Germany
Berlin: Two Pasts, One Present
Program No. 16952RJ
Immerse yourself in Cold War history in Berlin while learning about the Bundestag, speaking with Berliners about reunification and discovering cultural monuments like the Berlin Wall.
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DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
May 3 - May 11, 2025
Starting at
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This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
9 days
8 nights
14 meals
7B 5L 2D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
9
Program Concludes
In Flight
At a Glance
In November of 1989 the Cold War tensions were beginning to thaw. With the Tiananmen Square protest and the democratic elections of Eastern Europe fresh in their minds, the leaders of East Berlin’s Communist Party announced it was finally time to put an end of the Berlin Wall. Almost instantly, thousands of German citizens flooded the streets, shouting “Tor auf!” (“Open the gate!”) until the wall tumbled down and loved ones were reunited for the first time since 1945. Alongside experts, experience the living memory of a divided city that is once again united as a cultural and political power of Europe. Delve deep into the political life and mentality of modern Germany with political and historical experts as you remember and reflect on this important time in world history.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles per day on mostly flat city sidewalks. Standing for up to 1.5 hours a day. Stairs in historic buildings. Use of public transportation. Some program days may require walking up to three miles in a day.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Venture behind the scenes of German politics during a field trip to the Reichstag building - the seat of German Bundestag.
- Meet with an expert on German-American relations at the Allied Museum.
- Experience an excursion to Cecilienhof Palace - the historic site of the Potsdam conference in 1945
General Notes
Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials. For our 2025 dates: Give us a call to combine this learning adventure with "Hanseatic Cities: Highlights of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen" (#23867) for even more learning in Germany! We'll even transfer you for free between Berlin and Hamburg.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Andrea Mehrländer
Andrea is Berlin native and has been working as Executive Director of the Academy of Transatlantic Academic Studies since 2014. She studied History, English, Sociology and Psychology and received her Ph.D. from Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Andrea has taught American Studies at Martin-Luther-Universität and served as Executive Director at Checkpoint Charlie Foundation, where she successfully raised 1.7 million euros for ongoing projects. Andrea is also a historical consultant for American movie productions and has consulted for the films like Pearl Harbor and National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Andrea Mehrländer
View biography
Andrea is Berlin native and has been working as Executive Director of the Academy of Transatlantic Academic Studies since 2014. She studied History, English, Sociology and Psychology and received her Ph.D. from Ruhr-Universität Bochum. Andrea has taught American Studies at Martin-Luther-Universität and served as Executive Director at Checkpoint Charlie Foundation, where she successfully raised 1.7 million euros for ongoing projects. Andrea is also a historical consultant for American movie productions and has consulted for the films like Pearl Harbor and National Treasure: Book of Secrets.
Ulrich Brückner
View biography
Ulrich Brückner studied political science, German literature and history at the University of Würzburg and the Freie Universität Berlin. He specialized in European integration and his PhD thesis focused on the role of the European Commission in the policy-making of the EU. He has been a lecturer at the Freie Universität Berlin, Szczecin University and an active member of the European Union’s Jean Monnet Programme. His current fields of interests are institutional developments in the EU, external affairs and Eastward enlargement.
Vera Blumenthal
View biography
Vera Blumenthal studied Egyptology and Classical Archeology at the Humboldt University of Berlin where she obtained her PhD degree with a thesis about the Egyptian Old Kingdom. For more than twenty years, she has worked as a freelancer for the Berlin State Museums, concentrating more and more on cultural education. She is an expert in the history and architecture of Museum Island at Berlin and one of the founders of the agency ARIADNE, specializing on organizing high quality group education in the museums of Berlin.
Suggested Reading List
(10 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Berlin: Two Pasts, One Present
Program Number: 16952
The Berlin Wall Story
Where did the Berlin Wall actually stand? Why was it built? How did people keep managing to escape across it – and how many died in the attempt? Why did it come down in the end?
Numerous previously unknown photographs document the construction of this barrier system of barbed wire, alarm fences and concrete. Spectacular escape stories and shocking deaths are chronicled here in words and images, as are the dramatic events surrounding the construction and the fall of the Wall. A stunning survey of the Berlin Wall – the central symbol of the Cold War.
Berlin Now: The Rise of the City and the Fall of the Wall
Over the last five decades, no other city has changed more than Berlin. Divided in 1961, reunited in 1989, it has morphed over the last twenty-five years into Europe's most vibrant melting-pot of artists, immigrants and entrepreneurs. Pieces of the wall are collected around the world. Blending memoir, history, anecdote and reportage, this legendary Berliner takes us behind the scenes - from wrenching stories of life under the Stasi, to the difference between East and West Berliners' sex-lives, to a present-day investigation of its arts scene, night-life, tumultuous politics and hidden quirks - revealing what makes Berlin the uniquely fascinating place it is.
Alone in Berlin
In 1940, in the heart of Hitler's capital, Otto and Anna Quangel are alone in Berlin with a breathtaking campaign of resistance.
Stasiland
Not surprisingly the fall of the Berlin Wall caused panic at the Stasi headquarters, as described in Anna Funder's riveting portrait of East Germany's secret police and how it controlled a nation.
Book of Clouds
Chloe Aridjis's beautifully evocative novel is set in today's Berlin; a young Mexican woman flees her family only to find a city that cannot escape its past.
The Innocent
After England, the cold war Berlin of 1955 is like no place Leonard Markham has ever experienced: surreal, complex and dangerous.
March Violets
Freelance detective Bernie Gunther works on the mean streets of 1930s Berlin, where Nazi excesses are never far from the surface.
Berlin: Imagine a City
A city devastated by Allied bombs, divided by a Wall, then reunited and reborn, Berlin today resonates with the echo of lives lived, dreams realised and evils executed. No other city has repeatedly been so powerful and fallen so low. And few other cities have been so shaped and defined by individual imaginations.
Through vivid portraits spanning five centuries, Rory MacLean reveals the varied and rich history of Berlin, from its brightest to its darkest moments. We encounter an ambitious prostitute refashioning herself as a princess, a Scottish mercenary fighting for the Prussian Army, Marlene Dietrich flaunting her sexuality and Hitler fantasising about the mega-city Germania. The result is a uniquely imaginative biography of one of the world's most volatile yet creative cities.
Germany: Memories of a Nation
From Neil MacGregor, the author of A History of the World in 100 Objects, this is a view of Germany like no otherFor the past 140 years, Germany has been the central power in continental Europe. Twenty-five years ago a new German state came into being. How much do we really understand this new Germany, and how do its people now understand themselves?
Five Germanys I have known
The "German question" haunts the modern world: How could so civilized a nation be responsible for the greatest horror in Western history? In this unusual fusion of personal memoir and history, the celebrated scholar Fritz Stern refracts the question through the prism of his own life.
Year
- 2025
Date
- May 03 - May 11
- Jun 07 - Jun 15
- Sep 06 - Sep 14
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Sep 6 - Sep 14, 2025 Itinerary Differences: For those participants on program #16952-090625 continuing onward to Road Scholar program, "Hanseatic Cities: Highlights of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen" (#23867-091325), a high-speed train ticket to Hamburg is included at no additional cost. To avail yourself of the hotel transfer and train ticket, please contact Experiment e.V. (roadscholarprograms@experiment-ev.de) to make arrangements.
Please Note: The program differs on certain dates.
Select trip year and date
- 2025
- May 03 - May 11
- Jun 07 - Jun 15
- Sep 06 - Sep 14
Sep 6 - Sep 14, 2025 Itinerary Differences: For those participants on program #16952-090625 continuing onward to Road Scholar program, "Hanseatic Cities: Highlights of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen" (#23867-091325), a high-speed train ticket to Hamburg is included at no additional cost. To avail yourself of the hotel transfer and train ticket, please contact Experiment e.V. (roadscholarprograms@experiment-ev.de) to make arrangements.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
9 days
8 nights
What's Included
14 meals (
7B, 5L, 2D
)
5 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit to Program
Location:
In Flight
Day
2
Arrive Berlin, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Berlin
Meals:
D
Stay:
Maritim proArte Hotel Berlin
Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Luggage can be stored at the hotel if you arrive early. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Orientation: 4:30 p.m. in the hotel meeting room. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Please note that in Germany it is often expected to pay for using public restrooms with small change; we advise to carry 50c pieces with you during field trips. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
3
Berlin Highlights by Motorcoach, Jewish Quarter
Location:
Berlin
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Maritim proArte Hotel Berlin
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach several times; short walks to and standing at field trip sites; cobblestones. The specific sites seen during our motorcoach field trip will depend on schedules and local conditions at the time of the program.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
This morning we’ll board a motorcoach with another expert for a field trip to see some of the city’s highlights including the Berlin Wall Monument, Checkpoint Charlie, Gendarmenmarkt Square with the restored Konzerthaus and the French and German churches, Paris Square and the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, Holocaust Memorial, Potsdamer Square (the new and old), Memorial Church, and new architecture.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Our expert-led field trip continues aboard the motorcoach including a stop at the Jewish Quarter. Upon our return to the hotel, we’ll adjourn for the day.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Political Lecure, Reichstag Building, Leisure time
Location:
Berlin
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Maritim proArte Hotel Berlin
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles; extensive standing at Reichstag building and climbing flights of stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we'll have an opportunity to venture behind the scenes of German politics and discuss current political issues in Germany and the European Union with a political expert. We will then take a walking field trip to one of the city’s most famous landmarks, the former Reichstag building that is now the seat of the Deutscher Bundestag, the German Federal Parliament. As we see and appreciate the magnificent architecture, we will also learn more about Germany’s turbulent political past — and that mysterious 1933 fire! — before ascending to the recently rebuilt glass cupola. From here, you can enjoy spectacular views of the parliamentary and government district and Berlin’s sights.
Lunch:
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
At leisure to explore on your own. Your group leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Hohenschönhausen, local artist, contemporary witness
Location:
Berlin
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Maritim proArte Hotel Berlin
Activity Note
Getting on/off public transportation. Walking up to 3 miles, cobblestones, climbing flights of stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will board the motorcoach for a field trip to the Berlin-Hohenschönhausen Memorial. In 1945, the building was converted into a Soviet Secret Police prison for detention and interrogation in East Germany. In 1951, the East German Ministry of State Security (Stasi) took over the prison, added a new prison building in 1961 and, until 1989, used the site as its main remand center. Thousands of political prisoners passed through this jail, including nearly all the prominent figures opposing the GDR regime. The site formed a kind of headquarters of communist repression in East Germany. Afterwards we will meet a local artist who painted part of the Berlin Wall and is one of the founders of the artist collective of the East Side Gallery.
Lunch:
We will take the motorcoach to eat at a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Leisure time to explore on your own. Your group leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like and sample local fare.
Evening:
After dinner we will gather for a presentation and discussion with a contemporary witness from the former GDR.
Day
6
Museum Island, Free Time, Performance
Location:
Berlin
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Maritim proArte Hotel Berlin
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking up to 2 miles; cobblestones. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will begin the morning with a lecture by a knowledgeable local expert who will introduce the history of Berlin's famous Museum Island. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Museum Island complex is home to five internationally acclaimed museums. After the lecture, we will go to Museum Island by motorcoach and see one of the exhibitions led by the local expert.
Lunch:
At a restaurant near Museum Island.
Afternoon:
Free time. You are welcome to remain and continue exploring the treasures of Museum Island.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like and sample local fare.
Evening:
We will attend an evening performance.
Day
7
Potsdam, Cecilienhof Palace, Allied Museum
Location:
Berlin
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Maritim proArte Hotel Berlin
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles, approximately 4-5 hours riding time with short stops along the way (not including the expert-led walks and lunch); walking up to 2 miles, standing around Cecilienhof Palace and the Allied Museum, climbing stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Our morning field trip via motorcoach takes us to Potsdam and the historic Cecilienhof Palace, the last palace built by the ruling Hohenzollern family from 1914-17 for Crown Prince William and his wife, Cecilie von Mecklenburg-Schwerin. World history was forged when Allied leaders Truman, Churchill, and Stalin met here for the Potsdam Conference in 1945 to discuss the partition of Germany
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We’ll take the motorcoach to return to Berlin and on the way back we will visit the Allied Museum. First, we’ll assemble in a room at the museum for a lecture on German-American relations from 1945 to the present by an expert. After this, our expert will lead us through the exhibition. Dedicated to the 50-year Allied presence in Berlin, we will explore the museum's permanent exhibits with a focus on the large-scale objects such as the Hastings plane, the French military train and the original Checkpoint Charlie. We also check out the espionage tunnel of "Operation Gold". We'll then return to the hotel.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
8
Modern Berlin, Kreuzberg, Free Time
Location:
Berlin
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Maritim proArte Hotel Berlin
Activity Note
Taking public transportation. Walking up to 2 miles and standing, walking on cobblestone. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will ride by public transport to Kreuzberg – a borough of Berlin – to explore the modern day Berlin. Kreuzberg has developed from one of the poorest boroughs of West Berlin to a cultural and artistic hotspot of the city. During the division, it was faced on three sides by the Berlin Wall; after reunification, it went through a significant gentrification process. We will explore the borough with a local expert and learn about the history and current topics of the borough.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Free time.
Dinner:
We’ll take a walk from the hotel to a popular restaurant in the vibrant center. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
9
Program Concludes
Location:
In Flight
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Transportation Information” regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
14 Meals
7 Breakfasts
5 Lunches
2 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 14, 2025
- May 03, 2025 - May 11, 2025
- Jun 07, 2025 - Jun 15, 2025
- Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 14, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 15 Reviews
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Good choice for anyone who grew up in the post WW2 era and wants to close any knowledge gaps.
— Review left October 1, 2024
This was a great program. It was very informative and provide insights into the subject that I had not considered. The organization was definitely up to Road Scholar standards.
— Review left September 15, 2024
This program was very carefully thought out. Everything, from the hotel location, to selection of 'expert guides', and modes of transport to guided visit locations, all added to the richness of my experience.
— Review left June 16, 2024
If you want to see and experience the history of 20th and 21st century Berlin, then this is the tour for you.
— Review left June 10, 2024
I absolutely loved this full and rewarding experience. I could have happily spent a few additional days learning even more about this fascinating city. Our excellent guide and speakers did such a superb job of stimulating my curiosity about what they shared that I plan to do further research on my own.
Highly recommended.
— Review left October 23, 2023
The Berlin program is designed for a niche group of travelers: those who want to "geek out" about German history and culture. Due to the truth of this history, some content is heavy and not appealing to most travelers. However, it was perfect for me and my fellow geeks. Well done, Road Scholar!
— Review left September 17, 2023
One of the most interesting, informative & moving trips ever! Hugely exceeded expectations.
— Review left June 9, 2023
If you enjoy learning history of the period from the 1930s to the 1990s in Germany, the rise of Nazism, WWII, The Berlin Wall, the German Democratic Republic and and all the linkages to current events in the world, this deeper dive into Berlin will give you a look at both the past and the present. Our group of 15 had excellent learning experiences not only with expert educators, but also with people who lived that history either as a prisoner of the Stasi or regular folks living in East Germany during the time of the Berlin Wall. Our days were packed with information, walking tours, visits to important and iconic sites/memorials/buildings, museum tours, and neighborhood walks. If you like a combination of exercise and learning, past and present, this exploration of Berlin will very much satisfy your needs. Berlin is a vibrant city with much to share in the way of culture, art, history and music. We loved it and recommend it, but bring your walking shoes!
— Review left June 2, 2023
Berlin: Two Pasts, One Present provides an excellent overview of the city. Barbara is an outstanding guide, really exceptional. Also all of the "local" guides and speakers were superb.
The title is cleaver and accurate. One no longer can tell what part of Berlin you are in based on the surroundings. The old "East Berlin" is rebuilt and we saw it. There was a really good variety of activities built into the program. The only suggestion I would have is to perhaps extend it to 10 days
— Review left May 31, 2023
I added this second tour to the "Best of Germany" so was able to have additional time in Berlin at the end. Although some parts of the tours were similar, I highly recommend an additional week in Berlin to enjoy the city.
— Review left September 19, 2022
Road Scholar is a shadow of its former self. Poor and tardy service, almost impossible to make speedy contact. After 13 trips, this is my last.
— Review left September 18, 2022
A superb tour of Berlin (and Potsdam). Our guides were excellent, knowledgeable and caring, the lectures informative and the itinerary well planned. We were there for the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Berlin Wall, and so that made the occasion even more special. One can get a great overview of the major events of 20th century Europe in Berlin. It is a program well worth taking.
— Review left December 2, 2019
Berlin: Two Pasts, One Present is an outstanding program. Lectures and outings were meaningful and interesting. Very educational program.
— Review left October 13, 2019
Berlin Past and Present is an excellent program. The local guides were terrific. They presented interesting material and explained in detail the history of Germany especially before and after WW2 and its impact on Jews affected by the Nazis.
— Review left May 26, 2019
This is a very informative trip. I loved seeing the places where so much history took place and learning how Berlin and Germany are remembering and compensating for their NAZI and GDR past.
— Review left January 17, 2019
