Hanseatic Ports of Northern Germany

Luneburg participated in the Hanseatic Diet starting in 1363 and remained in the League right through to the 17th century. The city's several-hundred-year monopoly on salt production in the region linked the city with Lubeck, the chief Hanseatic city. The cityscape attests to the city's earlier wealth and intensive trading during the Hanseatic boom. This morning's walking tour of the Old Town includes the picturesque riverside quarter, the Town Hall, one of northern Germany's largest and most beautiful medieval town halls, and "Am Sande" Square, featuring magnificent brick buildings. The tour continues with a visit to the German Salt Museum, where your group will learn how a nondescript mineral has become a vital building block of life and is nicknamed "white gold."

The 1,200 year old city of Bremen, located on the Weser River, was a major trading port in the Hanseatic League. Today, it continues to be an important commercial and industrial hub. This morning will begin with a walking tour through Bremen's Old Town. Guests will walk along the moats of the former medieval city walls in Wallangen Park and through the bustling pedestrianized zones, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide. The highlight of the tour will undoubtedly be Market Square, dominated by the "Weser Renaissance" facade of the UNESCO-listed Town Hall, and statute of Roland. Afterward, the tour continues along artistic Böttcherstraße, and the Schlachte riverside promenade, and eventually ends back at the hotel.

This morning, guests will meet their guide at the hotel lobby and set on a sightseeing tour of Lubeck. From its Old Town, featuring the iconic Holsten Gate, to Gothic Churches, guests will uncover the city's Hanseatic history through this immersive experience. The tour will finish by lunchtime, and the remainder of the day is at leisure to continue exploring the city's large historical quarter.

Lubeck was the formal capital and "queen city" of the Hanseatic League. The entire Old Quarter is located on an island in the Trave River and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today's tour will commence after breakfast in the hotel. The tour will feature the Old Town gates, the Town Hall, and the many beautiful churches including Marienkirche, the world's tallest brick church. Other sights include the historic salt warehouses and the Medieval Hospital of the Holy Ghost. The tour will conclude before lunchtime and guests will be free to explore on their own. If they wish to sample local delicacies - we recommend Lubeck's most well-loved marzipan - the guide will share recommendations upon request.

Stralsund played an important role in the rise of religious architecture and the brick gothic style. The architectural heritage in the Old Town is typical of an established Hanseatic town during the trading alliance's 14th-century heyday. In Stralsund, your group will enjoy a tour of the historic center, including the old market square bordering the 13th-century gothic Town Hall and many houses from different periods. They will also view the spectacular gothic interior of the refectory of the Monastery of Saint Catherine, the Johanniskloster Franciscan monastery built in 1254, and St Mary's 17th-century organ, the largest of its kind still existing in Europe. The tour will conclude at the hotel, where guests will check-in for the night.

This afternoon, your group will dive deep into the fascinating culture and history of one of the world's greatest metropolises. Rising from its ashes like the proverbial phoenix, Berlin today has reinvented itself from its troubled past and yet, retains the unique mementos that remind us of the Nazi-era and beyond. A tour of this city is at once thrilling and poignant, as guests will discover while they witness and learn about iconic sights such as the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of resilience and unity, and the Holocaust Memorial, reflecting on the past. Your group will navigate through Berlin's atmospheric neighborhoods, from the Nikolai Quarter with its charming shops and cafes, to Kreuzberg with its wall art and vintage shops. Guests will also visit the Museum Island and Berlin Cathedral, among other landmarks. Afterward, the guide will escort guests back to the hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel, your group will travel outside of Berlin by private coach to Potsdam, a baroque city surrounded by parks, for a guided tour of Sanssouci Park. There will be free time for lunch during the tour, after which guests will be transferred back to Berlin by private coach. Afterward, guests will have time to simply relax or explore the city on their own before reconvening for a farewell group dinner at a local restauran near the hotel.

This morning in Potsdam, your group will enjoy a guided tour of the spectacular Sanssouci Park. Wrapped around the Sanssouci Palace, constructed by Frederick the Great in the mid-18th century, this estate was meant to serve as the summer palace of the royal family. While more intimate and smaller in size, it is often compared to the French Palace of Versailles, and the interiors of the palace reflect this opulent style. With its ornate palaces, manicured gardens and picturesque pavilions, guests will be amazed at the incredible detail around each corner or bend in the path. They will learn about the history and significance of the palace and its gardens from their guide, before returning to Berlin.

After checking out of the hotel this morning, your group will travel by private coach to the airport for the return flight back home.