Itinerary Details
Poland, East Germany & World War Ii
Day 1 ARRIVE IN WARSAW, POLANDWelcome to Warsaw! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)
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Day 2 WARSAW Royal Ceremonies WARSAW Guided sightseeing includes the Cathedral of St. John. Free time this afternoon and evening. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITIONS Explore the historic city of Warsaw where you’ll visit the medieval old town and the impressive 14th-century Cathedral of St. John. The Cathedral has witnessed coronations of Polish kings, royal weddings, and funerals throughout Polish history. During World War II it suffered heavy damage as it was in the midst of the Warsaw uprising.
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Day 3 WARSAW–AUSCHWITZ/BIRKENAU–KRAKOW History Lessons AUSCHWITZ/BIRKENAU Visit the former concentration camps.
Drive to Krakow. (B,D)
249 mi / 400 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOTS A visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau is a sobering and moving experience; a chilling reminder of an era in human history we shall never forget. This opportunity to see the sites where so many lives were affected by the cruelty of the Third Reich during WWII is an unforgettable lesson in history and a cautionary tale for the future. In fact, the subject of the Holocaust is a mandatory part of German school curriculum, with almost all students having visited a camp or memorial.
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Day 4 KRAKOW Heroic Figures KRAKOW Free time this morning before a [LF] guided walking tour of Kazimierz, the Old Jewish Quarter, and a visit to the Remuh Synagogue. Free time for lunch before [LF] visiting the Oskar Schindler Factory. (B)
LOCAL FAVORITE
HISTORY & HERITAGE A wealth of history to be discovered in Krakow’s Jewish Quarter. Hear the stories of the important role Kazimierz played throughout European history. Visit the Remuh Synagogue which dates back to the sixteenth century and is still active today.
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Day 5 KRAKOW–WROCLAW Gothic Tales KRAKOW Guided sightseeing includes sights of St. Mary’s Church.
See the former Gleiwitz radio station en route to Wroclaw.
WROCLAW Guided sightseeing includes Market Square. (B)
186 mi / 300 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEM Explore the wonderful town of Wroclaw on the Oder River in western Poland. Browse the Market Square, lined with elegant townhouses and see the Gothic Old Town Hall and astronomical clock.
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Day 6 WROCLAW–DRESDEN, GERMANY German Jewels DRESDEN Guided walking tour features the Zwinger Palace Courtyard. [LF] Dinner with local specialties at Am Pulverturm restaurant. (B,D)
168 mi / 270 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEM Explore the heart of Dresden with a walk to Zwinger Palace courtyard. Revered for its stunning Baroque architecture and beautiful gardens, this spectacular palace complex is the most famous building in Dresden.
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Day 7 DRESDEN–TORGAU–BERLIN Remembrance & Faith TORGAU See the monument commemorating the meeting of US and Soviet forces and visit the Courtyard at Hartenfels Castle.
BERLIN Guided sightseeing includes the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and picture stops at Brandenburg Gate and Holocaust Memorial. (B)
155 mi / 250 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Hartenfels Castle is home to the first purpose-built Protestant church. This spiritual heart of the Lutheran Reformation was blessed by Martin Luther himself in 1544. See the courtyard of this architectural masterpiece in Torgau overlooking the Elbe River.
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Day 8 BERLIN The Boulevards of Berlin BERLIN Enjoy a free day. (B)
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Berlin is a city to be explored and enjoyed. See the street art of the East Side Gallery where a portion of the Berlin Wall now serves as a memorial of freedom painted by local artists. See the classic Cosmonaut mural in Mariannenstrasse or head to the Kreuzberg district for a leisurely stroll along Landwehr Canal.
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Day 9 BERLIN–WEIMAR. EXCURSION TO BUCHENWALD Loss & Liberation WEIMAR Take an orientation walk.
BUCHENWALD Join an afternoon visit to the former concentration camp before returning to Weimar. (B,D)
199 mi / 320 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Buchenwald was the largest Nazi concentration camp in Germany. During the war over 56.000 people lost their lives whilst imprisoned here. After the war it was converted to a Soviet internment camp for German prisoners of war, of whom 7.000 died.
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Day 10 WEIMAR–NUREMBERG Recording History NUREMBERG [LF] Visit the Memorium Nuremberg Trials and Courtroom 600 (if available), the Documentation Center, and the Zeppelin Field. Take an orientation walk this afternoon through the pedestrian area of the Old Town. [LF] Enjoy dinner with traditional Nürnberger Bratwürste (small sausages) at the Bratwurst Röslein restaurant. (B,D)
152 mi / 245 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT A target for allied bombings, Nuremberg was an important symbol to the Nazi regime having been the location of the party rallies. It was chosen by the Allies as the location of the Nurenberg Trials. Visit the Courthouse where you’ll learn all about these historic trials.
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Day 11 NUREMBERG–DACHAU–MUNICH Dark History & A Brighter Future DACHAU Visit the site of the former concentration camp.
MUNICH Orientation tour includes the Marienplatz. (B)
137 mi / 220 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION Experience the geographical and cultural heart of Munich at its Marienplatz, the town square since 1158. Stroll through the home to historic buildings, including the Old and New Town Halls in the picturesque heart and soul of the city.
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Day 12 MUNICH Auf Wiedersehen, Munich! MUNICH Enjoy a free day in Munich before a farewell dinner this evening. (B,D)
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE If steins and suds are on your mind, then Munich is the place to sip and socialize at the city’s bustling biergartens. Raise a glass to your fantastic European vacation and the new and wonderful friends you’ve made along the way. Prost!
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Day 13 MUNICHSafe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
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