What to expect
Berlin
Enjoy a city tour of Berlin's top sites
Sachsenhausen
Visit the harrowing concentration camp
Colditz
See the 16th-century Renaissance Castle
Dresden
Discover the restored heavily bombed city
About this trip...
About the trip
Germany has played a pivotal role in European history, and no place embodies this more than its capital, Berlin. As the epicenter of the Cold War, Berlin was famously divided between East and West. The Second World War's horrors remain a poignant lesson for today, exemplified by Sachsenhausen concentration camp. We visit this camp, now a memorial and museum, to honour the victims and ensure their stories are never forgotten. Colditz Castle, a striking 16th-century fortress, also holds a significant place in history. During World War II, it served as a POW facility, where inmates executed daring escapes. Our journey concludes in Dresden, a city heavily bombed by the Allies during the war. Witness the remarkable transformation of Dresden as it has risen from the ashes to reclaim its former glory.
What's included?
Room for sole occupancy
Daily breakfast and two dinners
Welcome drink
City tours of Berlin and Dresden-
Historical museum visits and Dresden Memorial
-
Visit to Colditz and Sachsenhausen concentration camp
Accompanying Solos Tour Leader
What's extra:
- International flights are not included
- Travel insurance
- Tips & drinks
- Meals when not included in the itinerary
- Activities when not included in the itinerary
Itinerary
- Arrive into Berlin
- City tour of Berlin
- Sachsenhausen concentration camp
- Colditz and Dresden city tour
- Museum of Military History and memorial of Dresden
- Departure Day
What you'll be doing
Day One: Arrive in Berlin
- Dinner Included
Day Two: City Tour of Berlin
- Breakfast Included
Day Three: Memorial & Museum Sachsenhausen
Today, we visit a place of profound historical significance - the Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen, a former Nazi concentration camp. Established in 1936, Sachsenhausen was one of the first concentration camps. Initially used as a training facility, it became a site of immense suffering and death for tens of thousands of prisoners. During World War II, Sachsenhausen expanded, housing political prisoners, intellectuals, resistance fighters, and others deemed enemies of the Nazi regime. The prisoners endured forced labour, medical experiments, torture, and execution. Sachsenhausen also served as a transit camp for prisoners being sent to extermination camps like Auschwitz. Today, it stands as a memorial and museum, where we can take the time to learn about the harrowing history of this site.
- Breakfast Included
Day Four: Colditz & Dresden
This morning, we depart Berlin and head to Colditz to visit the Renaissance Castle, which served as a prisoner of war camp for high-ranking Allied officers during World War II. Notable prisoners included Winston Churchill's nephew and the nephew of King George VI. The castle was famous for numerous escape attempts, employing various ingenious methods and achieving varying degrees of success. During our visit, we will learn about some of these daring escapades. Afterward, we continue to Dresden. Upon arrival, we will embark on a walking tour of this city renowned for its rich culture and baroque architecture. Dresden's role in World War II remains a topic of debate due to the controversial Allied bombing in 1945, which created a devastating firestorm. While the city still bears the scars of these bombings, it has undergone significant reconstruction, emerging as a thriving metropolis that has reclaimed its former glory.
- Breakfast Included
Day Five: Museum of Military History & Memorial of Dresden
Today, our journey takes us to the Museum of Military History, housed within an impressive building that has hosted numerous exhibitions on military history over the years. Following its reopening in 2011, the museum has shifted its focus to highlight the human experiences of war, while also showcasing the evolution of German military technology. Following our visit to the museum, we proceed to the Dresden Memorial, a solemn site dedicated to the victims of political persecution during the city's Soviet occupation. Here, we embark on a guided tour of the preserved prison, offering a poignant glimpse into the state's efforts to silence political dissent. Through artifacts, recordings, and the stark environment of the detention cells, we gain insight into the harrowing fates of the inmates and the dark chapter of history they represent.
- Breakfast & Dinner Included
Day Six: Depart Germany
This morning we enjoy breakfast together before making our way to Berlin Airport for our onward flight.
- Breakfast Included
Accommodation
- Martas Hotel Albrechtshof Berlin three-star - Berlin
- Bilderberg Bellevue Hotel Dresden four-star - Dresden
Dates & Prices
Essential Information
We recommend that you check passport and visa requirements for the country you are visiting at the State Department if you have a U.S. Passport. Most countries require that your passport have at least six months validity when traveling internationally, and many require that you have one to two blank visa pages for either an entry stamp or visa. As a general rule, please check that your passport has six months validity beyond your planned trip, and if not, please renew your passport with plenty of time to provide Solos with your updated passport information by the final payment due date.
We recommend that you check if vaccinations are required for your destination at the CDC’s recommendations for your visited destination(s). We also recommend you purchase travel protection. A travel protection plan can often assist with medical emergencies and reimburse costs that are covered by the plan. Please verify coverage details with Solos before you travel.
