Exploring Berlin History on foot and using public transport!

We recently travelled on a History Tour to Berlin with the students of Holy Cross School, accompanied by their History Tour Guide Trevor, to embark on a 4-day exploration of Berlin and all its key sites on foot and using its network of excellent public transport links!

The schools party leader was keen for us to provide a packed itinerary, without the use of a coach, to give students an in-depth insight into Berlin, its culture, its streets, using its unrivalled network of public transport links and a whole load of steps, exploring the sights and streets of Berlin!

Brace yourself for what was a unique adventure, packed with thousands of steps, keeping students’ hearts and minds busy from morning until night!

Thousands of steps, numerous hops and off trains made our adventure a memorable one!

Meeting our History Tour Guide – Trevor ♥

Day 1 and time for the group to travel by air from London into Berlin Brandenburg Airport where the group were met by our much respected and treasured tour Guide Trevor. With a long serving Royal Airforce background, a contagious love of history and sharing his vast knowledge with students, there was no doubt, they were in the safest of hands.

A quick coach transfer to the groups hostel and then the remainder of the tour itinerary would be navigated on foot and using public transport!

It’s amazing how much can be achieved when exploring this stunning capital in this way…

TOP TIP!

PUBLIC TRANSPORT TICKETS – Small group tickets are excellent value and can be included in your tour price – these tickets allow 5 people to travel across the main zones of the city using buses, trams, U-bahns, S-bahns and RE trains! It’s a great way for schools, seeking that extra adventure, to explore the city of Berlin on foot!
We highly recommend The BVG Fahrinfo app for accurate times and routes across Berlin public transport whilst out on tour.

We highly recommend The BVG Fahrinfo app for accurate times and routes across Berlin public transport whilst out on tour.

Explore the group’s jam packed itinerary…

Day 1:

Berlin Hauptbhanhof for lunch and free time
Berlin Story Bunker Museum
Evening Meal at Hostel

Day 2

Visit Wannsee Conference to learn of the major decisions that were made here.
Lunch at Potsdamer Platz.
Free time to explore the memorials and sculptures located in the Tiergarten.

Key Points of interest:

Memorial to Homosexuals Persecuted under Nazism
Memorial to the Victims of the Wall
Der Rufer (The Caller)
Memorial to the Sinti and Roma of Europe Murdered under National Socialism

An engaging specialist guided tour of The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe which challenged students thinking.
Visit to Topography of Terror.
Checkpoint Charlie

School group on a History Tour in Berlin at the House of the Wannsee Conference

The gate to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in Berlin

Day 3:

Exploration of the Jewish Museum and its diverse architecture, followed by free time and lunch at Potsdamer Platz
An emotional Insider Tour Guided visit to the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial and Museum.
Visit to the Reichstag Building with its spectacular architecture and views

Day 4

Viewing of dramatic artworks at East Side Gallery followed by free time to explore…

Key Points of interest:

TV Tower (Fernsehturm)
World Clock (Weltzeituhr)
Red Town Hall (Rotes Rathaus)
Neptune Fountain (Neptunbrunnen)
Marx-Engels Forum

Hackescher Markt where the impressive Art Nouveau Hackesche Höfe courtyards can be viewed, and then walk along Oranienburgerstraße which provides a great opportunity to introduce students to the “Stolpersteine” project in Berlin.
Groups returns home…

Our take on this itinerary!

There is no doubt that this was an extremely full and packed itinerary, allowing students the opportunity to witness daily life in Berlin and immerse themselves in the capital city culture.

We walked tens of thousands of steps, with the memories and laughter we enjoyed along the way making the steps irrelevant – walking, talking and having the time to take in the surroundings of the city just added to and enhanced the overall experience. There wasn’t a moment available in the tour for students to become disengaged with what they were experiencing. For a teacher that wants their students get the absolute most out of their Berlin History Tour experience, and careful consideration of their group leads them to believe their students will thrive in this setting – we highly recommend this format and say go for it!

“It’s never an easy experience learning of such horrific happenings in our History, but Berlin you tell the story with such grace and immense respect”

Nicky Astle, Rayburn Tours

A&O Berlin Hauptbahnhof – a brilliant base for schools!

This fantastic youth hostel is cool with a capital C. Staying on a half board basis the food was varied and plentiful ensuring our students were well fuelled at the start and the end of each day! Multi-bedded rooms, artistic chill out areas, fun large scale table football, great outside areas and a youthful and vibrant front of house team, make it a great base for schools, just a short walk from public transport links into the bustle of the city!

Explore this trip experience from the students’ perspective…

This itinerary provided a wealth of opportunities for students to explore Berlin. A jam-packed itinerary and a whole host of emotional and engaging visits, leaving a long-lasting impression on students. Explore their feedback on the overall tour experience…

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