Richards Dresden & Berlin trip with Kirker

My trip to Dresden and Berlin with Kirker started with an easy 2-hour flight from London City Airport to Dresden.   With its great connections this small airport in the centre of London makes for a relaxed, hassle-free start to any trip.
Germany is a country of contrasts – from long sandy beaches lapped by the Baltic and North Seas, to the Black Forest and the Alps.
From Dresden airport it is just 6 miles by bus, train or taxi to the city centre.
Our hotel in Dresden was the Bulow Palais – just across the river from the Old Town.   This Relais & Chateaux five-star boutique hotel has just 44 rooms and 14 suites spread over three floors – all of which are served by lifts. The hotel’s roof-top world class spa has magnificent views across the rooftops to the city’s baroque district.
The Michelin-starred Carroussel Restaurant has menus starting from just 79 Euros per person.
Despite being almost totally destroyed in World War II, Dresden has been lovingly rebuilt incorporating some of the few historic buildings that survived the devastation.
The Green Vault is a must-see and tickets can be prebooked through Kirker’s Concierge Service. The vault contains many treasures from the reign of Augustus the Strong.
A climb to the top of the newly restored Frauekirche is well worthwhile for the interesting panorama of old and new buildings nestling side by side. If you get tired of walking – a one-and-a-half hour cruise along the river Elbe is very relaxing.
All too soon our visit to Dresden was over and we left by train (again organised by Kirker) for Germany’s capital city – an enjoyable 2-hour journey.
Our pied-a-terre in Berlin was the 5-star Hotel de Rome (a member of The Leading Hotels of the World group) – just off the famous Unter den Linden.
Built in 1889 as the headquarters of the Dresdner Bank, it retains much of its original architecture.   The hotel has 109 bedrooms and 37 suites. It also has a rooftop bar with amazing views across.
For the more active the basement houses a 20-meter pool, gym and sauna..
The hotel’s Parioli Restaurant, with its courtyard for al-fresco dining, features Mediterranean cuisine.
Among Berlin’s most famous sites are The Brandenburg Gate, Check Point Charlie, The Reichstag the remnants of the Berlin Wall and the very moving Holocaust Memorial.
Museum Island is just ten minutes’ walk from the Hotel de Rome – here there are museums that cater to all interest from the German History Museum, to the DDR Museum and the New Museum (rebuilt after World War II) which houses artefacts from ancient Egypt and other civilisations.   Tickets for all museums can be organised by Kirker’s Concierge Service before you travel.
All in all a wonderful trip – but all too short.


Richard Lucas – 01202 492951