From the moment they landed late on Friday night at Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport, the Sixth Form students began an unforgettable journey through one of Europe’s most historic and vibrant capitals. After a train ride to Ostkreuz, they checked into the YHA Berlin Ostkreuz – the city’s largest youth hostel – where they were delighted to find spacious, modern accommodation.
Saturday began with a traditional German breakfast before the group set off for a three-hour bike tour, starting at the famous Alexanderplatz. Led by tour guide Sam, the students explored Berlin’s key historical sites. Sam’s engaging and knowledgeable commentary brought the city’s rich and often complex history to life. After a busy morning cycling through the capital, the group took a break for lunch along the Ku’damm and explored KaDeWe, Europe’s second largest department store.
In the afternoon, they visited Tempelhofer Feld, a unique public park built on the grounds of the former Tempelhof airport, where they walked across the historic site. After returning to the hostel for dinner, the evening continued with a visit to the DDR Museum. This interactive exhibition offered a fascinating insight into life in East Germany before reunification, complete with a reconstructed apartment and hands-on displays that helped students appreciate the challenges of life in a socialist state.
Saturday evening also brought the excitement of the Eurovision Song Contest final. One student shared her in-depth Eurovision knowledge with the group and everyone enjoyed the dazzling performances together – a fun and fitting way to round off a packed day in one of Europe’s most culturally rich cities.
On Sunday morning, they went to the Stasi prison memorial Hohenschönhausen. Despite the poignant tone of the tour, it made it tangible to the group how terrifying life was like under the ‘Stasi’, the police in the GDR. They were also encouraged to reflect on how the prison’s history relates to current world politics. The group agreed that the visit was both thought provoking and eye-opening.
After a quick lunch break at the Brandenburger Tor, they visited one of the highlights of the trip; The Reichstag, a historic parliament building and the meeting place of the ‘Bundestag’. They learnt about the country's political history, the role of democracy and the significance of the Reichstag in shaping modern Germany and its current politics. Following the guided tour, they climbed up to the Reichstag’s dome where they enjoyed breath-taking panoramic views of Berlin’s skyline.
The final evening included a visit to the East Side Gallery – a striking open-air gallery along the longest remaining section of the Berlin Wall, on the banks of the river Spree.
The Year 12 group fully embraced Berlin’s vibrant, welcoming and undeniably cool atmosphere and they certainly returned from this trip with a deeper understanding of Berlin’s complex history. One student has already planned her return trip for later this year!