Treasures of Berlin NEW

From £999 7 Days

DEPARTS 13 JUL The Reichstag, Berlin

Of all our European tours, this is the shiniest. For the magpies among us, our Berlin city break is a veritable nest of glittering treasures. Famed for its opulent palaces that date back to the Kingdom of Prussia, we discover a gold mine of lavish Baroque and Rococo architecture, richly decorated Stucco interiors and exquisitely manicured parks. Signature sights include the stunning Sanssouci Palace and Cecilienhof, where the Potsdam Conference took place. There is also time to soak up the vibrant culture of Germany’s fascinating capital city, which has experienced so much change in recent years.

ITINERARY

Day 1

We fly to Berlin and transfer to our hotel in the heart of the city.

Day 2 Berlin

This morning we get to know Berlin. It may be a rather big city but, luckily for us, all the best areas are lovely and compact. Once divided, now reunited, it really is full of contrasts with a variety of historical and modern attractions. We enjoy a guided walking tour which covers some of the most important sights including the Brandenburg Gate, a former symbol of the divided city. After our tour, the rest of the day is left free to discover more of Berlin at leisure and, living up to the charms of its ‘live and let live’ motto, it’s a wonderfully relaxed place to explore. Later, we enjoy dinner together back at the hotel.

The Brandenburg Gate

Day 3 Schönhausen Palace & River Cruise

Schönhausen Palace provided the backdrop for many important political and historical moments. Originally a manor house was built on the site in the 1660s before King Friedrich II gifted it to his wife, who used it as a summer residence and adored the opulent rooms, Stucco ceilings and colourful floral carpets, which we admire during our visit. Later, Wilhelm Pieck used the residence as his official seat during his time as president of the German Democratic Republic after the partition of Germany. The presidential garden is a reminder of this time. Later, we enjoy a river cruise through the centre of the city, taking in a selection of iconic sights from a new perspective. Cameras at the ready for the fascinating cityscape, including the silhouette of the stunning domed Berlin Cathedral on Museum Island, as we meander along the River Spree.

Day 4 Berlin Cathedral & Charlottenburg Palace

After spotting the famous cathedral from our river cruise, today we get up close with an audio guided tour. The majestic Italian Renaissancestyle structure is flanked by four Baroque towers and envelopes equally lavish interiors, from a marble and onyx altar to elaborate mosaics. It served as the court church for the Hohenzollern dynasty, the monarchy of Prussia and later the German Emperors. Our next stop is Charlottenburg Palace. Built at the end of the 17th century, it is one of Berlin’s key reminders of the splendour of the Hohenzollern clan, who ruled until 1918. Packed with treasures from the grand Rococo ballroom and collections of precious porcelain to the silver vault; glittering with the remaining pieces of the Prussian crown jewels, there is so much to discover in this former royal residence. The leafy palace park is also well worth a wander after we see the first-ever bathroom in a Baroque palace!

The Orangery, Sanssouci Park

Day 5 Sanssouci Palace & Cecilienhof

We visit Sanssouci Palace where we enjoy an audio guided tour. Sans soucI, which means ‘without a care’, was the much-loved summer retreat of the Prussian King; Friedrich the Great. The Rococo palace sits pretty above the vineyard-festooned terraces, and inside the intimate suites still boast their original decorations. Outside, the sprawling grounds are as impressive as ever, with the Chinese House and Orangery proving the ultimate relaxing hideaway. The king’s grave is on the highest terrace on the hill, buried next to his beloved greyhounds.

Charlottenburg Palace

Schloss Britz

Cecilienhof Sanssouci Palace

GERMANY

Statue in historical centre of Berlin

Cecilienhof

Afterwards, we head to Cecilienhof, an Englishstyle mock Tudor curiosity, which seems in stark contrast to the luxurious palaces we have visited so far. Though humble from the outside, this was actually the location where world history was made when the Allied powers met here after the Second World War to discuss the occupation of Germany. Originally built in 1913 by Kaiser Wilhelm II, it was the last palace constructed by the Hohenzollern clan before it went on to serve as the location for the Potsdam Conference, attended by Josef Stalin, Harry Truman and Winston Churchill in 1945.

Berlin Cathedral and River Spree

Day 6 Schloss Britz & Botanic Garden

Formally an 18th-century manor house, Schloss Britz was once home to Prussian ministers and high-ranking court officials. It attracted tourists early on due to its library and picture gallery that sit behind a lovely neo-Renaissance façade. These days it houses an exhibition all about the way in which people lived during Germany’s late 19th-century industrialisation. This afternoon takes us to Berlin’s Botanic Garden, an enchanting 43 hectares of flowers rippling in the breeze. From medicinal plants and roses to an Italian garden and an art nouveau Tropical Greenhouse packed with giant water lilies and a bamboo forest, this floral nirvana boasts a collection of 20,000 plant species. A truly colourful way to end our final excursion! This evening we enjoy a farewell dinner together at the hotel.

Day 7

We check out of our hotel and transfer to Berlin airport for our return flight home. YOUR BREAK INCLUDES

y Return flights to Berlin y Airport taxes and luggage allowance (one piece of checked-in hold luggage per person) y Airport transfers in Germany y 6 nights at the 4-star Park Inn Alexanderplatz,

Berlin with breakfast plus 2 dinners y Excursions to Schönhausen Palace,

Berlin Cathedral, Charlottenburg Palace,

Sanssouci Palace, Cecilienhof, Schloss Britz & Botanic Garden y Audio guided tours of Berlin Cathedral & Sanssouci Palace y Guided walking tour of Berlin y Scenic river cruise of Berlin y Escorted by a tour manager in Germany

YOUR HOTEL 

Being Berlin’s tallest hotel, the 4-star Park Inn is striking and modern. Situated directly in Alexanderplatz Square, it’s centrally located to see the city’s top sites. The stylish bedrooms have en-suite marble bathrooms with power showers and heated floors. Hotel facilities include multiple restaurants, a bar and free Wi-Fi, plus the wellness centre offers a sauna and gym. There is also a lovely top-floor terrace, which offers fabulous views of central Berlin.

Hotel accessibility information

Lift to all floors. No steps to entrance. No ground floor rooms.

AIRPORTS & PRICES

DEPARTS Wed 13 Jul

FLY DIRECT FROM THESE REGIONAL AIRPORTS, PRICES FROM 9 Bristol £999 9 Gatwick £999 9 Heathrow £999 9 Luton £999 9 Manchester £999