Germany’s capital and largest city, Berlin is home to over 3.6 million people and an incredible three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. With more bridges than Venice, it’s a city that never fails to charm and surprise (which is why it’s such a popular school trip destination).
Modern, creative and endlessly cool, it’s a city that inspires young people with its art, fashion and energy. There’s a huge variety of things to see and do (and with many visits free of charge, it’s ideal for groups working to a budget).
From the historical legacy of the Nazis and the Cold War to modern politics, art and even the magic of the Christmas markets, Berlin is a truly cross-curricular destination that makes learning come alive.
Already thinking about a school trip to Berlin? Wondering if it’s the right choice for your group? Our school trip experts have put together their dream itinerary for a 4-day school trip to Berlin to help inspire you.
The Best 4-Day Itinerary for School Groups to Berlin
Day 1
Day 1 is all about the perfect introduction to Berlin.
- Arrive in Berlin and transfer to accommodation.
- Visit the Brandenburg Gate, Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Reichstag.
- Evening meal.
Once you arrive in Berlin, you’ll head straight to your accommodation to drop off your luggage.
You’ll then hop on public transport to Mitte (the city’s most central district), where you’ll head straight to one of the city’s most iconic sights: the Brandenburg Gate. This is the perfect place for your first photo opp of the trip. Popping it on social media is a great way to show parents that you’ve arrived safely (just don’t forget to tag us).
Just a 10-minute stroll from the Brandenburg Gate is the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Take a moment to wander through the Field of Stellae (but please remind your students of the sensitive nature of the memorial before doing so). The memorial has been designed to make visitors feel uneasy, and there are various schools of thought on the meaning of the stelae and their placement (and this could be a great discussion point for your group).
If you have time, we’d definitely recommend a visit to the information centre (which is underneath the memorial). Because of the sensitivity of the site, you’ll have to go through airport security, but once you’re in this visit is free (guided tours and audioguides are available for an additional fee) and will help students understand the timeline and scale of the Holocaust. They’ll encounter the personal stories of many victims of the Holocaust and in the Room of Names they’ll hear the names of all known Jewish victims of the Holocaust (which is incredibly moving). It’s worth mentioning here that the information centre is closed on Mondays, but the Field of Stellae is open 24/7.
A 5-minute stroll in the other direction (from the Brandenburg Gate) is the Bundestag. This is the home of the German parliament and you can visit the dome for spectacular views across Berlin, so it’s one of the most popular visits for all school groups.
For history groups, of course, the Reichstag (as it was called then) and the fire that badly damaged it in 1933, played a key role in Hitler’s rise to power, making it a must-see.
Visits to the dome are free for school groups but must be pre-booked by the group itself (this is one of the few things your tour operator can’t sort for you). Many groups choose to do this on their first evening in Berlin, as the city looks gorgeous all lit up (please just be aware that availability is obviously really limited and evenings may not always be offered, especially over weekends).
As an active government building, you won’t be surprised that you’ll need to go through airport-style security here. Once you’re through, you’ll hop in the lifts to the terrace area and into the dome (which was designed by British architect, Sir Norman Foster).
There’s a free audioguide available, which will lead you on a circular path to the top of the dome, explaining what you’re seeing as you walk (making this a great way for you to get your bearings on your first day).
The Bundestag gives a very different view of Berlin from that offered by the TV Tower: you’re at a lower level but still high enough to get a spectacular perspective of the city. Honestly, if you can, we’d advise groups to visit both (and that’s why we’ve included both in this itinerary, in case you were wondering).
If you have any time left before you head for dinner, the Brandenburg Gate leads onto Unter den Linden, one of the most important streets in the city (and a great place for a stroll). Along here, you’ll find the Berlin Cathedral, Bebelplatz, Museuminsel (Museum Island) and the Lustgarten.
Day 2
Day 2 is all about exploring the Berlin Wall and its impact on the city it once divided.
- Visit the Berlin Wall Memorial.
- Continue to the East Side Gallery.
- Head to Alexanderplatz for lunch.
- Visit the DDR Museum.
- Evening meal followed by a visit to the TV Tower.
As you know, at the end of the Second World War, Berlin was divided between the four Allies. As political and ideological rifts grew between the West and the Soviet Union in the following years (leading to the Cold War), so these rifts became a physical division in the shape of the Berlin Wall. The impact of this on the city can still be felt today and it’s almost impossible to come to Berlin and completely avoid this complex aspect of the city’s history (and anyway, why would you want to?).
So, our experts recommend you dedicate your first full day in Berlin to exploring the Berlin Wall.
Your first stop will be the Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse. This is one of our favourite visits in Berlin for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it’s free (helping to keep the overall cost of the trip down) and it gives you a great overview of how the Wall separated normal people in Berlin.
The Wall ran the length of this street, and at various information points you can listen to and watch witness testimony from people who lived through it (some of them even dug tunnels to try to escape).
In the visitor’s centre, there are some excellent exhibitions on the history of the Berlin Wall and information about rescue attempts. Free guided tours of the memorial can be organised for school groups (just let us know as soon as possible if you want this, because availability is limited). One of the exhibitions (in the Nordbahnhof S-Bahn station) focuses on the ‘ghost stations’ that were cut off and ended up in ‘no-man’s land’ while the Wall stood (it’s fascinating and shows how deeply the city was divided).
Next stop on your itinerary is the East Side Gallery (which is a definite must-see). This is the longest section of the Berlin Wall still standing. And it stands as a testament to the joy of the end of the city’s division: when the Wall came down, 118 artists from 21 countries covered it in some of the world’s most iconic graffiti (Honecker and Brezhnev kissing or a Trabant bursting through the Wall towards the viewer, for example).
After a stroll along this 1316m stretch of the Berlin Wall, you’ll be about ready for some lunch. Our experts suggest heading to Alexanderplatz (just a 5-10 minute journey on public transport from the nearby Ostbahnhof).
Once you’ve had lunch, your next visit is an easy 10-minute walk away. The DDR Museum really is a brilliant visit for anyone studying the Cold War. It’ll show your students what life was really like for those living in East Berlin during the Communist period. And it’s ingenious in the way it relates really personal items to the political ideologies behind them.
Students (and teachers) will love the interactive, hands-on exhibits which include the inside of a typical GDR high-rise apartment (make sure you have a good rummage in all the drawers and take a seat in the living room to watch some authentic GDR TV programmes.
You can take a ride in an iconic Trabi, watch some East German newsreels and even experience a Stasi interrogation.
This museum is always a massive favourite with school groups because it brings daily life in the GDR alive in such a unique way. And it’s great for teachers, because you can visit several years in a row and there’ll always be something new to see.
Once you’ve finished exploring the DDR Museum, it’ll be time for dinner. Andy’s Diner (which is conveniently right next to the museum) is a popular choice and offers a good range of reasonably priced group menus.
Your last visit of the day will be to the TV Tower or Fernsehturm (as it’s known in German). Built by the Communists to demonstrate socialist superiority over the West, a visit to the TV Tower is a must for many of our groups visiting Berlin. From the top you can enjoy spectacular views across Berlin and at night it’s great to see the city lit up (so most groups choose an evening visit for maximum impact).
Day 3
Day 3 is about exploring the darker side of German history.
- Visit to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.
- Return to Berlin for lunch.
- Visit to the Topography of Terror.
- Visit to the Jewish Museum followed by the Book Burning Memorial.
- Visit to the chocolate shops of Gendarmenmarkt.
- Evening meal.
On the morning of day 3, you’ll head about 35km north of Berlin (via public transport) to the town of Oranienburg. Here, just a short walk from the train station, you’ll find Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. The camp opened in 1936 and was mainly used to hold political prisoners (although later in the war, Jews, Roma, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and prisoners of war were also interred here).
This is a really great visit for school groups learning about the Nazis and the Holocaust because the camp itself was seen as the ‘ideal concentration camp’ on which others were modelled. It was also used as a training ground for SS guards.
Tens of thousands of people died here between 1936 and 1945. Many died from hunger, disease, forced labour, medical experiments or mistreatment. And many were also killed in systematic extermination operations. This is a difficult visit for students and teachers alike (and there is a minimum age requirement of 14 years to visit), but really important for both students’ understanding of the Holocaust and the concentration camp system, and for keeping the memory of this atrocity alive in the next generation.
You can choose to guide your group around the camp yourself, or you can have a guided tour (just make sure you let us know as soon as possible if this is your preferred option, as availability is always very limited for this, especially during February and October half terms).
After your visit, you’ll return to Berlin for lunch, before a visit to the Topography of Terror. This fantastic visit is located between Potsdamer Platz and Checkpoint Charlie (in fact, it’s about 10 minutes’ walk from both).
It’s free to visit the Topography of Terror (great news for school groups), and there’s an outdoor exhibition housed in the ruins of the former HQ of the Gestapo, SS and Reich Security Office, as well as an indoor documentation centre.
Here, your group will learn about the role of the SS and the Gestapo during the Third Reich. And they’ll see how the Nazis used propaganda and terror to seize and keep hold of power.
Another short walk will take you to the nearby Jewish Museum (the largest in Europe), which charts the history of Germany’s Jewish population throughout the ages, and includes the thought-provoking art installation Shalekhet – Fallen Leaves by Israeli artist Menashe Kadishman (which is dedicated to the Jews murdered during the Holocaust, as well as all victims of violence and war).
After the Jewish Museum, you’ll walk over to Bebelplatz (just off Unter den Linden) to visit the Nazi book burning memorial. On 10th May 1933, in this pretty square, Nazis burned thousands of ‘un-German’ books. In this square, you’ll find a glass panel in the ground. Peer through it and you’ll see empty bookshelves, symbolizing the loss of knowledge and culture from this event. You’ll also see an inscription, which is a quote from Heinrich Heine (19th-century German poet and author) that says ‘That was but a prelude; where they burn books, they ultimately burn people’.
It will have been a day full of learning for your students, but it will also have been a bit of a heavy day, and it’s important to include something a little lighter before turning in for the night. So, just a few steps from Bebelplatz is Gendarmenmarkt, which is famous for its chocolate shops. We’d highly recommend taking the time to call into a couple of them (we promise your students will absolutely love it).
The Fassbender & Rausch chocolate shop features luxury chocolates and is worth a visit just to see the amazing chocolate models of the main sights of Berlin.
RitterSport (located just around the corner) is much more budget-friendly for students stocking up on chocolate treats.
For dinner, why not head to Hofbräu Berlin? Modelled on the world-famous Hofbräuhaus in Munich, this is a super fun experience. You’ll enjoy traditional Bavarian food accompanied by a traditional Oompah band. The perfect way to lighten the mood before bedtime.
Day 4
Day 4 offers some last-minute sightseeing opportunities before you head back to the airport.
- Visit to the Olympic Stadium or Stasi Museum.
- Return to Berlin and finish sightseeing/shopping.
- Head to the airport for flight home.
Before heading to the airport for your return flight, you’ll have time for one more visit. If your group is studying the Nazis and the Holocaust, then you might like to visit the Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 1936 Olympics. If your focus is the Cold War, you could go to the Stasi Museum instead.
The Olympic Stadium was designed and built to host the 1936 Olympics, and a guided tour of the stadium will help your students understand the significance of this building and the debate that raged over its continued existence. There’s a great open-air exhibition on the history of the stadium too. Just remember, this is still a working stadium and event space, so the availability of tours will be dependent on whether a concert or football game (local side Hertha Berlin plays here) is on when you want to visit.
The Stasi Museum is located in East Berlin and tells the history of the Stasi (the East German secret police and intelligence agency). It’s housed in the former Stasi headquarters, and on the second floor, you can still visit the Ministerial Offices, which have been left pretty much as they were when they were in use.
You can choose to visit the Stasi Museum independently, or you can opt for a guided tour, but whichever you choose, this is a fantastic visit for students to better understand the extent of state surveillance within the GDR and its effects on those who were being spied on.
Depending on your flight time, you may have a bit of time available for some last-minute souvenir shopping in central Berlin before it’s time to head to the airport.
Halsbury Team Tips
When should we visit Berlin on a school trip?
Berlin is a year-round destination for school groups.
Having said that, we’d recommend avoiding the Berlin Marathon (usually the last Sunday in September) because it will be super busy and there’ll be loads of road closures which will make navigating the city with a large group tricky.
And February half term, October half term, the summer months and European school holidays (like the beginning of October) are peak dates. So, we’d also recommend avoiding these periods to make your trip more affordable (and less hectic).
It’s also worth mentioning here that shops in Germany are often closed on Sundays and some of key visits may be closed on Mondays (like the Tränenpalast and the Information Centre at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe). So, if you can travel mid-week, your itinerary could be a bit more flexible.
Berlin’s a great choice for a Christmas market trip. The city hosts a number of different festive markets, all with very different characteristics. These trips are not only a fun, festive treat for students who’ve worked hard, they’re also a great way to encourage them to practise speaking German with native speakers in a relaxed, unpressured environment.
You’ll be able to sample local German delicacies, or even to purchase traditional, seasonal gifts and souvenirs. Some of our favourite markets are the Winter World Market at Potsdamer Platz and WeihnachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt.
What's the best way to get to Berlin with a school group?
The vast majority of school groups fly to Berlin. You could travel by coach, but as it’s a 14-hour journey from Calais, most groups decide against that (and we don’t blame them, that’s a long time to be sat on a coach).
What's the best way to travel around Berlin with a school group?
Berlin has a fantastic, efficient public transport system, and this is definitely the best way to get around for school groups. Despite it being a big city, the public transport links mean everything is easily accessible. You can even take the S-Bahn right from the airport to the city centre.
Where can we stay on a school trip to Berlin?
The great news is there are loads of accommodation options for school groups in Berlin. A&O actually have four accommodation centres in the city and is one of our trusted suppliers. Their hostels, which have all been purpose-built for groups and are ideally located for exploring Berlin.
The A&O Hauptbahnhof hostel is probably the most popular with our school groups. It’s an easy 10-minute walk from the main train station, which gives you easy access to the whole city via the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses and trams. There are also lots of restaurants, cafes and shops at the train station, so it’s easy to pick up a bite to eat here, if needed.
There’s a reception area with lots of seating (making it a great meeting point for groups before heading out for the day). There are also games, table football, TV screens and a café, as well as a rooftop bar with amazing views across the city.
A&O are really well set up for welcoming school groups. One example of this is that they operate a coloured wristband scheme for groups to make sure underage guests are never served alcohol.
All of the rooms have en-suite bathrooms and are very modern, and there are also several meeting rooms that can be used for evening activities.
Are there any free activities in Berlin?
There are loads of free activities for school groups to enjoy in Berlin. You can visit the Bundestag Dome, explore the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and visit Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp for free. For more ideas, check out our blog on the best free visits.
Is Berlin a good choice for an art school trip?
Berlin is home to over 130 museums and more than 400 art galleries, making it a really exciting destination for an art school trip.
One of these galleries, the East Side Gallery, is actually a remnant of the Berlin Wall and features some of the most recognisable street art in the world.
Berlin’s diversity has always been one of its greatest strengths and this has led to its reputation for creativity and the arts. Your students will be inspired by a trip to Berlin because art and creativity can be found around almost every street corner.
And in terms of educating them in the history of art, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Berlin. Want them to see the paintings of the ‘old masters’? Head to the Gemäldegalerie. More interested in 20th-century European painting? Then you want the Neue Nationalgalerie. They’re more likely to be inspired by modern and contemporary art? Then the Hamburger Bahnhof is for you.
Can we visit Berlin on a design and technology or STEM school trip?
Berlin is a hub for creativity and design, and you’ll be surprised at the number of educational visits here suitable for design and technology students. Visit BMW’s Motorcycle Plant, or KPM Welt (the modernised porcelain manufacturer) to learn about design for mass production.
Or visit the Science Centre to find out how medical technology is improving people’s lives. And head to the Technikmuseum which is home to fascinating examples of old and new technology. A design and technology trip to Berlin will leave your students feeling inspired by how important design and technology are for transforming people’s lives –they may even be inspired to follow a career in the field.
Which age group is Berlin most suitable for?
Berlin is fantastic for all age groups and our school travel experts will design your itinerary to make sure your pupils are getting the most exciting and most suitable experience of the city for them.
A couple of visits do have a minimum age requirement. For example, Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp has a minimum age of 14 years, due to the sensitive nature of the visit itself and the content of some of the exhibitions. But we’ll let you know if there are any restrictions for any of the visits you’re interested in.
Is there anything else we should know about school trips to Berlin?
It goes without saying, but if you are visiting one of the sites that deal with the Nazis and the Holocaust or the Cold War, it's worth reminding students that people are (understandably) still very sensitive about these periods of history. For more on this and other things to be aware of when visiting Germany, check out our blog on travel etiquette in Germany.
Ready to start planning your school trip to Berlin?
Berlin really is packed with educational opportunities for school groups, whatever your subject focus. And that fact means it’s also a great choice for a cross-curricular school trip (which is worth considering if you think you might only have a small group).
We hope this example itinerary has given you some ideas of what your trip could look like. But remember, we’ll be designing your itinerary to suit your specific requirements and learning objectives (so it could look different to this).
If you have any questions, need any advice or just want to have a chat about trips to Berlin, please do get in touch.
Or if you’re ready to get planning, request a quote today and let’s get started.
