Discover Eastern Europe: 10-Day Journey through Prague, Dresden, and Berlin

Stroll down the river to find this curvaceous office block designed by Frank Gehry, and whi msically nicknamed Fred & Ginger.

There is no tour of the interior, so most visitors just snap a photo and head out. However, there is a restaurant and bar at the top called Ginger&Fred. For a spectacular view of the city check out the terrace on the top floor (only for paying customers).

Experience nationally-sponsored ballet & opera in a magnificent venue.

This concert hall is Prague's most prestigious, and it is not only a symbol of the 19th century Czech national revival but also arguably one of the most beautiful concert venues in Europe. Unfortunately, tours are not regularly offered, but you may attend an opera or ballet if you purchase tickets in advance. The riverfront near the concert hall is one of the most photographed spots in Prague.

Explore an interesting museum collection in a grand building completed in 1891.

The recently renovated and improved National Museum is fronted by the iconic equestrian statue of "good king Wenceslas". Beyond it's dramatic exterior you'll find a grand staircase which is a highlight of any visit. Founded in 1818, the museum played a major role in bringing natural science and history to the common man, and also played an important part in the Czech national revival occurring in the 19th century.

New Town

Despite being 700 years old, the New Town (Nové Město) is the youngest of the original five independent towns that made up Medieval Prague. The heart of New Town is one of the three original markets around which the town was planned, Wenceslas Square. Not fully given over to tourism like the Old Town, the New Town combines a historic atmosphere with the daily commercial and social life of locals, making it a great place to get a taste of the real Prague.

Experience a mishmash of interesting architecture on Wenceslas Square, Prague's main commercial center.

The square, which could also be described as a wide boulevard, is named after the Patron Saint of Bohemia, whose statue can be seen at the top of the square. Many historical events have taken place here, including the demonstrations of the Velvet Revolution in 1989, which resulted in the collapse of the Communist regime. Today the square is lined by department stores, hotels, and office buildings, many of them notable architectural highlights of the 19th, 20th, and 21st century.

Tour a breathtaking art nouveau venue and stay for a concert, opera, or ballet.

The stunning concert hall is open for tours and hosts performances on most evenings. The main hall is painted by famous Czech artists including Alfons Mucha. A beautiful cafe and restaurant are also housed in the building, and you can find one of Prague's most ornate pubs in the cellar (the "American Bar").

Cross the river dividing Prague's most historic neighborhoods, and experience one of Europe's most iconic landmarks.

Bridge construction began in 1357 under King Charles IV (hence the name), and it was the only bridge across the Vltava River until 1841. 30 baroque statues of saints line the bridge, and it is filled with street artists and entertainers. Not to be missed.

See a historic wall that has been covered in John Lennon-inspired graffiti since Communist days.

The wall has been covered in graffiti since the 1960s, and during Communism anti-regime sentiment was common. John Lennon's assassination inspired grafitti reflecting his song, Imagine, which earned the wall its current moniker. It is now a favorite gathering place for tourists, and musicians sometimes congregate there as well. Just around the corner is the Maltese Square, which is one of Prague's more quaint and relaxed public spaces, despite being just off the main tourist route.

Royal Route Guided Tour

On this charming guided walk, you will explore the Prague Castle, the largest castle complex in all of Europe. To reach the castle you will trace the Royal Coronation Route and cross the Charles Bridge, whose “speaking stones” reveal the amazing and often cruel history that occurred there. Your tour guide will then take you either through the castle courtyards and into the dramatic St. Vitus Cathedral in the center of the castle complex, or through the upper part of the castle district around the oversized palaces of the old Catholic nobility and the top of the Castle Steps for incomparable views over the red rooftops of the Little Quarter.

Prague Castle is one of the main attractions in Prague and is also the largest castle complex in the world.

The Prague Castle is the largest castle complex in the world with structures dating back to the 9th century. The St Vitus Cathedral and Basilica of St George can be found within the castle walls. The Prague Castle also includes several gardens, palaces, and a monastery. This castle was the seat of power for the Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman Emperors, and presidents of former Czechoslovakia. Prague Castle is a UNESCO world heritage site and is one of the most visited places in the country.

Terezín Concentration Camp

The former Terezín Concentration Camp is where the Nazis created a model “Jewish Town” intended to fool the Red Cross and other observers into thinking that the Jews in Europe were being humanely treated. While the ruse worked, the reality, of course, was that almost all of the Jews located in Terezín were killed, either in Terezín or later in Auschwitz. You can visit the ghetto museum, barracks, and prison, and see exhibitions of music, artworks, literature, and a theater, all created by the prisoners themselves.

Respectfully visit a graveyard containing over 2,300 victims of the Holocaust.

The cemetery was created after the end of the war to hold the remains exhumed from the mass graves. Many were executed or died from disease and exhaustion caused by forced labor and poor conditions. The Nazi response was to simply bury them in mass graves, and survivors wanted a proper cemetery to treat the dead with respect and act as a memorial.

Terezín Concentration Camp

The former Terezín Concentration Camp is where the Nazis created a model “Jewish Town” intended to fool the Red Cross and other observers into thinking that the Jews in Europe were being humanely treated. While the ruse worked, the reality, of course, was that almost all of the Jews located in Terezín were killed, either in Terezín or later in Auschwitz. You can visit the ghetto museum, barracks, and prison, and see exhibitions of music, artworks, literature, and a theater, all created by the prisoners themselves.

Respectfully visit a graveyard containing over 2,300 victims of the Holocaust.

The cemetery was created after the end of the war to hold the remains exhumed from the mass graves. Many were executed or died from disease and exhaustion caused by forced labor and poor conditions. The Nazi response was to simply bury them in mass graves, and survivors wanted a proper cemetery to treat the dead with respect and act as a memorial.

Velvet Revolution Walking Tour

Commentating on the political upheavals of 1989, the writer and historian Timothy Garton Ash famously pointed out that while Poland had taken 10 years to achieve regime change and Hungary had taken 10 months, Czechoslovakia had achieved the same in a mere 10 days. And the transition from a totalitarian Communist state to nascent democracy was achieved almost without violence or the shedding of blood, hence in the moniker Velvet Revolution. On this tour, you will visit the sites most famously associated with the Revolution, including the residence of the dissident and future president Vaclav Havel, the former headquarters of the infamous STB secret police, and Wenceslas Square.

Velvet Revolution Walking Tour

Commentating on the political upheavals of 1989, the writer and historian Timothy Garton Ash famously pointed out that while Poland had taken 10 years to achieve regime change and Hungary had taken 10 months, Czechoslovakia had achieved the same in a mere 10 days. And the transition from a totalitarian Communist state to nascent democracy was achieved almost without violence or the shedding of blood, hence in the moniker Velvet Revolution. On this tour, you will visit the sites most famously associated with the Revolution, including the residence of the dissident and future president Vaclav Havel, the former headquarters of the infamous STB secret police, and Wenceslas Square.

Velvet Revolution Walking Tour

Commentating on the political upheavals of 1989, the writer and historian Timothy Garton Ash famously pointed out that while Poland had taken 10 years to achieve regime change and Hungary had taken 10 months, Czechoslovakia had achieved the same in a mere 10 days. And the transition from a totalitarian Communist state to nascent democracy was achieved almost without violence or the shedding of blood, hence in the moniker Velvet Revolution. On this tour, you will visit the sites most famously associated with the Revolution, including the residence of the dissident and future president Vaclav Havel, the former headquarters of the infamous STB secret police, and Wenceslas Square.

Velvet Revolution Walking Tour

Commentating on the political upheavals of 1989, the writer and historian Timothy Garton Ash famously pointed out that while Poland had taken 10 years to achieve regime change and Hungary had taken 10 months, Czechoslovakia had achieved the same in a mere 10 days. And the transition from a totalitarian Communist state to nascent democracy was achieved almost without violence or the shedding of blood, hence in the moniker Velvet Revolution. On this tour, you will visit the sites most famously associated with the Revolution, including the residence of the dissident and future president Vaclav Havel, the former headquarters of the infamous STB secret police, and Wenceslas Square.

Train to Berlin via Dresden

The enchanting Saxon capital of Dresden is located roughly mid-way between Prague and Berlin, making it a perfect stop on this approximately 5 hour journey. Lockers in the rail station make it easy to drop your bags and make the short walk from the station to the beautiful Old Town. Dresden's long history as a royal residence for the Kings of Saxony transformed their home over the centuries into a splendid architectural jewel. Because of its fascinating baroque and rococo city center, Dresden was often called “Florence on the Elbe”. Also a must see is the Zwinger, a palace complex containing several outstanding art musuems.

Train to Berlin via Dresden

The enchanting Saxon capital of Dresden is located roughly mid-way between Prague and Berlin, making it a perfect stop on this approximately 5 hour journey. Lockers in the rail station make it easy to drop your bags and make the short walk from the station to the beautiful Old Town. Dresden's long history as a royal residence for the Kings of Saxony transformed their home over the centuries into a splendid architectural jewel. Because of its fascinating baroque and rococo city center, Dresden was often called “Florence on the Elbe”. Also a must see is the Zwinger, a palace complex containing several outstanding art musuems.

Train to Berlin via Dresden

The enchanting Saxon capital of Dresden is located roughly mid-way between Prague and Berlin, making it a perfect stop on this approximately 5 hour journey. Lockers in the rail station make it easy to drop your bags and make the short walk from the station to the beautiful Old Town. Dresden's long history as a royal residence for the Kings of Saxony transformed their home over the centuries into a splendid architectural jewel. Because of its fascinating baroque and rococo city center, Dresden was often called “Florence on the Elbe”. Also a must see is the Zwinger, a palace complex containing several outstanding art musuems.

Train to Berlin via Dresden

The enchanting Saxon capital of Dresden is located roughly mid-way between Prague and Berlin, making it a perfect stop on this approximately 5 hour journey. Lockers in the rail station make it easy to drop your bags and make the short walk from the station to the beautiful Old Town. Dresden's long history as a royal residence for the Kings of Saxony transformed their home over the centuries into a splendid architectural jewel. Because of its fascinating baroque and rococo city center, Dresden was often called “Florence on the Elbe”. Also a must see is the Zwinger, a palace complex containing several outstanding art musuems.

Quadriga. Hey, There's a Word to Know When Learning About this Historic Gate

The Brandenburg Gate was built as a symbol of peace, perverted into a symbol of power by the Nazis, and became a symbol of division during the Cold War. Now, however, it is a symbol of reunification. Completed in 1791, it was topped by the quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses driven by the goddess of peace. Napoleon seized the quadriga as a spoil of war, but after his defeat, it was returned to the city and met by cheering crowds along the way, transforming the goddess of peace into a goddess of victory, holding a  Germanic cross.

Make your way to the top of the dome enjoying amazing views and looking down at debating members of the German Parliament below.

Officially, the Reichstag is actually the Bundestag, which means the federal parliament. The Reichstag was reduced to a ruined shell by arson in 1933 and by World War II fighting, but it was rebuilt with a striking egg-shaped glass dome. Visitors are given a free audio guide that discusses the building’s history and architecture, while also orientating you to the sites of Berlin. It is an excellent introduction to the city. Note that it is usually necessary to book well in advance!

Guided Walking Tour of Berlin

On this 3 hour tour, your guide will show you the highlights of Berlin and help you understand what makes this city so unique. Sites visited will include the boulevard Unter den Linden, the Gendarmenmarkt, Check Point Charlie, remnants of the Berlin Wall, Potsdamer Platz, the Holocaust Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Reichstag.

Quadriga. Hey, There's a Word to Know When Learning About this Historic Gate

The Brandenburg Gate was built as a symbol of peace, perverted into a symbol of power by the Nazis, and became a symbol of division during the Cold War. Now, however, it is a symbol of reunification. Completed in 1791, it was topped by the quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses driven by the goddess of peace. Napoleon seized the quadriga as a spoil of war, but after his defeat, it was returned to the city and met by cheering crowds along the way, transforming the goddess of peace into a goddess of victory, holding a  Germanic cross.

Take an interactive crash course in Berlin history. (Re-opening Autumn 2021)

This museum uses reconstructed street scapes, homes, and other interactive exibits to give you good feeling for the atmosphere of Berlin during it's long and often times turbulent history, including during the Nazi and Communist era. You can also tour an underground nuclear shelter.

Visit Germany's Oldest and Best Known Zoo.

Founded in 1844, the Zoologischer Garten Berlin was the first zoo in Germany and features some wonderful animal-inspired architecture as well. The original animals were donated by King Frederick William IV of Prussia, and it now has a collection of around 20,500 animals representing 1,500 different species. The zoo’s aquarium opened in 1913 and now contains one of the largest collections of aquatic life in Europe.

Shop in the iconic department store of capitalist West Berlin

Opened in 1907, the Kaufhaus des Westens, or KaDeWe, quickly became a temple of luxury in a rapidly modernising city. It took off again following the German post-war economic miracle and gained new impetus again following German reunification. During Communism, due to it's proximity to East Germany, it became a symbol of the material wealth of the West in comparison to that of countries stuck behind the Iron Curtain.

City West

In the 1920's the elegant, tree-line boulevard known as the Kurfürstendamm was the center of Berlin's nightlife and leisure scene, attracting writers, film stars, and artists. WWII left it in ruins, and today at the end of the boulevard you'll discover a chilling reminder of that destruction: the purposefully unrecontructed remains of the Memorial Church. During the Cold War, the Kurfürstendamm and its surroundings were central to West Berlin's revitalized identity. This was perhaps best symbolized by the famous KaDeWe, the gigantic department store which served as a symbol of market capitalism lodged in the heart of the Iron Curtain.

Remind yourself of war's destructiveness by visiting the ruins of this church destroyed during WWII.

After its destruction in WWII, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church was partially rebuilt in modernist style, and partially left in ruins as a powerful reminder of the war. Built-in the 1890s, Kaiser Wilhelm II hoped to inspire the secular proletariat to return to traditional religious values. The neo-Gothic design became ever more colorful as Wilhelm insisted on more bling. The small exhibition inside shows the wartime destruction and a “before and after” model of the city center.

Take an interactive crash course in Berlin history. (Re-opening Autumn 2021)

This museum uses reconstructed street scapes, homes, and other interactive exibits to give you good feeling for the atmosphere of Berlin during it's long and often times turbulent history, including during the Nazi and Communist era. You can also tour an underground nuclear shelter.

Wander amongst 2,711 columns forming a vast mazelike Holocaust memorial.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It consists of a 19,000 square meter site with over 2700 concrete slabs that grow larger and more ominous as you approach the center of the monument. Beneath the monument lies an information center.

Learn about the horrors of Nazism and the security apparatus it used to enforce its will in this documentation center.

The center has free admission. It is located on a site that headquartered Adolf Hitler's elite killers, the SS, the Gestapo secret police and the Reich Main Security Office, making it the main cog in the Nazi security regime. Standing there today in testament to the evil perpetrated during those years is the Topography of Terror, Germany’s most significant museum on the agents of Nazi terror.

The site of the bunkers where the Nazi leadership holed up during the final days of World War II, and where Hitler committed suicide on April 30th, 1945.

Located in the very center of Berlin, it may seem strange that such a valuable piece of real estate and historically significant site is left as a parking lot, but its association with Hitler makes it unsuitable to any other use. The site was previously left completely unmarked, in order to prevent it from becoming a shrine to modern-day Nazis. Now at least an information board stands at the spot.

Guided Walking Tour of WW2 & Cold War

Berlin hides a turbulent past scarred by Nazism and Communism, and on this 3 hour guided tour you will uncover this fascinating history. You will visit the locations where Hitler’s bunker and the SS and Gestapo headquarters once stood, and see remnants of the Cold War such as Check Point Charlie and sections of the Berlin Wall.

Make your way to the top of the dome enjoying amazing views and looking down at debating members of the German Parliament below.

Officially, the Reichstag is actually the Bundestag, which means the federal parliament. The Reichstag was reduced to a ruined shell by arson in 1933 and by World War II fighting, but it was rebuilt with a striking egg-shaped glass dome. Visitors are given a free audio guide that discusses the building’s history and architecture, while also orientating you to the sites of Berlin. It is an excellent introduction to the city. Note that it is usually necessary to book well in advance!

Wander amongst 2,711 columns forming a vast mazelike Holocaust memorial.

The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. It consists of a 19,000 square meter site with over 2700 concrete slabs that grow larger and more ominous as you approach the center of the monument. Beneath the monument lies an information center.

Sachsenhausen

The Nazi regime interred over 200,000 people in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. As the closest camp to Berlin, it was primarily used for political prisoners but also held Jews, prisoners of war, and others. After the Soviets liberated the camp over 60,000 Nazis were interned there in turn. Visitors see recreated camp barracks, the original prisoner kitchens where the prisoners scribbled graffiti onto the walls, crematory ovens, and a multi-media presentation of “everyday life in the camp” narrated by former prisoners.

Sachsenhausen

The Nazi regime interred over 200,000 people in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. As the closest camp to Berlin, it was primarily used for political prisoners but also held Jews, prisoners of war, and others. After the Soviets liberated the camp over 60,000 Nazis were interned there in turn. Visitors see recreated camp barracks, the original prisoner kitchens where the prisoners scribbled graffiti onto the walls, crematory ovens, and a multi-media presentation of “everyday life in the camp” narrated by former prisoners.

Sachsenhausen

The Nazi regime interred over 200,000 people in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. As the closest camp to Berlin, it was primarily used for political prisoners but also held Jews, prisoners of war, and others. After the Soviets liberated the camp over 60,000 Nazis were interned there in turn. Visitors see recreated camp barracks, the original prisoner kitchens where the prisoners scribbled graffiti onto the walls, crematory ovens, and a multi-media presentation of “everyday life in the camp” narrated by former prisoners.

Sachsenhausen

The Nazi regime interred over 200,000 people in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. As the closest camp to Berlin, it was primarily used for political prisoners but also held Jews, prisoners of war, and others. After the Soviets liberated the camp over 60,000 Nazis were interned there in turn. Visitors see recreated camp barracks, the original prisoner kitchens where the prisoners scribbled graffiti onto the walls, crematory ovens, and a multi-media presentation of “everyday life in the camp” narrated by former prisoners.

Airport Transfer by Taxi or Rail

The most affordable and fast way to reach Berlin Brandenburg airport is by train. The Airport Express train takes only 30 minutes and leaves directly from the main station in central Berlin (Berlin Hbf). Regional and S-Bahn trains also depart from other locations in Berlin. Berlin taxis are generally reliable and honest, so you may wish to take a taxi or Uber, although this is more expensive than the train and puts you at the mercy of traffic. You can also arrange a private transfer. If you are picked up about 3 hours before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with about two hours to spare, depending on traffic. If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra fifteen to thirty minutes.

Airport Transfer by Taxi or Rail

The most affordable and fast way to reach Berlin Brandenburg airport is by train. The Airport Express train takes only 30 minutes and leaves directly from the main station in central Berlin (Berlin Hbf). Regional and S-Bahn trains also depart from other locations in Berlin. Berlin taxis are generally reliable and honest, so you may wish to take a taxi or Uber, although this is more expensive than the train and puts you at the mercy of traffic. You can also arrange a private transfer. If you are picked up about 3 hours before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with about two hours to spare, depending on traffic. If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra fifteen to thirty minutes.

Airport Transfer by Taxi or Rail

The most affordable and fast way to reach Berlin Brandenburg airport is by train. The Airport Express train takes only 30 minutes and leaves directly from the main station in central Berlin (Berlin Hbf). Regional and S-Bahn trains also depart from other locations in Berlin. Berlin taxis are generally reliable and honest, so you may wish to take a taxi or Uber, although this is more expensive than the train and puts you at the mercy of traffic. You can also arrange a private transfer. If you are picked up about 3 hours before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with about two hours to spare, depending on traffic. If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra fifteen to thirty minutes.

Airport Transfer by Taxi or Rail

The most affordable and fast way to reach Berlin Brandenburg airport is by train. The Airport Express train takes only 30 minutes and leaves directly from the main station in central Berlin (Berlin Hbf). Regional and S-Bahn trains also depart from other locations in Berlin. Berlin taxis are generally reliable and honest, so you may wish to take a taxi or Uber, although this is more expensive than the train and puts you at the mercy of traffic. You can also arrange a private transfer. If you are picked up about 3 hours before your departure time, you should arrive at the airport with about two hours to spare, depending on traffic. If you are leaving during rush hour, you may want to budget an extra fifteen to thirty minutes.