Der Berliner

This itinerary is the starting point for your tour, but it’s not set in stone. If there are days you would like to change, or specific places you’d like to go, we can work with you to create a personalized program that fits the needs of you and your students.

Day 1: Overnight Flight

Depart from the USA.

Day 2: Berlin

Wilkommen in Deutschland! After arriving in Germany's storied capital, meet your ACIS Tour Manager and begin to explore—an included public transport pass allows you to discover the city with ease. Begin with a visit to the magnificent Berlin Cathedral, whose history goes back to the 1500s. Climb the renowned, 270-step Imperial Staircase, a marvel of marble craftsmanship, and reach the top of the cathedral’s dome, which offers premier panoramic views of this historic city. You’ll also tour the royal Hohenzollern Crypt below the cathedral. German royalty has been buried here for centuries, making it one of the country’s most important dynastic burial sites.

Day 3: Berlin

Today's agenda mixes pedals, art and politics. Start out with a guided Berlin Wall bike tour, during which you’ll see portions of the infamous “death strip” that divided Germany in two for almost three decades, including the Berlin Wall Memorial and Museum at Bernauer Strasse. Your guide will provide fascinating insights into the politics, history and human drama surrounding this notorious fallen icon. In the afternoon, engage with modern German culture as you try something completely different: a street art workshop, where you'll learn about the history and background of this edgy modern graffiti movement with local experts. Then work in teams to design and create your own street-savvy masterpiece, leaving your mark on Berlin. In the evening, visit the dramatic glass dome and rooftop terrace of the Reichstag Building. Home of the German government and an iconic city landmark, the glass dome symbolizes Germany's reunification in 1990.

Day 4: Berlin

The day begins with a guided tour of the impressive Olympic Stadium, where Chancellor Adolf Hitler infamously refused to shake American sprinter Jesse Owens’ hand during the 1936 Olympic Games. In the afternoon, use your Museumsinsel (“Museum Island”) Pass to explore any or all of the culturally significant museums located in the heart of Berlin on Spree Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the amazing architecture of each building, to outstanding collections of art and antiquities, there’s something to pique everyone’s interest. This evening you’ll visit the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, adjacent to its famous namesake Cold War crossing between East and West Berlin, and learn about some of the successful and most unique attempts at escape from East Germany.

Day 5: Berlin

Enjoy a full-day excursion by high-speed train to Leipzig, a trade and cultural center since the time of the Roman empire. Your ACIS Tour Manager will take you on a walking tour of the city’s historic center, including a stop to see the tomb of Johann Sebastian Bach in Thomaskirche, a Lutheran church where Martin Luther preached in 1539. In the evening, you’ll head back to Berlin, where you’ll enjoy a show at Friedrichstadt-Palast, a renowned entertainment venue that delights attendees with productions full of glitz, glamour, music and dance.

Day 6: Berlin

The morning begins with a trip to Potsdam, a city known for its many lakes (20 inside the city limits), palaces and culture. Your tour includes a visit to the lavish Sanssouci Palace, built in the 1740s by Prussian King Frederick the Great as a summer palace. In the afternoon, continue to Teufelsberg. Once used by NATO as a listening station for Cold War spying, this roughly 394-foot-high man-made mountain was built from an estimated 98 million cubic feet of rubble collected in Berlin after World War II. It’s now home to a trendy park that features more than 400 works of dynamic street art and unique views of Berlin. Your visit of this unique site with a local guide includes a short hike through the beautiful Grunewald Forest. Return to Berlin for your final evening in Germany.

Day 7: Departure

Depart for the USA.