Things to Do in Berlin

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.
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 sets my tour apart is my unique perspective on history. My focus is not just 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.
Rather than simply presenting historical facts and events, I approach the subject of ideologies like fascism from a sociological perspective, highlighting their current relevance.
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.
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. 
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 3h 45min is estimated for most common 4-6 people group on weekday but in general it may take up to 4h 30 min.

There is always a 15-20 min break, roughly in the middle.

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 8 people. Even largest groups (weekend, mid season) are always maximum 24 people, comparing to often 35-40 people booked mid season for big providers.

 - You will be precisely informed about tour duration on the
date you’re booking. (From my work experience, the unfortunately common practice is that tours can be either false advertised as shorter than they are, or subject to a specific guide’s leaning.) 

 - 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 can’t be added to the group. The only exception can be made for guests who agree not to review the tour they saw in this reduced and potentially less satisfying form.

Thank you for your cooperation!

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 (12 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.     

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.

On board Berlin's sightseeing boat, you'll sail on the Spree River and admire sites in the capital of Germany, like the Reichstag building and Museum Island.

++ Free Walking Tour through the Jewish Quarter ++
Maximum participants: 12 people

The Jewish history of Europe and Germany is characterized by a mixture of highs and lows, cultural enrichment and tragic events. But in Berlin this history has taken on a particularly complex form.

Our tour takes you through Berlin's Jewish quarter, a place full of historical events and fascinating secrets. We start at historical sites that have played a crucial role in Berlin's Jewish life. As we stroll through picturesque courtyards and alleyways, you will experience the special atmosphere of this quarter up close. Here you will hear stories about people and the Jewish community that have shaped this place. We take our time to work through the complicated topic together.

++ Highlights of the tour ++

• Historical background:

Jewish history from the beginning to the present.

• Urban flair:

Urban life & the vibrant Jewish quarter
 

• Synagogues and Community:

Synagogues, monuments and the vibrant Jewish community

• Picturesque alleys & courtyards:

A unique atmosphere with cultural diversity

• Reflections:

Questions & Answers

Book this tour now to reveal the secrets of this fascinating district with me!

--------------------

** The quality of my tours is important to me, which is why a maximum of 12 participants are planned per tour. In addition, the limited number of participants allows me to have more time for you and your questions. 🙂

** Please note that the minimum number of participants for this tour is 3 people.

** The tour takes place whatever the weather. Please wear suitable clothing.

** Since this is a sensitive topic, we ask you to be patient and respectful.

Embark on our exciting Free Tour of Berlin and discover the history of the city. We'll start at Pariser Platz , in front of the Academy of Arts, where we'll meet to begin this exciting adventure. We'll cross the iconic Brandenburg Gate , symbol of the German capital, and head towards places linked to World War II.

Our next stop will be at the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe , a poignant place that pays tribute to the victims of the tragedy. Then, we will visit the Führerbunker , Adolf Hitler 's bunker, where decisions that marked history were made.

We will continue our tour alongside the former Reich Air Ministry , a witness to wartime history. We will pass a preserved section of the Berlin Wall , a reminder of the Cold War, and stop at the iconic Checkpoint Charlie , a famous border crossing of those times.

Afterwards, we will head to the impressive Gendarmenmarkt Square , where we will admire its beautiful twin churches from the outside. And finally, we will arrive at Bebelplatz , where the infamous book burning took place during the Nazi era.

After three and a half hours of touring these fascinating stops, we will conclude our Free Tour Berlin in the vibrant Berlin Opera Square .

Join the best team of guides in the city and immerse yourself in the history of Berlin on this unforgettable trip!

We would have been killed if we had participated in this walking tour 35 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
• Berlin Wall memorial
• Mauer Park
• Japanese Cherry Trees on the path of Berlin Wall (in the Spring)