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Art & History Abroad Tours

The Art & History of Berlin & Potsdam

This popular tour takes you to Berlin and neighbouring Potsdam to explore the treasures, both artistic and architectural, of cities which have been at the forefront of European politics since at least the 18th century.

Berlin was the capital of the state of Prussia, and Potsdam largely the creation of Frederick the Great (1712-1786) as a bolt hole to escape the pressures of Berlin itself. 

From Baroque architecture to contemporary art, expert Nicholas Merchant will guide you with his insightful commentary along the way. 

From

£3,750

per person

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what’s included

At A Glance

  • The Travel Editions Experience
    Our tours are thoughtfully crafted and meticulously planned, with every destination, hotel, excursion and stop along the way having been selected to form a truly memorable experience.
  • Meals Included
    All breakfasts, 1 lunch and 3 dinners.
  • Handpicked Accommodation
    Five nights at the four-star Arcotel John F Berlin based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room. 
  • Discover the Authentic Berlin & Potsdam
    Explore Berlin and Potsdam’s extraordinary cultural riches, from Museum Island and the exquisite art collections of its world-class galleries to the gardens of Sans Souci Palace and the opulent state rooms of Charlottenburg.
  • Your Expert Guide
    Accompanied by Nicholas Merchant, and a tour manager throughout, including three lectures.
  • Transfers & Tours
    Transfers, tours and entrance fees.
  • Flights from the UK
    Return flights from London Heathrow to Berlin.
MEET YOUR EXPERT GUIDE

Nicholas Merchant

Nicholas is a highly respected lecturer in the decorative and fine arts and an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society. His wide knowledge was developed through work with leading auction houses, including Sotheby’s, before he established a specialist book business devoted to the decorative arts.

Nicholas has led Travel Editions tours in the UK and Europe for close to fifteen years. His convivial style, wit and erudition illuminate every visit, whether he is discussing a country house, a collection or a single remarkable object, and his tours are informative, interesting and above all entertaining.

Meet Our Expert Guides
itinerary & excursions

Your Itinerary

Explore this incredible tour in detail and discover what makes each day so special. Below, you’ll find a full day-by-day breakdown of your journey, from the moment you arrive to your final farewell. Learn more about the highlights you’ll experience, the unforgettable places you’ll visit, and the unique moments that bring each destination to life. Whether you’re drawn by rich history, stunning landscapes or unforgettable cultural encounters, this itinerary gives you everything you need to picture your adventure and look forward to every step of the way.

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Berlin

We fly from London Heathrow to Berlin’s new “Willy Brandt” airport, then drive to our hotel.  After checking in, we have free time to settle in before meeting for a welcome drink and a talk by Nicholas Merchant, your lecturer, on “Berlin: A General Overview”.

Day 2: Berlin’s Botanical Gardens & Charlottenburg Palace

Morning tour taking in some of the sights of this vibrant city including the Reichstag building with its Norman Foster dome, the Holocaust memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, the Unter den Linden, and the newly rebuilt Royal Palace. The tour ends at the Botanical Gardens. The gardens covering 104 acres were established in the late 19th century and apart from displaying over 20,000 plant species, they also contain glass and iron tropical houses to rival those at Kew. After free time for lunch, we visit the Charlottenburg Palace.

Built in the late 17th century in the then fashionable Baroque style, it is one of the largest palaces in the world. We begin with a tour of the New Wing with a local guide, followed by an audio-guided visit to the Old Palace highlights. The Old Wing is in the baroque style and contains a collection of Porcelain, whilst the New Wing in the Rococo style contains the apartments of Frederick the Great who we met at Sans Souci. Evening at leisure. 

Day 3: Museum Island & Dinner with a View

The Museuminsel dominates the centre of Berlin. It is a complex of five museums, and one of the greatest museums in Europe. Since reunification its prestige has been much enhanced and it was declared a UNESCO site in 1999. Adjacent is the colossal Berlin Cathedral built in the late 19th century.

We return to the hotel after lunch for Nicholas to give a talk “ Alchemy and the European Quest for Porcelain” in anticipation of tomorrow’s visit to the Royal Porcelain factory. 

In the evening we go to the Berlin Television Tower. Built by the Communist regime it towered, prior to reunification, over the divided city as a symbol of Soviet dominance. Here we shall have dinner in the revolving restaurant sphere 1200 feet above the city.

Day 4: Architecture, Art & Porcelain

This morning we visit Berlin’s Neue Nationalgalerie, a landmark of modernist architecture, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe as a steel‑and‑glass pavilion crowned by a floating, column‑supported roof. We enjoy an introductory talk then explore independently. The museum’s collection focuses on 20th‑century art.

Nearby is the Royal Porcelain Factory. Porcelain was a new commodity in Europe in the 18th century and a symbol of national status. This factory was founded in 1763 and rapidly produced wares of great splendour and lavishness.

Evening talk from Nicholas: “Potsdam, a Prussian Versailles” with the rest of the evening at leisure.

Day 5: Full Day Potsdam

A short drive takes us to Potsdam. This town was created, as we know it today, by the ruler of Prussia, Frederick the Great, as an escape from the rigours of Berlin. Here in the centre was erected a Royal Palace and the Nicolaikirche. The most celebrated building which we will visit is the Sans Souci (Without Care) Palace, a masterpiece of Rococo architecture.

This was Frederick’s sanctuary where he entertained his intimates and gave concerts. Nearby is his picture gallery containing his art collection culled from the four corners of Europe, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens. After lunch we visit the Barberini Palace, a classicist-baroque palace which was originally built between 1771-1772 under Frederick II. It was destroyed during WWII, then rebuilt between 2013-2016 with a facade faithfully based on the original design. The museum here presents major art exhibitions with a strong focus on Impressionism.

We return to the hotel before our farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 6: Departure

Our final breakfast will be served in the Käfer Restaurant atop the Reichstag building. Destroyed in 1933, the building, housing the German Parliament, was finally restored in 1999. 

Next we take a short boat cruise through central Berlin, past the city’s mix of old and new architecture. In the afternoon, we depart for the airport to return to London Heathrow.

our guests say

Recent reviews

“Some of the main highlights of the Antiquities Museum, the beautiful Botanical Gardens and Charlottenburg Palace, all of which made for a varied and enjoyable programme.” 
Judy Newburn, March 2026

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Date
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16/03/2027
London Heathrow
£3,750
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Solo Traveller Supplement From: £585
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HOTELS

Tour Accommodation

Arcotel John F Berlin

Four-star centrally located hotel just a five minute walk from Museum Island, and Berlin’s famous Unter den Linden, perfectly located for all sites on our tour. This modern hotel offers a bar, restaurant, fitness room, sauna, courtyard, and elegant rooms with all modern facilities including TV, safe, WIFI, air-conditioning/heating, hairdryer, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Hotel Website

our regular tours

Mobility Information

This tour has a moderate fitness rating, reflecting a fuller itinerary with a good balance of visits, walking and time spent exploring on foot.
 
Some visits may involve cobbled streets, uneven paving, slopes, steps, stairs, limited seating, or walking from the coach drop-off point to the entrance of a site or attraction. The exact demands will vary from day to day, and we highlight specific practical details within the itinerary wherever possible.
 
You should feel comfortable walking at a steady group pace, standing during visits and enjoying a full day of sightseeing. If you are unsure whether this tour is right for you, please contact us before booking.

Mobility Information
Your questions answered

Tour FAQ

If you have a question, we are more than happy to answer it via email or phone, but you may find your answer below more quickly.

Simply complete our online booking form or give us a call on 020 7251 0045 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday where you can speak to a real person. A 20% deposit per person is required at the time of booking, to book your place. Payments by debit card or credit card incur no charge. 

You must pay for the balance of your holiday at least 12 weeks before departure. Please note: no reminder for balance payments is sent to you and are not receipted unless requested. If you book your holiday within 12 weeks of departure, full payment is required at time of booking. Please note that some tours may require final payment to be paid earlier than 12 weeks, due to financial commitment with suppliers. The exact date will be notified to you at the time of booking. Final joining instructions and documentation will be dispatched approximately 10 days before travel.

In almost all cases, the price includes your accommodation, meals as described in the itinerary, all excursions shown in the programme, and travel arrangements from the UK. Excursions are taken by private coach exclusively for Travel Editions guests. If anything is ever excluded from the price, it will be clearly marked as optional and payable locally, you won’t find any hidden extras on your final bill. Travel Editions operates a firm no-surcharge policy, so the price you are quoted is the price you pay.

The specifics vary by tour and are set out in your individual itinerary, but most of our tours depart from London, either by Eurostar from St Pancras International or by air. For rail tours, we advise allowing at least one hour before the Eurostar departure when planning your journey to London. For flights, all costs are based on economy class unless otherwise stated, and all times shown are local time. For tours in the UK, these often start at the hotel in question.

Flight upgrades and connections from regional airports are available on request and subject to availability, contact us on 020 7251 0045 or at tours@traveleditions.co.uk for details. We strongly recommend not booking non-refundable connecting travel until you have received your final joining instructions, which are sent around 10 days before departure and confirm all timings and meeting points.

Yes, and you’re very welcome. Single room supplements apply on most tours, reflecting the fact that single and double rooms are generally priced similarly by hotels. If you would prefer to share with another solo traveller of the same gender, we are happy to arrange this, simply let us know at the time of booking. Sharing is subject to another traveller in the same situation being booked on the same tour.

Each tour is accompanied by a dedicated tour manager, who in most cases will travel out from the UK with the group. On some tours, the tour manager will meet you at your destination station or airport, with full details being confirmed in your joining instructions 10 days before travel. Many of our tours are also led by expert lecturers or specialist guides whose knowledge brings each destination to life; details of who will be accompanying your particular tour are included in the individual tour pages and itineraries.

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