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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Itinerary
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.
Read More.
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, 4L, 3D
)
6 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 be joined by a local expert who will give a presentation on Berlin’s problematic past, its vibrant present, and potential future. We’ll then board a motorcoach with our 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
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:
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
5
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
6
Museum Island, Free Time, Performance
Location:
Berlin
Meals:
B,D
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:
On your own to enjoy local fare.
Afternoon:
Free time. You are welcome to remain and continue exploring the treasures of Museum Island.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We will attend an evening performance.
Day
7
Potsdam City Exploration, 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 at the Allied Museum, climbing stairs.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Our morning field trip via motorcoach takes us to Potsdam, located just outside Berlin. During an expert led field trip we will discover this historic city known for its stunning palaces, gardens, and rich cultural heritage. We will stroll through the charming Dutch Quarter with its red-brick houses, visit the impressive Brandenburg Gate, and explore the beautiful parks and canals that make the city so picturesque. With its blend of history, architecture, and natural beauty, Potsdam is a fascinating destination to discover on foot.
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:
At a local restaurant. 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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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 14, 2025
Jun 07, 2025 - Jun 15, 2025
Sep 06, 2025 - Sep 14, 2025
May 02, 2026 - May 10, 2026
Jun 06, 2026 - Jun 14, 2026
Sep 12, 2026 - Sep 20, 2026
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.
