School trips to Germany

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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.

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.

DDR Museum

Welcome to one of Europe's most interactive museums.

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.

Black Forest Open Air Museum

Find out all about life and work in the Black Forest over the last 400 years.

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.

Where to visit in Germany

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Why choose Halsbury?

We build your trip around you

Tell us your learning objectives, curriculum and budget and we’ll do the rest.

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We’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.

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Our 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.

Meet the education team

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. 

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