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Germany

German Icons: Berlin, Dresden and Munich

Program No. 16877RJ
Dive deep into the culture of Germany as you explore three iconic cities, discovering politics in Berlin, architecture in Dresden and weisswurst, beer and a baroque palace in Munich.

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At a Glance

Join local experts to discover the shared history and unique identity behind Germany’s most important cultural metropolises — Berlin and Munich. While both cities boast rich history, traditions and arts, the cultures of each are strikingly different. Halfway between Berlin and Munich, visit the city of Dresden to marvel at the cultural treasures that lay hidden behind the Iron Curtain for a generation.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two hours/two miles at a time, sometimes twice per day. Some program days require walking up to five miles and standing for up to 2 hours. Some sights are only accessible by stairs and/or cobblestones. Public transportation and motor coaches used throughout the program.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Examine Berlin’s artistic treasures on the famous Museumsinsel and the German Bundestag, redesigned by Sir Norman Foster.
  • Discover Dresden with its newly restored Frauenkirche and the highly regarded Semperoper.
  • Explore the collection of Old Masters from the 14th to the 18th centuries at one of the oldest art galleries in the world: the Alte Pinakothek.

General Notes

Program includes independent time to explore the city and several meals on your own. Group Leaders will provide directions for self-directed excursions. Suggestions for free-time activities provided in preparatory materials.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Sabine Rosenkranz
Sabine Rosenkranz was born in Dresden, East Germany, where she grew up to become an English teacher. In love with her beautiful home city, she decided she wanted to introduce it to visitors. Sabine became a licensed city excursion leader 25 years ago and has delighted in leading American visitors around Dresden since the German reunification of 1990. She particularly enjoys showing off the Saxon State Art Collections.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Sabine Rosenkranz
Sabine Rosenkranz View biography
Sabine Rosenkranz was born in Dresden, East Germany, where she grew up to become an English teacher. In love with her beautiful home city, she decided she wanted to introduce it to visitors. Sabine became a licensed city excursion leader 25 years ago and has delighted in leading American visitors around Dresden since the German reunification of 1990. She particularly enjoys showing off the Saxon State Art Collections.
Profile Image of Ulrich Brückner
Ulrich Brückner View biography
Ulrich Brückner studied political science, German literature and history at the University of Würzburg and the Freie Universität Berlin. He specialized in European integration and his PhD thesis focused on the role of the European Commission in the policy-making of the EU. He has been a lecturer at the Freie Universität Berlin, Szczecin University and an active member of the European Union’s Jean Monnet Programme. His current fields of interests are institutional developments in the EU, external affairs and Eastward enlargement.
Profile Image of Markus Urban
Markus Urban View biography
Markus is a professional historian, author and lecturer specializing in European history of the 19th and 20th centuries. He studied modern history at the University of Erlangen in Germany and Kalamazoo College in Michigan. For his PhD thesis, he analyzed the function and perception of the Nazi rallies from 1933-41. He has published several books on Nuremberg, the latest being about the Nuremberg Trials.
Profile Image of Gabor Köhler
Gabor Köhler View biography
Gabor was born in Leipzig in 1970. After graduating from high school, he studied law in Hanover. About 20 years ago he founded his company with a partner. He has been self-employed as a group leader since this time. Gabor leads all exhibitions of the Dresden Residenzschloss, the Zwinger, the Opera, the city of Dresden etc. in German and English. He also accompanies groups around Dresden, such as Saxon Switzerland. His hobbies are playing the piano, astronomy and chess.
Profile Image of Vera Blumenthal
Vera Blumenthal View biography
Vera Blumenthal studied Egyptology and Classical Archeology at the Humboldt University of Berlin where she obtained her PhD degree with a thesis about the Egyptian Old Kingdom. For more than twenty years, she has worked as a freelancer for the Berlin State Museums, concentrating more and more on cultural education. She is an expert in the history and architecture of Museum Island at Berlin and one of the founders of the agency ARIADNE, specializing on organizing high quality group education in the museums of Berlin.
Profile Image of Jessica Cartwright
Jessica Cartwright View biography
Jessica Cartwright is one of the most sought after experts in the city, not only because of her in-depth knowledge of Berlin, but also for the phenomenal way in which she conveys its history with spirit, suspense, and compassion. Jessica, Swedish in origin, came to Berlin in 2005 via another famous B – Broadway. After seven years as a professional dancer, she swapped the boardwalk for the streets of Berlin and took the opportunity to combine her interest in history with her ability to entertain.
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