Charlemagne's spectacular capital hosts a charming, very traditional German Christmas market.
Germany’s long and complicated history is a huge draw for school groups. Our school trips to Germany can cover everything from the German monarchy to the Weimar Republic, the Nazis and the Holocaust, or even the Cold War.
Most groups interested in the country's history choose to base themselves in Berlin, the capital, or Munich. If you do the same, you’ll find an almost unending choice of educational visits – which is fantastic news if you want to make this into an annual tour.
But there's more to Germany than its past, read on to find out about the opportunities for new cultural experiences, practising the language, and discovering German creativity.
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Why visit Germany?
Experience the German culture
A school trip to Germany is an exciting opportunity for your students to experience German culture.
Whether you want to explore the traditions of the Black Forest, search for ‘fairy tale’ Germany in the Rhineland, or take in the special atmosphere of Germany’s famous Christmas markets, your students will return home with a deeper understanding and love for all things German.
And if you’re visiting on a language-focused study trip, your students will have the chance to use their language skills to find out more about the local culture. Putting their knowledge into practice will improve their confidence and leave them with a greater enthusiasm for the subject.
Witness German creativity
Germany has a long history of creativity, making it a fantastic choice for art students. Berlin, in particular, is a central point for ancient antiquities, world-class museums, street art, music, and all-round expression in the country.
Plus, with German engineering considered among the best in the world, students interested in design and technology have plenty of options – from brewery tours to visiting leading manufacturers.
Bring STEM subjects to life
If you want to bring STEM subjects, like science and maths, to life for your students and show them the real-world applications of your subject, then a German school trip is hard to beat. Germany’s economic capital, Frankfurt, is a fascinating option for groups interested in maths, while Cologne’s variety of science attractions is the ideal choice to inspire your young scientists.
Browse our trips
School Christmas Markets Trip to Aachen
School Primary Languages Trip to Aachen
Aachen is a historic, small, and safe city with plenty to do, making it ideal for primary school pupils learning German.
£190PP
Cold War School Trip to Berlin
A trip to Berlin, with a focus on the Cold War, will give your students a better understanding of how and why the city was divided.
£485PP
Political History School Trip to Berlin
Explore the politics behind the Weimar Republic, WW1, WW2, the Cold War and the European Union.
£240PP
School German Culture Trip to Berlin
Where better to immerse your students in the German culture than the country's vibrant capital?
£449PP
School German Language Study Trip to Berlin
Berlin offers total immersion in the local language and culture, with German lessons at a specialist language school.
£585PP
The Nazis & the Holocaust School Trip to Berlin
After this trip, your students will better understand how and why the Nazis rose to power.
£501PP
The Nazis & the Holocaust School Trip to Berlin & Krakow
This trip to Berlin & Krakow includes a visit to Auschwitz and is unmissable for groups studying the Nazis & the Holocaust.
£749PP
School Art Trip to Berlin
Discover how art can be influenced by the social, economic and political environment of the artist.
£519PP
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Activities in Germany that your school group will love
East Side Gallery
The longest surviving section of the Wall that once divided the city, this half-mile stretch along the bank of the River Spree was decorated by artists from across the world in 1990.
Jewish Museum Berlin
The most visited museum in Germany, it's guaranteed to be a thought-provoking experience. Guided tours are provided for school groups and group leaders can choose a topic/theme in advance.
DDR Museum
Welcome to one of Europe's most interactive museums! The DDR Museum offers you a hands-on experience of the everyday life of a state long gone and life in socialism.
Checkpoint Charlie Museum
During the lifetime of the Berlin Wall, this was the only way for non-Germans to cross from one half of the city to the other.
Bundestag
Take your students to visit the Bundestag, formerly the Reichstag, which is once again the focus of German political life.
Phantasialand
As the number one German theme park for visitors from the UK, Phantasialand is a great way to have fun and use up your pupils' energy.
Marksburg
Marksburg is the only castle in the Rhine Valley never to have been taken by force. It is one of the most complete medieval fortresses in Germany and, therefore, a rewarding place to visit.
Black Forest Open Air Museum
Find out all about life and work in the Black Forest over the last 400 years.
Popular Subjects
Where to visit in Germany
Aachen
Aachen is ideal for either language-focused trips or visiting Germany's Christmas markets.
Charlemagne's imperial capital, Aachen is a historic city. It also boasts the shortest journey times from the UK, which makes it ideal for younger groups.
Berlin
Trips to Berlin are a great option for many subjects and are always popular with students.
The cool German capital is fantastic for a trip focusing on the Nazis and the Holocaust, or the Cold War. But did you know that it's also a great option for art, design and technology, German and politics too?
Black Forest
In the Black Forest, your students can visit one of the most enchanting regions of Germany.
The Black Forest is most popular with groups who want to immerse themselves in German culture. Your students will love using their German skills to learn all about the traditions and customs unique to this region.
Cologne
Cologne, the capital of the Rhineland, is a great option for many different reasons.
You can immerse your students in the language and culture, visit some of Europe's best attractions for young scientists, or enjoy a festive treat at the city's Christmas markets.
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf, the elegant capital of North Rhine-Westphalia, is popular among German-language groups, particularly at Christmas.
That's because Düsseldorf boasts atmospheric Christmas markets to rival those of nearby Cologne. Your students can practice their German in a fun, relaxed setting.
Frankfurt
Frankfurt is Germany's most important financial centre - it's filled with major banks, stock exchanges, and financial institutions.
This makes the city a popular choice for both business studies and maths groups, who can see the real-world applications of their skills.
Munich
Munich has a huge range of visits to entertain and educate your students.
The Bavarian capital is ideal for German language learners, general cultural visits, and history groups studying the Nazis' rise to power.
The Rhine
The Rhine is the centre of fairytale Germany. Here you'll find romantic castles, majestic rivers and charming towns.
Many of our groups return to the Rhine year after year, having fallen in love with its unique atmosphere and friendly locals.
Learn more
25 Aug 2022
Keep costs down on your school trip to Berlin - check out our top tips for free things to do in the German capital!
28 Feb 2023
Thinking about a secondary school trip but need some inspiration and support? Don't worry, our school travel experts are here to help with a collection of the best ideas for your group.
06 May 2015
Ideas for School Cold War Trips
School Cold War trips are a great way to help students gain a better understanding of the political, social and economic context of this period of recent history.
05 Mar 2019
James Wylie's Five Top Tips for School Trips to Berlin
Itinerary Coordinator James Wylie's five top tips for groups going on a school trip to Berlin.
Why choose Halsbury?
We build your trip around you
Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.
Contact usWe’re trusted for a reason
We’re members of ABTA, ABTOT and the School Travel Forum. We also hold an ATOL and the LOtC Quality Badge.
Read moreOur Education specialists
Laura Lucas
Tour Consultant
Paul Hudson
Tour Consultant
Laura Martin
Language Sales & Product Manager
Emma Gray da Silva
Tour Consultant
Meet our education specialists and get to know more about the people committed to making your school trip the best it can be.
FAQs
I can't see the destination I'm after, does this mean you can't help me?
Not at all. What you see on this page are our most popular destinations for school trips to Germany. But we've actually got great relationships with suppliers all over the country, which means we can pretty much take you wherever you want to go.
Just get in touch and we'll see what we can do.
Equally, if you have an idea of what you want to do, but you're not sure which destination would be the best choice for your group, just contact us and we'll be pleased to chat through the options with you.
Should we fly or travel by coach to Germany?
This will largely depend on your group's requirements and budget. If you have a large group (i.e. a group large enough to fill a coach) then a coach could be the cheaper option. It's also much better for the environment and, as it's door-to-door, it's often more convenient too.
But Germany is quite a long way and you'll need to factor in the journey times into your trip.
Often, groups will travel by coach to places like Aachen and the Rhineland, with those travelling to Berlin and Munich preferring to fly.
At the end of the day, the choice is entirely yours. But your Tour Adviser will be more than happy to chat through the options with you and help you work out what the best option is for your trip.
Do you offer travel insurance?
We do. Travel insurance is an optional extra and you can find out more about it in our travel insurance resource (which includes the policy documents and FAQs).
If you decide against arranging this insurance through us (which is absolutely fine, by the way), please just remember you must have suitable travel and medical insurance to cover your group.
When is the best time to visit Germany on a school trip?
Germany is a year-round destination, so you'll have a great time whenever you choose to go.
Many groups visit in December when the famous Christmas markets take place. This is a particularly good time to visit for language students as they'll be able to use their language skills when interacting with the stall holders.
If your students are studying history then the cities of Berlin and Munich are ideal in any season. In the summer, many groups choose to visit the Rhine and the Black Forest, when the communities in these regions tend to hold exciting festivals (and the weather is a bit more reliable so you can plan on enjoying these stunning landscapes properly).
Can the trip itinerary be adapted to my curriculum and requirements?
Every single trip we arrange is tailor-made, so yes, the itinerary can be adapted.
Our Tour Advisers and Itinerary Coordinators are all experienced school travel specialists. They'll work closely with you to make sure your itinerary supports your learning objectives. They'll be able to offer suggestions and advice to make sure you make the most of your time.
So, when you're browsing through our school trips, just remember that the itineraries and activities you see are there for inspiration only - your own itinerary can look as similar or as different as you want.
Equally, we've suggested trip durations based on what groups usually request - if you want to go for a shorter or longer duration, just let us know.
How far ahead should I start planning my trip?
As a general rule, we recommend that you start planning your trip 12-18 months before you want to travel. This gives you plenty of time to get it approved and launched to students and parents.
Planning early will mean you have a greater choice of accommodation and travel options - and it will make paying for the trip easier for families, as they'll be able to break it down into smaller, more manageable payments.
You can check out our trip-planning timeline for a better idea of the process and when you should expect to be doing things.
If you are looking to travel sooner than this, it is possible. It will depend on availability and you may find prices are a bit higher, but get in touch and we can see what's possible.
What accommodation options are there in Germany?
It really depends on where exactly you want to go, but there's usually a great choice of accommodation options in Germany.
If you need to keep costs down as much as possible, you could go for youth hostel-style accommodation. Basic but comfortable, this will see students sharing dormitory-style rooms, which is usually the cheapest option.
Or you may prefer to spend a bit more on hotel accommodation if the budget allows for a little more comfort.
Whatever type of accommodation you go for, you can be sure it's suitable for school groups. That's because, as a member of the School Travel Forum with a rigorous Safety Management System in place, we'll only offer accommodation we believe to be suitable.
Let's chat!