Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Willkommen in Deutschland. Arrive in Berlin, the capital of Germany

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Berlin Tegel "Otto Lilienthal" International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be welcomed by The Journeys representative who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next few days.

Size-wise, Berlin is pretty big but its key areas are wonderfully compact & easily navigated on foot, by bike or by using public transport. Enjoy its iconic sights, its vast swathes of green, its sky bars & chic restaurants. There is nothing static about Berlin: it's unpredictable, unpretentious & irresistible.

Berlin's combo of glamour & grit is bound to mesmerise anyone keen to explore its vibrant culture, cutting-edge architecture, fabulous food, intense parties & tangible history. Berlin is a bon vivant, passionately feasting on the smorgasbord of life, never taking things - or itself - too seriously.

Berlin dates to the 13^th century. Reminders of the city's turbulent 20^th century history include its Holocaust memorial and the Berlin Wall's graffitied remains. Bismarck & Marx, Einstein & Hitler, JFK & Bowie, they have all shaped - and been shaped by - Berlin, whose richly textured history stares you in the face at every turn.

This is a city that staged a revolution, was headquartered by Nazis, bombed to bits, divided in two & finally reunited - & that was just in the 20^th century!

Berlin is a big multicultural metropolis but deep down it maintains the unpretentious charm of an international village. Locals follow the credo 'live & let live' and put greater emphasis on personal freedom & a creative lifestyle than on material wealth & status symbols. Cafes are jammed at all hours, drinking is a religious rite and clubs keep going until the wee hours or beyond.

Forget about New York - Berlin is the city that truly never sleeps. Sometimes it seems as though Berliners are the lotus eaters of Germany, people who love nothing more than a good time. The city's vast party spectrum caters for every taste, budget and age group. From tiny basement clubs to industrial techno temples, chestnut-canopied beer gardens to fancy cocktail caverns, saucy cabarets to ear-pleasing symphonies - Berlin delivers hot-stepping odysseys, and not just after dark and on weekends but pretty much 24 / 7.

When it comes to creativity, the sky is the limit in Berlin, Europe's newest start-up capital. In the last 20 years, the city has become a giant lab of cultural experimentation thanks to an abundance of space, cheap rent & a free-wheeling spirit that nurtures & encourages new ideas.

Top international performers grace its theatre, concert & opera stages; international art-world stars like Olafur Eliasson & Jonathan Meese make their home here and Clooney & Hanks shoot blockbusters in the German capital. High-brow, low-brow & everything in between – there’s plenty of room for the full arc of cultural expression.

Check-in at hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Morning, start early & proceed to the Meeting Point (unguided - on your own) to discover the city at your own pace with a regular city tour.  

Hop on / Hop off bus ticket is valid for full day, giving you the opportunity to get off at any place you find interesting & get on the next bus. Suggestions below are “just suggestions” you can match with the Hop on / Hop Route / Itinerary, wherever possible.

Listen to an introductory overview (audio-commentary via headphones) of the strange, winding history of Berlin, covering the city’s founding & continuing with stories about the turbulent years of war & modern era as the tour moves forward.

Take a walk back in time as you explore the many layers of history found in Berlin, covering everything from its Prussian period, to its violent 20^th century & the present period of rebirth. Visit landmarks from the city’s Prussian, Imperial, Nazi, Cold War & modern eras, offering insight into the evolution of this fascinating German capital.

Travel beneath the monumental18^th century Brandenburg Gate, which has become a symbol of reunification & which forms the beginning of Unter den Linden. Check out the rebuilt Reichstag, home of Germany’s parliament, just nearby.

Head next to Museum Island, pausing at the Berlin State Library (once the workplace of Albert Einstein) and the Neue Wache memorial as you continue.

Unter den Linden boulevard, is a thoroughfare that links Stadtschloss royal palace & Pariser Platz & Brandenburg Gate. By the 19^th century, this elegant street was among the most famous in the city, growing even more grand as Berlin’s boundaries pushed further west.

Walk along remnants of the Berlin Wall, marvel at the splendour of a Prussian palace, hear the amazing stories of Cold War Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie or stand in the very room where the Holocaust was planned. Berlin is like an endlessly fascinating 3D textbook where the past is very much present wherever you go.

Then explore Pariser Platz, the location of Hitler’s bunker and the Holocaust Memorial, commemorating the many Jews that lost their lives during the Nazi regime. The city is also known for its art scene & modern landmarks like the gold-colored, swoop-roofed Berliner Philharmonie, built in 1963.

You may want to stop at the Topography of Terror Museum, situated at the former Gestapo and SS Headquarters. Hear from your guide about the significance of the museum’s location, which the city’s leaders consciously chose to help confront and reconcile the awful moments of Berlin’s past. Look down into the building’s excavated cellars, a haunting spot where political prisoners were once tortured and killed.

If you have time, visit the iconic Fernsehturm de Berlín TV tower, the tallest building in the city, built in the 1960s by the German Democratic Government to demonstrate the strength & efficiency of the socialist party system. Today, the tower shapes the skyline of Berlin, a landmark of a reunited Germany

The elevators to the top only take just 40 seconds. Get a 360-degree panorama of Germany’s capital & cultural centerpiece and discover Berlin from a height of 666 feet. See sights like Berlin Cathedral, Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate, Olympic Stadium, Reichstag, to name just a few. Take pictures in every direction & check out the informational displays for more information about the sights & scenery of Berlin. Hungry? Bar 203 has the solution, offering light snacks & drinks (own expense) with a stellar view.

Wrap up your Berlin walk on a lighter note with a stop at the modern area of Potsdamer Platz, a one-time “dead zone” between East & West that has since been rebuilt.

Return to the hotel on your own, whenever you prefer (unguided - on your own).

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Morning, meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 08.00 am & start the 8 hour full day excursion to Potsdam

Potsdam - a city on the border of Berlin, on the Havel River, is the capital & crown jewel of the federal state of Brandenburg. The former Prussian royal seat, the UNESCO Heritage listed Potsdam’s palaces with heir large, beautifully landscaped parks & splendid gardens, lures visitors.

First mentioned in 993 as a Slavic settlement known as Poztupimi, it received its charter in 1317. It became Brandenburg’s electoral residence in 1640 under Frederick William (the Great Elector) & the Prussian royal residence under Frederick II (the Great), during whose reign (1740 - 86) it was an intellectual & military centre and virtual capital of Prussia. In the 18^th century, a colony of Dutch immigrants gave their quarter of the city, & some other parts as well, a distinctly Dutch flavour.

The city was once an industrial centre, but its economy is now dominated by services, including administration, retail, education, film production & tourism. The incorporated suburb of Babelsberg is one of the centres of the German film industry. The city is the seat of the University of Potsdam (founded in 1991) & the site of several Observatories.

Headlining the roll call of royal pads is Schloss Sanssouci, a masterpiece of German Rococo architecture with grounds that extend for more than 700 acres. It was the private summer retreat of King Friedrich II (Frederick the Great), who was also the mastermind behind many of Potsdam's other fabulous parks & palaces. On the grounds of the complex, the Renaissance Orangery Palace overlooks Italian-style gardens with fountains. Historic Mill offers city views. English gardens surround neo-classical Charlottenhof Palace. The 19^th century Roman Baths were built in several architectural styles.

Other landmarks include the Neue Kammern (New Rooms); the Bildergalerie (Picture Gallery) & the Neues Palais (New Palace).

Potsdam suffered severe damage in World War II, but many monuments survived & others have been restored. Miraculously, most survived WWII with nary a shrapnel wound. When the shooting stopped, the Allies chose Schloss Cecilienhof in July - August 1945, to host the Potsdam Conference of the Allied leaders of 1945 to lay the groundwork for Germany’s post-war fate. It now houses a museum & a memorial, as well as a hotel.

After spending time touring Schloss Sanssouci, enjoy free time to walk around the lovely historic city centre.

In time, depart back to your hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Today, you leave for Hamburg.

In time, you will be met by The Journeys Rep & transferred to Berlin Hauptbahnhof to board your non-stop train to Hamburg.

On arrival at Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, you will be welcomed by a Journeys Rep & transferred to the hotel.

When all's said and done, Hamburg's appeal can be narrowed down to one simple calling card: Welcome to one of the coolest cities on earth.

Hamburg's historic label, ‘the gateway to the world’, might be a bold claim, but Germany’s second-largest city located on the Elbe River, has never been shy. Also the most populous city in Germany after Berlin, it has one of the largest & busiest ports in Europe.

A leading light in the Hanseatic League in the Middle Ages, Hamburg became a centre of international trade, a legacy that continues today and it remains one of Germany's wealthiest cities. Hamburg’s maritime spirit still infuses the entire city & echoes of the city's port & history are everywhere, from the incessant cry of gulls overhead to the vibrant neighbourhoods awash with multicultural eateries, seaward-facing architecture & the gloriously seedy Reeperbahn red-light district.

This most striking icon of the city - the extraordinary Elbphilharmonie concert hall - dominating the skyline with its glass & brick structure, is the essence of Hamburg's polyglot soul & has elevated architecture to the centre of public debate & awareness.

But, it is just the most famous of a rather exciting collection.

Other Office Towers that appear as if they are dancing and buildings that from afar look like ocean liners, share the streets with half-timbered relics of the medieval city. And only in Hamburg would they think of preserving a former WWII bunker & turning it into a nightclub.

Hamburg's musical pedigree is staggering: Gustav Mahler once directed the city's 330-year-old state opera, while both Johannes Brahms & Felix Mendelssohn were born here. But it is not just about classical music. Hamburg also has very modern & rather raucous melodic soundtrack, not mention a compelling story. The city nurtured the early promise of the Beatles, and music festivals litter the calendar, while the dynamic live music scene just keeps getting better.

The good people of Hamburg really know how to live. For a start, they have mastered the ingredients of culinary diversity: elevate your local specialties to the level of an obsession & treasure them, even as you remain open to all manner of gastronomic trends. The result is culinary excellence on multiple fronts.

So, too, for nightlife: Hamburg is full to bursting with classy cocktail bars, dance-all-night clubs, neighbourhood bars & pubs that both reflect each neighbourhood's identity & define it. So successful are they that it is almost impossible to come to Hamburg and not have a really good time.

Check-in at the hotel.

Balance of the day at leisure to explore independently or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Morning, reach any of the designated Pick-up Point for the regular Bus tour & explore Munich (on your own) on a full day tour with an audio commentary.

Hop on / Hop off bus ticket is valid for a full day, giving you the opportunity to get off at any place you find interesting & get on the next bus. Suggestions below are “just suggestions” you can match with the Hop on / Hop Route / Itinerary, wherever possible.

With 9 stops covering all of Hamburg’s main attractions such as the Fish market, St. Michaels Church & St. Paul, this tour provides the perfect introduction to Hamburg. You may hop on & hop off at the stops of your choice (Buses depart from 10:00am to 5:00pm, every 30 minutes) & take your time getting around the city (we will be happy to offer suggestions).

Listen to an introductory overview (audio-commentary via headphones) of the strange, winding history of Hamburg, covering the city’s founding & continuing with stories about the turbulent years of war & modern era as the tour moves forward.

Surrounded by lakes & crossed by hundreds of canals, Hamburg is a refreshing city to wander around in.

Some of the places you will see -

The Alster is a picturesque (though man-made) lake running off the Elbe, a favorite spot among locals.

Hamburg’s old Town Hall was destroyed by a fire in 1842. After 55 years, the new Town Hall was completed with over 647 rooms & was erected on more than 4000 oak poles.

St. Michaelis church has the biggest church clock in Germany, with the circumferential measurement of the dial over 24 meters! Its tower, Michel, is 132 meters high!

Hamburg’s fish market has been in business since the beginning of the 18^th century. However, it is not just for fish. You can find a huge assortment of goods in this flea market type atmosphere, from textiles to ornaments!

St. Pauli is Hamburg’s entertainment district. Some interesting features include the Star-Club, where the Beatles performed before they became superstars, a football stadium, an amusement park & many fun nightclubs.

Monckebergstrasse a.k.a. the Mo, is Hamburg’s largest shopping district. Here you will find supersized department stores & trendy boutiques.

Jungvernstieg is a more culturally refined shopping area than Monckebergstrasse. Within the triangular boundaries created by Jungfernstieg, Fuhlentwiete & Neuer Wall you will find a wide array of elegant & sophisticated boutiques.

Hamburg’s Port is the second largest port in Europe! That makes it also one of the busiest! Imagine, each year over 13,000 ships pass through the blue waters of this unique region. On this guided tour, you will discover all of the special places that are part of this unique area.

Hafen City is a modern urban development project located upon tidal flats. Still in the works, its plan involves state-of-the-art buildings that will house cultural centers, retail & hospitality outlets, inner-city living quarters, parks, squares & waterfront promenades.

Finish the tour & return to the hotel (on your own).

Balance of the day at leisure or perhaps opt for one of the many options available (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Finally, it is time to say good-bye.

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the use of the hotel facilities & to leave the luggage at the Bell Desk if you have the time to walk out). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Hamburg International Airport, for your onward journey.  B

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