Explore Berlin

Time

10 am daily year round, also 2.30 pm April to October

Duration

3 hours

Meeting Point

Reichstagufer 17, 10117 Berlin

Prices

Adult

aged 18 to 64

€19.90

Senior/Student/Youth

aged 65 and over/aged 7 to 17

€17.90

WelcomeCard

€17.90

Child

aged 6 and under

free

Required Transport Ticket

No public transport ticket required

Highlights

  • Gain an understanding of Berlin over the course of our three-hour tour led by an expert Insider guide.
  • Learn how the Third Reich and Cold War played out in Berlin, the epicentre of two 20th-century dictatorships.
  • See the iconic Reichstag and Brandenburg Gate.
  • Visit Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, home to five world-class museums.
  • See the Humboldt Forum, housed in the newly reconstructed Berlin Palace.
  • Walk down the royal boulevard, Unter den Linden, and admire palaces, churches and the grand Berlin State Opera.
  • Stand on the square where Nazi supporters burned 20,000 books in 1933.
  • Touch the Berlin Wall and learn about the cruel efficacy of the so-called death strip.
  • Take in the imposing Air Force Ministry on your way to Hitler’s bunker.
  • Experience the powerful Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.
  • Stand above Hitler’s bunker for a blow-by-blow account of the last days of WWII.
  • At Checkpoint Charlie, hear the nail-biting story of the 1961 tank standoff between the US and USSR.

Starting Point

Meet your guide on the square next to the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), Reichstagufer 17, 10117 Berlin.

Description

Our renowned “Explore Berlin” tour allows you to delve into the turbulent and far-reaching history of Berlin, from its humble beginnings as a fishing village through to the momentous events of the 20th century, when it was the capital of the Nazi Third Reich, then a divided city during the Cold War and, ultimately, the modern capital of a reunified Germany!

As your specialist guide leads you along the historic Unter den Linden, they will chart the city’s growth in influence and stature over the centuries. After the time of the Teutonic Knights, when the neighbouring towns of Cölln and Berlin were founded on opposite sides of the River Spree, Berlin became the world-class capital city of the Kingdom of Prussia; it was a centre of the Enlightenment during the reign of Frederick the Great, before being occupied by Napoleon. Later, under the rule of Otto von Bismarck, it was the capital of the German Empire.

Your expert guide will take you to the massive building that, under the Nazis, housed the Air Force Ministry, with Hermann Goering as commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe; a short walk away is the site of Heinrich Himmler’s feared SS and secret police HQ – now the Topography of Terror exhibition. Contemplating the concrete stelae of the thought-provoking Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe is an unforgettable experience. You will also have the opportunity to stand above Hitler’s bunker and hear how events played out in this underground shelter at the end of WWII.

Other highlights of the tour include the poignant Neue Wache – Memorial to the Victims of War and Tyranny – and Bebelplatz, where the Empty Library commemorates the infamous 1933 Nazi book burnings. You will also encounter one of the few remaining original sections of the Berlin Wall, which encircled West Berlin from 1961 to 1989, as well as a former border crossing, Checkpoint Charlie. Featured in countless spy films and novels, the checkpoint marks the spot where, in 1961, combat-ready American and Soviet tanks faced off, while the world held its breath and the threat of WWIII loomed large.

Your guide will give you an insight into the tumultuous past of the Reichstag building: its role during the German Empire, the failed democracy of the Weimar Republic and the rise of the Nazis in 1933. You will hear how it was trapped in the no-man’s land alongside the Berlin Wall during the Cold War years, and how, as the seat of Germany’s Bundestag, its glass dome symbolises the transparency of German democracy today.

This top-rated tour finishes with a flourish at the picturesque Pariser Platz, right in front of the monumental Brandenburg Gate and close to the legendary Hotel Adlon.

Your Insider guide tour will happily point you in the direction of your next destination or advise you on how to make the most of your time in Berlin.

Finishing Point

The tour concludes near the Brandenburg Gate.

Insider Route

This itinerary is intended to give you a general idea of our route on this tour. You can expect to see and hear stories about all of these sites, as well as many more! Please be aware that the route is subject to change on any given day, should unforeseen circumstances arise.

  1. Meeting point – on the square next to the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), Reichstagufer 17
  2. Neue Wache – one-time royal guardhouse, now the Memorial to the Victims of War and Tyranny
  3. Humboldt University, where Einstein, Karl Marx and many Nobel Prize winners studied
  4. Museum Island – UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Neues Museum, Pergamon, Alte Nationalgalerie, Bode Museum and Altes Museum
  5. Humboldt Forum – the new, completely rebuilt Berlin Palace, which opened in 2021
  6. Bebelplatz and the Empty Library – a memorial on the site of the 1933 Nazi book burnings
  7. Gendarmenmarkt – the most beautiful square in Berlin
  8. Checkpoint Charlie – Cold War border crossing between East and West Berlin
  9. The Berlin Wall at Niederkirchnerstraße and Topography of Terror exhibition on the site of former HQs of Nazi institutions of terror
  10. Nazi Air Force Ministry building, once presided over by Hermann Goering
  11. Site of the Führerbunker, where Hitler committed suicide as Soviet troops stormed Berlin in 1945
  12. The Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
  13. The Reichstag parliament building, crowned by its striking glass dome
  14. The Brandenburg Gate – Berlin’s most iconic site

Insider Reviews

Brilliant tour and tour guide!

Our tour guide Hannah brought the Third Reich to life, bringing us to the places where history happened. Hannah is one of the best guides I’ve had in many many years of travel. Her knowledge of the subject, her compelling way of weaving small stories in context of the history, warmth, big voice - I could hear every word! - truly outstanding. And her personal views and interpretations were thought provoking. Can’t say enough about this tour with Hannah as your guide. Ruth A. Nov. '24

Best tour I have ever done.

Great tour guide. So much history. He was so knowledgeable. Would 1000% recommend to anyone. Dereck T. Nov. '24

Amazing Experience!

We had a fantastic tour with Xavier. He knew the answer to every question we asked and gave us so much information. This was the highlight of our stay in Berlin. Pete Nov. '24

Highly recommended!

Great tour with Tobi who was very knowledgeable and friendly too! Jonathan H. Oct. '24

Great educational experience.

I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to get a great overview of Berlin in just 3 hours to prepare yourself for more exploration on your own. Our guide, Oren, was very knowledgeable and insightful in sharing the history of this complex city. My experience with booking was easy. Carol L. Oct. '24

Fantastic introduction to Berlin.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable walking tour of the city and Daniel was a great guide. His knowledge of the city knows no bounds and he happily answered the many questions thrown his way. We woud definitely recommend this tour. Neil & Emma Oct. '24

Brilliant!

Was on the Explore Berlin tour with Tina - Tina was brilliant, so engaging with the group and really captured the essence of Berlin. Highly recommend, it was such a great afternoon. Julia S. Oct. '24

Great intro to Berlin.

Our guide was excellent. She was very personable, knowledgeable and had great historical stories to tell. This was a great introduction to Berlin. The guide gave us many suggestions of other sites to visit too. Nice pace of the walk. Highly recommend. Barbara B. Oct. '24

Would recommend.

Excellent incredibly informative tour with the best guide, thank you so much Artie. Would recommend without hesitation. H. Oct. '24

Excellent Overview.

Excellent Overview Berlin Tour with guide (Canadian) Chris! He's a personable, smart, engaging guy who makes the complicated history of Berlin come alive through interesting stories of real people of the time. Highly recommended!! Jill & Charlie Oct. '24

Great orientation to the important places in Berlin.

Highly recommend this tour to give an overview of the city. Covered a lot of ground with a guide who was very knowledgeable and communicated the historical importance of each site. Alan P. Sept. '24

Do this walk on your first day!

A great way to orientate yourself in the city & to learn some interesting facts about the history of Berlin and tips about what to see and do. Our guide Peter F was fun & informative Lyn D. Sept. '24

Very informative.

Our guide was very knowledgeable with great appetite to answer any questions asked. Evmorfia T. Sept. '24

Interesting and fun tour!

Really enjoyed this tour with Mikey our guide. Lots of information but fun and interesting. Well organised Definitely recommend it. Christine C. Sept. '24

Highly recommend this to anyone.

Jamie was hospitable and friendly. But most of all, he gave us an understanding of the complex history of Berlin in a very interesting way. Coming from New Zealand with a very different experience there, we were not aware of many of the things he was able to explain. Great afternoon, and we came away with a lot of new knowledge. Peter W. Sept. '24

Great, informative tour.

We really enjoyed this tour. It was well paced, we saw all the highlights and got some really great information from our guide, Eran. It was easy to find the meeting point for the start of the tour. Would definitely recommend. Isabella S. Sept. '24

An amazing introduction to Berlin.

My family and I did the Explore Berlin tour the day after we arrived and I can't think of a better way to get to know the city. Our guide, Brian, was passionate, hilarious, and full of fascinating information. We did the tour with our two kids (ages 7 and 11) and they were interested the whole time. Brain went out of his way to get to know everyone in the group and find ways throughout the journey to engage us all. There was great historical information and tons of fun facts, but the what sticks with us now are the amazing stories of the people. Heroic, sad, funny--all fully brought to life. A thrilling adventure. Highly recommended! Aaron C. Aug. '24

Great storyteller with British humor connected many dots for hours.

Jamie S. was a great guide for this four-hour walking tour, grounding us in Berlin's history from the Medieval beginnings to current social issues. Wendy K. Aug. '24

The best tour in Berlin!

Maria was amazing! She was so knowledgeable and engaging. Highly recommend! Lindsay S. Aug. '24

A great overview of Berlins history.

Lewis was a great guide and a lovely guy. We all ( teenagers included) really enjoyed his informative and relaxed style. The tour was a great overview of some of the most interesting aspects of Berlins history. Well worth it. Peggy K. Aug. '24

Very insightful.

Thomas our guide gave a very insightful tour. Kept teenagers and adults engaged. Right amount of facts and interesting stories. Good pace, would recommend thanks again. Ed H. Aug. '24

Beyond Excellent!

This tour was by far the best I've ever taken. Hannah is an absolutely amazing tour guide with deep knowledge and experience, and though we were a group, she managed to be attentive to everyone, personalizing the experience. Hannah is clearly passionate about her job, and by the end of the tour we understood why. This was the best way to spend our first day getting to know Berlin. Jayne F. July '24

Great tour of Berlin!

This tour was excellent and I would definitely recommend it. It is a good way to learn about Berlin and it’s history. We took three tours with insider tour while in Berlin and I would highly recommend this company and their guides. Lauri R July '24

Excellent guide.

This was a great value for money activity giving us a glimpse of interesting historical sites in Berlin with very informative tidbits from our excellent guide. A 3 hour walk, very doable despite the hot day we had. Philipp O. July '24

Miney well spent!

Loved our tour with Jamie who is funny and extremely knowledgeable. Shirley S. July '24

Amazing tour, history and descriptions.

Best tour we have ever seen. Thank you Glenn!!! Detailed description of WW2 history and cold war. Easy to book, easy to find your group. Highly recommend it, Glenn was knowledgeable and friendly, well worth it. Erik D. July '24

Set the scene for our visit perfectly.

Calum was a great guide, very knowledgeable and he kept the pace manageable for all. We learned plenty of history and interesting facts about the key locations in central Berlin which helped us to choose where to explore further in the coming days. Sara M. June '24

Excellent tour.

Great tour covering the keys sights Lewis had a great knowledge of the history of Berlin and really helped to bring the experience to life 10/10!! Stacy June '24

A great introduction to Berlin!

An ideal start to our stay in Berlin. By the end of our first morning we had seen a lot of the sights, got an idea of he geography of the city, and learned a lot from the amusing anecdotes of our wonderful guide, Callum. He was also excellent at making sure that the tour was accessible for my wife Linda, who is a wheelchair user. I would recommend it to anyone. David B. June '24

Entertaining historical tour of Berlin.

Paul, our Aussie tour guide delivered an excellent and folksy history lesson on Berlin. He is passionate and clearly knowledgeable. Would highly recommend the tour for an overview of Berlin. Bernard R. June '24

Excellent tour.

This was an excellent tour with guide Stefan who was knowledgeable, engaging and thorough. He was very responsive to participants’ questions and went beyond expectations extending the tour to ensure that all points of interest were covered. Highly recommended! Niki June '24

Outstanding!

James took us on the Explore Berlin tour. His love of the city and its history (in equal measure) was so impressive. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. The quality of the tour guide makes or breaks these experiences, especially on a 3-hr walking tour, but we could easily have done it over again! Thanks to James also for some fantastic local recommendations for places to eat. Ellen S. June '24

Great Walking Tour Of Berlin.

Great tour and the guide was both very informative and easy to understand. We saw a lot of the major sites that are within walking distance. I would highly recommend this. Kevin M. May '24

Marvellous walking tour of Berlin.

Tina was excellent most enthusiastic tour guide I ever met. Would definitely recommend a walking tour rather than bus great way to get the entire experience of Berlin. Would definitely go again . Heather May '24

Great experience.

Great tour with Maria -- her English is excellent, she was receptive to questions, and she provided a great overview of the primary sights of Berlin. Would recommend to anyone. Katie W. May '24

Excellent.

Great tour - friendly, well informed and passionate guide (Hannah) who led a really interesting tour. I wanted to book on to all the other tours as soon as I had finished this one! Karen Apr. '23

Very clear and informative, covered all the highlights.

Our guide, Jim was great. Provided very clear and useful information with great use of visual media. Would highly recommend. Amanda T. Apr. '24

An enjoyable, engaging and informative 3 hours.

Our guide, Maggie, did a great job of leading this tour. It was paced just right - providing plenty of interesting input in an engaging and (where appropriate) entertaining style. It was a perfect introduction to our first visit to Berlin. Thanks so much. Denise L. Apr. '24

This was a great tour.

This was a great tour - we did this on our first day and then worked out which sites to go back to over the next few days. Highly recommend. My two teenagers enjoyed it too! Amanda B. Apr. '24

Would recommend to anyone.

Had this tour recommended to us and it lived up to our expectations. Lewis was an excellent tour guide. Would recommend to anyone on a first time trip to Berlin. Dan Apr. '24

Fantastic Tour, Fantastic Value.

Our guide, Glen, was so very personable, knowledgeable, and ready to answer all our questions. I loved the tour and will recommend it to any of my friends who visit Berlin. Bradley B. Apr. '24

Highly recommended!

Another great insider tour, chock full of interesting facts and history by a knowledgeable guide. Thanks Maria! Lynn P. March '24

Wonderful tour!

We booked this tour as an introductory tour for our daughter who had never been to Berlin. Hannah was our guide, and she was wonderful! It was the perfect intro to Berlin covering a lot of ground and a lot of history. I felt she went a little above our expectations both in content and not rushing the tour. Great experience all around. Shannon A. Mar. '24

Berlin Tour.

Nikolai was excellent in every respect. We had an amazing tour. Catherine Z. Mar. '24

Absolutely fabulous tour guide. Very knowledgeable.

Our guide was friendly and very informative. He explained everything and answered all of our questions very well. Probably the best tour to date. Thank you R y D (Spain) Mar. '24

Excellent tour! Explore Berlin!

Jim was an excellent tour guide, really well informed and very friendly. Tour was perfect and certainly well worth it as it covered everything you would want to see. Good value for money, easy to book and convenient meeting point. Thank you very much. Wayne March '24

A really interesting and enjoyable tour.

A really interesting and enjoyable tour. Ariel was a brilliant guide and we really appreciated his knowledge about the city. Definitely recommend. Elizabeth S. March '24

Excellent introduction!

This tour was fantastic, I learned so much about the city and it's history. Klaus, our guide, really brought everything to life and was fantastic. Thoroughly recommend this tour as a first time visitor to the city. Faye P. March '24

Very good for orienting yourself..

Pete F was a great guide, and this was the perfect thing to do on a first day in Berlin -- you see the landmarks, plus various interesting details, all with great stories and commentary. (After Pete pointed out the bullet holes I noticed them in almost every pre-'45 building. Though did Goering's air ministry escape, or was it re-faced later?) Very good for orienting yourself for subsequent activities too. Niall Mac Feb. '24

I highly recommend the tour!

I took the Explore Berlin walking tour on my first day in town. It was an excellent intro to sites in the city center, and included about 15-20 sites plus a lot of historical context [and some great gossip :-)] provided by our outstanding and entertaining guide, Maggie. She also directed us to a number of museums and locations worth visiting later in our stay. I highly recommend the tour! Christina C. Feb. '24

Super informative & friendly!

Maggie was a super friendly tour guide and answered any and all questions related to the tour. It was a super informative introduction to Berlin! Lisa O. Jan. '24

Excellent guide

We spent an interesting and entertaining 3 hours on the introductory tour. Our guide, George, was excellent - informative, engaging and funny with a good strong voice so we could hear every word. We almost didn’t notice the cold! He was especially good at interacting with the audience and sharing his perspective in a pleasant low-key way. E. H. B. Dec. '23

Fantastic

We had George for our Explore Berlin tour and it was one of the best tours we have done. George was informative and passionate regarding the history of Berlin, I would highly recommend this tour. Elizabeth W. Dec. '23

I just loved the whole experience

I just loved the whole experience of seeing the significant sights of Berlin whilst listening to our fantastic, knowledgeable and very passionate guide, Jorg..This tour just set the scene for a wonderful city break. It was really good value for money and I learnt so much about the history and culture of this very vibrant city. R. Ramsey Nov. '23

Highly recommended

Very positive tour! Guide offered many informative and thoughtful comments about Berlin and it's history. Would highly recommend Gregor as a guide. Diana C. Nov. '23

A great tour

A great tour led by Xavier. His knowledge of the history of the city was encyclopaedic and he was well able to answer the many questions posed by the group. I now feel I know much more about the history and culture of the city and not just the obvious times - third reich, Cold War, etc. The tour left me wanting to explore certain leads in much more detail and provided locations to visit for the rest of our stay. I fully recommend this tour company - and Xavier. Tim Nov. '23

Thoroughly enjoyable tour...

Thoroughly enjoyable tour that packed a lot interesting sights and history into a brisk overview of the last 2 or 3 hundred years of Berlin. Very well informed guide (Jorg) who was friendly and approachable. His obvious interest in the history of this fascinating city, and his love of sharing it, shone through. Will definitely be returning to Berlin within the next 2 years and will 100% schedule another of the walks into my trip. 10/10. David S. Nov. '23

A fantastic tour!

Anika was a brilliant guide, her knowledge of history and especially the social context to events really increased our understanding of Berlin. A fantastic tour! Mark H. Oct. '23

Amazing experience

The tour was easy to book. Jorg, our guide was brilliant, very knowledgeable and so interesting to listen to. It was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it. C. Barker Oct. '23

Oren is an exceptional tour guide.

Oren is an exceptional tour guide. He explains with integrity, difficult concepts that gave me pause. I left with a good understanding of Berlin's history and the present day. I highly recommend this tour. Valerie B. Sept. '23

The tour and guide was great.

The tour and guide was great. We really enjoyed the tour and learnt a lot. The tour was easy to book. We would recommend the tour to friends, family, etc. J. McC. Sept. '23

Would highly recommend.

Michael was a fantastic tour guide. He was very passionate about the history and his enthusiasm was evident in everything he spoke about. He encouraged questions and answered them thoroughly. The tour itself was very interesting and we got to see all the sites you would want to see on a trip to Berlin. Great value for money, would highly recommend. Nicole Sept. '23

Highly recommended......

Guide Joerg provided a great breadth of background about the various sites we saw, including the reichstag, Berlin Wall, Brandenberg gate and so many other local historical treasures. He answered questions with patience and expertise and spoke very clearly and to everyone The tour itself is worth so much more than the price. Tess T. Sept. '23

The whole experience was very well...

The whole experience was very well organised, good communication, interesting, enjoyable and accurately priced for the service. Our guide Campbell obviously loves to share his vast knowledge of Berlin, he made us feel welcome & relaxed and his easy going manner and amazing knowledge of the area and the history of Berlin was exceptional. Campbell was happy to recommend which Museums to visit, which tours to take, fitting to individual interests. The whole experience was excellent, we came away feeling fully satisfied and wanting to revisit. We would certainly reuse Insider Tours and highly recommend the excellent service Insider Tour provides. Lesley M. Sept. '23

I really enjoyed the tour.

I really enjoyed the tour. Our guide was Jasper. He was very informative about the history of Berlin. It wasn't just about the Nazis and their time, he talked about the Hohenzollerns, their influence and building and art, the Huguenots, the role of religion in the early years, and also about life for Germans after the war, and more, and showed us various parts of the city and buildings that reflected what he was talking about. It was a small group and he was very willing to answer questions. Mary Meier... Aug. '23

I would highly recommend this tour.

I would highly recommend this tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the history of Berlin and presented it in such a way that stories came alive. I liked it so much that I took another one of the Insider Tours the very next week. Valerie B. Aug. '23

We had a great guide on this tour and...

We had a great guide on this tour and would recommend it to other travelers. She was very informative and answered questions with the right amount of depth and breadth. Martha J.S. Aug. '23

Will definitely recommend...

We are not normally a fan of walking tours, but in It was a great overview in 3 hours. George is an amazing guide, very knowledgeable.. will definitely recommend.. Deepak C. Aug. '23

Tour was amazing. Perfect amount of information.

We did the explore Berlin tour. The tour was amazing. Perfect amount of information. Saw all of the big attractions in Berlin. Sarah B. Mar. '23

A wonderful introduction

A big thank you to our guide. He led us on an easy paced tour, with excellent information and time to take in the sites and ask questions. It was a really good orientation to significant places and a great jumping off point for more discovery. Elizabeth W. Apr. '23

Amazing guide

Knowledgeable and attentive particularly to the kids on the tour and encouraged them to ask questions which they did with aplomb. Ran over a little but could have listened to him all day. Ana G. Apr. '23

I would recommend this tour

Good lenght of time, it went quickly, well paced and good route. Ciaran was an awesome guide, enough info to make it interesting without overwhelming us with too much, enjoyed his sense of humor as well. I would recommend this tour, easy to book, find and enjoyable. Amanda T. May '23

I would absolutely recommend this tour

I booked this tour recommended by my friend and it was amazing. Our guide Peter was extremely knowledgeable, interesting and funny. I would absolutely recommend this tour if you want to get to know Berlin better. Ellen Jan. '23

An excellent guide

An excellent guide, made the tour really interesting and fun, and can thoroughly recommend this tour and guide 5/5. Janice M. Jan. '22

As a first-time visitor, I am very....

As a first-time visitor, I am very grateful to have had this opportunity to get a foundational sense of the city, and orientation to its history, culture and geography. I would recommend this great enthusiasm. Our guide was outstanding:, charming, knowledgeable, steeped in Berlin and fun. Marty K. June '23

Highly recommended!

You will not find a better or more reasonably priced walking tour! We have not had a better guide on any city tour and highly recommend him. Highly recommended! K. Steele Dec. ‘22

Great 1st day activity!

Great stories and a perfect introduction to Berlin! Peter did a great job leading us around East Berlin and answering our questions. Julie_B Nov. 22

Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn and explore!

I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Berlin ......don't miss out on this opportunity to learn and explore! Anth... Mar. '23

A very informative tour of Berlin

A very informative tour of Berlin. You can tell that the guide was a very passionate Berliner and student of history and that enthusiasm is reflected in the way he handles the tour! S. Longe Mar. '23

Great introduction to Berlin!

The tour is fun and informative on the Jasper, our excellent tour guide, gave a fantastic overview of Berlin's tumultuous history. Even if you have only 2 days in Berlin, would highly recommend taking this tour! Alexis S July '23