Discover Germany: Berlin, Potsdam, Munich and the Bavarian Alps

Flight from your preferred airport to Berlin.

Welcome to Germany! You’ll be met at the airport by your TFT guides, who will accompany you for the duration of your journey. After getting settled into our centrally-located hotel, we’ll have lunch in the beautiful Tiergarten before getting acquainted with downtown Berlin on a walking tour. Climb to the dome of the Reichstag Building, where the German Parliament meets before enjoying your first German dinner.

Begin the day with a visit to a UNESCO World Heritage site, Museum Island. Students will have the choice of visiting either the Neues Museum or the Pergamon Museum. After lunch, we’ll have a guided bike tour of some of Berlin’s most famous sights, like Checkpoint Charlie, the Fuhrer Bunker, the East Side Gallery, and Tempelhof Airport. (As always, an alternative will be available for those not comfortable on a bike.) Along the way, we’ll stop for a snack at one of Berlin’s hip eateries, such as the Markthalle Neun. For dinner, we’ll enjoy traditional, authentic cuisine at one of our favorite local restaurants.

This morning, students will experience what life in war-torn Germany was like as we head underground to the bunkers that were built to shelter citizens during both World War II and the Cold War. After lunch, pay a visit to the Jewish Museum to learn about the devastating effects of the Third Reich and how the Jewish community has influenced life in Berlin. This afternoon, take some free time for souvenir shopping in the trendy boutiques of Mitte.

Today we venture outside of Berlin to the nearby city of Potsdam, home to dozens of opulent palaces and lush gardens. Students will have the choice of exploring the city by bike or on foot. No matter which they choose, they’ll be able to visit Cecilienhof Palace, where the Potsdam Agreement was signed to put an end to World War II. We’ll return to Berlin and pack our bags, as tomorrow we depart for Munich!

Board the high-speed train from Berlin to Munich and cross the eastern half of the country in just under five hours. Upon our arrival, we’ll head out to explore the area around Marienplatz, Munich’s central square. Climb to the top of the belltower at Alter Peter Church for incredible views of the city and snack on a fresh pretzel from a street vendor. For dinner, try Bavarian specialties at one of our favorite local restaurants.

We’ll spend the morning engaging with one of the darkest moments in German history as we visit the Dachau Concentration Camp, led by a local guide. Although it’s a difficult subject to talk about, students find this to be one of the most worthwhile experiences of the whole trip. After we return to downtown Munich, we’ll have lunch and take a bike tour of the city. The tour will include a stop at the Chinese Tower in the English Garden for a snack at one of the city’s trendiest beer gardens. We’ll learn more about Bavarian beer culture tonight at dinner in a cozy, traditional beer hall–complete with long tables perfect for making friends.

Leave the hustle and bustle of Munich for a relaxing day in the Bavarian countryside! Today, we’ll take a day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps. Always a student favorite, this day offers something for everyone. Students will explore the fairytale castle that inspired Walt Disney. Weather permitting, they will also have the chance to bike through the castle grounds and even go swimming in an alpine lake.

On our last day in Germany, students will see any last-minute sights we’ve missed so far. Begin the day with a visit to the Nymphenburg Palace gardens, one of the true gems of Munich. We’ll have lunch in the Viktualienmarkt, Munich’s incredible farmer’s market featuring products fresh from local farms. In the afternoon, students can relax in the English Garden or visit the BMW Museum. We’ll have time for last-minute souvenir shopping before enjoying an upscale final dinner to celebrate the end of an incredible trip.

Your TFT guides will accompany you to the airport and assist you with check-in for your flight. Wave goodbye as you head through security and sit back and relax on your flight home.