Art & Opera in Berlin

Art & Opera in Berlin

At the heart of European history and culture, Berlin is a fascinating, dynamic and vibrant capital city, offering a unique range of museums, galleries and concert halls. The construction of the Unter den Linden opera house in 1742 solidified Berlin as a prominent centre for opera, supported by the Prussian court. Berlin's opera scene experienced periods of innovation and artistic exploration, and the works of composers such as Richard Wagner, Richard Strauss, and Carl Maria von Weber were performed, contributing to the city's reputation. Our five-night tour includes two performances at the Staatsoper, within easy walking distance of the hotel, and one at the Deutsche Oper, as well as visits to the magnificent art collections of the Prussian monarchy and the splendid Baroque palaces at Potsdam.

What's Included:

• Return flights
• Five nights' accommodation with breakfast
• Two dinners
• Tickets to three opera performances as described
• All sightseeing, entrance fees and gratuities
• Services of a Kirker Tour Leader

Day 1: FLY TO BERLIN

We fly to Berlin and transfer to the 5* Westin Grand where we stay for the duration of the tour.

Day 2: DEUTSCHES HISTORISCHES MUSEUM

We spend the morning in the Deutsches Historisches Museum. Housed in a former armoury, it is home to an extensive collection of objects that provide a unique overview of German history. Founded in 1987 on the 750th anniversary celebration of Berlin, the museum was renovated and is covered by a glass roof designed by I M Pei, architect of the Louvre’s famous pyramid.

Day 3: GEMALDEGALERIE

This morning will visit the Gemäldegalerie. Works from all over Berlin were re-assembled here in the Kulturforum from 1998, creating one of the world's greatest collections of paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries. The works are displayed in an open and spacious setting which allows visitors to enjoy the vast collection without feeling overwhelmed.

Day 4: POTSDAM

Today we drive to Potsdam, once the residence of the Prussian kings. It was developed by Friedrich Wilhelm I and later by his son, Frederik the Great, into one of the greatest assemblages of Baroque architecture with magnificent landscaped parks and lakes. We will visit the magnificent palace of Sanssouci as well as many smaller, more intimate pavilions. After a guided walking tour, there will be time to explore independently.

Day 5: ALTES NATIONAL MUSEUM

We visit the Altes National Museum. Berlin's collection of Romantic and Impressionist art, together with works by Adolph Menzel, is magnificently displayed in this temple of art, originally the idea of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV. Most famous for its collection of paintings by Caspar David Friedrich, the collection has grown enormously as works from the city's different museums were reorganised in a masterly example of scholarship that took more than twenty years to achieve.

Day 6: NEUE NATIONALGALERIE

We are taken to the Neue Nationalgalerie in West Berlin, close to Potsdamer Platz, which is dedicated to the twentieth-century art from the Nationalgalerie’s diverse collection. This afternoon we travel to Berlin airport for our flight back to the UK.