The Art and History of Berlin and Potsdam Tour

This new tour for 2026 takes you to Berlin and neighbouring Potsdam to explore the treasures both artistic and architectural of cities which have been in the forefront of European politics since at least the 18^th century. Berlin was the capital of the state of Prussia, and Potsdam largely the creation of Frederick the Great (1712-1786) as a bolt hole to escape the pressures of Berlin itself. From Baroque architecture to contemporary art, expert Nicholas Merchant will guide you with his expert commentary along the way. 

ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Berlin and transfer to your hotel for a five-night stay.
We fly from Heathrow to Berlin’s new “Willy Brandt” airport. We then drive to our hotel, Arcotel John F, taking in some of the sights of this vibrant city. The Reichstag building with its Norman Foster dome, the Holocaust memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, the Unter den Linden, and the newly rebuilt Royal Palace. After checking in at our hotel, we will meet for a welcome-drink and a talk by Nicholas Merchant, your lecturer, on “Berlin: A General Overview'. 

Day 2: The Charlottenburg Palace and Berlin's Botanical Gardens.
This morning we visit the Charlottenburg Palace. Built in the late 17^th century in the then fashionable Baroque style, it is one of the largest palaces in the world. We begin with a tour of the New Wing with a local guide, followed by an audio-guided visit to the Old Palace highlights. The Old Wing is in the baroque style and contains a collection of Porcelain, whilst the New Wing in the Rococo style contains the apartments of Frederick the Great who we met at Sans Souci. After free time for lunch, we go to the Botanical Gardens. The gardens covering 104 acres were established in the late 19th century and apart from displaying over 20,000 plant species, they also contain glass and iron tropical houses to rival those at Kew. Evening at leisure. 

Day 3: Museum Island and dinner with a view.
The Museuminsel dominates the centre of Berlin. It is a complex of five museums, and one of the greatest museums in Europe. Since reunification its prestige has been much enhanced and it was declared a UNESCO site in 1999. Adjacent is the colossal Berlin Cathedral built in the late 19th century. We return to the hotel after lunch for Nicholas to give a talk “ Alchemy and the European Quest for Porcelain” in anticipation of tomorrow’s visit to the Royal Porcelain factory.
In the evening we go to the Berlin Television Tower. Built by the Communist regime it towered, prior to reunification, over the divided city as a symbol of Soviet dominance. Here we shall have dinner in the revolving restaurant sphere 1200  feet above the city.

Day 4: Architecture, Art and Porcelain.
This morning we visit Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie, a landmark of modernist architecture, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe as a steel‑and‑glass pavilion crowned by a floating, column‑supported roof. We enjoy an introductory talk then explore independently. The museum’s collection focuses on 20th‑century art. Nearby is the Royal Porcelain Factory. Porcelain was a new commodity in Europe in the 18^th century and a symbol of national status. This factory was founded in 1763 and rapidly produced wares of great splendour and lavishness. Evening talk from Nicholas: “Potsdam, a Prussian Versailles” with the rest of the evening at leisure.

Day 5: Full day Potsdam.
A short drive takes us to Potsdam. This town was created, as we know it today, by the ruler of Prussia, Frederick the Great, as an escape from the rigours of Berlin. Here in the centre was erected a Royal Palace and the Nicolaikirche. The most celebrated building which we will visit is the Sans Souci (Without Care) Palace, a masterpiece of Rococo architecture. This was Frederick’s sanctuary where he entertained his intimates and gave concerts. Nearby is his picture gallery containing his art collection culled from the four corners of Europe, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens. After lunch we visit the Barberini Palace, a classicist-baroque palace which was originally built between 1771-1772 under Frederick II. It was destroyed during WWII, then rebuilt between 2013-2016 with a facade faithfully based on the original design. The museum here presents major art exhibitions with a strong focus on Impressionism. We return to the hotel before our farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Day 6: Departure.
Our final breakfast will be served in the Käfer Restaurant atop the Reichstag building. Destroyed in 1933, the building, housing the German Parliament, was finally restored in 1999. Next we take a short boat cruise through central Berlin, past the city's mix of old and new architecture. Early afternoon we depart for the airport to return to London.

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion

Tour Grading: Please note this tour has been graded as Moderate due to the amount of walking involved and standing for viewing at attractions. Please visit the mobility page on our website, or contact our team for more information prior to booking.  

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.

INCLUDED

• Return flights from London Heathrow to Berlin
• Five nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Arcotel John F Berlin based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
• Welcome reception
• Three lectures by Nicholas Merchant
• Welcome dinner with wine at the hotel
• Lunch on Day 5 in Potsdam
• Dinner on Days 3 and 5 in Berlin
• Transfers, tours and entrance fees
• Accompanied by Nicholas Merchant, and a tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

• Double for sole use supplement - from £360
• Holiday insurance
• Meals other than those stated
• Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc
• Porterage and gratuities 

HOTEL

Arcotel John F Berlin

Four-star centrally located hotel just a five minute walk from Museum Island, and Berlin's famous Unter den Linden, perfectly located for all sites on our tour. This modern hotel offers a bar, restaurant, fitness room, sauna, courtyard, and elegant rooms with all modern facilities including TV, safe, WIFI, air-conditioning/heating, hairdryer, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Hotel Website

MORE INFO

Nicholas Merchant

Nicholas Merchant is a freelance lecturer on the Decorative and Fine Arts. He lectures extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Europe as one of the accredited lecturers of the Arts Society formerly National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts. In addition he has lectured in the United States, South Africa and recently by zoom to New Zealand.

His wide knowledge of the Decorative Arts has been acquired through initially working for some of the leading auction houses including Sotheby’s and Phillip’s (now Bonhams) where he qualified as a Valuer through the Chartered Institute of Valuers (now Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors). Utilising his knowledge and love of his subject he subsequently was involved in the book-trade, specialising in reference books on the decorative and fine arts. His own business in this area introduced him to many of the leading antique dealers both in the United Kingdom and overseas. This business, likewise, took him not just to the principal London exhibitions but to Paris, Frankfurt and New York.

In 2004 Nicholas joined the panel of, the then, National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts and has since acquired a reputation as a lecturer whose convivial style of addressing his audience is guaranteed to entertain and inform. Nicholas not only lectures for the Arts Society but also for some of the principal cruise lines, such as Noble-Caledonia and Hebridean Princess, travelling notably to Germany, Italy and the Adriatic. The Baltic he has visited on a number of occasions, even conducting his own tour to St Petersburg. On each occasion Nicholas prepares power-point presentations relevant to the destinations. He also leads several tours for Travel Editions each year.

He was, until recently, the West Yorkshire representative for the Art Fund helping to raise money to keep art treasures in Britain. He now lectures extensively on-line not only in the UK but to New Zealand and South Africa. He is also the Northern Representative of the Friends of the British Antique Dealers Association.

Nicholas’ hobbies include book-collecting, travel, the history of country houses.

Click here to view other tours led by Nicholas Merchant.

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