Highlights / General details
See why Claudia Schiffer said 'Berlin is like being abroad in Germany' on this revealing Berlin tour which trades in the tourist traps for the back streets and out-of-the-way places favored by locals.
Discover dozens of hidden spots in Berlin that only locals know about.
Learn all about Berlin’s transformation over the last century.
Visit the ‘Palace of Tears’ and explore the meaning behind its name.
Hear local stories against the backdrop of the stunning Humboldt University.
Get insider knowledge about Berlin’s Jewish history and culture.
Sample traditional German treats at the oldest bakery in Berlin.
Inclusion
Local English speaking local tour guide; Sample of “Berliner” (doughnut).
Exclusion
Hotel pick-up and drop-off; Items of a personal nature; Tips or gratuities to the driver and guide.
Hours of operation
Available Wednesday and Saturday at 10:00am.
Starting from January 2017, tour will depart Monday, Thursday and Sunday at 10:00am.
Duration
Approximately 4 hours.
Location
Meeting point: The entrance of the Melia Hotel at Friedrichstrasse, 103 (Close to the suburban station Friedrichstraße).
Finish point: Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauerstrasse (close to S-Bahn Station Nordbahnhof), located in Berlin Mitte.
Itinerary
After meeting your local tour guide and group, you’ll walk to the ‘Palace of Tears’ and learn about the amazing story behind its name. You’ll follow the fading traces of the Cold War in Berlin to a spot where East and West were divided for decades, as well as pass emotional sites where Jewish children were either rescued or sent to concentration camps.
The next part of your Berlin tour will take you through the city’s university quarter. Take a look behind the dazzling facade of Humboldt University's palace-like main building, see the spot where the notorious book burning of 1933 took place, and learn more about what it’s like to be a student in Berlin today. After that, you’ll take a stop off at Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site with numerous world-class museums, where you’ll hear stories and legends from your local guide about the queens of the island.
You’ll continue on with this Berlin walking tour towards the Jewish Quarter, where you’ll be able to admire the New Synagogue, a stunning building perfect for taking those iconic Berlin photos! Here you’ll learn more about Berlin’s Jewish heritage and discover fascinating tales about the dark history of the Jewish population in Berlin from 1933-1945. You’ll listen to stories about the famous Jewish philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, the brave staff of a hospital who rescued Jewish people from the National Socialists, and the almost forgotten legend of Martin Luther King’s surprise visit to East Berlin in 1964. These are the stories that only the locals know, and this tour will help you dive right into them!
The next stop on your Berlin city tour will take you to one of the oldest bakeries in Berlin and the best place in town to sample a ‘Berliner’, a traditional German delicacy. While you chow down on this delicious treat, you’ll hear all about this family-run bakery, which has stood strong through all the changes Berlin has been part of for the last 80 years.
Next, you’ll follow your local guide through the hidden backstreets of Berlin and get a glimpse into the backyards of Old Berlin’s traditional tenement houses, where thousands of workers once lived under extremely trying conditions. You’ll finish the tour at the infamous Berlin Wall, and take a peek behind the concrete and barbed wire to a spot that’s been hidden for the last 28 years.
This Berlin tour offers you a truly unique insight into the incredible German capital. Your local guide will be full of insider knowledge that they will share with you all along the way, giving you an exclusive look into the transformation of Berlin over the last century.
Additional Information
A good pair of comfortable walking shoes is advisable. Depending on weather, wet weather gear is useful.
Participant restrictions
This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour. Children younger than 6 are permitted at no extra cost, but please make sure you inform our guides of this before you take the tour.
Policies
For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point.
Cancellation: 2 days prior 100% penalty. No show 100% penalty.
Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.
**All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation**