Highlights
- Sniff out Berlin's best street foods, from kebabs to currywurst
- Chat with local brewers as you sample Berlin's top craft beers
- Relive Dresden's Baroque café culture with delicious pastries
- Relax in a shady beer garden beside the scenic River Elbe
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Berlin, Afternoon Food Tour | Berlin |
| Day 2 | Explore Berlin, Afternoon Beer Tour | Berlin |
| Day 3 | Train to Dresden, Afternoon Culinary Walking Tour | Dresden |
| Day 4 | Tour of Dresden's Beer Gardens | Dresden |
| Day 5 | Train to Berlin, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Berlin, Afternoon Food Tour
Welcome to Germany! Upon arrival in Berlin, you'll meet your driver at the airport and head to your hotel. Get settled, then head out for your first look at Germany's vibrant capital. Take a guided tour of some of Berlin's many highlights if time allows, or explore at your own pace.
A good place to start is with the grand structures such as the Brandenburg Gate or Reichstag (parliament building). Alternatively, explore the remains of the Berlin Wall by heading to the East Side Gallery section to view some of its most iconic murals. Or visit Checkpoint Charlie and the Topography of Terror Museum to learn more about life here from the Nazi era through to Reunification. You can also walk through the Kreuzberg district—the heart of Berlin's hip, alternative scene—and keep your eyes peeled for street art masterpieces.
Day 2: Explore Berlin, Afternoon Beer Tour
Spend the morning exploring the city a little further. Visit some of the highlights you missed yesterday, or head to the extraordinary Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to five world-class museums. Located on Spree Island in the heart of the city, you can view an exceptional array of antiquities, paintings, and sculptures. Alternatively, visit Berlin's most visible landmark, the TV tower on Alexanderplatz, Europe's highest building, open to the public. Take the elevator to the 656-foot (200 m) high platform for a bird's-eye view of Berlin.
Your afternoon will be devoted to better understanding the noble art of brewing―a famed cornerstone of German culture. Beginning in Friedrichshain, one of the city's hippest neighborhoods, you'll visit several of Berlin's best beer spots, both well-known and off the beaten path. You'll taste the best of fruity, hoppy, sour, and complex beers, as well as visit a nano brewery. Along the way, you'll learn about the history of the city's beer culture and have the chance to talk to the brewers themselves. Naturally, your beer will be accompanied by tasty snacks―bring on the pretzels!
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 3: Train to Dresden, Afternoon Culinary Walking Tour
Get your bearings this morning by strolling through the city's Altstadt (Old Town) and visiting some of its highlights. Still the heart of the city's cultural scene, you'll find plenty of impressive monuments here to explore, and you can spend hours in the Zwinger Palace, Semper Opera House, State Theater, and Old Masters Picture Gallery. The Frauenkirche on Marienplatz is a must-see―destroyed in World War II, this domed church has become a symbol of the city's resilience through the loving reconstruction of its former Baroque dignity, even reusing the original materials where possible.
This afternoon, enjoy a guided introduction to the grand old city's historical and culinary secrets with a walking tour. Journey through time as you learn about the local inns of the Middle Ages, Baroque café culture, and life under communist rule. Sample the city's finest offerings, including beer, wine, coffee, chocolate, and the famous Eierschecke cheesecake. Finish your afternoon's feasting with dinner of your own choosing―the Dresden restaurant scene is extensive and caters to every taste.
Day 4: Tour of Dresden's Beer Gardens
Relax and get to know Dresden through the lens of its rich and varied biergarten (beer garden) culture. Start at the Schillergarten, the city's largest biergarten. With over 1000 seats and views of the Elbe vineyards and Blaues Wunder bridge, this is a popular and central place to linger over a beer after a leisurely walk or cycle ride along the river. Next, head to Fährgarten Johannstadt, a casual riverside spot. Relax under the ancient lime and chestnut trees with one of Dresden's finest beers in your hand as you watch the boats go by on the River Elbe.
Your next destination is another riverside gem—the terrace at Lingnerschloss (Lingner Castle). Enjoy drinking like the nobility of past centuries, with panoramic views over the vineyards, river, and city and a stately schloss (castle) at your back. Finally, proceed to the last garden on your list for today―the memorable Konzertplatz Weißer Hirsch. Surrounded by the lush woodland of the Dresdner Heide ("heath"), round off your day by accompanying your delicious beer with fine dining.
Day 5: Train to Berlin, Depart
It's the last day of your trip, but there's still time to eat! German breakfasts are ideally hearty and unhurried, so head out to a café or bakery and gather up a bushel of the finest bread and rolls for which Germany is rightfully renowned. Supplement your stash with an order of cheese, cold-cut meat, jam, eggs, and fruit, and you're halfway there. When you're well-fortified for your travels, head to the airport for your onward flight. Auf Wiedersehen!
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