10 Best History Tours In Berlin, Germany

Melanie
Melanie 
Updated
| 4 min read

Berlin, the capital of Germany, has a rich history spanning more than 800 years. It was named by Albert the Bear, the first Margrave of Bradenberg, who also served as the inspiration for the bear emblem that it has come to be associated with. Over the years, the city has served a number of roles, including being the seat of royalty, a manufacturing hub, and a cultural center, hosting a number of museums, schools, and government offices. Things changed, however, during World War II, when the city was decimated to the ground. The city has since been rebuilt, and its past lives on through its people who continue to share its stories, both good and bad. Learn about these by joining the best history tours in Berlin, Germany.

1. Explore Berlin through the eyes of a local (from USD 50.0)

The best stories about a place is told by a local, and this is exactly what you get from this tour. The key moments of the city’s past - as shown through old photographs - are interwoven with stories about the present, to give guests a better appreciation of the city’s evolution. The activity ends with a drink or a meal, and the host even provides attendees additional tips on how they can enjoy their stay in the city before parting. This tour is offered in English, German, and French, and runs for approximately three hours.

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History and alternative tracks

Duration: 3.5 hours

387 reviews

2. Learn about Berlin's untold stories (from USD 21.0)

History books provide a lot of stories about what happened to Berlin during the war, but there are still a lot of events that happened that have been left undiscussed. This tour explores some of these. Guests are brought to areas, which are not included in conventional city tours, nonetheless provide interesting snapshots of the city’s history. These include Berlin’s oldest Jewish cemetery, a restaurant where Napoleon Bonaparte dined in, the world’s first war museum, and the ruins of an old monastery.

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Berlin - Off the Beaten Path

Duration: 2 hours

53 reviews

3. Take a closer look at key landmarks from World War II and its aftermath (from USD 31.0)

The events surrounding World War II may have shrouded Berlin in darkness, but the city’s history is shared to help people learn from their past. This is the goal of this tour - to not only bring guests to landmarks from World War II and the fall of the Berlin Wall, but also to provide insights about this dark period.

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WWII + BERLIN WALL Tour

Duration: 2.5 hours

356 reviews

4. Learn more about the lives of Jewish people in Germany (from USD 38.0)

This tour is a must for those who want to learn about Jewish history in Germany, taking guests to the Jewish neighborhoods of Mitte. Along the way, they will learn about how the minority, who were persecuted during the Nazi era, actually were monumental in helping shape the city. The activity was not designed to be a passive tour - the host welcomes guests to ask questions and challenge old mindsets in order for them to have a better understanding of German-Jewish history.

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Jewish places and stories

Duration: 3 hours

102 reviews

Berlin Tour Guide

Matti Geyer

Matti Geyer

I was born in Berlin the year before the wall fell and thus had the fortune and privilege to grow up in a city that was growing up itself. In 2008, I decided to turn my passion for this amazing city into a career by becoming a tour guide. Both my parents lived in East Germany: My dad became a teacher, until refusal to join the Communist party ended his career, whilst my mom worked as a tour guide for tourists from the Soviet Union. In a way, I am following in her footsteps, although our tours would be incredibly different. For instance, my mom failed her first test tour, when she didn’t refer to the Berlin Wall by its official East German propaganda term ‘antifascist protection barrier.’On my tours, I am always happy to share personal family stories about what it was like growing up in such an exciting and ever-changing city. I have a Bachelor’s degree in English and History from the University of Potsdam and a Master’s degree in European Studies from the Viadrina Frankfurt/Oder.When I’m not guiding, I work as a journalist at one of Berlin’s biggest radio stations or spend time with my wife and son. I have also lived in New York City and in Brussels, where I worked at the Goethe-Institut and the European Parliament, respectively. I speak fluent English with hardly any accent. I am a member of the Berlin Guides Association. I am looking forward to showing you around this amazing city – on and off the beaten track – and to sharing its fascinating anecdotes, stories, and secrets! I am also a big fan of Potsdam, and am always happy to take people there as well!

Tours by Matti

Berlin Tour Guide

Asaf Leshem

Asaf Leshem

My name is Asaf and I am a professional tour guide. I hold a Ph.D. in Dark Tourism and interpretation of history. In Berlin I guide tours on such topics as the Cold War, the Third Reich, Berlin's Jewish Heritage, Berlin and Brandenburg's Prussian History, and more. I also guide in Potsdam, and I am certified to guide in the Memorial and Museum Sachsenhausen. I am also an enthusiastic runner and cyclist. For repeating visitors, looking for unique experiences outside the city, I guide special cycling tours in Brandenburg's northern lake district, and in the Spreewald Biosphere Reserve.

Tours by Asaf

Berlin Tour Guide

Tina

Tina

Born and raised in Australia, I studied psychology at the University of Queensland but had always loved reading modern history books. I came to Berlin for a nerdy history vacation in 2017, fell in love with the city and decided to make it home. I offer tours of Berlin and its surrounds which are rich with history and packed with energy. I don’t just show my guests Berlin's sights; I also explain the history behind them in an accessible and engaging way and help my guests to connect with the city’s spirit and uncover its real soul. Not sure what to do in Berlin? In addition to my Tips on Trip101, you can find lots of ideas on my Instagram. Every Thursday I post a highlight Story called "Tina's Tips" where I suggest events in Berlin for the coming week, like comedy, live music, gallery tours, dance parties etc.

Tours by Tina

5. Discover Berlin's sex history (from USD 40.0)

Sex stops being taboo when this tour is concerned. The host, a sociologist, will walk guests through the sex history of Berlin, including how sexual freedom came to a stop when the Nazis came to power, the story of the first gay rights organization in the world, the location of what once served as a sexual science institute, and how West and East Germany dealt with the AIDS epidemic when it emerged. The activity runs for approximately three hours.

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Explore Berlin's Sex History in Stunning Augmented Reality

Duration: 3.5 hours

21 reviews

6. Go on a bike tour and explore Berlin like a local (from USD 36.0)

This bike tour takes guests to landmarks that have played critical roles in Berlin’s past and continue to influence the present. Among the places that you will head to in this tour are the Tempelhof Airport, which served as a US military base during the Cold War but has now become a park and serves as a symbol of Berlin’s free culture; the Berlin Wall, the Soviet War Memorial, and a neighborhood which served as the home of Bohemian refugees back in the 1700s.

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Explore Berlin's History like a Local

Duration: 3.5 hours

117 reviews

7. Go back in time with the help of technology (from USD 31.0)

This tour allows you to see what life was like in East Berlin in the past decades, with the help of Virtual Reality headsets. The host helps guests learn more about what life was like back in the time of the Cold War and the unique subculture that emerged in the area in the ‘90s. Included in the tour is a trip to a local cafe, where guests can enjoy a tasty snack.

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Behind the Wall - East Berlin Stories

Duration: 4 hours

51 reviews

8. Discover the city's secrets with the help of a historian (from USD 60.0)

A historian accompanies you on this bike tour through Berlin, thereby allowing you to learn more about the city’s past and how it influences the city’s culture today. Besides learning about World War II and the Cold War, the host also takes guests to other moments from Berlin’s past, starting from the Middle Ages. This tour takes you to the known landmarks of Berlin and beyond, bringing you to destinations that are off the beaten path in terms of tourism.

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Reading the city with a historian

Duration: 2.5 hours

43 reviews

9. Work out while learning (from USD 7.0)

This activity is perfect for those who want to exercise both their body and mind. This activity combines a run with some other exercises - including chin-ups and pushups - and sightseeing around Volkspark Friedrichshain, specifically its World War II relics, including one of the biggest bunkers that was built by the Nazis. The host can easily adjust the distance that you will be covering depending on your comfort level.

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Workout park run with WorldWar II history

Duration: 1 hour

119 reviews

10. Take a bite-sized history of Berlin with a dose of caffeine on the side (from USD 17.0)

This walking tour may run for only 90 minutes, but in that short time, the host will walk you through the key events that shaped Berlin - and the rest of the world. Learn about the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis and the East German uprising, and visit the Berlin Wall. The tour ends with espressos, where the host will share some additional tips for guests to make the most out of their stay in the city.

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Espresso Tour: A shot of history

Duration: 1.5 hours

66 reviews

Immerse yourself into Berlin's history

Cities are often marked with significant points in its past, both good and bad, and Berlin’s is one of the places that is known for its key role in the world’s history. There is, however, still much to learn about the capital of Germany. If you want to dive into its past, sign up to one or more of these tours to have a better appreciation of how the city became what it is today.

Tip from tour guide

Matti

Matti
Berlin

Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof

Dorotheenstädtischer Friedhof - This little cemetery is a peaceful oasis in the middle of busy Berlin. Lots of famous Berliners were buried here - Bertolt Brecht, for example, (think Mack the Knife!) and Karl Friedrich Schinkel, Berlin's most prominent architect. There's even a little café by the entrance and a spectacular tomb covered in WW2 bullet holes. 

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Melanie is a freelance travel writer. She considers freelancing for Trip 101 to be a combination of two of the things she loves: writing and traveling. She has gone sightseeing with family,...Read more

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