13 days Poland, East Germany & World War II - 13 days from Warsaw to Munich (Tour: RV) 2023
Poland, East Germany & World War II
TOUR:RV13 days from Warsaw to Munich
Whether you’re fascinated by history, heritage, or both, this moving tour of Poland and Eastern Germany traces the steps of army officers, privates, and prisoners, but also of parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents through some of the most notable sites of World War II. From Warsaw to Munich, you’ll visit significant wartime cities, concentration camps, and memorials, hearing the touching stories of unwavering courage, resilience, and heroism along the way. The Oskar Schindler Factory made famous in the movie Schindler’s List, the courthouse of the Nuremberg Trials, and the former concentration camps of Auschwitz, Buchenwald, and Dachau, highlight the tragedies of the deadliest war in history. Visits to Dresden, Berlin, Weimar, and Nuremberg, get you up close to the beautiful cities once fiercely destroyed and painstakingly restored.
Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select Europe dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus Europe escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized European tour—without the crowds.
| Day | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ARRIVE IN WARSAW, POLAND | WELCOME TO WARSAW! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Dinner |
| 2 | WARSAW | ROYAL CEREMONIES WARSAW Guided sightseeing includes the Cathedral of St. John. Free time this afternoon and evening. Breakfast TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITIONS Explore the historic city of Warsaw where you’ll visit the medieval old town and the impressive 14th-century Cathedral of St. John. The Cathedral has witnessed coronations of Polish kings, royal weddings, and funerals throughout Polish history. During World War II it suffered heavy damage as it was in the midst of the Warsaw uprising. |
| 3 | WARSAW–AUSCHWITZ/BIRKENAU–KRAKOW | HISTORY LESSONS AUSCHWITZ/BIRKENAU Visit the former concentration camps. Drive to Krakow. 249 mi / 400 km Breakfast Dinner TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOTS A visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau is a sobering and moving experience; a chilling reminder of an era in human history we shall never forget. This opportunity to see the sites where so many lives were affected by the cruelty of the Third Reich during WWII is an unforgettable lesson in history and a cautionary tale for the future. In fact, the subject of the Holocaust is a mandatory part of German school curriculum, with almost all students having visited a camp or memorial. |
| 4 | KRAKOW | HEROIC FIGURES KRAKOW Free time this morning before a Globus Local Favorite guided walking tour of Kazimierz, the Old Jewish Quarter, and a visit to the Remuh Synagogue. Free time for lunch before Globus Local Favorite visiting the Oskar Schindler Factory. Breakfast LOCAL FAVORITE HISTORY & HERITAGE A wealth of history to be discovered in Krakow’s Jewish Quarter. Hear the stories of the important role Kazimierz played throughout European history. Visit the Remuh Synagogue which dates back to the sixteenth century and is still active today. |
| 5 | KRAKOW–WROCLAW | GOTHIC TALES KRAKOW Guided sightseeing includes sights of St. Mary’s Church. See the former Gleiwitz radio station en route to Wroclaw. WROCLAW Guided sightseeing includes Market Square. 186 mi / 300 km Breakfast Dinner TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL GEM Explore the wonderful town of Wrocław on the Oder River in western Poland. Browse the Market Square, lined with elegant townhouses and see the Gothic Old Town Hall and astronomical clock. |
| 6 | WROCLAW–DRESDEN, GERMANY | GERMAN JEWELS DRESDEN Guided walking tour features the Zwinger Palace Courtyard. Globus Local Favorite Dinner with local specialties at Am Pulverturm restaurant. 168 mi / 270 km Breakfast Dinner TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURAL GEM Explore the heart of Dresden with a walk to Zwinger Palace courtyard. Revered for its stunning Baroque architecture and beautiful gardens, this spectacular palace complex is the most famous building in Dresden. |
| 7 | DRESDEN–TORGAU–BERLIN | REMEMBRANCE & FAITH TORGAU See the monument commemorating the meeting of US and Soviet forces and visit the Courtyard at Hartenfels Castle. BERLIN Guided sightseeing includes the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and picture stops at Brandenburg Gate and Holocaust Memorial. 155 mi / 250 km Breakfast TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT Hartenfels Castle is home to the first purpose-built Protestant church. This spiritual heart of the Lutheran Reformation was blessed by Martin Luther himself in 1544. See the courtyard of this architectural masterpiece in Torgau overlooking the Elbe River. |
| 8 | BERLIN | THE BOULEVARDS OF BERLIN BERLIN Enjoy a free day. Breakfast ENHANCED FREE TIME EXPLORE MORE Berlin is a city to be explored and enjoyed. See the street art of the East Side Gallery where a portion of the Berlin Wall now serves as a memorial of freedom painted by local artists. See the classic Cosmonaut mural in Mariannenstrasse or head to the Kreuzberg district for a leisurely stroll along Landwehr Canal. |
| 9 | BERLIN–WEIMAR. EXCURSION TO BUCHENWALD | LOSS & LIBERATION WEIMAR Take an orientation walk. BUCHENWALD Join an afternoon visit to the former concentration camp before returning to Weimar. 199 mi / 320 km Breakfast Dinner TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT Buchenwald was the largest Nazi concentration camp in Germany. During the war over 56.000people lost their lives whilst imprisoned here. After the war it was converted to a Soviet internment camp for German prisoners of war, of whom 7.000 died. |
| 10 | WEIMAR–NUREMBERG | RECORDING HISTORY NUREMBERG Globus Local Favorite Visit the Memorium Nuremberg Trials and Courtroom 600 (if available) and see the Zeppelin Field. Take an orientation walk this afternoon through the pedestrian area of the Old Town. Globus Local Favorite Enjoy dinner with traditional Nürnberger Bratwürste (small sausages) at the Bratwurst Röslein restaurant. 152 mi / 245 km Breakfast Dinner TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT A target for allied bombings, Nuremberg was an important symbol to the Nazi regime having been the location of the party rallies. It was chosen by the Allies as the location of the Nurenberg Trials. Visit the Courthouse where you’ll learn all about these historic trials. |
| 11 | NUREMBERG–DACHAU–MUNICH | DARK HISTORY & A BRIGHTER FUTURE DACHAU Visit the site of the former concentration camp. MUNICH Orientation tour includes the Marienplatz. 137 mi / 220 km Breakfast TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION Experience the geographical and cultural heart of Munich at its Marienplatz, the town square since 1158. Stroll through the home to historic buildings, including the Old and New Town Halls in the picturesque heart and soul of the city. |
| 12 | MUNICH | AUF WIEDERSEHEN, MUNICH! MUNICH Enjoy a free day in Munich before a farewell dinner at your hotel this evening. Breakfast Dinner ENHANCED FREE TIME EXPLORE MORE If steins and suds are on your mind, then Munich is the place to sip and socialize at the city’s bustling biergartens. Raise a glass to your fantastic European vacation and the new and wonderful friends you’ve made along the way. Prost! |
| 13 | MUNICH | SAFE TRAVELS UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Breakfast |