Poland, East Germany and WWII

Overview

A stirring exploration of World War II's most important sites across Poland and East Germany. Visit the haunting remains of Auschwitz and Birkenau, find inspiration at Oskar Schindler’s factory, and enjoy sightseeing in Krakow, Nuremberg and Berlin.

UK - Warsaw

Fly to Warsaw where on arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.

At 6pm, meet your Tour Director and travelling companions, and leave the hotel for a special welcome dinner at one of Warsaw's excellent restaurants.

Warsaw

Your local guide will tell you about the tormented, often tragic history of this important gateway city between east and west. See the medieval Stare Miasto (Old Quarter) with its market square and 14th-century Cathedral of St John, the 'wedding cake' palace of culture and science. You'll also see the neo-classical Lazienki Palace, and the remnants of the Jewish ghetto. An optional excursion to the Royal Castle is available.

Warsaw - Auschwitz - Birkenau - Krakow

Visit Auschwitz and Birkenau, and see what is left of the concentration camps, both chilling reminders of the Holocaust and the most notorious among the World War II concentration camps. Then continue to Krakow, for centuries the residence of Polish kings.

Krakow

This morning there is a chance to join an optional excursion to the Wieliczka salt mine. Back in Krakow, follow your local guide for a stroll through Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter; a visit to the Remuh Synagogue; and a visit to the Oskar Schindler Factory, made famous in the film Schindler's List. Later, you can enjoy an optional Polish dinner and folklore show.

Krakow - Wroclaw

Your sightseeing with a local guide in ancient Krakow features the market square, 14th-century Jagiellonian University, and St Mary's Church. Take pictures of impressive Wawel Royal Castle. Next is Wroclaw, historical capital of Silesia. This impressive city belonged over the ages to Bohemia, Austria, Prussia, Germany, and after 1945, to Poland. Hear about its turbulent history during your guided tour, and admire its highlights, such as the cathedral and the Market Square with its fine patrician houses.

Wroclaw - Dresden

Cross the border and arrive in Dresden, former capital of Saxony. Badly damaged by Allied bombing in February 1945, the city has since been restored to its baroque splendour. During your guided walking tour, visit the Zwinger Palace Courtyard to admire its impressive architecture; the magnificent baroque Semper Opera, originally built in 1841, once destroyed by fire, then destroyed by bombing, and finally restored in 1985; and the newly rebuilt Frauenkirche. Afterwards, a great dinner and local specialties await you in Dresden’s well-known Am Pulverturm restaurant.

Dresden - Torgau - Berlin

Hear about Joe Polowsky on your way to Torgau then, see the monument commemorating the meeting of US and Soviet forces during World War II, and visit the courtyard at magnificent Hartenfels Castle. Continue to Berlin, capital of reunited Germany. Sightseeing with a local guide in the once-divided metropolis includes the elegant Ku’damm, the restored Reichstag, Charlottenburg Palace, a picture stop at monumental Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial, and the 210-foot Victory Column in the vast Tiergarten park. Visit the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church with its bomb-damaged tower, drive along Unter den Linden Boulevard, and pass the State Opera House and Checkpoint Charlie.

Berlin

All day at leisure to further explore this fascinating city and to join an optional excursion to Potsdam.

Berlin - Buchenwald - Wiemar

In Weimar, follow your Tour Director for a pleasant walk through this pretty town. See the houses where great poets like Goethe and Schiller lived and the theatre where the Weimar Constitution was drafted. In the afternoon, a special visit has been included to Buchenwald at the site of the former concentration camp. Return to Weimar.

Weimar - Nuremberg

Arrive in Nuremberg and visit the Memorium Nuremberg Trials and Courtroom 600 (if available), followed by visits to the impressive Documentation Centre and Zeppelin Field. In the afternoon, walk through the pedestrian area of the charming Old Town, known for children’s toys and gingerbread. Admire the impressive medieval ramparts; St Sebald Church, painstakingly reconstructed as a monument to peace from the rubble of near-total wartime destruction; and the Schöner Brunnen, a 14th-century fountain dedicated to the Holy Roman Empire. It is said that it brings good luck to spin the two brass rings. Tonight, a special dinner to taste the traditional Nürnberger Bratwürste has been prepared for you at Bratwurst Röslein restaurant.

Nuremberg - Dachau - Munich

Visit the site of the former Dachau Concentration Camp, which started out as a work camp for German dissidents. Then, continue to Munich, Bavaria’s capital. Explore Marienplatz with the Old and New Town Halls, and the Gothic Frauenkirche.

Munich

Today is your chance to join an optional excursion to spectacular Berchtesgaden and Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest (available only from mid-May to end-September and weather-permitting). This evening, a farewell dinner has been prepared to say auf Wiedersehen to your travel companions.

Munich - UK

Your tour ends today.

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK