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
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.
Book Tours : History and alternative tracks
2. Learn about Berlin's untold stories
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.
Book Tours : Berlin - Off the Beaten Path
3. Take a closer look at key landmarks from World War II and its aftermath
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.
Tip from tour guide
The Berlin Wall Memorial at Bernauer Straße is a must-visit place for anyone who's really interested in the Berlin Wall. Bernauer Straße (street) has 1.6 kilometres of outdoor exhibitions, plus two indoor documentation centres, all free to visit. There are hours of written, audio and video information on the Berlin Wall including stories of escapes, spying and divided families. Bernauer street is also host to Window of Remembrance, which remembers the people who died at the wall. For anyone visiting Berlin on holidays when museums are closed, the outdoor exhibitions at Bernauer Straße remain open.
Book Tours : WWII + BERLIN WALL Tour
4. Learn more about the lives of Jewish people in Germany
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.
Book Tours : Jewish places and stories
Berlin Tour Guide
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 a... Read more
Tours by Asaf
Berlin Tour Guide
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 exp... Read more
Tours by Tina
Berlin Tour Guide
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 gui... Read more
Tours by Matti
5. Discover Berlin's sex history
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.
6. Go on a bike tour and explore Berlin like a local
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.
Book Tours : Explore Berlin's History like a Local
7. Go back in time with the help of technology
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.
Book Tours : Behind the Wall - East Berlin Stories
8. Discover the city's secrets with the help of a historian
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.
Book Tours : Reading the city with a historian
9. Work out while learning
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.
Book Tours : Workout park run with WorldWar II history
10. Take a bite-sized history of Berlin with a dose of caffeine on the side
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.
Book Tours : Espresso Tour: A shot of history
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
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.
History
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