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Berlin - Christmas Market School Trip
Frohe Weihnachten! Spread joy to all with a magical winter school trip to Berlin’s traditional Christmas markets. A perfect opportunity for your students to learn German Christmas traditions, taste the gingerbread and marzipan, and immerse themselves in German history and culture.
Berlin - Christmas Market School Trip
- 4 days
- +1 hrs (UTC)
- Germany
- Approx. 2hrs
Tour Activities
- Berlin Wall
- Reichstag
- Brandenburg Gate
- Checkpoint Charlie
- DDR Museum
- Berlin Christmas markets
FCDO Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice, including passport and visa information, visit the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website
Sample itinerary
This sample itinerary is offered as a guideline. The trip focus, length and itinerary/activities can be tailored to meet your learning objectives.
- Day
Day 1 - Arrive in Berlin, Guided walking tour, Kaiser Wilhelm Christmas market
Fly into Berlin and transfer by coach to your accommodation.
Meet your guide and head out into the city. Your expert guide will take you to some of Berlin’s best known sights including Potsdamer Platz, the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. Take in some of the city's best known memorials and explore the differences between East and West Berlin as you cross the former national borders. Students can learn about the First and Second World Wars, the Cold War, or alternatively, language groups could have their tour delivered in German, at a level pitched to suit your students’ abilities.
This evening, visit the Christmas market at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The Church is the most famous landmark in the western city, constructed from both the ruins of the church destroyed in WW2, and its modern repair works. It stands as a memorial to peace and reconciliation, commemorating Berliners’ determination to rebuild their city. The traditional Christmars market here hosts 170 stands with handmade art, accessories and gifts. Sample a range of winter delicacies including Thuringian Rostbratwurst, sweet waffles and candied fruit.
Walk back to your accommodation via Kufürstendamm, West Berlin’s legendary 3.5km shopping boulevard. You could take in the Europa-Center, Berlin’s older shopping centre at the start of Ku’damm, or check on the 8 large sculptures along the boulevard installed for Berlin’s 750th anniversary celebrations in 1987.
Day 2 - East Side Gallery, Berlin Wall memorial, Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market
Explore historic Berlin with a visit this morning to the East Side Gallery. Here, a 1.3km former section of the Berlin Wall has been transformed into an open-air art gallery. Featuring art from 118 artists across 21 countries, the works are united in exploring the impact of political changes in 1989. You can listen to an audio guide here to learn independently, or opt for a thematic guided tour with an expert guide.
From here, head to Bernauer Strasse to see how the Berlin Wall looked before its historic collapse. Students can climb the observation deck to see the complexity and sheer size of the wall. The site also features the Berlin Wall Memorial, and your guide can help students understand the impact of such a division and the legacy it has in popular consciousness.
After an evening meal at the restaurant, visit the Gendarmenmarkt Christmas market in Berlin offering students a magical experience in one of the city's most beautiful squares. Surrounded by the majestic architecture of the Konzerthaus and the twin churches, students can explore traditional stalls filled with handcrafted goods, seasonal decorations, and culinary delights.
Day 3 - Checkpoint Charlie, Reichstag, Christmas market on Alexanderplatz
Begin today at one of Berlin’s most photographed locations, Checkpoint Charlie. The former crossing point between East and West Berlin is now a tourist attraction, with original parts of the checkpoint incorporated into a reconstruction. Students can delve deeper into the stories from the checkpoint with a visit to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, or explore the Asisi panorama, a walk-through experience showing life in East Germany (DDR) and recounting the daring and dangerous escape attempts of those trying to flee oppression.
This afternoon, choose to visit either the Reichstag, ascending its transparent glass dome, or the 203m TV Tower to see Berlin’s festive lights at night.
After an evening meal at your accommodation, head out for Christmas Market adventures at Alexanderplatz. One of the busiest Christmas markets in Berlin, Alexanderplatz combines the traditional market with a funfair. It features over 100 stalls and the biggest walk-in Christmas pyramid in Europe, complete with more than 5,000 lights! You can snack on Bratwurst and gingerbread among other traditional German festive foods on the ground floor, then head up to the platform for views over the city. The fair includes a Ferris wheel, fairground rides, and a roller skating rink.
Day 4 - DDR museum, Fly home
After check-out, tour the DDR Museum, a truly immersive experience that allows students to explore life in the DDR. Historians and non-history students alike will appreciate the interactive, lively exhibitions depicting everyday life behind the Wall. Highlights include a driving simulation in an original Trabant car, a fully furnished DDR flat, and many interactive games.
Head to the airport for your flight home.
Sustainability at our Heart
It’s always been important to us that our business is having a positive impact on the planet. As such, we are committed to helping reduce the emissions that we generate to mitigate the impact on the global climate crisis, and to give back to young people and communities.
What’s included
Tour support
Full TCBC support from the moment you book until you return home
Total tour customisation
Full itinerary flexibility to ensure the perfect tour for your students
Return flights
We'll source the best available flights based on your school's location
Emergency contact details
You'll have all our necessary contact details to hand should the need arise
Fantastic local guides
Knowledgeable TCBC guide ready to bring your walking tours to life
Full sightseeing programme
Detailed itinerary, with all entrance fees included, no hidden costs
Included on this tour
✅ Return flights
Return flights, 1 piece of hold luggage per person, airport taxes and security charges and ATOL Protection Contribution
✅ Airport transfers
Airport transfers upon arrival and departure. We can also arrange your UK airport transfers if you wish
✅ Expert local guide
Experienced local TCBC guide in Berlin for your included walking tours
✅ Transportation
We'll include u-bahn tickets for the duration of your tour and use of a coach for 1 day
✅ Accommodation
Hostel or hotel accommodation, with multi rooms for students and single rooms for teachers
✅ Meals
Breakfasts and dinners daily at hostel, but we can arrange meals in local restaurants if preferred
✅ Full Berlin sightseeing programme
Two guided walking tours, Reichstag, Sachsenhausen, Stasi Prison, Topography of Terror, Checkpoint Charlie, DDR museum, Berlin Wall memorial, TV Tower, Story of Berlin
✅ Transparency
There will be no hidden costs on tour, everything will be clearly explained before departure
✅ Emergency contact numbers
24 hour emergency contact details of TCBC's office and your local guide's mobile number
✅ Free staff places
The normal free staff place ratio is 1:10 but this is flexible and we'll work to whichever ratio you require
Not included on this tour
Travel insurance
Please check at school to ensure you are covered by an adequate travel insurance policy which we will need to see a copy of. We can help you source cover if you need
Lunches
We generally don't include lunches unless requested. We prefer to let the students explore the local options and choose for themselves
Gratuities
If you feel you have received excellent service, then our local guides and drivers will appreciate being tipped. Guidelines will be outlined in your quote
Tickets for evening activities
Event availability isn't usually known at the time of booking. We will inform you of options and ticket prices closer to departure
Accommodation
The hostels and hotels we use in Berlin are used to working with our school groups and meet our high standards
Hotel Citylight
Personally audited by TCBC staff
2 stars
A very popular option with our school groups, this superior two star hotel is situated in Berlin's Mitte district and enjoys a great location, just 3 minutes walk from the Gesundbrunnen U-Bahn station and shopping centre. In just a few short stops you can be in Alexanderplatz, at the Berlin Wall Memorial or Brandenburg Gate.
All 90 rooms are modern and comfortable, equipped with a TV, telephone, safe and hairdryers. There is free wifi throughout. The Citylight has a good breakfast selection to start the day and boasts a decent size leisure area to help keep your students occupied, including a pool table, darts and table football.
aletto Kudamm
Personally audited by TCBC staff
The Aletto Kudamm is centrally located, on the doorstep of Zoo Station U-bahn, so getting around is very convenient. Housed in a 6 storey building, the multi bed rooms are modern, comfortable and well designed, giving the impression more of a hotel than a hostel.
On ground level, the spacious public areas indoor and outdoor are pleasant with a wide range of entertainment options. There is a football pitch, a basketball court, table tennis tables and even a boules court. Indoor, there is a billiard table and table football. There is also a private room which you can hire to show films or host quizzes.
Breakfasts and dinners are served daily in the canteen and there are always a couple of options to choose from to suit all tastes and dietary requirements.
Singer109
Located in a pleasant area, just a couple of U-bahn stops away from Alexanderplatz, the Singer109 is a very good quality hostel. The inner atrium is impressive and gives a unique ambience - orange brick, bright and very contemporary.
The rooms are spacious, clean and functional. You'll find free wifi throughout and there's a great communal area for students to spend time which includes a pool table, darts, foosball and video games. The buffet style breakfasts and dinners are exceptional and offer something to suit everyone's tastes.
Schulz Hotel Berliner Mauer
Schulz Hotel is located between the Spree and the Berlin Wall, where history and culture meet. Leisure and business travelers, groups and families from all over the world and all age groups come together here.
Schulz combines the best of hotel, apartment and hostel in one and thus creates a special place where cosmopolitanism, diversity, social commitment and sustainability can be lived together.
There is something for every guest: a pleasant atmosphere, quick connections: on foot, by bike or public transport to the special places in the city, fair prices, cozy guest rooms.
Reasons to travel with us
We honestly believe we are the best in what we do. We'd love the opportunity to show you.
1
Safety & reliability
The safety of all our travellers is our number 1 priority. We have a robust Safety Management System in place to ensure that our tours are run to the high levels you expect.
2
Experience & expertise
We have years of experience in planning school tours. Our expertise lies in our organisational skills, attention to detail and an understanding of what you need to make your trip a success.
3
TCBC local guides
Our guides are our greatest assets and consistently lauded. Highly experienced, knowledgeable and trustworthy, most are hand-picked and have worked with us for years.
4
Complete peace of mind
Our accreditations (ATOL, ABTA, STF, LOtC) provide you with the reliability, assurance and financial security expected from a specialist tour operator.
5
Customer
Customer
service
Our dedicated team is on hand to offer help and advice at every stage. We are positive you will be impressed with the high level of service you receive from us.
6
Flexibility & customisation
We customise every trip to suit your needs and offer maximum flexibility in planning your itinerary. We won’t rest until we get it right!
7
The personal touch
Getting to know our clients is very important to us. It’s very likely therefore that you’ll meet one or several of us at some point, either at school before departure or on the tour itself.
8
Total transparency
We include as much as possible in our quotes and are very transparent about what is and what is not included. There will be no hidden or surprise costs.
9
Pre-departure support
We understand how much work goes into planning a school trip. You will be dealing with the same people throughout the pre-departure process allowing us to respond quickly and accurately.
10
Repeat business
99.9% of teachers are so happy with our tours and our service that there is no need to travel with anyone else. We are confident you will feel the same way.
TCBC combines tailored itineraries with absolutely top class local guides and accommodation perfectly suited to our group - you can't go wrong!
