Berlin By Rail: An Exploration Of Germany's Capital

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a spectacularly scenic train ride to Berlin, where you will see the capital’s absolute icons with stops at many of them. The sheer number of landmarks along the way will be stunning as you will pass the Victory Column that commemorates Germany’s 19th-century triumphs in battle, Bebelplatz square – where 20,000 blacklisted books were burned in 1933 – and the Kaiser-Memorial Church, part of which was kept in ruins after World War II to show how Berlin has rebounded from the destruction. Pausing for photos will allow for even closer looks at the most symbolic and poignant sites. They include the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie – the famed border crossing between East and West Berlin – and Brandenburg Gate where in 1987 Ronald Reagan famously urged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall,” referring to the Berlin Wall. More architectural treasures line Unter den Linden, a fashionable avenue that was a pre-WWII cultural hub.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy ever-changing views of the idyllic countryside on the 2.5-hour train ride to Berlin.
• See Berlin’s most symbolic landmarks from the World Wars and the Cold War.
• Stop for photos at icons such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall and the Reichstag.
• Drive through Museum Island and past Tiergarten Park and the Victory Column.
• Enjoy free time in the city to explore independently and dine on your own.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.