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.

Join a professional, licensed tour guide as you discover one of the most historical cities in Germany. Although nothing remains of the mortar and cement-block barrier between East and West Berlin, the Berlin Wall (built in 1961; destroyed in 1989) is still a main “site” in Berlin. View the well-known Brandenburg Gate, once a main gate hidden behind a 10-foot barrier and now known for celebratory dancing on its flat top during the reunification. Travel to the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, the most famous border crossing point. Checkpoint Charlie, once a wooden guard hut, was the most (in)famous border-crossing point between East and West Berlin from 1961 to 1989. All that remains of the checkpoint itself is a skeletal watchtower and a memorial of attempted escapees. Follow your guide as they lead you through the museum’s accounts of the most ingenious of these escape attempts— even a few by hot air balloon.

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.

Stop in Dresden for a visit to the Baroque-style Zwinger Museum where Bavarian Princes once lived and collected master art works. The museum’s exterior, framed by statues of gods and goddesses, boasts 6 linked pavilions surrounding a vast esplanade embellished with pools and fountains. Tucked safely inside, you’ll find masterpieces such as Raphael’s Sistine Madonna and great works by Van Eyck, Vermeer and Veronese. The grand collection of Meissen (European porcelain) is a flattering ode to fine china.

Explore the massive hallways and high-vaulted rooms of the grand Zwinger Palace in Dresden, which is considered a major landmark for German Baroque architecture. Housed inside this impressive building is a collection of artifacts documenting Dresden’s cultural heritage, including old master paintings and old scientific instruments.

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.

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.

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 maintained much of its delicate beauty and rich history. (UNESCO has declared the entire city one of the 12 most significant historic sites in the world.) Its magnificent airy castle, built by Sigismund the Old in an Italian villa style, was the seat of Poland's royal government. The Rynek Glówny, medieval Europe's largest town square, dealt with more mundane concerns, and the market stalls and merchants that still congregate here carry on the old traditions.

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 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.

Travel with a professional licensed tour guide through the meandering streets of Budapest. Wave to the 90 statues of Hungarian historical heroes that line the outside of the Neo-Gothic Hungarian Parliament. Continue through Castle Hill, the historic center of Buda, on your way to Fisherman's Bastion, a lookout tower behind the Matthias Church where residents once gazed upon the thriving fishing settlement. Head to the Royal Palace on Castle Hill, the original site of the castle built in the 13th century. Visit Matthias Church, as riotously painted as an Easter egg. Bet your traveling companions to find an unpainted inch of the church’s interior (a sure win for you). Originally named the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Buda and converted into a mosque when Ottoman armies seized Buda in 1541, the church, with its multi-colored tin roof, is one of the most photographed sights in Budapest. Descend the stairway to the right of the altar for a quick journey into the crypt and treasury.