Political History School Trip to Berlin

On a school trip to Berlin, your students can explore the long and complex political history of Germany, from monarchy to the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, the division of Germany during the Cold War and, eventually, stable democracy!

Berlin’s turbulent history has left the city with a wealth of historic sites and museums focused on political history and, for this reason, it really is unrivalled as a destination for politics-focused school trips.

It’s also an important city within the European Union, making it a great choice for groups studying the EU too. The Europa Experience is a 360° cinema, which allows your students to witness a plenary session of the European Parliament. They can then learn more about the role of MEPs and Commissioners.

Small group? The good news is that Berlin is a fantastic destination for cross-curricular school trips, so why not team up with another department? History, German, art and design and technology are just some of the subjects for which a school trip to Berlin works well.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Flight to Berlin, transfer to accommodation

Afternoon

Bundestag Dome and Europa Experience

Evening

Evening meal

Day 2

Morning

Guided tour of Hohenschonhausen Stasi Prison by former inmate

Afternoon

DDR Museum

Evening

Evening meal

Day 3

Morning

Story of Berlin

Afternoon

Transfer to airport

Evening

Return flight to UK

2 nights' half-board accommodation
Airport tax and passenger duty at current rates
ATOL protected return flights from the UK
Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
Detailed information pack
Free staff place ratio 1:10
Itinerary planning service
Vamoos travel app - giving you access to all your trip documents on your phone or tablet
VAT at current rates to tour operators

Accommodation

2A Hostel

The 2A hostel opened in 2011 with the intention of providing hotel-class accommodation at hostel-level prices.Students sleep in bunk-beds in multi-bedded rooms of 4-8 people, while staff stay in twins. All rooms benefit from en-suite facilities, and all guests have access to WiFi.Breakfast and evening meal are served in the hostel and packed lunches can be provided at a supplement. The hostel also has a terrace and a lounge area equipped with a TV & audio equipment.

a&o Berlin Hauptbahnhof

This modern hostel is well located on a quiet street near the main train station in central Berlin.Students will generally be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms and staff in twins. All rooms are en-suite and have modern furnishings/ TV.Hostel facilities include a roof-top bar, games room and multiple conference rooms.

Aletto Kudamm

Newly opened in April 2012, the Aletto Kudamm offers 3* comfort and is only a few minutes walk away from the Zoological Garden, Kurfuerstendamm, the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the famous KaDeWe.Students will generally be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms and staff in twins. All rooms are en-suite. Rooms are equipped with individually adjustable air-conditioning, Flatscreen TV with satellite television and radio stations, WiFi Internet access, shower-bath with WC, hairdryer and under-floor heating. Other facilities include a pool table, table football and other games. Weather permitting, there is a basketball court, 5-a-side football pitch, table tennis tables and boules area. The combination of a modern design, high quality facilities and excellent location make this an ideal hostel for school groups.

H2 Hotel Berlin Alexanderplatz

The modern H2 Hotel welcomes its guests to the heart of Berlin 24 hours a day.Groups will generally stay in triple or quad rooms, and group leaders in twins or singles. All rooms are air-conditioned, with flatscreen TVs, private bathrooms with underfloor heating, and free WiFi (available throughout the hotel).The hotel's "fresh island" and shop provide food for the whole day, from breakfast through to the evening meal. Outside of their very flexible mealtimes, coffees and fresh snacks are available too.

Jugendherberge Berlin Ostkreuz

Berlin Ostkreuz Youth Hostel offers modern, state-of-the-art amenities and is ideal for school groups. The youth hostel has 445 beds in total. All rooms have en-suite showers and toilets. Students will be accommodated in multi-bedded rooms (maximum 6 per room) and staff in twins or singles.The hostel boasts a welcoming lobby area, cosy bistro and dining rooms where guests can take their meals (breakfast, half or full-board), common rooms for leisure activities and 18 meeting rooms, plus a large assembly hall.

Meininger Berlin Hauptbahnhof

If you're looking for a hotel in Berlin that offers super quick and easy access to all of the city's attractions, then the Meininger Berlin Hauptbahnhof is hard to beat, as it's located next to Berlin's central station! Students will stay in multi-bedded rooms, with staff in twins or singles. The hotel can provide breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals. Plus, as well as a bar and lobby area, the hotel boasts a fantastic game zone that will go down a treat with your group!

Meininger Berlin East-Side-Gallery

Located opposite the last remaining piece of the Berlin Wall, the East Side Gallery, this hotel also boasts easy public transport links to all of the city's attractions. Students stay in multi-bedded rooms, with staff in twins or singles. Breakfast, packed lunches and evening meals are all available. As well as a bar and lobby area, there is also a game zone that your students will love!

Educational Activities

Berlin Wall Documentation Centre

The Documentation Center on the history of the Berlin Wall provides historical information and educates the public.Beginning with the historical,

Brandenburg Gate Museum

Experience history like you are there! This new multimedia museum just 100 metres from Brandenburg Gate shows 300 years of

Bundestag

Take your students to visit the Bundestag, formerly the Reichstag, which is once again the focus of German political life.

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.

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.

Europa Experience

A fantastic visit that will teachstudents all about how European politics works.The 360° cinema offers your students a chance to

Hohenschönhausen Stasi Memorial

Between 1945 and 1989 thousands of political prisoners were interned here by the Communist regime. Today, the prison is preserved

Memories of the Cold War - Meet a Former Political Prisoner

A rare and memorable opportunity to make history come to life. Your students will have the chance to discuss real

Stasi Museum

Under the GDR, the Ministry of State Security, or Stasi, spied more meticulously on the East German population than any

Subterranean Berlin

This tour of underground Berlin takes you through World War Two air raid shelters and tunnels used to smuggle people out of East Germany.

Teufelsberg (Devil's Mountain)

A Cold War radio base, hidden away in the Grunewald Forest, which originally used by the Allies to spy on

Cultural Activities

Berlin Cathedral

One of the principal buildings of the nineteenth-century Berlin, the cathedral was completed at the turn of the century and

Berliner Fernsehturm (TV Tower)

Visible from almost any point in the city, the television tower was a flagship of East German architecture.

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.