Bamberg, 39 mi/63 km north of Nuremberg, is one of the prettiest towns in Germany. It was founded in the 10th century but didn’t come to prominence until the 11th century, when the Holy Roman Emperor Heinrich II built his imperial cathedral there.

Volkach is a town that enjoys its festivals; and the biggest one in town is the annual Wine Festival (called Weinfest here), with all sorts of varieties made within the Franconian Wine Region.

From Volkach, go on a full-day excursion to Rothenburg, Germany’s best-preserved walled town located on the Romantic Road. Later in the day, and for those not going to Rothenburg, enjoy a city tour of Wurzburg.

Located 60 mi/95 km southeast of Frankfurt, Wurzburg is dominated by the Marienberg Fortress, the home of the powerful Prince-Bishops of Wurzburg, who transformed the city into one of the 17th century’s finest. Inside the fortress are a museum and an eighth-century church. Catch the bus or climb the fortress’ steep vine-covered hill for a magnificent view of the city.

Located at the confluence of the Main and Tauber rivers, Wertheim is a picturesque medieval German town with half-timbered houses and small streets that is a lovely half-day stop on river cruises.

The town is known for its glasswork and wine, as well as the 12th-century castle, Burg Wertheim, that overlooks the river junction.

Ruedesheim is a lively winemaking town on the Rhine River. It is tourist friendly and is a popular stop for Rhine River cruises. Visitors are usually transported into town on a small train, given a tour of Siegfried’s Mechanical Music Museum—a collection of music boxes—and a taste of traditional Ruedesheim coffee, and then have the chance to explore the town on their own.

Later in the day, set sail for Lahnstein in the Rhine River Gorge, famous for its beautiful and imposing castles. Cap the day off with a visit to Lahneck Castle.

Nestled between a beautifully restored castle and the scenic Mosel River, Cochem is exceptionally charming. The town is surrounded by steep vineyards and is the center of the area’s wine trade. Many local businesses offer tastings throughout the day.

Zell is best known for its excellent wine, Schwarze Katze (“Black Cat”). The grape is king here, as you’ll quickly realize if you visit during the annual autumn wine festival. Nearby, on the left bank of the Mosel, 8km (5 miles) from Zell, stands the little wine village of Alf. The surroundings are idyllic, especially if you climb up to the Marienburg, which has a fine view over the Mosel and the vineyards of Zell.

Trier, Germany, is a 2,000-year-old Roman city near Luxembourg. It was home to six Roman emperors and has many ruins, including the impressive Porta Nigra, a four-story stone gate that was once part of the city’s walls. It is also the birthplace of Karl Marx (Bruckenstrasse 10) and is a university town with a lively nightlife and interesting Franco-German cuisine.

Remich, Luxembourg, located 25 mi/40 km southeast of Luxembourg City in the Moselle Valley wine region, is home to the State Viticulture Institute. Take motorboat tours on the Moselle River, and then see some of the interesting wine caves nearby. A motor-powered “train on wheels” tours the Luxembourg wine route between Remich and Remerschen every Saturday and Sunday.