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A group of travelers posing in front of the historic Holstentor gate in the Hanseatic city of Lübeck, Germany.
Germany

Hanseatic Cities: Highlights of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen

Program No. 23867RJ
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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
10 days
9 nights
What's Included
16 meals ( 7B, 1BR, 4L, 4D )
4 expert-led lectures
12 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in 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. 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. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be either via public transportation or private motorcoach depending on what is most convenient. In Hamburg oftentimes it is faster to travel by public transportation to avoid traffic jams within the city. We will mostly eat in local restaurants and offer a selection between meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. 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 a local 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.
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles, standing, walking on cobblestone streets. Getting on/off boat and taking a flight of stairs inside the boat.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We’re joined at the hotel by a local expert who will give a presentation on the history of Hanseatic cities such as Hamburg, Bremen, and Lübeck, and their important role in emigration from Germany. We’ll then meet a local expert for a walking field trip through Hamburg to see some of the city’s highlights, including the harbor, views of the city from the terrace of the new concert hall of Elbphilharmonie, the HafenCity (harbor city) and much more. We will explore the city's history and the profound impact of immigration and emigration throughout the ages.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we will continue with a harbor cruise, offering a unique perspective on Hamburg’s rich maritime history. As we sail through the Port of Hamburg, you’ll experience the bustling activity of one of Europe’s largest ports, with massive container ships and cargo terminals visible from the water. The historic Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will be a highlight, where you can admire its red-brick warehouses and winding canals. We will also pass the iconic Elbphilharmonie, a striking concert hall with a glass façade that stands out on the skyline. Along the Elbe River, you’ll see a mix of modern architecture, such as the innovative Harbor City district, and traditional sites, like the St. Pauli Piers. The cruise will give you a comprehensive view of Hamburg’s dynamic blend of old and new, highlighting its role as a major global port and its rich architectural heritage.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motor coach. Walking up to 3 miles, evening concert.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
This morning, gather in a conference room near the hotel for a lecture and Q&A session on genealogy with Ms. Andrea Bentschneider, President of the Association of German-Speaking Professional Genealogists and a board member of the International German Genealogy Partnership. Afterwards we will be venturing out by motor coach to explore Hamburg’s city center and surrounding neighborhoods. Highlights include the scenic Außenalster with beautiful views of the Skyline, the expansive Ohlsdorf Cemetery and the elegant villa quarters.
Lunch:
Return to the hotel and lunch on your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We will attend a performance at the famous concert hall Elbphilharmonie.
Activity Note
Getting on/off public transport to Bremen and Bremerhaven; riding approximately 1.5 hours. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 90 miles to Hamburg, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 3 miles, cobblestones, standing in the museum.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We will board a motor coach for our field trip to the Hanseatic city of Bremen. We will enjoy an expert-led field trip on foot of Bremen including the historic town hall, the narrow lanes and picturesque little houses of the medieval Schnoor quarter, and a monument to the famous Grimm fairy tale of the town musicians. Afterwards, we will transfer by motor coach to Bremerhaven.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Our next field trip will lead us to the famous emigration museum of Bremerhaven where we will be joined by a local expert on emigration. We will hear a lecture about the waves of emigration from Hamburg to the United States, including Jewish emigration, and an introduction to the museum by a local expert. At the museum you will have time on your own for independent research, utilizing the database of the museum in the family research archive. After our visit, we will board the motorcoach and ride back to Hamburg.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like and sample local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motor coach and public transit. Walking up to 4 miles, cobblestones, climbing flights of stairs.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
This morning we'll board our motorcoach for an expert-led walk through the memorial of the concentration camp Hamburg-Neuengamme. The camp’s website tells us: “Located in southeast Hamburg, Neuengamme was the largest concentration camp in north-west Germany from 1938 to 1945. More than 100,000 people from all over Europe were imprisoned in the main camp and over 85 satellite camps. At least 42,900 prisoners died in the Neuengamme main camp, its satellite camps, and during the camp evacuations at the end of the war.” The British military government then used the grounds as an internment camp directly after the war. In 1948, the city of Hamburg established two prisons on the site—they were not closed until 2003 and 2006 after much debate. The monument and exhibition buildings nearby, dating back to the 1960s, were then expanded as centers of research onto the grounds of the former barracks. After our visit, we will board the motorcoach and ride to the university quarter of Hamburg.
Lunch:
At the university quarter.
Afternoon:
In the afternoon we'll visit MARKK Museum am Rothenbaum, one of Europe’s largest ethnographic museums, with a local expert. We will explore global cultures while thoughtfully addressing the legacies of colonialism. Its rich collections from Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Americas, and Europe are presented alongside critical perspectives on how these objects were collected and what they represent today. Through dialogue-driven exhibitions, the museum invites visitors to reflect on shared histories, cultural exchange, and the lasting impact of empire in a global context.
Dinner:
On your own
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a train; driving 45 miles one way, about 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 4 miles; cobblestones.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We will board a train for our next field trip to Lübeck, the Queen of the Hanseatic League! Lübeck’s medieval center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. This was the first time that an entire Old Town in Northern Europe ever received this award. We will start our visit at the Hansemuseum, where we will be joined by a local expert for a lecture about the history of Lübeck and the Hanseatic League. Then we will explore the museum with our expert.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will then set out on an expert-led walk through Lübeck, visiting sites including the historic old town, the Holstentor city gate, and the Lübeck Cathedral. After we have finished our visit, we have some time to explore the city independently on our own before we board the train again back to Hamburg for dinner.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like and sample local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Early morning fish market, getting on/off motor coach and public transportation, walking up to 3 miles, standing inside the museum.
Morning:
Before breakfast we will board the motor coach for special highlight: The Sunday Fish Market (Fischmarkt). The market is a legendary weekly seaside tradition on the banks of the Elbe where, every Sunday morning since 1703, locals and visitors gather to shop for fresh fish, fruit, flowers and a wide variety of goods, hear lively market criers, enjoy fish sandwiches and music in the historic Altona Fish Auction Hall, and soak up a unique blend of market bustle, music and harbor atmosphere before the day begins.
Brunch:
After the fish market, we'll return to the hotel for breakfast and some time to rest.
Lunch:
On your own
Afternoon:
In the afternoon we'll board public transportation to visit the Hamburger Kunsthalle, one of Germany’s premier art museums, where centuries of European art unfold under one roof. Together with a local expert we'll wander through galleries filled with masterpieces from the Middle Ages to contemporary works, and explore special exhibitions that showcase both German and international artists.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off public transport, walking up to 2 miles.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Via public transit, we will visit the Memorial of St. Nicholas with an expert and learn about one of Hamburg’s most important World War II memorials. The original church was destroyed in the air raids on Hamburg in 1943. We will visit the viewing platform by a glass elevator, where we enjoy a view of Hamburg's inner city including the Town Hall and the Alster.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
At leisure.
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.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program. 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. 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 05, 2026 - Sep 12, 2026
May 09, 2027 - May 18, 2027
May 30, 2027 - Jun 08, 2027
Sep 12, 2027 - Sep 21, 2027
Oct 03, 2027 - Oct 12, 2027
Oct 3 - Oct 12, 2027 Itinerary Differences: For those participants on program #23867-10032027 continuing onward to Road Scholar program, "German Icons: Berlin, Dresden and Munich" (#16877-10112027), a high-speed train ticket to Berlin 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.