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Berlin
Berlin is one of our most popular destinations. A school trip to Berlin, a city brimming with history, is a valuable educational and cultural experience - one your students will never forget!
Berlin
- 5 days
- +1 hrs (UTC)
- Germany
- Approx. 2 hrs
Tour Activities
- Berlin Wall
- Reichstag
- Brandenburg Gate
- Memorial to Murdered Jews of Europe
- Sachsenhausen
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 - Fly to Berlin, walking tour, Reichstag
Arrive in Berlin and transfer by coach to your accommodation for check in. Meet your local guide for an introductory guided walking tour of Berlin’s main sights, including Brandenburg Gate, Pariser Platz, Hitler’s Bunker, Luftwaffe HQ, 17th June Memorial, Bebelplatz and the Book Burning Memorial, Neue Wache and Lustgarten.
You will also spend time outside at the dramatic Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Wandering through gives you an eerie sense of isolation whilst knowing others are not far away and allows you to reflect on the enormity of the suffering endured.
In the evening visit The Reichstag, a key target for the Soviets during WW2. Now the home of the modern German Parliament, the building’s various symbolic uses through the years should indicate its importance to students and reflect changing order in Germany. Take the lift up to the spectacular dome designed by famous British architect Norman Foster.
Day 2 - Sachsenhausen, Stasi Prison
This morning, drive north to Oranienburg to visit the Sachsenhausen Memorial, standing today as a reminder of the darkest days in Berlin's history. Established in 1936, this was the nerve centre of the Nazi concentration camp system, a place where over 50,000 abused prisoners perished, where SS guards were trained to work, and where after 1945, Soviet occupiers housed their political enemies.
Continue by coach this afternoon to tour the Stasi Prison. This museum, opened in 1994, is a fantastic way to experience history – many of the buildings are in their original state, having avoided destruction during WW2, and many of the stories are based on eyewitness primary testimony. The building originally housed industry prior to WW2, became a Nazi camp during WW2, and then was reopened by the East German Stasi in 1951 as a prison for housing defectors. It was very much a secret prison.
Tonight, lighten the mood a little and spend a couple of hours of fun at a local bowling alley.
Day 3 - Cold War walking tour, Topography of Terror, Checkpoint Charlie
Today embark on a guided walking tour specially designed to focus on the Cold War. Explore Berlin's former Soviet sector, a Cold War battleground and foundation of Communist East Berlin. Learn of life behind the Iron Curtain and see how the DDR and the Stasi, the largest spy network the world has ever seen, kept an entire population under observation. This tour covers Stalinallee (Karl Marx Allee), Berlin Stasi HQ, Ghost stations, Embassies of the four Cold War Powers, the Berlin Wall Crossing Points (the Palace of Tears), the East Side Gallery, Ostalgia and the Berlin Wall and the Death Strip.
Later on, visit the Topography of Terror, a museum situated at the site where the headquarters of the Secret State Police, the SS and the Reich Security Main Office were located during the Third Reich. The permanent exhibition documents the rise and fall of Nazi Germany. The memorial situated right next to an original part of the Berlin wall contains a wealth of information, photographs and personal accounts to help you understand and experience this period of history.
In the evening explore the Checkpoint Charlie museum. Situated at one of the main Berlin wall checkpoints, there is quite an eclectic mix of artefacts and stories to keep everyone interested. Although organised in a rather haphazard manner the museum shows what life was like until the fall of the Berlin wall and explain the desperate measures people would go to in order to escape the East during this most fascinating historical period.
Day 4 - DDR museum, Berlin Wall memorial, TV Tower
This morning, tour the DDR museum, a truly immersive experience for history students to feel as if they are living in the DDR by allowing them to touch and feel real artefacts and documents on life under socialism. Practical themes include “Public Life”, “State and Ideology” and “Life in a Tower Block”.
Then travel to Bernauerstrasse to visit the Berlin Wall Documentation Centre which offers an interesting opportunity to study the Berlin Wall from it's conception to its fall. There is a viewing platform which overlooks a section of the original border and helps you understand how keeping East Germany segregated would have been achieved in reality.
Tonight, ascend the tallest building in Germany for superb 360' views of Berlin. The TV Tower at Alexanderplatz was built in the 1960s by the East German government as a practical symbol of Communist power. Ask your students to note the interior and whether they can determine which features give the tower its distinct Soviet feel.
Day 5 - Story of Berlin, Ku'damm, fly home
After check out, head over to the interactive Story of Berlin. Whilst this museum covers 800 years of Berlin history, it is possible to choose a specific tour based on the period of history most relevant to your students' studies, for example workshops focusing on the “Centre of Power and Terror: the Third Reich” and “Post-War Berlin: the divided city”.
You can then explore the busy shopping street Kurfürstendamm, the Zoo Station area, the famous department store KaDeWe and also see Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, badly damaged in WW2 raids in 1943 – the damaged spire still remains as first-hand visible evidence of the brutality of war.
Later on, head to the airport for your flight home.
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
Personalised tour app
Free to download tour app to take with you on tour, providing you and group with important tour info
Charity donation
We support the Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund and make a small contribution to their organisation from each tour that travels with us
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
Curriculum Relevance
Whether you teach History, Politics, MFL, Art, or Economics we can design a Berlin itinerary to suit your curriculum requirements.
Together with our Education Advisor Ruth Tarrant, we have compiled useful links that show how the sights visited on your tour specifically relate to your students' studies. These will be very helpful when you come to submit the tour for approval at school.
Syllabus Connections
It's important that your tour meets your learning objectives. Please feel free to download our handy introduction describing all the ways a trip to Berlin can be linked to the curriculum.
We have also prepared much more detailed specifications relating to particular modules. Simply enter your name and email address, select the module you'd like and we'll send it over.
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.
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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.
I wanted to drop you a line and express my gratitude for everything you have done to make our Berlin trip such a remarkable experience for both students and staff. It was probably the best organised trip I have ever attended and it is certainly down to your professional approach and meticulous planning procedure.
