Itinerary
Day 1 – DEPARTURE
Board your flight from home to Berlin's Tegel Airport.
This itinerary assumes this to be an overnight flight.
Air fare independently arranged.
Day 2 – WELCOME TO BERLIN
Arrival in Berlin, the German Capital.
The transfers to the hotel depart at 10 a.m. and at 1 p.m.
Rest in the afternoon and take advantage of the hotel facilities, or to go for a first stroll in the city.
Tonight you'll meet your travelling companions and tour director and enjoy a great welcome dinner.
> Your tour includes: Transfer from airport to hotel, dinner, hotel in Berlin
Reichstag
Day 3 – BERLIN SIGHTSEEING, CHARLOTTENBURG PALACE
Start your day with an orientation tour of BERLIN, united Germany's
capital. Guided sightseeing in the once-divided metropolis features the elegant
Ku’damm, the restored Reichstag, the 210-foot Victory Column in the
Tiergarten Park, the Holocaust Memorial, and Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial
Church with its bomb-damaged tower. Drive past the State Opera
House and Checkpoint Charlie, and continue on
foot in the old part of the city to Brandenburg Gate – the heart of old
Prussia with many historical buildings.
After free time for lunch spend the afternoon at CHARLOTTENBURG PALACE,
the largest residence of the Hohenzollern in Berlin. Originally built
by Elector Frederick III as a summer residence for his wife Sophie
Charlotte, the palace was later extended into a stately building with a
cours d'honneur. The magnificent palace is surrounded by a baroque
garden. The entire palace
presents itself with majestically equipped rooms and salons and with
top-class art collections that offer outstanding masterpieces.
After dinner you have tickets for a revue show at FRIEDRICHSTADT PALAST !
> Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, guided city tour, inside tour Charlottenburg Palace, dinner, tickets Friedrichstadt Palast, hotel in Berlin
Charlottenburg Palace
Day 4 – POTSDAM AND ITS PRUSSIAN MONARCHS
Today we focus on POTSDAM, the capital of Brandenburg. This
city, just outside Berlin, offers many unique cultural landmarks. First
visit SANS SOUCI. No other palace is more closely connected with
the personality of Frederick the Great. The name Sans Souci - "without
care" - should be understood as the aspiration and leitmotif of the
king, because it is here that he most preferred to withdraw from the
world with his dogs. The location
of the palace on the celebrated vineyard terraces and the originally
preserved, 18th century interior decorations permit today's visitors to
become immersed in the world of the philosophers.
Later today we visit CECILIENHOF, the palace of the Potsdam Conference in 1945. Emperor William II had Cecilienhof Palace built between 1913 and 1917 in the north of Potsdam's New Garden for his eldest son, Crown Prince William, and his wife, Crown Princess Cecilie. The palace's appearance was attuned to its scenic surroundings through the use of traditional materials like brick and wood. In order to disguise the actual size of the palace, with its 176 rooms, individual building elements were cleverly grouped around several courtyards.
We return to Berlin for dinner this evening.
> Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, tours of Sanssouci and Cecilienhof, service of local guide, dinner, hotel in Berlin
Sans Souci
Day 5 – LUTHERSTADT WITTENBERG, LEIPZIG, ERFURT
Today first we visit LUTHERSTADT WITTENBERG, the home town of Dr. Martin Luther, the Great Reformer, and the city affectionately known as the “Cradle of the Reformation”. See the Luther House, the Castle Church where Luther posted his 95 critical theses in 1517, provoking the Protestant Reformation, and the Town Church where he often preached.
On to LEIPZIG where the city's colourful past and lively present can be glimpsed everywhere. Take a stroll through the city centre – there's plenty to explore! Visit the market place with the Old Town Hall, St. Thomas Church where Bach was cantor, St. Nicholas Church, and the Mädler Passage with its legendary restaurant, Auerbachs Keller. Each place will help you discover more about the diverse traditions, personalities and history of Leipzig.
Late afternoon arrival in ERFURT, the capital of Thuringia. Go for a stroll in the old town followed by dinner in a local brewery.
> Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, tours of Wittenberg and Leipzig , service of local guide, dinner, hotel in Erfurt
Old Town Hall, Leipzig
Day 6 – WARTBURG CASTLE, WEIMAR
A beautiful drive this morning to the WARTBURG CASTLE overlooking Eisenach in the Thuringia Forest, constructed between 1155 and 1180. It is one of the best preserved secular buildings of the late Romanesque period north of the Alps, and it is surely one of the most beautiful. It was here that Luther translated the Bible. Enjoy your guided tour of this wonderful castle!
Our next stop today is WEIMAR, home of the famous German writers Johann Wolfgang von Goethe and Friedrich Schiller, and honoured as the "Classical Weimar" UNESCO World Heritage Site.
"Here, you feel as grand and free as the wondrous nature before your eyes." Goethe's words still ring true today, and are a perfect description of what awaits visitors in and around Weimar.
Go for stroll with a local guide, and visit the National Goethe Museum, the most important monument to the classical period.
Go for stroll with a local guide.
Return to Erfurt where you have free time for dinner tonight.
> Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, entrance fee Wartburg, tour in Weimar, service of local guide, hotel in Erfurt
Wartburg Castle
Day 7 – DRESDEN
Leave the state of Thuringia and drive back into Saxony to DRESDEN, one of Germanys most beautiful cities and a jewel of history. Dresden today ranks as a world-class city of art and culture.
Set in a magnificent landscape in the Elbe valley it went through a blossoming of architectural and artistic brilliance that earned it the name "The Jewel Box". On our orientation tour we see the Royal Palace, Zwinger Palace, the Semper Opera House, Elbe castles, Villa Quarter, Hellerau garden city, award-winning modern buildings, and the "Blue Wonder" bridge east of the city centre. Inside visit at The Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), one of Germany's most amazing post-WW2 reconstructions.
Augustus the Strong and his successors filled the Grüne Gewölbe (Green Vault) and Türckische Cammer (Turkish Chamber) with treasures from all over the world, collected paintings and porcelain, and were patrons of the great composers. Inside visit at the Green Vault.
Later enjoy a dinner overlooking the Elbe.
> Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, Tour Dresden, entrance fee, dinner, hotel in Dresden
Frauenkirche
Day 8 – ELBE CRUISE, CASTLE PILLNITZ, BERLIN
Today a special treat – board a boat and cruise on the Elbe River to CASTLE PILLNITZ and its wonderful gardens acquired by Elector Augustus the Strong for his favorite lady Anna Constantia von Cosel, who immediately began its Baroque conversion.
When Saxony’s best-known mistress fell out of favor, the Elector himself had the hillside and waterside palaces erected. The grand castle and park grounds directly situated on the banks of the Elbe river are considered a perfect example of the chinoise style that has the architecture of the Far East amalgamate with the Baroque style. The English, Dutch and Chinese gardens on the extensive garden grounds will urge you to take a stroll and visit the famous 250-year-old Japanese camellia.
Return to Berlin for mid afternoon arrival. Get your final shopping done and join your tour director and traveling companions for a fabulous farewell dinner.
> Buffet breakfast, door-to-door transportation, River Cruise, inside visit Pillnitz Castle, dinner, hotel in Berlin
Day 9 – HOME FROM BERLIN
Time to say "Auf wiedersehen".
One final breakfast and then a complimentary transfer to the Berlin Airport where you arrived for your return flight home. Return flights may leave anytime today.
> Buffet breakfast, transfer to Airport
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Christmas Tour
The Christmas version of this tour – Berlin and the East of Germany - Monarchs,
Poets, Reformers and Christmas Markets
– has the same route and accommodation arrangements as the regular season version.
It visits all the major destination features of the regular
tour. We just can't cruise to Castle Pillnitz.
But there are extras. This Christmas version of the tour adds visits to charming
Christmas Markets in Berlin, Potsdam, Leipzig, Erfurt,
Weimar, and Dresden.
Take in the sights. Join in the festivities. Shop if you
wish, or just window-shop. Soak up the atmosphere. Soak up
some glühwein too!
We pass along savings from travel in the off-peak season to help
your shopping budget.
We've prepared a separate itinerary just for this trip:
Complete printable Christmas Tour itinerary in PDF format >
Berlin and the East of Germany - Monarchs, Poets, Reformers and Christmas Markets
This is one of our Christmas tours. We also offer two tours on our Christmas Markets page and a Christmas version of our Black Forest, Alsace and Switzerland tour.
Berlin Christmas Market
Dresden Christmas Market
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Tour Features
- Private tour
- All features as per itinerary
- Door-to-door transportation (all modes). Leave the navigating to us.
- 7 breakfast buffets
- 6 three-course dinners with menu choices, one beverage, and coffee or tea after dinner
- 7 nights' accommodation
- All entrance fees, taxes, and local guide fees paid
- No hidden extras, no optional excursions – already included
- The tour language is English only.
- The days are well planned to offer you many highlights, but you are never rushed. Ideal combination of free time and planned activities.
- Skip the lines at must-see attractions.
- All visits are inside, not drive-by. Learn the stories that bring old buildings to life.
- You will see not only the highlights but also the spots where only the locals go.
- Tour director – Let our experts make every day and destination fascinating!
- Satisfaction assured – backed up by our money-back guarantee.
Complete printable itinerary in PDF format >
Berlin and the East of Germany - Monarchs, Poets and Reformers
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Images
Victory Column, Berlin
Holocaust Memorial, Berlin
Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, Berlin
Berlin Cathedral
Wittenberg Market Square
JS Bach at St Thomas Church, Leipzig
Erfurt
Wartburg Castle
Elbe River, Dresden
There are more pictures of tour destinations in the In Depth section below, in larger formats. There is an automated Slideshow and also a Gallery for selecting and examining larger images.
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In-Depth
Images of some selected tour features in Berlin and Leipzig. (Interesting, but not a comprehensive representation of the tour.)
Individual images of the above tour features, organized by location, for selective viewing of enlargements.
The Slideshow and the Gallery present the same images in the same sequence, but using different techniques. The Slideshow is effortless. The gallery has more comprehensive captions.
Tour Destinations map from the top of this web page
Clickable links to detailed articles on major tour itinerary features
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References
Comments by guests on past tours are posted on our References Page .
Comments, experiences and recommendations from guests on past tours are featured in our References Video
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Prices and Reservations
Complete printable itineraries in PDF format:
Regular Tour: Berlin and the East of Germany - Monarchs, Poets and Reformers
Christmas Tour: Berlin and the East of Germany - Monarchs, Poets, Reformers and Christmas Markets
This tour is offered on the following basis:
This private tour is offered on a year-round basis, apart from scheduling conflicts.
Tour prices are for the land segment only. Air fare is not included.
Prices are per adult, in U.S. dollars, based on double
occupancy.
A child 8 to 16 years old sharing a room with two adults receives a 30% reduction.
A deposit of US $ 400 per person is required to secure a reservation on these tours.
Personal expenses, lunches and gratuities for the driver and local guides are not included.
Note re Inflation: Due to inflation in the general economy and additional inflation in the travel industry prices may need to be increased in mid-season. Prices in effect at the time deposits are paid are guaranteed not to change.
Berlin and the East of Germany Private Tour Prices — Regular and Christmas
# of Participants | Price per Person |
---|---|
2 persons (minimum) | US $ 3,849 |
4 persons | US $ 3,549 |
6 persons (maximum) | US $ 3,149 |
Reservation info and online form >
Dates for all scheduled major tours >
Please contact us for Single and Triple Occupancy rates at this private tour email link
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Contact Information
Email is fast, flexible, and free. You can write to us at this email link (or castles.office@yahoo.com).
You can call us in Germany (Eastern Time + 6 Hours):
U.S. Phone: (202) 580 - 8732 / Direct number in Europe: +49 171 546 6839