New Year's Eve in Berlin
Cultural Treasures Tour
December 26 - January 2





This 6 night visit to Berlin includes: A Boattrip on the Spree (Berlin, Entrances to Gemälde galery (guided tour/museum passport), Berlin Wall Documentation center  Pergamon museum (museum passport), Konzerthaus backstage tour, Jewish museum (guided tour), German Historic Museum, Sanssouci castle, New Palace. A Gala dinner and dancing at  Silvesterball im Palais am Funkturm, Concert tickets for Berliner Philharmoniker and for Staatsoper Berlin.  



Many knowing travelers consider Berlin to be the most exciting city in Europe, and Berlin offers much to justify this estimate.  The New Year Holiday provides a fine occasion to explore the delights and diversions of this vibrant international metropolis, and tdf Travel is once again offering our festive 6-night “between the years” visit to this remarkable city when the crowds are gone but all the holiday lights are glittering.  Highlights include a gala New Year's Eve dinner and dancing in a grand palais, a New Year's Day concert at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, a sumptuous performance of the Berliner Philharmoniker and a backstage tour at the Staatsoper.  We also visit the internationally acclaimed new Jewish Museum designed by architect Daniel Liebeskind, and the new Holocaust Memorial.  On our weeklong visit we encounter the city's dynamic revitalization and charm with time to admire its spaciousness, its grand avenues and monumental architecture in both the  west and east sections.  We include a visit to Potsdam and Schloss Sanssouci, the summer palace of Frederick the Great.  There is a balance of structured and free time to enable you to pursue your own interests in this extraordinary city.  Public transportation is amazingly efficient and easy to use, and the many (over 70) Berlin museums are outstanding.  We provide a 3-day Berlin museum pass and you won’t want to miss the chance to visit Nefertiti currently in residence at the Altes Museum.    






1.  Tuesday, December 26     Departure
We depart from Newark at 6:30 pm aboard Continental Airlines, non-stop to Berlin.  Dinner is served on board.  (Dinner-in flight) (Breakfast-in flight)



2.  Wednesday, December 27     Settling In
We arrive at 8:10am at the Berlin airport where we meet our local guide and travel directly to Berlin.  A relaxing boat tour on the Spree River and a light lunch provides a pleasant start to the tour.  We check into the Crowne Plaza, a four star hotel located in the heart of the capital of Germany, only a few steps away from the famous boulevard " Kurfürstendam” (often shortened to “Ku-damm”), the Berlin Zoo and the well-known KaDeWe department store.  The 423 air-conditioned rooms and suites, the indoor pool, sauna, solarium, fitness facilities and massage section are ideally suited to accommodate the leisure traveler. The hotel restaurant "Wilson's" offers a light, modern and seductive new German cuisine. The comfortable pub "Pinte" features a typical Berliner beer-house atmosphere, with local and regional specialties.  Tonight we have a welcome dinner in a local restaurant.  (L) (D)



3.  Thursday, December 28     Berlin
After breakfast we tour the former West Berlin sector, seeing many well known sites.  Driving along Kurfürstendam, West Berlin's most famous avenue, and through the vast Tiergarden, a park situated in the central part of the City, we see the newly constructed Holocaust Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate and the remarkable new glass Houses of Parliament, a masterpiece of architecture.  After lunch (included) we stop at Dahlem, to visit the Gemaldegalerie, renowned for its architecture and for an extensive collection including masterpieces by Holbein, Durer, Van Eyck, and Vermeer.      (L/B)



4.  Friday, December 29     East Berlin
Today we tour the former East Berlin where we see the marked difference from the West.  Construction under the Communist regime was usually in a very drab, institutional style but many old buildings were not torn down and today a splendid restoration and recreation of old structures is taking place.  We tour backstage at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, a beautiful 18th century opera house built by Frederich II.  We see the two most recognized structures in Berlin, the Reichstag and the Brandenburg Gate and we stop to visit “Checkpoint Charley'.  We finish the morning with a visit to Berlin's world-famous Museum Island which lies between the River Spree and Kupfergraben.  The buildings on the island accommodate the archaeological collections and art of the 19th century.  The Pergamon Museum, one of the most unique museums in the world displays the Pergamon Altar, part of the ancient Zeus temple, that dates from 160 - 180 B.C.  The afternoon is at leisure.  Tonight we plan to attend a concert by the Berliner Philharmoniker of works by Mozart including excerpts from his opera, Der Rosenkavalier, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.  (subject to availability)  (B) (L)



5.  Saturday, December 30     Potsdam
We have a tour to historic Potsdam, the town of kings.  Inside an impressive, vast park we see Schloss Sanssouci, the magnificent rococo palace of Prussia's Frederick II, who expanded his home to include several palaces on over 700 acres; it's located in one of Europe's most impressive parks.  Visit the Neues Palais (New Palace) and stop in the 'Marble Gallery' to see the famous statuary.  Enjoy lunch in Potsdam before we return to Berlin. The afternoon and evening are free. (B)



6.  Sunday, December 31     New Year's Eve
We tour the evocative, newly opened Jewish Museum which pays homage to Berlin's rich and tragic Jewish heritage.  Architect Daniel Liebskind (co-designer of the World Trade Center site) planned the layout to convey a torn Star of David.  The interior contains dark voids for contemplation, but the exhibits cover much more than the holocaust chapter of Jewish history in Germany.  We visit the newly reopened German Historic Museum. Designed by renowned architect I. M.  Pei, the elegant building spectacularly links baroque with modern 20th century architecture. An attraction is the Schlüter courtyard, which Pei covered with a glass filigree roof. The remainder of the day is free. Tonight we celebrate the arrival of the New Year at the Sylvester Ball in the Palais am Funkturm.  The Funkturm, Berlin's Radio tower, was built to resemble the Eiffel Tower.  In the tower’s palais ballroom we are transported back in time to the 1950’s following in the steps of Gina Lollobrigida as we dance our way into the small hours under the gold-leaf ceiling.  At midnight the Berliners waltz, which is a delight to see and join. (B) (D)



7.  Monday, January 1     New Year's Day
We have a relaxing late brunch at the hotel.  The day is free. Our guide will have suggestions for your free time. At 6:00pm we plan to attend a special New Year’s concert in the Staatsoper Unter den Linden conducted by Daniel Barenboim. (subject to availability). Tonight we have our farewell dinner in a local restaurant. (Brunch) (D)



8.  Tuesday, January 2     Farewell
After breakfast we transfer from the hotel to the Berlin airport for 9:40 am flight to Newark, arriving at 1:10pm.  (B) (Lunch-in flight)





This engaging experience includes:

  • • 6 nights accommodation in the 4* Crowne Plaza Berlin hotel based on double occupancy, all rooms with private bathroom
  • full buffet breakfast daily
  • •Welcome dinner, Fare-well dinner in local restaurant on January 1st with wine
  • 3 lunches (no drinks included, coffee/tea included!!)
  • Local tour leader throughout the tour
  • All transfers, excursions and transportation by private deluxe coach including all driver's costs according to itinerary
  • Entrances: Gemälde galery (guided tour/museum passport), Berlin Wall Documentation center (free), Pergamon museum (museum passport), Konzerthaus backstage tour, Jewish museum (guided tour), German historic museum, Sanssouci castle, New Palace.
  • • Ticket for Silvesterball im Palais am Funkturm including 6 vouchers for drinks
  • Concert ticket for Berliner Philharmoniker
  • Concert ticket for Staatsoper Berlin
  • VAT and local taxes
PROGRAM PRICES  
Per person (double occupancy) from New York: $2999.00  
Single Supplement: $475.00  
Air Taxes: $250.00