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Beyond the Iron Curtain

Berlin, Leipzig & Dresden
 
Discover Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden on this fascinating rail journey, with City Cards included. Follow the timeline of an historical and cultural revolution as you take a self-guided walking tour in each city, and marvel at architectural and cultural treasures that were hidden for so long.
Beyond the Iron Curtain. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
Beyond the Iron Curtain. 6 nights
+44 (0)1653 617001 Call now
 

Holiday information

 

A touring holiday by rail in Germany

Few cities have experienced such fluctuating fortunes as those of the former East Germany. But Berlin, Leipzig and Dresden have each emerged from the cloak of the Iron Curtain to become fully rejuvenated, and are now more culturally enriching than ever.
Journeying between these famous cities by rail, you not only discern a palpable sense of history, but can also chart the highs and lows of the past while marvelling at the architectural and cultural treasures that had remained hidden for so long. Using our self-guided walking routes (and included City Cards, entitling you to free or discounted visits) in each city, you are in for an enthralling trip.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.
  • Arrival in Berlin
    Night 1: at Hotel Honigmond (the first of two nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
  • Explore Berlin
    Nowhere symbolises the rejuvenation of Germany more perfectly than this engrossing capital, and our self-guided tour (plus included City Card) helps you absorb its chequered history to the full. While there are intriguing reminders of the Cold War around every corner, the ‘coolest city on the planet’ has plenty more to offer. There are expansive parks, boat trips on the River Spree plus myriad cultural diversions to enjoy. You can also experience Kaffeehäuser and Bierstuben on a grand scale, or stop for Currywurst on Potsdamer Platz, once a drab wasteland bisected by the Wall but today a potent symbol of the city’s remarkable renewal.
    East side Gallery
    Brandenburg Gate
  • Berlin to Leipzig
    Take the mid-morning train south to Leipzig, disembarking amid the grandeur of Central Station, the largest railway station in the world, in time for lunch, and with the afternoon free to relax or explore. Your base for two nights is the Baroque Hotel Fregehaus.
  • Explore Leipzig
    Like many musical luminaries – most famously Wagner, Mendelssohn and Bach – you will be drawn to this vibrant and youthful city, which resonates to the sound of the many musical events held throughout the year. Visit the 12th-century Nikolaikirche, scene of the peaceful Monday Demonstrations in 1989 which culminated in the eventual breaching of the Berlin Wall, and follow our walking route (again we include a City Card) through the Passagen, attractively restored glass-roofed arcades, where you can enjoy a meal of typical Saxon specialities in Auerbach’s Keller, Leipzig's second-oldest restaurant, which was immortalised by Wolfgang von Goethe in his play Faust.

    Easily reached from Leipzig by public transport is Schloss Colditz, the hill-top castle from which captured Allied officers famously hatched ingenious plans of escape with varying levels of success.
    Enjoy typical Saxon specialities in Auerbach's Keller
    Inside the 12th-century Nikolaikirche
  • Leipzig to Dresden
    Another mid-morning train journey brings you, in just over an hour, to Dresden, where you spend two nights at the Hotel Martha in elegant Neustadt, amid the area’s many boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. It is also no more than a stroll to reach the Altstadt (Old Town) across the river: carefully restored to its pre-war Baroque splendour, it is a quite remarkable achievement.
  • Explore Dresden
    With a picturesque setting on the River Elbe, and a vast collection of cultural treasures, Dresden’s burgeoning reputation is well deserved. Our self-guided tour (with included City Card) includes the magnificent Frauenkirche – formerly a war memorial and now a resplendent Lutheran church and powerful symbol of reconciliation – and the Zwinger Palace, a museum complex that houses the Gemäldegalerie (‘Old Masters Gallery’) and which was the elaborate Baroque playground of Augustus the Strong. You could also take a trip to historic Meissen, a short bus ride away and the home of exquisite porcelain. Alternatively, visit the elegant riverside Pillnitz Palace – the summer residence of the kings and electors of Saxony – by vintage paddle steamer, the very essence of Slow travel.
    Theaterplatz and statue of King John of Saxony
    Zwinger Palace
 

Accommodation

We have hand-picked the accommodation for its excellent location in each city.

Please note: most beds in German hotels are normally one large base with two mattresses/duvets. We refer to these as 'Austrian Twins' and they are locally regarded to serve requests for both double and twin bedded rooms. Separate twin beds or traditional double beds with one large mattress are rare and cannot be guaranteed.

In Berlin, we work with more than one hotel, as shown below. All are hand-picked by us and, unless there is a price implication (in which case we will contact you to discuss your options), we will tell you which one we have booked for you on your booking confirmation.

Wherever you stay in each city, we recommend adding extra nights as there is so much to see and do. From Dresden, you can visit the porcelain town of Meissen and elegant Pillnitz Palace.
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter. For general information on pricing, see the 'your holiday price explained' page.
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  • 6 nights: 13 February 2023 - 11 December 2023 & 04 January 2024 - 11 December 2024

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    13 Feb - 30 Apr 2023 £990 £450
    1 May - 20 Jun 2023 £1045 £495
    21 Jun - 30 Sep 2023 £1025 £460
    1 Oct - 5 Dec 2023 £990 £450
    4 Jan - 30 Apr 2024 £1090 £495
    1 May - 20 Jun 2024 £1150 £545
    21 Jun - 30 Sep 2024 £1130 £510
    1 Oct - 5 Dec 2024 £1090 £495
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: Berlin–Leipzig–Dresden by rail

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

    6 nights: 13 February 2023 - 11 December 2023 & 04 January 2024 - 11 December 2024

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    13 Feb - 30 Apr 2023 £1730 £450
    1 May - 20 Jun 2023 £1805 £495
    21 Jun - 30 Sep 2023 £1790 £460
    1 Oct - 5 Dec 2023 £1730 £450
    4 Jan - 30 Apr 2024 £1905 £495
    1 May - 20 Jun 2024 £1990 £545
    21 Jun - 30 Sep 2024 £1970 £510
    1 Oct - 5 Dec 2024 £1905 £495
    3rd & 4th person discount £0
    Single traveller supplement £0

    Includes all elements in the 'journey price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras to Paris or Lille (as specified below), with onward travel as described below.

    Included travel from the UK: UK–Brussels (Eurostar), Brussels–Berlin (Thalys/ICE) approx. duration 12h15. Home Dresden–Brussels (ICE), Brussels–London (Eurostar) approx. duration 12h30. 
    Pay locally for taxis between stations and hotels (0h05 taxi out/0h05 walk home).
    > More about 'by rail' prices
    > The 'rail experience': what to expect

    Other included travel: Berlin–Leipzig–Dresden by rail

    If you book your holiday less than 10 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the same services at a supplement.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Hotel Fregehaus, Leipzig
    Larger: 13 Feb - 11 Dec 2023 £10
    Larger: 04 Jan - 11 Dec 2024 £11
    Hotel Martha, Dresden
    Superior: 13 Feb - 11 Dec 2023 £10
    Superior: 04 Jan - 11 Dec 2024 £11

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Hotel Honigmond, Berlin (B&B) Double room Single room
    13 Feb - 11 Dec 2023 £116 £210
    04 Jan - 11 Dec 2024 £128 £231
    Hotel Fregehaus, Leipzig (B&B) Double room Single room
    13 Feb - 30 Apr 2023 £78 £126
    01 May - 08 May 2023 £98 £164
    09 May - 27 May 2023 £78 £126
    28 May - 01 Jun 2023 £110 £190
    02 Jun - 10 Jun 2023 £78 £126
    11 Jun - 20 Jun 2023 £98 £164
    21 Jun - 13 Sep 2023 £78 £126
    14 Sep - 28 Sep 2023 £84 £138
    29 Sep - 24 Oct 2023 £78 £126
    25 Oct - 31 Oct 2023 £84 £138
    01 Nov - 11 Dec 2023 £78 £126
    04 Jan - 30 Apr 2024 £86 £139
    01 May - 08 May 2024 £108 £181
    09 May - 27 May 2024 £86 £139
    28 May - 01 Jun 2024 £121 £209
    02 Jun - 10 Jun 2024 £86 £139
    11 Jun - 20 Jun 2024 £108 £181
    21 Jun - 13 Sep 2024 £86 £139
    14 Sep - 28 Sep 2024 £92 £151
    29 Sep - 24 Oct 2024 £86 £139
    25 Oct - 31 Oct 2024 £92 £151
    01 Nov - 11 Dec 2024 £86 £139
    Peak dates in 2023: add £33pp/n (£66p/n in a single room) if staying 11-14 Mar or 25-27 Mar. Add £20pp/n (£40p/n in a single room) if staying 12-24 May, 23-24 Oct, 27-28 Nov, 4-5 Dec or 11 Dec.
    Peak dates in 2024: add £36pp/n (£72p/n in a single room) if staying 11-14 Mar or 25-27 Mar. Add £22pp/n (£44p/n in a single room) if staying 12-24 May, 23-24 Oct, 27-28 Nov, 4-5 Dec or 11 Dec.
    Hotel Martha, Dresden (B&B) Double room Single room
    13 Feb - 13 Dec 2023 £76 £114
    04 Jan - 11 Dec 2024 £84 £126
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Berlin for the outward flight; Berlin or Dresden for the homeward flight
    As an alternative to flying, we can arrange rail travel from London

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Berlin. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Berlin Brandenburg easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Berlin Brandenburg Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Berlin Brandenburg easyJet 
    Return route Airline
    Dresden - Edinburgh (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Dresden - Edinburgh (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Berlin Brandenburg easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Humberside - Berlin Brandenbrug (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Berlin Brandenbrug (via Amsterdam Schiphol) KLM 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Berlin Brandenburg easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Berlin Brandenburg British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Berlin Brandenburg British Airways,  easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Berlin Brandenburg British Airways,  Eurowings 
    Return route Airline
    Dresden - Heathrow (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Berlin Brandenburg easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Berlin Brandenburg easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Berlin Brandenburg Ryanair 
    Return route Airline
    Dresden - Stansted Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Berlin Brandenburg easyJet,  Ryanair 
    Return route Airline
    Dresden - Manchester (via Frankfurt) Lufthansa 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Berlin Brandenburg easyJet 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  we recommend flying via Berlin. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you for any of the options listed above. We charge £35 per person for our flight booking service. Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together.

    Unless otherwise stated, connecting travel by rail or bus tends to be from the city centre station, rather than from its airport, and connections between the two should be paid for locally.

    Where a price range is given, the price you pay depends on your date of travel.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Berlin Brandenburg

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    own travel arrangements from airport to hotel pay locally flexible
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    rail Dresden Neustadt to Berlin Brandenberg airport (2h) £64-£70 1400

    Connecting travel options - flying via Dresden

    Outward route
    not recommended in this direction
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    own travel arrangements from hotel to airport pay locally flexible
What is included
  • 6 nights
  • 6 breakfasts
  • city maps and notes for walking tours
  • detailed cultural information
  • city cards
  • rail travel between cities
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 4 reviews
  • Margaret, Sydney Australia
    21 August 2023

    This trip was very well organised and the notes provided all that we needed to make our holiday a good one. The highlight was Leipzig, a beautiful and charming city with so much musical history which we could explore using the notes provided. The historical background to East Germany and each of the cities was valuable and appreciated. 

  • Mr J Lansley
    Liverpool
    03 June 2023

    One of us had been to Berlin before, but otherwise it was all new country to us, and it exceeded our expectations. Inevitably we could have done with more time, even with an extra day in Berlin - the modern buildings there, seen from a canal boat trip, were particularly impressive. So was the view of Dresden Old Town as we first approached it. All three cities were notable for their extreme cleanliness. Singing Bach chorales in the pouring rain before attending a rehearsal in the Thomaskirche was a memorable experience.

  • Mrs A Williams
    Kingston Upon Thames
    26 April 2023

    Tips for Berlin: We recommend a vegan restaurant, 'Vegan 87', at Elisabeth-Schwarzhaupt-Platz 5,10115, about 1-2 mins from Nordbahnof S-Bahn station and just a few mins walk from Hotel Honigmond. It was very popular on the evening we ate there. It's a vegan Asian restaurant offering noodles, sushi, broths, salads, desserts etc., and a range of alcoholic and soft drinks. The staff are very friendly and service is very good. We very much enjoyed the Berlin walking tour. We covered about a third of it on our first day, stopping off at places of interest as we went. It helped us get our bearings in the City and we returned to it later during our four day stay. Some of our highlights - an evening tour of the Reichstag - culminating in a view of the City from the glass dome. Booking slots become available two months in advance and one needs to book then as it's very popular; the Olympic Stadium built for the 1936 games; the Stasi Museum; and the Tranenpalast (site of German division) at Friedrichstrase station.  

  • Elisabeth, East Lothian
    29 September 2021

    1. The Frauenkirche in Dresden is quite overwhelming in its beauty and atmosphere.

    2. I hadn't realised the importance of the Evangelisch church in supporting the "peaceful revolution" in 1989.

    3. Most of the information at the Stasi museum is in German, despite an English audioguide.

    4. Personal highlight for me was to be told by 2 people on my first day that my German is accentless!
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
  • We can book a wide range of routes from the UK with a variety of airlines. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. The fee for this service is £35 per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact us to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted to book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.

    More information about the booking process >
    Information about accommodation, general practicalities and more >
    Booking conditions >
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can incur a five or six-figure bill.

    Many insurers offer travel insurance (you can find details on our insurance page of a policy that you may like to consider if you are a UK resident), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies – including falling ill with Covid-19 while on holiday – and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.

    When you purchase a policy, be sure to check that it covers the activities you'll be doing on holiday and that it is adequate for your own individual needs.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Germany, but not a visa (please note, however, that a new travel authorisation system is being introduced). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice for UK citizens can be found through the Travel Health Pro website. You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). You should also apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) if your EHIC has expired (if you have a still-valid EHIC, you can use this until it expires).
  • The official language is German. The currency is the Euro. German time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • For information on the practicalities of travel now that the UK is no longer part of the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/visit-eu-switzerland-norway-iceland-liechtenstein.
  • The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.

    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
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