Explore Berlin

Time

10 am daily
2.30 pm June, July, August, September, 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 13 to 17

€17.90

WelcomeCard

€17.90

Child

aged 12 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

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