Summary
- Berlin Red Metropolis Walking Tour
- Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag Dome Foreign Language Tour
- Sachsenhausen Memorial Walking Tour
- Berlin Free Walking Tour
- 1-Hour City Tour by Boat
- Berlin Tempelhof Airport: The Legend of Templehof
- 2-Hour Sightseeing Tour in Classic VW Bus
- Anti-Pub Crawl: Alternative Berlin Tour
- Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Ticket with Boat Option
- Hitler Documentation in the Story Bunker
- Third Reich Half-Day Walking Tour
- Berlin Olympic Stadium Self-Guided Tour
- Berlin Street Art and Graffiti Tour and Workshop
- Alternative Berlin Experience
- 3-Hour Beer Tasting Tour
As the capital of Germany, Berlin has emerged from the Second World War and Cold War as one of the most international and tolerant cities globally. The metropolis is renowned as a hub for alternative culture, characterized by graffiti-covered streets and world-class techno clubs.
A productive way to explore this vibrant and multicultural city is through guided tours. Regardless of whether your interests revolve around history, culture, or nightlife, a wide variety of options are available across Berlin.
The following are the fifteen premier tours to experience in Berlin.
1. Berlin Red Metropolis Walking Tour
This tour is ideal for individuals interested in the historical context of Berlin during the Cold War. It encompasses visits to significant monuments and sights in the area of former East Berlin.
The proficient tour guide will narrate the history of the region from the last battle of the Second World War to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
You will have the opportunity to observe the remaining communist-style architecture and comprehend the lasting effects of the division on life in Berlin. The tour concludes at the world’s largest anti-fascist monument.
2. Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag Dome Foreign Language Tour
This concise tour brings you to two of Berlin’s most iconic symbols: the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag.
You will have the opportunity to ascend directly to the Reichstag Dome, providing stunning views over the cityscape of Berlin. A licensed guide is available to inform you about the history of the Reichstag and delve into German political intricacies.
This tour is offered in several languages; however, it requires a minimum of six participants to proceed. For smaller groups, English, French, or Spanish tours are generally more accessible.
3. Sachsenhausen Memorial Walking Tour
Serving as the site of one of humanity’s darkest chapters, the Sachsenhausen Memorial provides a profound experience situated in a former concentration camp.
This tour offers insight into the Holocaust and illuminates the daily lives of individuals who endured immense suffering under the Nazi regime.
At six hours long, participants are provided with substantial information and the opportunity to grasp the events preceding the Holocaust and its resolution.
This is a fully guided experience that includes a brief train journey through the Northern Berlin forests.
4. Berlin Free Walking Tour
Free walking tours are an excellent method to orient oneself in a new city. This 2.5-hour tour guides you through the most prominent sights, including the Brandenburg Gate, TV Tower, and River Spree.
Despite its brevity, the knowledgeable guide will impart substantial details about German history and the extensive culture of Berlin.
Though labeled as a free walking tour, participants are encouraged to provide tips to their guides based on personal discretion.
A minimal booking fee applies for online reservations to ensure a secured spot on the tour, which has limited spaces.
5. 1-Hour City Tour by Boat
For a more leisurely experience, consider taking a boat tour down the River Spree from Friedrichstraße to Nikolaiviertel.
During this hour-long excursion, you will view several of Berlin’s renowned attractions, including the Reichstag and Berlin Cathedral. This option provides an opportunity to learn more about the city while temporarily escaping its fast pace.
A live guide is available in German, while audio guides are offered in various languages, including English.
6. Berlin Tempelhof Airport: The Legend of Templehof
Tempelhof, an abandoned airport in Central Berlin, carries significant historical importance. Constructed during the Nazi regime, the architectural style exemplifies WWII design.
This site also played a crucial role during the Berlin Airlift and throughout the Cold War. The tour allows access inside the airport, showcasing abandoned passenger areas and former quarters of the American military.
After the tour, you are welcome to enjoy the expansive public park that has been developed around the former runway.
7. 2-Hour Sightseeing Tour in Classic VW Bus
Experience Berlin in style aboard a classic bus created by the esteemed German automotive manufacturer, Volkswagen.
In the course of two hours, your chauffeur will navigate you through over 40 significant landmarks and attractions, accompanied by a photo book that offers additional information. Due to the bus’s size, tour groups are restricted to seven participants, promoting a more intimate experience.
The bus route includes visits to some of the city’s lesser-known sites, providing a diverse range of points of interest for your itinerary.
8. Anti-Pub Crawl: Alternative Berlin Tour
Berlin is celebrated for its alternative nightlife, and this tour provides an excellent opportunity to explore some of the lesser-known venues.
You will be escorted to underground bars and clubs throughout the city, with restricted group sizes to enhance the personal experience. Complimentary entry to all venues visited is included, along with at least one free shot at each location.
Additionally, the local guide will discuss the various subcultures intrinsic to Berlin’s identity and ensure your safe transit between locations.
9. Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Ticket with Boat Option
If your stay in Berlin is brief, hop-on and hop-off buses offer an effective means to reach key attractions promptly.
This ticket additionally allows for a boat cruise along the River Spree. Audio guides are available on both the bus and the boat, imparting essential historical and cultural insights in various prominent languages.
Two ticket options are available, enabling unlimited use of the service within either a 24 or 48-hour timeframe, commencing from your first hop-on. The route includes 18 designated stops.
10. Hitler Documentation in the Story Bunker
The story bunker provides a unique and comprehensive exhibit dedicated to the Second World War, focusing on Adolf Hitler’s rise and demise.
This museum offers a somber reflection on the causes and consequences of Nazism in Germany and facilitates a deeper understanding of the fascist regime.
A scale model of the Führerbunker—where Hitler sought refuge and ultimately met his end—can also be visited. Audio guides are provided in German and English.
11. Third Reich Half-Day Walking Tour
This tour provides another opportunity to delve into Berlin’s dark history as the capital of the Third Reich. Participants will visit the few remaining sites from the Nazi era, ranging from architectural landmarks to former government headquarters.
The local guide possesses extensive knowledge of wartime German history and will elaborate on authoritarian government operations and the ascendency of fascism in Germany during the 1930s.
The tour culminates at the site above the bunker where Hitler took refuge and ultimately committed suicide during the war’s final days.
12. Berlin Olympic Stadium Self-Guided Tour
The Berlin Olympic Stadium is a historically significant landmark, representing one of the most contentious Olympic Games ever held.
Since its establishment for the 1936 Olympics, the stadium has also hosted the World Cup, the UEFA Championship Final, and the Women’s World Cup, underscoring its lasting significance in German sports history.
A multilingual audio guide enhances your understanding of both the stadium’s history and its modern relevance. Additionally, a short documentary film accompanies the beginning of the tour.
13. Berlin Street Art and Graffiti Tour and Workshop
As a center for alternative culture, Berlin boasts some of the world’s most renowned street artists.
This tour guides you through notable graffiti artworks in the city while providing an opportunity to create your piece.
Your expert guide will explain the unwritten code of ethics that governs Berlin’s street artists and detail the factors that contribute to the city being an appealing destination for graffiti artists.
Moreover, you will have the chance to take home your artwork from the workshop.
14. Alternative Berlin Experience
This tour encompasses not only graffiti viewing but also highlights various facets of alternative culture in Berlin.
Focusing on the neighborhoods of Neukölln, Kreuzberg, and Friedrichshain, participants will experience the city’s multicultural ambiance. Abundant photo opportunities are available, and an experienced guide will share Berlin’s alternative history.
The tour concludes in a Jamaican community area adjacent to the East Side Gallery. A public transportation ticket is necessary prior to joining the tour, with assistance provided by your guide.
15. 3-Hour Beer Tasting Tour
Germany is recognized for its exceptional beer, and Berlin offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience it firsthand.
This three-hour tour lets you sample four diverse beers from various locations around the city. You will visit some of the finest breweries and beer houses situated off the typical tourist paths.
Your local guide will provide insights into Germany’s brewing history, culminating in a visit to a traditional beer garden. A classic snack is also part of the tour.
