Itinerary - 6 Night Holiday By Rail

Days 1 - London to Leipzig

Travel on Eurostar from London or Ebbsfleet to Brussels. At Brussels transfer onto the train via Frankfurt to Leipzig.

On arrival in Dresden check in at the Holiday Inn Garden Court Leipzig City Centre, situated right next to the train station and where you will stay for two nights.

Railbookers Recommends to ask one of the sales team for a quote to upgrade your travel to 1st class. Not only does this offer the usual advantages of quieter and more spacious carriages but also provides an at seat waiter service (on ICE trains) and access to the 1st class lounges available in most mainline German rail stations.

Day 2 - Leipzig

Spend the whole day in this fasicanting and relatively unkown cultural destination. The city ffers a strong musical pedigree through its favourite son and composer, Johann Sebastian Bach.

With historical shopping arcades, an established and vibrant cultural scene and a compact and attractive city centre, Leipzig is a great destination for visitors. However, it is the city's musical heritage that will pervade any trip here and the year-round concerts at the Gerwandhaus Concert Hall, Leipzig Opera House and St Thomas's Church play testament to this.

Bach, who was born in 1750, was a prolific composer of Baroque style music and held a position as cantor of the St Thomas's Choir – which is a good starting point for visitors looking to brush up on some further information. Alternatively, a trip to the Gewandhaus Concert Hall provides visitors with the opportunity to hear any number of the plethora of compositions to which Bach dedicated his life.

Other recommended attractions include Leipzig's Old Town Hall – a centrepiece of the German Renaissance – and home to the Museum of City History, where visitors can experience the city's prison cells and the impressive council chamber. The Battle of Leipzig monument is the country's largest at 91-metres high and was built to commemorate the conflict between the allies and Napoleon's troops in 1813.

Day 3 - Dresden

Depart Leipzig in the morning and and take the ICE train to Dresden which take just under an hour and a half.

On arrival check in at the modern Intercity Dresden, which is brilliantly located opposite the main train station.

Kown as the Florence of the North, Dresden is arguably Germany's most attractive city with an abundance of Baroque architecture. Most of the city centre has been beautifuly reconstructed after being destroyed
by heavy bombing during World War II. The city's reconstruction also includes important works of modern architecture, such as Sir Norman Foster's new train station, which sit alongside renovated buildings such as the Frauenkirche Church.

Day 4 - Dresden to Berlin

Depart Dresden for the 2 hour 15 minute journey by ICE train to Berlin

Once in Berlin check in at the Park Plaza Wallstreet Berlin, where you will stay for three nights. The hotel is situated within walking distance of the Museum Quarter in Berlin and is perfectly located to explore the city.

Day 5 - Berlin

Spend a full day in the fascinating city of Berlin, full of history, culture, fabulous buildings and museums, along with a wide range of excellent restaurants and bars and a strong tradition in the performing arts.

There is no better place to start in Berlin than the Berlin Wall. Symbolising the division between the capitalist West and communist East, sections of the wall can be visited at several locations, most notably at the East Side Gallery. Checkpoint Charlie also provides an emotional view of the wall's history.

The imposing Reichstag is another building with huge historical significance and a favourite among tourists. A climb up to the glass dome is recommended for the wonderful views, photographic exhibition and rooftop restaurant. Brandenburg Gate also has a fascinating past and is one of Germany's most recognisable symbols.

Day 6 - Potsdam

Travel by train (30 minutes) to nearby Potsdam for a day trip exploring this beautiful city including the huge UNESCO World Heritage Site - Park Sanssouci with its landscaped gardens and stunning palaces. In 1945 the Potsdam Conference took place at which Germany was divided between into East and West (leading eventually to the construction of the Berlin Wall).

Day 7 - Berlin to London

Leave Berlin after breakfast and travel by high speed train through Cologne and then Eurostar to London via Brussels (approximately 9 hour journey). Stop-overs en route are available, please call for details.

Railbookers Recommends breaking up your journey home by stopping off for a night or two in the city of Cologne, situated on the River Rhine. Cologne is a very cosmopolitan city, with the famous Cathedral which took over 600 years to complete, dominating the sky line.
Cologne also has a fantastic Christmas market which is well worth a visit in the run up to Christmas. If you can, though, try and avoid the crowds at weekends as you will find the queues for Glühwein much more bearable in the week!

Upgrade your hotels?

Railbookers can upgrade your hotels in Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin. Why not stay at the following hotels to make your trip that little bit more special -

The Steigenberger Hotel De Saze Dresden - An elegant, contemporary hotel situated literaly next door to the Frauenkirche church.


Adlon Kempinski Berlin - Located directly opposite the Brandenburg Gate this is THE hotel to stay in whilst in Berlin. Railbookers have also secured some fantastic offers, including paying just for 2 nights for stays of 3 nights or more - amazing value for money.



Please call for details and news of our latest offers.