Things to do in

Germany

Discover some of the key landmarks of Berlin on a sightseeing boat tour. Enjoy a relaxing river cruise on the Spree to take in the sights at the heart of this bustling city.   Depart from Friedrichstraße or Nikolaiviertel. Your 1-hour sightseeing tour will take you past the Reichstag (German Parliament Building), through the new Regierungsviertel (Government Quarter), all the way to the Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures). After turning at the Lutherbrücke (Luther Bridge), keep a look out for Schloss Bellevue (Bellevue Palace), the "Beamtenschlange" (civil servant housing), and the Siegessäule (Victory Column). Marvel at Hauptbahnhof (Central Station), Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral), Museumsinsel (Museum Island), and the Nikolaiviertal, the oldest residential area in Berlin. Arrive back either Friedrichstraße or Nikolaiviertel to finish the tour.

Let the largest Jewish museum in Europe impress you with its symbolic architecture and exceptional exhibitions. Discover how the zig-zag-shaped building designed by Daniel Libeskind creates its own language for Jewish history in Germany, with slanting walls, sharp angles, and gaping voids. The new core exhibition “Jewish Life in Germany: Past & Present” spans from the beginning of the early middle ages to the present day. During the chronological tour, a large space is dedicated to National Socialism and the time since the end of WWII. The exhibition alternates between historical periods and cultural insights. What is sacred in Judaism? Is there specific Jewish art? How do people practice Judaism in today’s society? Alongside the treasures of the museum’s collection including everyday objects and art, there are video and audio installations. There are also interactive stations that provide surprising insights. The museum is located centrally in the vibrant district of Berlin-Kreuzberg and is within walking distance from Checkpoint Charlie. With your JMB ticket, you are eligible to receive reduced-rate admission to the neighboring Berlinische Galerie on the day of your museum visit and the two following days. The Berlinische Galerie is only a 5 min stroll away from the JMB. Special exhibition from 9th February until 23rd June (no extra ticket required) "My verses are like dynamite" from Curt Blochs Het Onderwater Cabaret. Between August 1943 and April 1945, the hitherto unknown German Jewish author Curt Bloch produced a unique work of creative resistance while in hiding in the Netherlands: Het Onderwater Cabaret. It comprises 95 booklets of handwritten satirical poems that deal with Nazi propaganda, the course of the war and other contemporary issues. Bloch illustrated each booklet with artistic title collages. Alongside all the original and digitized issues and other works that were also written underground, the show introduces his helpers and those who were with him in hiding, accompanied by eyewitness interviews and insights into Bloch's creative process. Special exhibition: Sex. Jewish Positions 17. Mai – 6. Oktober 2024 (ticket required) As the title suggests, the exhibition seeks to present Jewish positions (pun intended!) on sex in all their diversity. From the central importance of marriage and procreation, via desire, taboos, and the questioning of social norms, to the eroticism of spirituality, the broad spectrum of Jewish attitudes is illustrated using modern and contemporary art, traditional artefacts, film and social media. In addition to guided tours of the exhibition in German, English or Hebrew, there is a varied accompanying programme with lectures, film screenings and other events. p>

With over 1.2 million visitors a year, the TV Tower at Alexanderplatz is one of the most popular sightseeing attractions in Berlin. Due to the huge numbers of visitors wishing to check out the views each day, securing your entrance tickets in advance is never a bad idea. Thanks to this ticket, you'll benefit from fast track entrance. Bypass the endless lines of people waiting to enter and journey straight up to the observation deck without having to queue for hours. Incredible scenes await you at the top of Germany's tallest tower. Berlin sprawls out from beneath you, complete in all its glory. Keep an eye out for the city's famous icons such as the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and Berlin Central Station. Admire the Olympic Stadium, the famous Museum Island next to the Berlin Cathedral, and the modern Potsdamer Platz complex.

See Hamburg’s harbor-side attractions from a unique perspective, float past impressive container ships, and discover the historic Speicherstadt District aboard a 1.5-hour cruise featuring live commentary from a German-speaking guide and an exclusive stop at the iconic Elbphilharmonie. Start your harbor adventure on land as you cross the famous "Überseebrücke" bridge to reach the pier where you will board a traditional Hamburger boat referred to as a Barkasse. Listen as your captain decides on which route the boat will take based on weather conditions, the water tides, or, if for example, a really exciting and interesting container ship or a special boat is visiting the harbor. Set off and glide into the narrow waterways of the largest warehouse district in the world known as Speicherstadt. Take in the stunning architecture of buildings standing on timber-pile foundations and oak logs. Sit back and relax as you go past Hafen City. Explore the open decks and feel the cooling sea breezes as you wait for perfect photo opportunities from the boat’s many vantage points. Cruise past rows of massive container ships as the boat makes its way into St. Pauli’s Pier and the Hamburg Port. Learn the history of the many important landmarks from your German-speaking expert guide. As your trip comes to an end, disembark right in front of the Elbphilharmonie or you can choose to get off back at where the cruise initially took off.

Travel to the magnificent castles of Neuschwanstein and Linderhof. Enjoy a delicious lunch in Hohenschwangau (not included) and take a small detour through the picturesque town of Oberammergau. Choose to buy your castle tickets on the bus on the day or to buy them in advance as part of the day trip. Board an air-conditioned bus and set off to discover the castles of Bavaria. First, visit the fairy-tale Linderhof Palace, the only castle that Ludwig II lived to see completed. Explore the castle and its grounds with your guide. Then, head to the quaint town of Oberammergau for photos and shopping. Next, stop at Hohenschwangau Castle, Ludwig's childhood home, for lunch (not included) before moving on to Neuschwanstein Castle, nestled in the foothills of the Alps. Admire one of the most impressive sights in Germany and immerse yourself in the fairy-tale world of Ludwig II for the afternoon.

On this guided tour of the parliament and government district of Berlin, you will get acquainted with some of Germany's political history. Begin your journey at the parliament and government district. Cross the historical sector border and get interesting information on the Reichstag building and its complicated location at the Berlin Wall. Next, climb the dome of the Reichstag to learn more about the tasks and duties of the Bundestag. Hear the fascinating story behind the Reichstag building, its transformation into a modern landmark designed by Lord Foster, and about the interesting ecological concept Foster's work was built upon. Experience Berlin from above, enjoy the city's skyline, and learn more about the history of the city.

Discover Hamburg’s wild side on this sex and crime walking tour in the St. Pauli district. Hear interesting anecdotes and details from your guide about the lives and loves of the red light district as you visit its legendary spots. On your tour visit the “Zur Ritze” bar and learn how it got its name. Head down to the boxing club in the basement, where Mike Tyson and the Klitschko brothers trained. Find out where the famous local boxer disappeared to and why so many celebrities come to this rustic bar. See how women can walk down Herbertstrasse, and learn about the Nutella gang and its rivals, the GMBH gang. Discover who controls St. Pauli, who was the godfather in the neighborhood, and how the legal system works here. Find out if Jack the Ripper or someone similar was in Hamburg, and get entrance to a premier show club at the end of the guided tour.

Discover the center of Berlin via its major waterway, the River Spree, on a 2.5-hour boat cruise. See the main sights of the city from the water and feel the heartbeat of the bustling city. Start your roundtrip sightseeing tour on Friedrichstrasse and pass by the Federal Chancellery to reach Bellevue Palace, overlooking the Beamtenschlange (civil servant accommodation) and the Victory Column. Enjoy informative audio commentary as you see Berlin Central Station and the Interior Ministry before continuing on to Charlottenburg Palace. From there you will cruise past the Westhafen Canal, the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal, the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Hamburger Bahnhof. You will then cruise back to Friedrichstrasse.

Immerse yourself in Berlin's eventful history and follow the audio guide's vivid explanations about the past from Imperial times to the fall of the Berlin Wall in a real bunker from the Second World War. Step back in time to the period of National Socialism and discover a piece of contemporary history. Learn everything about Hitler's rise to power and his reign of terror. Visit the award-winning Berlin Story Museum in the huge Berlin Story Bunker near Anhalter Bahnhof and Potsdamer Platz. Learn more about Berlin's eventful history at 50 stations with large installations, informative photos, and short films.

The 50- or 100-minutes boat trips depart from Eiserner Steg. The boat leaves every hour. You have can choose between either 50 minutes downstream or 50 minutes upstream or 100 minutes (combination of both sides). Sailing towards Griesheim, see the urban areas of Frankfurt towards the Western harbor. Here you have a wonderful view of the skyscrapers of Frankfurts Financial Center or you can enjoy the museums along the embankment, for example the Städel. The ship will turn around before the Griesheim lock. Departures at 11 AM, 1 PM, 3 PM and 5 PM. Sailing towards Offenbach is upstream the river. Sail past the beautiful embankments of the river main towards the Eastern harbor of the city. You can see the district Sachsenhausen and its museum embankment. You will have the chance to get off at "Gerbermühle", a historic landmark to Frankfurt's poet Goethe. Departures at 12 PM, 2 PM, 4 PM. The 100 minutes cruises are usually available between 11 AM and 4 PM, every hour. (subject to change) All tours are accompanied by commentaries in English and German.