Germany & Poland by Train from the UK: WW2 and Post-War Europe

Travel from London St Pancras by Eurostar to Brussels. On arrival, check in for an overnight stay at the Pullman Brussels Centre Midi or similar. Enjoy an evening stroll through the Grand Place, one of Europe’s most beautiful squares, and sample Belgian specialities such as moules-frites or a local beer.

This morning, board a high-speed train to Cologne, where you change trains to Berlin (6 hours 45 mins). We can arrange a longer stop over so you can take a short break to admire the Gothic splendour of Cologne Cathedral, conveniently located next to the station, before continuing by train to Berlin. On arrival, check in for a three-night stay at the Hotel Hampton by Hilton Berlin city Centre Alexanderplatz or similar. Spend the evening exploring the lively Hackescher Markt area, with its mix of restaurants and bars. (B)

Spend the day uncovering Berlin’s complex wartime history. Highlights include the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, and the moving Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Visit the Topography of Terror exhibition on the site of the former Gestapo headquarters and the Jewish Museum. (B)

Today, focus on Berlin’s post-war division and reunification. Walk along the East Side Gallery, a surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall covered in murals, and visit Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall Memorial. In the afternoon, explore Museum Island, home to some of Europe’s most important art and archaeology collections. Enjoy dinner in a traditional German beer hall. (B)

Depart Berlin by train to Poznań (around 2 hrs 45 mins). On arrival, check in to PURO Hotel Poznań Stare Miasto or similar for a two-night stay. (B)

Spend today exploring one of Poland’s oldest cities, where Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture line the streets. Begin in the colourful Old Market Square, dominated by the Renaissance town hall and its famous clock with mechanical billy goats that appear at noon. Stroll across Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski), regarded as the birthplace of Poland and home to the country’s first cathedral. Learn about Poznań’s proud spirit of resistance at the Poznań Uprising Museum, which commemorates the 1956 protests against communist rule. (B)

This morning, continue by train to Gdańsk (around 3 hrs 30 mins). Check in for a two-night stay at PURO Hotel Gdańsk Stare Miasto or similar. Spend the afternoon exploring the Hanseatic Old Town, with its Gothic churches, medieval gates and grand merchant houses lining the Long Market. (B)

Begin with a visit to Westerplatte, where the first shots of the Second World War were fired in 1939. Continue to the world-class Museum of the Second World War, followed by the European Solidarity Centre, which documents the rise of the trade union movement that helped bring down communism. In the evening, enjoy fresh Baltic seafood at one of the city’s waterside restaurants. (B)

Take the train south to Warsaw (around 2 hrs 45 mins). On arrival, check in to PURO Warszawa Stare Miasto or similar for a two-night stay. Begin exploring with a walk through the UNESCO-listed Old Town, painstakingly reconstructed after its wartime destruction. (B)

Today, uncover the city’s remarkable wartime story. Highlights include the Warsaw Rising Museum, dedicated to the heroic 1944 uprising against Nazi occupation, and POLIN: Museum of the History of Polish Jews, one of Europe’s most important cultural institutions. Contrast this with the Palace of Culture and Science, a towering Soviet-era “gift” to Poland. In the evening, dine in the atmospheric Nowy Świat district. (B)

This morning, travel by train from Warsaw to Kraków (around 2 hrs 40 mins). On arrival, check in to PURO Hotel Kraków Stare Miasto or similar for a three-night stay. Spend the afternoon exploring the UNESCO-listed Old Town, beginning at the vast Market Square, one of the largest medieval squares in Europe.

Admire St Mary’s Basilica with its striking altarpiece by Veit Stoss, and enjoy a coffee at one of the traditional cafés that line the square. Later, wander down the Royal Route to Wawel Castle, perched on a hill overlooking the Vistula River. In the evening, dine in the lively Kazimierz district, once the heart of Jewish life in Kraków and now a vibrant quarter filled with restaurants and bars. (B)

Today is dedicated to reflecting on Kraków’s wartime history. Perhaps take a guided excursion to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, a deeply moving site that stands as the most powerful reminder of the Holocaust. Return to Kraków in the afternoon to visit Schindler’s Factory Museum, which tells the story of the city under Nazi occupation and the life-saving efforts of Oskar Schindler. Round off the day with a walk through the atmospheric streets of Kazimierz, where synagogues, museums, and cafés tell the story of Jewish heritage and revival. (B)

Enjoy a full day to uncover Kraków’s cultural treasures. Visit the Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral, the seat of Polish kings for centuries, before strolling through the Renaissance Cloth Hall, once a hub of European trade.

In the afternoon, explore the Jagiellonian University’s historic Collegium Maius, where Copernicus once studied, or take a trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a remarkable underground complex of chambers, chapels, and sculptures carved entirely from salt. For your final evening, enjoy a traditional Polish dinner with pierogi or hearty bigos, accompanied by local vodka or craft beer. (B)

Your journey comes to an end today in Kraków. You may choose to return to the UK by flight, continue your travels onward, or the train back to the UK via Germany. Speak to one of our travel specialists to explore your options for onward travel or flight bookings, and they’ll be happy to assist with any arrangements. (B)