Germany
Hanseatic Cities: Highlights of Hamburg, Lübeck and Bremen
Program No. 23867RJ
Learn about the history of German emigration as you explore the hanseatic cities of Northern Germany and trace your own family history with insight from local experts and genealogists.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
8 days
7 nights
What's Included
13 meals (
6B, 3L, 4D
)
4 expert-led lectures
8 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit to Program
Location:
In Flight
Day
2
Arrive Hamburg, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Hamburg
Meals:
D
Stay:
The Madison Hotel Hamburg
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Luggage can be stored at the hotel if you arrive early. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Orientation: 4:30 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be either via public transportation or private motorcoach depending on what is most convenient. In Hamburg oftentimes it is faster to travel by public transportation to avoid traffic jams within the city. We will mostly eat in local restaurants and offer a selection between meat, fish and vegetarian dishes. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
3
Lecture, Hamburg Walking Field Trip, Harbor Cruise
Location:
Hamburg
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
The Madison Hotel Hamburg
Activity Note
Walking up to 3 miles, standing, walking on cobblestone streets. Getting on/off harbor cruise boat. Taking a flight of stairs inside the boat.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We’re joined at the hotel by a local expert who will give a presentation on the history of Hanseatic cities such as Hamburg, Bremen, and Lübeck, and their important role in emigration from Germany. We’ll then meet a local expert for a walking field trip through Hamburg to see some of the city’s highlights, including the harbor, views of the city from the terrace of the new concert hall of Elbphilharmonie, the HafenCity (harbor city) and much more. We will explore the city's history and the profound impact of immigration and emigration throughout the ages.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we will continue with a harbor cruise, offering a unique perspective on Hamburg’s rich maritime history. As we sail through the Port of Hamburg, you’ll experience the bustling activity of one of Europe’s largest ports, with massive container ships and cargo terminals visible from the water. The historic Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage site, will be a highlight, where you can admire its red-brick warehouses and winding canals. We will also pass the iconic Elbphilharmonie, a striking concert hall with a glass façade that stands out on the skyline. Along the Elbe River, you’ll see a mix of modern architecture, such as the innovative Harbor City district, and traditional sites, like the St. Pauli Piers. The cruise will give you a comprehensive view of Hamburg’s dynamic blend of old and new, highlighting its role as a major global port and its rich architectural heritage.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
After returning to the hotel, the rest of the evening is at leisure.
Day
4
Bremen, Emigration Museum Bremerhaven
Location:
Hamburg
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
The Madison Hotel Hamburg
Activity Note
Getting on/off public transport to Bremen and Bremerhaven; riding approximately 1.5 hours. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 90 miles to Hamburg, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking up to 3 miles, cobblestones, standing in the museum.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We will board a motor coach for our field trip to the Hanseatic city of Bremen. We will enjoy an expert-led field trip on foot of Bremen including the historic town hall, the narrow lanes and picturesque little houses of the medieval Schnoor quarter, and a monument to the famous Grimm fairy tale of the town musicians. Afterwards, we will transfer by motor coach to Bremerhaven.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Our next field trip will lead us to the famous emigration museum of Bremerhaven where we will be joined by a local expert on emigration. We will hear a lecture about the waves of emigration from Hamburg to the United States, including Jewish emigration, and an introduction to the museum by a local expert. At the museum you will have time on your own for independent research, utilizing the database of the museum in the family research archive. After our visit, we will board the motorcoach and ride back to Hamburg.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like and sample local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Lübeck
Location:
Hamburg
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
The Madison Hotel Hamburg
Activity Note
Getting on/off a train; driving 45 miles one way, about 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 3 miles; cobblestones.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We will board a train for our next field trip to Lübeck, the Queen of the Hanseatic League! Lübeck’s medieval center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. This was the first time that an entire Old Town in Northern Europe ever received this award. We will start our visit at the Hansemuseum, where we will be joined by a local expert for a lecture about the history of Lübeck and the Hanseatic League. Then we will explore the museum with our expert.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will then set out on an expert-led walk through Lübeck, visiting sites including the historic old town, the Holstentor city gate, and the Lübeck Cathedral. After we have finished our visit, we have some time to explore the city independently on our own before we board the train again back to Hamburg for dinner.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy what you like and sample local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Church of St. Nicholas, Concert at Elbphilharmonie
Location:
Hamburg
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
The Madison Hotel Hamburg
Activity Note
Getting on/off public transit. Walking up to 2 miles, cobblestones, climbing flights of stairs. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
Via public transit, we will visit the Memorial of St. Nicholas with an expert and learn about one of Hamburg’s most important World War II memorials. The original church was destroyed in the air raids on Hamburg in 1943. We will visit the viewing platform by a glass elevator, where we enjoy a view of Hamburg's inner city including the Town Hall and the Alster.
Lunch:
On your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
We will attend a performance at the famous concert hall Elbphilharmonie.
Day
7
Concentration Camp Memorial Hamburg-Neuengamme, Free Time
Location:
Hamburg
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
The Madison Hotel Hamburg
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 30 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking up to 2 miles, standing at the memorial, climbing stairs. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We’ll board our motorcoach for an expert-led walk through the memorial of the concentration camp Hamburg-Neuengamme. The camp’s website tells us: “Located in southeast Hamburg, Neuengamme was the largest concentration camp in north-west Germany from 1938 to 1945. More than 100,000 people from all over Europe were imprisoned in the main camp and over 85 satellite camps. At least 42,900 prisoners died in the Neuengamme main camp, its satellite camps, and during the camp evacuations at the end of the war.” The British military government then used the grounds as an internment camp directly after the war. In 1948, the city of Hamburg established two prisons on the site—they were not closed until 2003 and 2006 after much debate. The monument and exhibition buildings nearby, dating back to the 1960s, were then expanded as centers of research onto the grounds of the former barracks.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like and sample local fare in Hamburg.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
8
Program Concludes
Location:
In Flight
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Sep 13, 2025 - Sep 20, 2025
May 10, 2025 - May 17, 2025
Jun 14, 2025 - Jun 21, 2025
Sep 13, 2025 - Sep 20, 2025
Oct 11, 2025 - Oct 18, 2025
May 09, 2026 - May 16, 2026
Jun 13, 2026 - Jun 20, 2026
Sep 05, 2026 - Sep 12, 2026
Oct 17, 2026 - Oct 24, 2026
Sep 13 - Sep 20, 2025 Itinerary Differences:
For those participants on program #23867-091325 who are arriving from Road Scholar program, "Berlin: Two Pasts, One Present" (#16952-090625), a high-speed train ticket to Hamburg is included at no additional cost. To avail yourself of the hotel transfer and train ticket, please contact Experiment e.V. (roadscholarprograms@experiment-ev.de) to make arrangements.
