Ms. Foster's Central Europe

Explore Alexanderplatz, known to locals as simply "Alex", once a cattle market and now Berlin’s bustling central square. Gaze up at the iconic TV Tower, built by East Germany to showcase socialist strength. Nearby, admire the ornate Neptune Fountain and the striking red-brick Rotes Rathaus, Berlin’s historic town hall.

Explore Berlin with a licensed guide and dive into the dramatic story of the Berlin Wall—a concrete barrier that once split a city and reshaped world history. Stand before the Brandenburg Gate, once trapped behind the Wall and now a triumphant symbol of reunification. Trace Cold War secrets, bold escape attempts, and the everyday realities of life in a divided Berlin. Discover how a city once split in two reinvented itself as one of Europe’s most vibrant capitals, blending resilience, creativity, and history at every turn.

The Topography of Terror in Berlin is a museum and historical site that chronicles the crimes of the Nazi regime, particularly those committed by the Gestapo, SS, and Reich Security Main Office. It offers exhibitions, educational programs, and includes historical remnants like a section of the Berlin Wall to provide a thorough understanding of this period.

Located on the line that once separated East and West Germany, this stirring museum was built in the shape of a warped Star of David and focuses on the realities of Jewish life in Germany, from ancient times up to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Visit this moving memorial museum dedicated to honoring the brave Polish soldiers who fought against Nazi occupation in Warsaw and the innocent civilians who lost their lives during the battle. Hear first-hand accounts of those dark days, visit the virtual memory wall with the names of thousands of soldiers and civilians who lost their lives and see actual weapons, video footage and pictures from the uprising.

Step into the Pawiak Prison Museum, a haunting reminder of Warsaw’s wartime past. Explore the preserved underground cells, hear the stories of prisoners who endured unimaginable hardships, and witness artifacts recovered from the ruins of this former Nazi prison.

Explore the Auschwitz I main camp and Auschwitz II-Birkenau on a powerful and sobering guided tour. Discover the permanent exhibition and original buildings at Auschwitz I, then continue to Birkenau to witness key sites including the prisoner barracks, the infamous unloading platform (ramp), and the haunting ruins of gas chamber and crematoria II or III. Learn how over a million people (mostly Jews) were murdered here between 1940 and 1945. Reflect at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, now preserved as a museum and memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Confront the legacy of racism, anti-Semitism, and hatred that led to such atrocities.

Untouched by bombing during World War II, Krakow has preserved much of its delicate beauty and deep historical character. (UNESCO has even named the entire city one of the 12 most significant historic sites in the world.) Its magnificent, airy castle—built by Sigismund the Old in the style of an Italian villa—once served as the seat of Poland’s royal government. Meanwhile, the Rynek Główny, medieval Europe’s largest town square, handled the city’s everyday life, and the market stalls and merchants that still gather there continue traditions centuries old.

Explore the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, the main cultural center of Polish Jewry with its unique Oriental atmosphere. Its soul perished during the traumatic events of the Second World War, but many of the buildings, some still with Yiddish inscriptions, survived. Today, the revival of Jewish life and activity in Kazimierz is visible in the numerous restored buildings, fashionable cafes, and restaurants.

Explore the meandering passages of this ancient mine to see sculptures and hanging chandeliers carved out of rock salt and the huge underground lake.

Explore Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Pass through Michael's Gate, the city's last remaining medieval entrance. Discover Hlavne Namestie, the vibrant town square brimming with history and culture. Spot the whimsical Cumil Statue, a playful bronze figure emerging from a manhole.

Follow in the footsteps of the imperial Habsburgs as a local guide brings you to the Hofburg, the family's 2,600-room palace that is now home to the Vienna Boys Choir. View the Belvedere Museum and Palace, St. Stephen's Cathedral, and Stephansdom. End the adventure with a visit to Schönbrunn Palace, where the Habsburg’s ruled until 1918 and six-year-old Mozart serenaded Marie Antoinette.

Stop just outside the city center for a visit to the 1,441-room Schönbrunn Palace, which was designed for the Habsburgs before becoming the imperial summer palace during the 40-year reign of Maria Theresa. It was the scene of great aristocratic events during the Congress of Vienna, including a performance by a 6-year-old Mozart.

See the opulent sights of Vienna, “City of Music,” from the beautiful blue Danube, or Donau River, as the locals may call it. As Europe's second largest river and only major European river to flow from west to east, learn how it was a vital means of transportation for 2,000 years.

Feel the inspiration for Franz Kafka’s novels as you stroll the medieval streets of the Mala Strana (Little Quarter). Stop in Josefov (Jewish Quarter), to view Europe’s oldest synagogue, dating from 1270.

Prague is the capital of the Czech Republic, built on seven hills astride the Vltava River. The beauty of Prague is legendary; Goethe described the city as “the most precious stone in the crown of this world.”. As the former capital of the Holy Roman Empire, the city was built on beauty and decadence from a wide array of architectural styles (including Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau). Wander through the courtyards of Hradcany (Prague Castle) where Europe’s grand ruling family, the Habsburgs, lived and reigned.

Stroll across the stunning Charles Bridge which spans 16 arches and is lined with 30 Baroque statues of religious figures.

Prague Castle in the Hradcany quarter, was named by the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest ancient castle in the world. Prague Castle represents virtually all of the architectural designs of the last millennium and contains several churches, a monastery, gardens as well as multiple museums.