Things to Do in Berlin

Berlin is without any doubts one of the most interesting and important cities in the world. Our tour will give you a good understanding of the city, its history and the many ideas born in Berlin that shaped this city and the entire world! We will journey in time from the humble medieval beginnings, through the capital of a mighty kingdom and empire, revolution, dark times of nazism, destruction and communist divisions up to today – the trendiest and hottest city in the world. That was truly a spectacular transition, one you should not miss! 

On the tour we will see and discuss:

• TV Tower
• Red Town Hall and the remains of the old Berlin
• Museum Island and the Berlin Cathedral
• Unter Den Linden and Humboldt University
• The Square of the Book Burning (Bebelplatz)
• Checkpoint Charlie and Berlin Wall stories
• Adolf Hitler’s Bunker Site
• The Memorial to The Murdered Jews of Europe
• Brandenburg Gate

The last stop for this tour is Brandenburg Gate.

Look for the yellow umbrella at the meeting point!

ℹ️ ⚠️ ATTENTION - booking rules

The tour is fit for pets, but one site, the Holocaust Memorial, is only allowed to walk around (so you see it, but not walk through). Please have that in mind.

Please note that our free tours are designed for individual travelers and small private groups only. Hence, we do not accept parties of 8 or more people on regular free tours and guides have the right to deny participation to such groups. If you travel in a party of 8 or more please book a private tour in advance.

If you show up at the meeting point with the bigger group our guide will ask you for the payment (18 eur/person) before the tour or cancel your reservation on the spot. To confirm your reservation please arrive 10 minutes before starting. We can not guarantee participation when you will be late.                                  

Please note that multiply bookings (under different names) for 7 people who belong to one group will still be treated as one organized group and the guide has the right to deny participation to such parties.

This policy is implied in the best interest of our individual visitors. 

Please respect our rules.     

We would have been killed if we had participated in this walking tour 37 years ago! But don't worry it's not dangerous anymore. However, you can feel a little of the crises in this divided city. And you will know it's more than a "Tale of two cities"! It's the story of two different worlds in the middle of the cold war. Including stories of many people who suffered from these conflicts.

 In our walking tour, we will visit: 

• Rabbit Field
• Liesen Bridge
• North Side Gallery (you will do graffiti here!)
• Berlin Wall memorial
• Mauer Park
• Japanese Cherry Trees on the path of Berlin Wall (in the Spring)

Victims and executioners, invaders and invaded, dictators and dictatorships, pacts and betrayals. All this is part of the narrative in which the history of Nazism is framed, but what are the reasons that lead a civilized country like Germany to fall into fanatism? Who collaborates and why in the Nazi blitzkrieg? What interests are hidden behind the Hitler dictatorship? And, above all, where did the Final Solution and the extermination of an entire people lead the world? 

If you want to answer these questions and reflect on what happened, getting to know the protagonists and the places that write the most important chapters of the 20th century, this is your tour. Let yourself be guided by the philosophy of 'Side to Side': tours thought out and documented from the historical rigor; author tours, with a precise and close language that avoids the sensationalist clichés. 

We will visit the most important Nazi monuments in Berlin and the memorials to the victims to rebuild together the history of Berlin under nazism. 

The tour will take us through the Brandenburg Gate, scene of the Nazi parades and also testimony of their defeat after the battle of Berlin. The Reichstag, the parliament, where the nazis conquer power. The Holocaust Memorial, dedicated to murdered Jews in Europe. Hitler's bunker, still today the object of conspiracies and for some a place of worship. The street of terror, where the Nazi chancelleries imposed fear and submission. There we will see Goebbels' Ministry of Propaganda, the New Chancellery, the work of Albert Speer and the Air Ministry, Hermann Göring’s impressive air force. The tour ends at the Berlin Wall, in front of the Topography of Terror, a documentation center and museum on Nazism that you cannot miss. 

Throughout the tour we will also visit the memorials to the victims of the LGTBIQ collective, and the gypsy people and we will also talk about other lesser-known affected groups. Resistance to Nazism and how Germany today confronts the consequences of the most tragic chapter of its history complete the content of one of the most interesting tours of Berlin.

The tour includes the digital guide 'Side to Side: Heart of Berlin' that I have prepared with great care. A small gift so that you can continue discovering Berlin on your own: restaurants, breweries, alternative excursions and much more. Do not hesitate to book, 'Side to Side Tour' is your tour. 

Welcome to Berlin! Join me for a captivating tour of Berlin's rich and complex history. Starting at Alexanderplatz, we'll explore the city's diverse landmarks and delve into its fascinating past.

My tour will take us to iconic sites such as the Marx and Engels Memorial, Museums Island, the Nazi book burning site, Gendarmenmarkt, Checkpoint Charlie, the remains of the Berlin Wall, Hitler's bunker, the Jewish Memorial, the Reichstag, and the Brandenburg Gate.

What sets my tour apart is a unique perspective on history I’m presenting. My focus is not on the places themselves, but on the ideas they reflect. As a Jewish woman of Polish heritage, I approach Berlin's past with a deep sense of personal connection and empathy. I tell the stories of my own family, weaving together personal narratives with broader historical themes and systematic analysis.

Rather than simply presenting historical facts and events, I approach the subject of ideologies like fascism from a sociological perspective, highlighting their current relevance. Many ideas that originated from Germany had, and still have, fundamental relevance for other countries past and present. Uncovering those connections is necessary to create more than an interesting story, but a narrative that can be considered an actual lesson from history, that may be not as obvious as we often assume.

We'll explore the ways in which Berlin's history has shaped its character and identity, and how it continues to impact the city today. We'll examine the parallels between the past and present and reflect on the lessons we can learn from history. The tour is illustrated by ~30 rare photographs, maps, unique pieces of press and art gathered in big part during my own archive research.

My effort to combine history of communism and nazism in one tour is an effect of long research and consideration. The trend to separate those two subjects into two separate tour “products”, while beneficial for a provider’s marketing, may in my opinion unintentionally (but seriously) impair historical accuracy and explanative value. On my tour I’ll be able to explain how dichotomy and relationship between those two ideologies make up the key to their understanding. 

One especially troubling outcome of deregulation of guiding is the rise of narratives that are ultimately harmful to historical awareness. These narratives, advertised as top quality educational events, usually blend superficial statements about the evils of the Nazi regime with sensationalised anecdotes and trivial "fun facts." The result is that participants lose a valuable opportunity to build a deeper understanding of the crucial sociopolitical context: the complex causes for the rise of fascism and the societal pressures that led ordinary people to make unthinkable moral choices. Instead, the focus shifts to Adolf Hitler's failed painting career, his use of narcotics, or his peculiar fasion choices - details which, while perhaps memorable, are fundamentally irrelevant. Worse, they actively obstruct a constructive, adult examination of the history of ideologies and the sober lessons it holds.

I can confidently say that my tour is the most thorough GuruWalk in Berlin explaining history of German ideologies, that follows a legitimate science popularising approach and focuses fully on historical accuracy.

The most meaningful thing I often hear from my guests feedback is that I’m able to provide new, deep but very clear explanations of historical and ideological nuances, both to guests who need first basic overview and those who are fairly familiar with the subjects.

 
ATTENTION!

Please be aware that the tour length is very hard to define precisely, for several reasons. 

One is that a city like Berlin often attracts rallies and demonstrations of all kinds - we cannot avoid them of predict their length, so tour diversions sometimes happen. Weather has an impact as well. In case of serious cold or rain, I always look for shelter at stops, so that we all feel comfortable. This can add to the total length. But more importantly - my tour details depend on how the group reacts. Questions are answered, issues explained, and that’s the purpose and beauty of serious approach to visitors, I believe.

Guru Walk doesn’t offer the technical option to put timing brackets in the system. The duration 4h is estimated for most common 7-9 people group on weekday but in general it may take up to 4h 30 min.

There is always a 20 min break, roughly in the middle.

During the winter months the tour is adjusted to weather conditions. Depending on accessibility on a particular day, approximately 40-50% can take place indoors. This way the visitors - even on a 4-hour tour - end up spending less than an average time outside on a cold or rainy day.
 

What are the benefits of taking a tour with a non corporate guide:

 - You can be sure your guide is experienced. 

 - You can read the specific guide’s personal reviews.

 - The group will be very comfortable in size, usually under 10 people. Even largest groups (weekend, mid season) are always maximum 20 walkers, comparing to often 35-40 booked mid season for big providers.

 - You support a serious and honest approach to guiding which is sadly not always the norm in times of growing commercialisation. There’s a visible tendency towards providing as fun and easy as possible experience, sometimes crossing the thin line between a fair narrative and Holocaust entertainment (this issue itself is also one of my tour subjects)

Come along with me on a journey through the heart of Berlin. Let's gain a deeper understanding of the forces that have shaped it into the vibrant and dynamic metropolis it is today.

Please be aware that guests who arrive more than 10 minutes after the tour’s start are kindly requested to not to review the tour they saw in this reduced and potentially less satisfying form.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Berlin, 1961 : one city, two countries. Communism and Capitalism separated by a 155 kilometer wall that faced the Soviet sector and the Western sector. 28 years of divided families, of tanks face to face, of cut communications, of escape tunnels, of spies and red telephones, of ghost stations and above all of tears.

 Today, 35 years after the fall of the Iron Curtain , we wonder how Berliners lived through the Cold War. What was life like for a Berliner behind the wall? How important was the role of the family and the role of women in socialism ? What were the Stasi's methods of repression and surveillance ? We will also talk about the most famous escape attempts and how the resistance and peaceful revolution was organized, which led to the fall of the Soviet bloc. If you wonder what the wall means today and if it still exists: this is your tour .

 In 'Side to Side' tours we seek to answer these questions. Tours to see and know Berlin, but also to think and feel it , this is our philosophy. We will talk about all this visiting the most emblematic places that are the living testimony of a not too distant past.

 At the end of the tour, you will be able to discover the most emblematic corners of Berlin thanks to the digital guide 'Side to Side East Berlin' that I have prepared with great care. A small gift that includes a selection of the most authentic bars, restaurants and breweries so that you can make the most of your stay in Berlin.

Do not hesitate and book with ' Side to Side Tours' one of the most elaborate and thought tours to get to know the Berlin of the Cold War .

P.S: AB single ticket for the public transport required.

NOTE FOR DECEMBER TOURS:  The content of the tour will be the same as usual, but we will be walking through some of the best Christmas markets in Berlin, and  I will have suggestions for my favorite markets in Berlin.  The 17:00 tour is fun, because we will see some great lights!

The history of Berlin can become a very complicated subject.  The goal of this tour is to break down the basics of Berlin's history.  I want you to walk away from this tour with a basic understanding of this city and a better understanding of Germany.  

Some topics that we will cover:

-Prussia and the Prussians
-Friedrich the Great
-Nazi book burning
-The Berlin Wall
-The history of refugees in Berlin
-Hitler's bunker
-The Memorials to the victims of Nazism
-The best free museums in Berlin
-Cultural highlights of Berlin

I try to keep this tour under 2.5 hours, and I try to keep it under 30 participants (some companies have up to 50).  This is a basic tour, but feel that there is something for everyone!
 

Kreuzberg is a district in the central part of Berlin, known for its progressive and multicultural atmosphere, and more importantly for the art scene and Street Arts and Squatting.

There are a significant numbers of immigrants from all around the world, also many activists, artists, and young people that work and live in Kreuzberg, and because of them, it has a great nightlife with many bars, clubs, and many other things.
Besides, it's home to many international restaurants and bars, serving food and drink of every corner of the world!
You can find many food from Middle Eastern and Asian to Italian and Mexican, as well as many Vegan options.

But it's not fair to describe Kreuzberg just like that because it's got a rich history too! From 19th century to Berlin Wall and even today, you can find a trace of many global crisis in Kreuzberg! 

In our tour, we will walk through this district to see many historical memories and some crazy stories of Kreuzberg.

In our walking tour, we will visit:

• Oranienplatz
• Engelbecken
• Bethanien
• Mariannenplatz
• Treehouse at the wall
• and some Street Art on our way

We will also have a break in a nice Café in the middle of the tour. 

If you are ready for a journey into the crazy part of the history of Berlin, don't doubt and book this free walking tour!