Tours & Activities in Berlin
Welcome to Berlin! Join me for a captivating tour of Berlin's rich and complex history. Starting at Alexanderplatz, we'll explore the city's diverse landmarks and delve into its fascinating past.
My tour will take us to iconic sites such as the Marx and Engels Memorial, Museums Island, the Nazi book burning site, Gendarmenmarkt, Checkpoint Charlie, the remains of the Berlin Wall, Hitler's bunker, the Jewish Memorial, the Reichstag, and the Brandenburg Gate.
What sets my tour apart is my unique perspective on history. My focus is not just on the places themselves, but on the ideas they reflect. As a Jewish woman of Polish heritage, I approach Berlin's past with a deep sense of personal connection and empathy. I tell the stories of my own family, weaving together personal narratives with broader historical themes.
Rather than simply presenting historical facts and events, I approach the subject of ideologies like fascism from a sociological perspective, highlighting their current relevance.
We'll explore the ways in which Berlin's history has shaped its character and identity, and how it continues to impact the city today. We'll examine the parallels between the past and present and reflect on the lessons we can learn from history.
My effort to combine history of communism and nazism in one tour is an effect of long research and consideration. The trend to separate those two subjects into two separate tour “products”, while beneficial for a provider’s marketing, may in my opinion unintentionally (but seriously) impair historical accuracy and explanative value. On my tour I’ll be able to explain how dichotomy and relationship between those two ideologies make up the key to their understanding.
The most meaningful thing I often hear from my guests feedback is that I’m able to provide new, deep but very clear explanations of historical and ideological nuances, both to guests who need first basic overview and those who are fairly familiar with the subjects.
ATTENTION!
Please be aware that the tour length is very hard to define precisely, for several reasons.
One is that a city like Berlin often attracts rallies and demonstrations of all kinds - we cannot avoid them of predict their length, so tour diversions sometimes happen.
Weather has an impact as well. In case of serious cold or rain, I always look for shelter at stops, so that we all feel comfortable. This can add to the total length.
But more importantly - my tour details depend on how the group reacts. Questions are answered, issues explained, and that’s the purpose and beauty of serious approach to visitors, I believe.
Guru Walk doesn’t offer the technical option to put timing brackets in the system. The duration 3h 45min is estimated for most common 4-6 people group on weekday but in general it may take up to 4h 20 min.
There is always a 15-20 min break, roughly in the middle.
What are the benefits of taking a tour with a non corporate guide:
- You can be sure your guide is experienced.
- You can read the specific guide’s personal reviews.
- The group will be very comfortable in size, usually under 8 people. Even largest groups (weekend, mid season) are always under 30 people, comparing to often 40-50 people booked mid season for big providers.
- You will be precisely informed about tour duration on the
date you’re booking. (From my work experience, the unfortunately common practice is that tours can be either false advertised as shorter than they are, or subject to a specific guide’s leaning.)
- You support a serious and honest approach to guiding which is sadly not always the norm in times of growing commercialisation. There’s a visible tendency towards providing as fun and easy as possible experience, sometimes crossing the thin line between a fair narrative and Holocaust entertainment (this issue itself is also one of my tour subjects)
Come along with me on a journey through the heart of Berlin. Let's gain a deeper understanding of the forces that have shaped it into the vibrant and dynamic metropolis it is today.
Please be aware that guests who arrive more than 10 minutes after the tour’s start can’t be added to the group. The only exception can be made for guests who agree not to review the tour they saw in this reduced and potentially less satisfying form.
Thank you for your cooperation!
We would have been killed if we had participated in this walking tour 35 years ago! But don't worry it's not dangerous anymore. However, you can feel a little of the crises in this divided city. And you will know it's more than a "Tale of two cities"! It's the story of two different worlds in the middle of the cold war. Including stories of many people who suffered from these conflicts.
In our walking tour, we will visit:
- Rabbit Field
- Liesen Bridge
- North Side Gallery
- Berlin Wall memorial
- Mauer Park
- Japanese Cherry Trees on the path of Berlin Wall (in the Spring)
Berlin is without any doubts one of the most interesting and important cities in the world. Our tour will give you a good understanding of the city, its history and the many ideas born in Berlin that shaped this city and the entire world! We will journey in time from the humble medieval beginnings, through the capital of a mighty kingdom and empire, revolution, dark times of nazism, destruction and communist divisions up to today – the trendiest and hottest city in the world. That was truly a spectacular transition, one you should not miss!
On the tour we will see and discuss:
- TV tower
- Red Town Hall and the remains of the old Berlin
- Museum Island and the Berlin Cathedral
- Unter Den Linden and Humboldt University
- Book Burning Site
- Checkpoint Charlie and Berlin Wall stories
- Adolf Hitler’s Bunker Site
- Jewish Holocaust Memorial
- Brandenburg Gate
The last stop for this tour is Brandenburg Gate.
Look for the yellow umbrella at the meeting point!
ℹ️ ⚠️ ATTENTION - booking rules
The tour is fit for pets, but one site, the Holocaust Memorial, is only allowed to walk around (so you see it, but not walk through). Please have that in mind.
Please note that our free tours are designed for individual travelers and small private groups only. Hence, we do not accept parties of 8 or more people on regular free tours and guides have the right to deny participation to such groups. If you travel in a party of 8 or more please book a private tour in advance.
If you show up at the meeting point with the bigger group our guide will ask you for the payment (12 eur/person) before the tour or cancel your reservation on the spot. To confirm your reservation please arrive 10 minutes before starting. We can not guarantee participation when you will be late.
Please note that multiply bookings (under different names) for 7 people who belong to one group will still be treated as one organized group and the guide has the right to deny participation to such parties.
This policy is implied in the best interest of our individual visitors.
Please respect our rules.
Embark on our exciting Free Tour Berlin and discover the history of the city. We will start at Pariser Platz , in front of the Academy of Arts, where we will meet to begin this exciting adventure. We will cross the emblematic Brandenburg Gate , a symbol of the German capital, and we will head towards places linked to World War II.
Our next stop will be at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe , a moving place that pays tribute to the victims of the tragedy. Then, we will visit the Führerbunker , Adolf Hitler 's bunker, where decisions that marked history were made.
We will continue the tour next to the old Reich Air Ministry , a witness to the history of the war. We'll pass a preserved stretch of the Berlin Wall , a reminder of the Cold War, and stop at the iconic Checkpoint Charlie , a famous border crossing from those times.
Afterwards, we will head to the impressive Gendarmenmarkt Square , where we will admire its beautiful twin churches from the outside. And finally, we will arrive at the Bebelplatz , where the infamous book burning took place during Nazism.
After three and a half hours of touring these fascinating stops, we will conclude our Free Tour Berlin in the vibrant Berlin Opera Square .
Join the best team of guides in the city and immerse yourself in Berlin's history on this unforgettable trip!
