Hugging the river Rhine to the south of Frankfurt, the pleasant little town of Speyer has a long and distinguished history. This was one of the Holy Roman Empire’s most important cities, as evidenced by the beautiful Romanesque cathedral, and is also home to a delightful Christmas market during the winter months.

Situated near the confluence of the Rhine and Neckar rivers, Mannheim is an important industrial centre with a lively cultural scene. It’s also conveniently located for exploring the pretty town of Heidelberg and the wine growing region around Nierstein.

The pretty little town of Rüdesheim, situated on a bend in the Rhine surrounded by vineyards, is a popular destination for travellers looking for a slice of quintessentially German village life. The Drosselgasse, a narrow cobbled lane flanked by old timber frame buildings, is particularly atmospheric.

Koblenz was founded by the Romans, who valued the city’s strategically important location where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. Rebuilt from the rubble of the Second World War, modern Koblenz has a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, and serves as a gateway to the Romantic Rhine.

Cologne is a wonderfully warm and welcoming city, its skyline dominated by one of the most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in Europe. You will likely spend most of your time in the attractive Altstadt (Old Town), home to beer halls aplenty and some fascinating museums.

In September 1944 the Allies launched Operation Market Garden, a huge airborne assault designed to establish a bridgehead on the river Rhine. The operation went disastrously wrong at Arnhem, as immortalised in the 1977 film ‘A Bridge Too Far’, and your visit offers the chance to learn more about this infamous battle.