Berlin
From the days of the Prussian Empire, through two World Wars and its subsequent division for twenty-eight years, Berlin has been the epicentre of modern history. Alive and exciting, the city of Berlin offers plenty of opportunity for historic and cultural exploration under the guidance of a friendly HF Holidays' leader.
Relics of the Berlin Wall provide evidence of the former division of Germany's capital into East and West. Looking through the Brandenburg Gate into the old eastern sector many of the buildings still bear the marks of the war years. Evocative locations such as Potsdamer Platz, Check-Point Charlie and Unter den Linden remain.
Wide tree-lined boulevards are rich in museums, galleries and concert halls. The many new and restored buildings mix with 18th century palaces, such as Charlottenburg and Sanssouci to form a city of great contrast and interest.
Detailed information
| Detailed itinerary |
 |
The following is a suggested programme, but your HF Holidays' leader may adjust it at their discretion, according to the wishes of the group or to fit into local opening times. There is clearly no obligation to join in any activity, and you should feel free to spend the time as you wish. Download a full itinerary above.
A stroll down the boulevard known to locals as the Ku’damm is one of the best ways to get your bearings in the city that was once a by-word for the Cold War. At the top, beyond the bombed-out remains of the old Kaiser Willhelm Church, the modern glass tower of the Europa Center rises above the rooftops, topped by the unmistakeable marque of Mercedes- Benz. Europe’s turbulent history is everywhere, whether you’re walking through the Brandenburg Gate and down the Unter den Linden, or strolling through the streets around Alexanderplatz. Squares like the Gendarmenmarkt have been painstakingly restored, but there is always a new twist to Berlin’s buildings. Norman Foster’s dome on the Reichstag, since 1999 the seat of the unified German government, is a fine example - it’s both ultra modern with an acceptance of the past and makes a great vantage point to see Berlin by night. If Berlin is all about history, you won’t want to miss a day trip to Potsdam, just 20 miles south west of Berlin. Here, amongst the amazing palaces and gardens of Frederick the Great’s summer retreat, Stalin, Churchill and Truman divided up post war Europe in 1945. You can see the results of their labours back in Berlin’s Stasi museum, closeby to sections of the Berlin Wall and the infamous Checkpoint Charlie.
[Back to the top]
| Dates and prices |
|
| Thurs 11 Dec 2008 - Xmas |
4 |
£469 |
£325 |
| Mon 15 June 2009 |
4 |
£569 |
£365 |
| Mon 13 July 2009 |
4 |
£569 |
£365 |
Single room supplement: £22 per night
[Back to the top]
| Travel to resort |
|
Guests who have booked their holiday 'with flight' will arrive at Berlin's Tegel airport. The onward journey by coach to the hotel takes around 35 minutes.
Latest HF Holidays Flight Information - updated 25/10/2008 (provisional)
British Airways
Heathrow - Berlin
Out 12:50 - 15:40
Return 16:35 - 17:30
Manchester flights: on request
Airport Parking: To book secure airport parking throughout the UK visit Purple Parking or Holiday Extras to book on-line.
Airport Hotels: To book airport hotels throughout the UK visit Holiday Extras to book on-line.
Making Your Own Travel Arrangements
By air: Most International flights arrive at the city's Tegel airport which is located 5 miles north-west of the city. Alternative airports are Templehof, which caters primarily for internal flights and Schonefeld 11 miles to the south-east.
By air to Berlin-Tegel: Tegel is served by a number of direct scheduled, charter and 'low-cost' flights from the UK. If you are booking your own flights you may wish to consider one of the following options:
www.airberlin.com flights from Stansted and Manchester.
www.britishairways.com flights from Heathrow and Manchester.
From Tegel airport join the HF Holidays' transfer for £12 single. Please contact our Reservations Team to find out the latest times and book your place. By public transport, the number 109 bus runs approximately every 10 minutes to Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten (Zoo station) and takes approximately 30 minutes. The X9 bus also goes to Zoo Station and takes about 20 minutes, costs the same but is less frequent.
By air to Berlin-Schönefeld: Many of the low cost airlines fly into Berlin's Schönefeld airport:
www.ryanair.com flights from Stansted.
www.easyjet.com flights from Bristol, Belfast, Gatwick, Liverpool, Luton and Newcastle.
A free airport shuttle connects Schonefeld with the airport's train station "Flughafen Berlin-Schönefeld". From here Airport Express trains RE4 and RE5 run every half an hour and take 30 minutes to reach Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten. [Back to the top]
| Temperatures |
|
| May |
8°C |
19°C |
| June |
13°C |
23°C |
[Back to the top]
| What the holiday includes |
|
- Return economy class air (with flight).
- 4 nights' accommodation in double or twin-bedded en-suite rooms.
- Bed & Breakfast.
- Services HF of Holidays' leaders.
- Detailed itineraries.
[Back to the top] |
