps a local spirit or even the catch of the day as you journey past the Steen Castle, City Hall, and the Brabo Fountain.

Let’s Go: Bike the Outskirts of Antwerp

Maastricht Walking Tour

Meander through the historic city center of Maastricht with your local guide and take in all of the city’s prettiest sites. During your walk, you’ll discover the picturesque streets of the Stokstraat Quarter and various charming promenades across the old and new city centers. You’ll take a peek into City Hall to see the wall tapestries, stucco, ceiling paintings, and mantelpieces inside. As you go, you’ll hear the fascinating stories and amusing anecdotes of Maastricht history, its progression from Roman settlement to early industrial powerhouse, and the Mestreechter Geis (or “the Spirit of Maastricht”, which is what they call their local way of life).

Wine Tasting at Apostelhoeve

Windmills and Monastic Beer

Let’s Go: Biking Cuijk

Düsseldorf Tour and Altbier Tasting

Cologne Walking Tour

Follow your guide around some of the most popular sites of Cologne, the largest city on the Rhine. You’ll pass the old fish market, City Hall with its Renaissance façade, and the old Jewish mikvah (a bath used for ritual cleansing).

Meander through the narrow, cobbled lanes of Old Town, lined with traditional houses in every color and a plethora of restaurants and pubs. One of the city’s 12 Romanesque churches provides a castle-like backdrop to this quaint, riverside quarter of Cologne.

Your local expert will take you all the way to the Domplatte, the square where you’ll find the Cologne Cathedral. Should you wish, you can head inside this Gothic building on your own to see the Shrine of the Magi and the beautiful stained-glass windows. Otherwise, try asking your guide for tips on what to explore. Whatever your interests, our local expert knows all the best spots in town!

Kölsch Tasting

Cochem Walking Tour with Reichsburg Castle

Hovering over the Moselle River, the stunningly medieval Cochem Castle dates back to 1100 and once served to collect tolls from passing ships. Since its construction, it has changed appearance and rulers many times, currently appearing in the then-popular Neo-Gothic architecture style. A popular local landmark, Cochem Castle is a highlight of your walking tour in town today.

Let’s Go: Hiking the Suspension Bridge of Geierlay

Walk hundreds of feet above the forest as you cross the suspension bridge of Geierlay, the longest of its kind in Germany. Take your time to absorb the beauty of nature during this approximately 2-hour hike, during which you’ll pass by various creeks, seasonal vegetation, and scenic valleys.

Trier Panoramic City Tour

In ancient times Trier was the largest Roman settlement north of the Alps, and six emperors ruled the Western Empire from here. Remnants of that Roman city still stand, despite taking part in centuries of warfare, earning it UNESCO protection. It’s easy to see the shape of the ancient Roman city, since the layout of the Old Town still exists. Start your visit at the Basilica of Constantine, one of two basilicas built by Emperor Constantine in AD 306. The throne room is the largest surviving single-room structure from Roman times in Germany; it features two tiers of windows with high-rising arches that even now show some of the original wall paintings. The other basilica is St. Peter’s Cathedral, home to the Holy Tunic, a sacred relic donated by Constantine’s mother, St. Helena. Your route to Porta Nigra, the great double-arched stone gate that is all that remains of the Roman wall that used to surround Trier, takes you through Market Square.

Luxembourg with WWII Cemetery

Over the course of 900 years, Luxembourg grew into one of the greatest fortified sites in Europe because of its strategic geographical position and ever-changing political affiliations. Your panoramic city tour will introduce you to centuries-old battlements as well as to the gleaming high-rises that denote the city’s status as a 21st-century international financial center. To best discover the heart of Old Town, though, you’ll want to walk with a local expert to Notre Dame Cathedral, a fine example of late-Gothic architecture, and the Grand Ducal Palace, where both Louis XIV and Napoleon resided. It has been the official residence of the reigning Grand Duke since 1890.

Your tour ends at Place d’Armes, “the city’s sitting room.” Surrounded by shops and sidewalk cafés, with frequent free afternoon concerts, this is the lively heart of Luxembourg. You’ll have some free time to enjoy yourself on your own there. Or choose to continue to the WWII Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, which lies just within the limits of Luxembourg City. The 50-acre cemetery was established on December 29, 1944, by General George S. Patton’s Third U.S. Army, which liberated Luxembourg. More than 5,000 U.S. military dead are buried here—many of whom lost their lives in the Battle of the Bulge—along with General Patton himself. See the beautiful grounds, white stone chapel, and monument honoring the fallen.

Let's Go: Biking the Scenic Middle Moselle

Follow the serene 14 miles of riverside bike paths along the Moselle. As this gentle pathway twists and turns, you’ll cross over two bridges and enjoy numerous stops for pictures and refreshments. You’ll even enjoy a tasting of three outstanding wines (including the unique Eiswein, a wine produced from grapes frozen while still on the vine) at a wine estate, which boasts immaculately kept vineyards and handpicked grapes.

Bernkastel Village Walk with Riesling Tasting

A leisurely walk around the romantic village of Bernkastel awaits today. Wander through the town’s idyllic cobbled streets that are lined with half-timbered houses and secluded courtyards and pass by beautiful marketplaces and open-air cafés. Stroll through the vineyards of the Dr. Pauly Bergweiler Wine Estate, where intentionally low yields and immaculate care produce outstanding wines, which you’ll have a chance to taste for yourself on this tour.

Marksburg Castle

With its pale walls, slate-gray roof, and unusually slender towers and turrets, Marksburg looks as though it has been lifted straight from the pages of a fairytale. But don’t be deceived: this is a powerful fortress, built to withstand attack. Marksburg’s defenses were so daunting that enemies generally chose to leave it alone. That’s why this is the only hill castle in Germany that has never been destroyed—a remarkable fact when you consider its 700-year-long history. Enter the fortress through a drawbridge gate and vaulted tunnel—just the first of the many defensive features you’ll encounter on your tour. Notice the “murder holes” in the walls; these would have let defenders pour boiling pitch on would-be invaders. Horsemen once thundered up the Riders’ Stairway, which was hewn into the bedrock, but you can take the steps at a more leisurely pace. Guides will show you the cannons of the Great Battery, once aimed at the Rhine River, and the castle kitchen with its enormous fireplace. You’ll tour the bedchamber, the great banquet hall, the armory, the stables, and, if you’re feeling brave, the torture chamber. Don’t miss the re-created medieval garden, with 150 plants used in the Middle Ages for curative (or magical) purposes.

Nights Out: Abbey Eberbach Wine Tasting

In the evening you will be brought by coach to Abbey Eberbach where you will be guided through the monastery and enjoy a tasting of their locally grown Riesling wine along the way. Kloster Eberbach is a former Cistercian monastery built in the Romanesque and early Gothic style, and is considered one of the most significant architectural sites in the region.

Rüdesheim Walk with Local Treats

The winemaking town of Rüdesheim boasts countless delights, especially along the enchanting Drosselgasse alley that runs through the city’s Old Town. Follow your guide through this quaint neighborhood and learn how the famous Rüdesheimer Coffee, a coffee infused with Asbach Uralt (a magnificent German brandy) and topped with whipped cream, is prepared. You’ll also visit a small chocolatier’s shop for a sample of their delicious sweets.

Rheinweinwelten Visit - The Best Rhine Rieslings

Enjoy a wine tasting at your leisure with a visit to Rheinweinwelten in Rüdesheim. This local treasure trove of wines is sure to impress, with 14 different wine caves to explore. This experience can be enjoyed at your own pace and is not guided. There is, however, ample literature and information in each room about every one of the 160 distinct wines. You’ll receive 10 tokens at the start, with which you can choose to sample whichever vintages appeal to you most. Prost!

Speyer Walking Tour with Local Treats

Start your tour with a walk down Maximilian Street. First laid-out by Roman soldiers, it is now Speyer’s most popular promenade, open only to pedestrian traffic and lined by neatly restored baroque houses. Follow this path to the medieval church, where you’ll discover the remnants of an 11th century Jewish community and its vaulted ritual baths. You’ll also see the former mint and Holy Trinity Church on your tour. And to fuel your walk around town, we’ll be treating you to a couple of delicious local snacks along the way.

Baden-Baden City Tour with Casino

Join a local guide for a walking tour of enchanting Baden-Baden, which will bring you past two thermal baths and the city’s famous Casino. Gain further appreciation for the Romans and their love of natural spa facilities as you pass by the Fettquelle, a public thermal fountain where it is believed that the water is health-promoting. After learning about the curative powers of Baden-Baden’s water sources, explore the Casino Baden-Baden, and let its ambiance, architecture, and atmosphere enthrall you. You’ll enjoy a tour of this grandiose building, complete with a walk through the gambling halls, which offer a look at the casino’s fascinating history dating back to 1855 and Dostoevsky’s novel “The Gambler”—written in Baden-Baden and based on this casino.

Strasbourg Walking Tour

Basel Walking Tour with Local Treats

Basel is a moderately sized city with a population of just 170,000 and only a couple small skyscrapers to its name, but don’t let its size fool you—Basel is a thriving trade hub with a markedly international feel. It’s position at the borders of France and Germany makes it a popular place to work for commuters from three countries.

Start your local discovery with a unique ferry trip across the Rhine to Kleinbasel. The ferry works by natural current only. Take a scenic walk along the Rhine promenade for the best views of the Patrician houses and historic facades on the opposite Grossbasel side. Once we pass Mittlere Brücke and stop briefly for Basler Läckerli (a gingerbread cookie), we board the ferry again to cross over to Grossbasel.

We land at the famous Basel Münster and climb the stairs to the Münster terrace, where we’ll find a wonderful panoramic view of the city and its bridges, squeezed between the Black Forest and Jura Mountains.

Afterward, we’ll weave our way through cobbled streets and narrow alleys to see a variety of beloved local spots. Along the way, you’ll taste authentic regional treats.

Lucerne Walking Tour & Mt. Pilatus