Munich is an engaging place to start a vacation. Its museums rival those found in Berlin. The uncrowded Alte Pinakothek houses one of the world’s finest collections of old master paintings. And the Schatzkammer (treasury) in the Residenzmuseum houses the glittering crown jewels of the Wittelsbach family. Munich has no shortage of fine dining, but when I arrive, I make a beeline for one of the city’s traditional pubs, like the cozy Wirtshaus Im Fraunhofer.

Forced to choose between my two recommended hotels in the city, I’d pick the Mandarin Oriental, which has high-ceilinged, wood-floored accommodations in a historic building a short walk from the Hofbräuhaus. Service is friendly and highly professional, and the roof terrace, with its 50-foot pool, is the place to be in good weather.

Rent a car or engage a driver to take you south into the foothills of the Alps, making a brief detour en route to the lovely town of Oberammergau, where many of the façades display elaborate trompe l’oeil decoration. Check into Schloss Elmau, an idyllic resort facing the Wetterstein Mountains. In addition to scenic pools and a Michelin two-star restaurant, Schloss Elmau’s expansive spa boasts the most extravagant hammam between Istanbul and Marrakech. Spend your time here enjoying the resort’s amenities and making day trips to the palaces of Ludwig II (Neuschwanstein Castle is the most famous of the three, but Linderhof Palace is my favorite).

Drive into Austria, passing by Innsbruck and continuing south over the famous Brenner Pass. Cross into Italy and the Dolomites, an area of astonishing jagged limestone peaks. The most spectacular part of the region is Alta Badia, home to charming Alpine villages such as Corvara and San Cassiano. Arrive at the latter after an unforgettable two-and-a-half-hour drive from Schloss Elmau, and check into Rosa Alpina.

This sophisticated family-owned lodge is now an Aman partner hotel, which speaks to its overall quality. Its Michelin three-star Restaurant St. Hubertus is superb, but I also have fond memories of satisfying post-hike dinners in the Fondue Stube. Spend your mornings hiking or biking, and then return to the property to relax in its superb spa before dinner.

It’s a dramatically beautiful three-and-a-half-hour drive south to your next destination, on the picturesque western shore of Lake Garda, passing through some of northern Italy’s top vineyards. Consider stopping for a tour, tasting and lunch at Alois Lageder in Alto Adige, or if visiting a winery doesn’t appeal, have lunch at Locanda Margon, south of Trento (make advance reservations in either case). Continue on to my longtime recommendation, the Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli, an exquisitely restored neo-Gothic hotel set in tranquil grounds fronting Lake Garda. Take advantage of its lake-view pool, manicured gardens and serene spa, as well as its vintage wooden motor launch for private tours of the lake.

Skirt the southern end of Lake Garda and drive east, perhaps stopping for a tour and tasting at either Pieropan, a winery that restores one’s faith in Soave, and/or Dal Forno Romano, which produces top-notch Valpolicella and Amarone. Alternatively, explore Verona or Vicenza en route to Venice, where you return your rental car.

Take a water taxi to Belmond’s Cipriani, perhaps my favorite urban resort. Pulling up to its pier in a private boat ranks among the world’s most glamorous experiences, rivaled only by pulling up to the Aman Venice, a better choice if you prefer to stay right in the center of town. But in season, I enjoy being able to sightsee in Venice and then retreat to a tranquil oasis away from the crowds, relaxing in its gardens and beside its Olympic-size pool. A junior suite or a suite with a lagoon view is a sublime choice. Of course, the Cipriani is rather expensive, but this hotel merits every euro. It’s the perfect place in which to finish a trip!