Germany-Poland

 Jewish tours to Germany and Poland – From Roots to Revival

Germany-Poland represents the geographical epicenter of the Holocaust. At the same time, these two countries are also the richest repositories of European Jewish history. These are no less than Jewish homelands, and their cultural contributions to Jewish life worldwide are ever-present. This journey will take you from the looming darkness of the Wannsee Conference in Berlin to the academic revival of Judaica Studies in Wroclaw, and the bright lodestar of a dynamic Jewish Museum in Warsaw.

Over the course of ten days, you will encounter centuries-long history, from destruction and devastation to reconstruction and revival. This Jewish Heritage tour of Germany-Poland is no less than a “think-piece,” with focus on the rich, often tragic, Jewish European history — and the joyful re-emergence of its enduring, unquenchable soul.

Other tours to Germany or Poland:

EXPLORE OUR 7 DAYS JEWISH TOURS TO GERMANY AND POLAND

EXPLORE OUR JEWISH TOURS TO GERMANY AND DENMARK

Explore Our 7 days Jewish tours to Poland

Explore Our 11 days Jewish tours to Poland

 

Day 1 Monday Berlin

Begin the journey of Germany and Poland, specifically in Berlin, a city that stands at the crossroads of memory and renewal. Once the epicenter of unimaginable division and destruction, Berlin today is alive with a vibrant Jewish presence and a deep commitment to remembrance. Visit the Topography of Terror, located on the site of the former Gestapo and SS headquarters, where orders of persecution and annihilation were once issued. Continue to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, an abstract field that invites quiet reflection and evokes absence and loss. Proceed to the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s most iconic symbol, once divided by the Wall and now a testament to unity and perseverance. Nearby stands the Reichstag, seat of both the Weimar Republic and today’s German Parliament, representing the arc from democracy’s collapse to its rebirth. Next, explore the Jewish Quarter, where traces of Jewish life have reemerged in recent decades. Visit Otto Weidt’s “Workshop for the Blind,” a humble refuge where Weidt courageously saved Jewish employees during the Holocaust. Pause at the Rosenstrasse Memorial, honoring the bravery of non-Jewish women who protested the arrest of their Jewish husbands in 1943, and won their release. The day concludes amid the lively streets surrounding the New (Oranienburger) Synagogue, its golden dome gleaming once more over a city rebuilding its soul. Return to the nearby hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner. Telegraphneamt Hotel.

Day 2 Tuesday Berlin

This morning, explore the outskirts of Berlin, where history lingers quietly amid tree-lined streets and lakeside villas. The first stop is Grunewald Station, once the main deportation point for Berlin’s Jews. From here, thousands were sent to ghettos and camps in the East — the last transport departing in March 1945, barely two months before the war’s end. Continue to the former home of Max Liebermann, one of Germany’s great Jewish artists, whose villa overlooks the same lake where, in 1942, Nazi officials convened at the Wannsee Conference House to plan the “Final Solution.” The short walk between these two sites captures the devastating contrast between a life of culture and the machinery of genocide. In the afternoon, return to central Berlin to visit the Jewish Museum, a masterwork of architecture and memory. Designed by Daniel Libeskind and opened in 2001, its bold zigzag form embodies both rupture and endurance. Inside, powerful exhibits trace over 2,000 years of Jewish history, weaving together art, faith, and survival. Today it stands as one of Berlin’s most moving landmarks — a place where remembrance and renewal meet. Telegraphneamt Hotel.

Day 3 Wednesday Berlin – Wroclaw

Depart Berlin and travel east across the border into Poland, arriving in Wroclaw (formerly Breslau). Often called the “Venice of Poland” for its graceful bridges and canals, Wroclaw is among the country’s most beautiful and vibrant cities. Begin a walking tour of Wroclaw’s Old Town, a tapestry of colorful facades, lively squares, and Gothic spires that reflect centuries of layered history. Pass the University of Wroclaw, home to the Center for Judaica Studies, and continue to the White Stork Synagogue, the heart of Jewish renewal in the city. After years of restoration, this 19th-century synagogue once again serves as both a place of prayer and a cultural landmark — a testament to the rebirth of Jewish life in Wroclaw. Check in at the Hotel in the late afternoon, followed by dinner. Monopol Hotel.

Day 4 Thursday Wroclaw – Auschwitz – Krakow

Depart Wroclaw and travel south to Oswiecim, known to the world as Auschwitz, to pay respects at one of the most solemn sites in human history. This place, the epicenter of Nazi atrocities, has become an enduring symbol of the Holocaust. Millions come here to honor the memory of those who perished and to pay tribute to those who survived humanity’s darkest chapter. The visit includes both Auschwitz I and Birkenau (Auschwitz II) – grounds where countless lives were stolen, yet where the human spirit, against all odds, endured. It stands as a place of sorrow, but also of memory and warning. In the late afternoon, continue to Krakow, a city of deep beauty and history. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel, ideally located in the heart of the Old Town – a fitting place to rest and reflect after a profoundly moving day. Radisson Blu Hotel.

Day 5 Friday Krakow

Unlike Warsaw, Krakow emerged from the war largely untouched. Its streets, squares, and synagogues remain as witnesses to a once-vibrant Jewish world and a window into Poland’s rich and complex past. Begin with a walking tour of Kazimierz, Krakow’s historic Jewish quarter. Cobblestone lanes and quiet courtyards tell stories of faith and community. Visit the Jewish Community Center (JCC), a symbol of renewal and hope; the Remuh Synagogue, active for more than four centuries; and the Old Jewish Cemetery, where time itself seems to stand still. Later, cross the river to Podgorze, the site of the former Krakow Ghetto, where memorials preserve the memory of courage and suffering. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. As evening falls, gather for a Shabbat Dinner with the local community (pending).  Radisson Blu Hotel.

Day 6 Saturday Krakow

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of Old Krakow, once the royal capital of Poland and still one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. The tour includes the Wawel Royal Castle, Collegium Maius (the oldest building of Jagiellonian University), and the magnificent Market Square, with its Renaissance Cloth Hall at the center. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the city independently — to wander its streets, visit a museum, or simply sit at a café and absorb the atmosphere. This Shabbat offers a moment of calm and reflection amid Krakow’s timeless beauty. Radisson Blu Hotel.

Day 7 Sunday Krakow – Lodz

Depart Krakow, heading towards Lodz, Poland’s third-largest city, now known as a center for filmmaking. In the afternoon, tour the town, once the heart of Poland’s textile manufacturing. Lodz is also known as the “city of four cultures” – Jewish, Polish, German, and Russian. Visit the Radegast Train Station Memorial, as well as the Park of the Survivors, a tribute to those who endured the Lodz Ghetto and to the Polish heroes who risked their lives to save Jewish citizens. Jan Karski’s Bench is particularly moving. Continue to the large Jewish Cemetery to see the grave of the prominent 19th-century Jewish industrialist and philanthropist, Izrael Poznanski. Return to the city center and explore the former Manufactura factory area, now a lively commercial and cultural hub. Check in at the hotel located in this dynamic district. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Andel’s Hotel.

Day 8 Monday Lodz – Warsaw

This morning, drive to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, a city now experiencing a vibrant Jewish revival. Begin with a visit to the Rappaport Memorial, followed by the Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN). This remarkable museum provides an incomparable introduction for visitors from around the world into the Polish Jewish experience, narrating 1,000 years of life, culture, and history. A self-guided tour allows time to explore its rich exhibits at one’s own pace. Later, walk through the former Warsaw Ghetto, with stops at Mila 18 and the Umslagplatz, places of profound memory. In the late afternoon, enjoy a stroll through Warsaw’s scenic Old Town, its cobblestoned streets filled with history and charm. Check in at the hotel for a restful evening. Radisson Collection Hotel.

Day 9 Tuesday Warsaw

Begin the day with a further walk through the former Warsaw Ghetto, revisiting sites such as Umslagplatz and Mila 18. Continue to the Opokowa Jewish Cemetery, one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in Europe, or indeed, the world. Later, visit the Emmanuel Ringelblum Jewish Historical Institute and the Nozyk Synagogue, both central to preserving Warsaw’s Jewish heritage. Pause at the memorial to Dr. Janusz Korczak and see the remnants of the former Ghetto Wall, enduring symbols of courage, humanity, and memory. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner. Radisson Collection Hotel.

Day 10 Wednesday Warsaw – Home Flight

Transfer to the airport or continue on a post-tour extension. As the journey concludes, reflect on the cities visited, the lives remembered, and the resilience witnessed. From Berlin to Krakow, and Warsaw, the tour has offered an encounter with history, leaving a lasting impression beyond the final departure.