A good school trip should be both educational and fun, which is why Hamburg is an ideal destination. Germany's second largest city is packed with museums, galleries and eye-catching sights, which your students will find fascinating.

As with any tour to continental Europe, a visit to Hamburg will provide your group with the opportunity to work on their language skills. The city's attractions mean you could also focus your visit on other subjects, such as history or art and design.

Should you choose to concentrate on history for your school trip to Hamburg, the first place on your itinerary will be the Neuengamme Concentration Camp Memorial. Located on the site of the largest Nazi concentration camp in north-west Germany, the memorial commemorates the 100,000 people killed there between 1938 and 1945.

It features exhibits that detail the conditions the inmates were kept in and the work they were forced to carry out. Some of the original buildings remain, including a garage that now houses a display about the SS men who ran the camp.

Another important piece of 20th century history can be found at Hamburg's fish market, where a Soviet spy submarine had been converted into a museum. A tour of U-434 will fire your students' imaginations and give you the chance to discuss the Cold War with them.

A history-themed trip to Hamburg could also include a tour of the city centre to see buildings such as the stunning 19th century town hall and the imposing St Michaelis church, along with an excursion to Lubeck, the former capital of the Hanseatic League. All visits to the city should also feature a relaxing cruise around the harbour to get the best views of the landmarks.

Should your party of students be more interested in art, there are lots of attractions for them in Hamburg. Among them is the Hamburger Kunsthalle, which is widely regarded as one of the best fine art museums in Germany. Its permanent collection features works by Philipp Otto Runge, Max Liebermann, Max Beckmann and Edvard Munch.

You will also want to visit Ernst Ballach Haus, where you will discover a collection of the expressionist's sculptures, drawings and paintings. Make sure you have time to tour the Museum of Arts and Crafts, which is home to a vast collection of pieces dating from the Antiquity to the present day, including everything from portraits and statues to musical instruments and fashion.