The Heart of History is an 11-day Central Europe program designed for student groups interested in European history, politics, culture, and architecture. This educational student trip to Europe travels through Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, giving students the opportunity to explore major historical sites connected to the Middle Ages, World War II, the Holocaust, Communism, and the Cold War.
Traveling through Munich, Salzburg, Prague, Dresden, and Berlin, students visit locations where major moments in European history unfolded, including the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, Prague’s historic Jewish Quarter, Dresden’s reconstructed city center, and sites connected to the Berlin Wall. Along the way, the program combines guided walking tours, museums, cultural landmarks, and local transportation experiences that help students better understand the region’s past and present.
Supported by experienced coordinators and local guides, students gain a broader historical perspective while experiencing the architecture, traditions, and everyday life of Central Europe firsthand.
*Travelers do not arrange their own air. Air travel is included in the program, but the cost will be added once the group air contract is confirmed. Price is valid for 2027 programs.
11 days
Programs are led by experienced, local guides with deep cultural knowledge. The role of guides is as follows:
Day 1 | Departure
Depart for Munich.
Meals Included: None
Day 2 | Munich
Arrive in Munich and begin exploring the city with the “M as in Migration” walking tour. Learn how immigration has shaped Munich’s neighborhoods, culture, and daily life while exploring the historic city center and the area around Marienplatz.
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 3 | Munich
Visit Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site and learn about the history of the first Nazi concentration camp and the importance of remembrance. Later, join the “Mystisches München” walking tour, exploring stories, legends, and hidden corners connected to Munich’s medieval past.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 4 | Salzburg
Travel by train to Salzburg, Austria. Explore the historic city center on a guided walking tour featuring Salzburg Cathedral, Mozart’s Birthplace, and the streets of Getreidegasse. Spend the evening enjoying Salzburg’s Old Town and riverside atmosphere.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 | Salzburg
Visit Hohensalzburg Fortress and travel up by funicular for views across Salzburg and the surrounding Alps. Explore the fortress grounds, museums, armory, and historic spaces while learning about medieval life and the city’s history.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 6 | Prague
Continue to Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Walk through the historic center, cross Charles Bridge, and explore Old Town Square while getting to know one of Central Europe’s best-known cities.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 | Prague
Join a guided walking tour through Prague’s Old Town and the historic Jewish Quarter of Josefov. Visit important cultural and historical sites including the synagogue and Jewish Museum, then continue to the Museum of Communism to learn about life during the communist era in Czechoslovakia.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 8 | Dresden
Travel by train to Dresden and explore the city on a guided walking tour. Learn about Dresden’s destruction during World War II and its reconstruction while visiting sites including Frauenkirche Dresden, Zwinger Palace, and Semperoper. Later, visit the Military History Museum of the Bundeswehr.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 | Berlin
Travel to Berlin by train and explore the city on a guided bike tour following sections of the former Berlin Wall. Visit important Cold War sites including the East Side Gallery and Checkpoint Charlie while learning about Berlin’s divided past.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 10 | Berlin
Spend your final full day in Berlin exploring the city’s underground history with a Berlin Underworlds tour led by Berliner Unterwelten. Visit bunkers and underground spaces connected to World War II and the Cold War before seeing landmarks including Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag Building.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11 | Return
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the United States, returning home with a deeper understanding of Central Europe’s history and culture.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Prices are based on a minimum group size of 18 students. If the minimum is not met, a small-group supplement will apply. Final pricing is determined by confirmed dates, air arrangements, program components, group size, and number of leaders at final billing.
Prices are subject to change due to fluctuations in fuel prices, exchange rates, and airfare costs beyond the control of Xperitas.
The order of this itinerary and all itinerary items are subject to change based on unforeseen circumstances that may arise prior to or during the program.
The partners in Costa Rica are fabulous! Everything was well-organized, and kids were always engaged. Our guide, Jimmy, truly is an educator and ambassador of his country. All of the students and leaders really enjoyed his personality, love of his country and knowledge. The Family Stay Experience was also very wonderful!
Know that your child will grow in so many ways from this experience. The program has just the right amount of structure and freedom for the kids to explore in a safe and enjoyable manner. The family stay, while intimidating at first glance, is a unique and amazing opportunity for the kids to really experience the culture that they are being immersed in.
Immersing students in the language and culture are keys to a successful trip overseas with students, and I can always count on our in-country Xperitas guides to communicate exclusively in the target language with our students while showing them a new culture.
The focus on language and personalized touch sets this program apart from the rest.
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