In a nutshell

 

Classic City Tours of Berlin

Is this your first time in Berlin? Then your best bet is to start with a classic city tour of Berlin. You’ll learn a ton about the city right away and get to see your first sights in Berlin. Find the right place to stay in our Berlin hotel tips.

For Berlin first-timers: A walk to the highlights

View of Museum Island in Berlin
Museum Island is one of the stops on the classic city tour

Just arrived in Berlin and not sure where to start? This walk to Berlin’s top highlights is exactly what you need.

You’ll stroll with your guide to the most important attractions, including the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, and Museum Island. Along the way, your guide will share all kinds of fascinating stories about Berlin’s history.

You can do the Berlin city tour either with a group or privately. Prices start at 20 euros and the tour runs about 3.5–4 hours.

Book the walk to Berlin’s highlights

For history buffs: Tour of the Third Reich and the Cold War

Checkpoint Charlie
The tour takes you to significant sites of the Third Reich and the Cold War, including Checkpoint Charlie

The Third Reich and the Cold War left a lasting mark on Berlin like nowhere else. If you want to understand what life was really like during those difficult times, we seriously recommend this tour.

You’ll visit the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, and even see the Führerbunker from the outside. Your guide will bring to life the stories of Berliners who lived through both eras.

The tour lasts 2 hours and costs 19 euros.

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Bike Tours of Berlin: Explore the Capital on Two Wheels

Not in the mood for walking and want to explore Berlin by bike? These bike tours are the answer. And if you’d prefer an even more relaxed pace, our article on Berlin boat tours covers the most scenic routes on the water.

For hunters of hidden gems: Bike tour through Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain

RAW site in Berlin
The RAW site in Friedrichshain is worth keeping in mind for your nights in Berlin, but it’s got plenty of cool street art charm during the day too

This bike tour through Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain is the best way to discover alternative Berlin — put it on your list.

Your guide will ride with you through these two cool neighborhoods and point out their most iconic spots. They’ve also got loads of insider tips up their sleeve and will share fun stories about both areas.

This is also a great pick if it’s not your first time in Germany‘s capital — and it’s not too strenuous either, with several photo stops and breaks along the way. Perfect for families!

The whole ride takes 3.5 hours and costs just 32 euros.

Book the bike tour through Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain

For active history buffs: Bike tour along the Berlin Wall

East Side Gallery fraternal kiss
The bike tour takes you along the remains of the Berlin Wall and its most important sights

Walking the entire length of the Berlin Wall would take around 13 hours. By bike, you cover it in a fraction of the time — and you’ll discover far more of its remarkable history than you ever could on foot.

You’ll ride past numerous memorials and former border crossings, including the famous Checkpoint Charlie, one of the last original watchtowers, and the remaining sections of the Wall.

The tour lasts between three and four hours. Rental bikes are included in the price of 32 euros.

Book the bike tour along the Berlin Wall

For art lovers: Street art bike tour

Street art at the RAW site in Berlin
Every art lover should do a street art tour of Berlin at least once

Berlin has art museums around every corner. But honestly, what we find even cooler than the pricey works inside are the street art pieces covering the city’s building walls.

You can explore all of this on a bike tour through Berlin’s best graffiti. You’ll ride along the Spree while your guide reveals street art in spots most visitors completely miss. The colorful works also make for great photo spots in Berlin, so bring your camera.

The tour lasts about 3.5 hours and costs 29 euros.

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Guided Tours Through Berlin’s Most Interesting Neighborhoods

In Berlin, every neighborhood feels like a completely different city. Exploring the different quarters is a ton of fun — just pick one and join a tour through the area!

For culture lovers: A walk through wild Kreuzberg

Oranienstraße Berlin
There’s always something going on along Oranienstraße in Berlin’s trendy Kreuzberg neighborhood

This city walk is a lively tour through Kreuzberg — and your guide deliberately skips the polished side of the neighborhood to take you through underground Kreuzberg instead. That’s how you really get to know its multicultural, chaotic character.

It starts at Kottbusser Tor, winding past building-sized, world-famous street art, the coolest scene bars and clubs, and well-known cultural gathering spots like Markthalle Neun and the Künstlerhaus Bethanien.

The tour wraps up after about three hours at the Islamic Cultural Center near the famous Görlitzer Park. This alternative Berlin tour through Kreuzberg costs 21 euros.

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For the colorful at heart: Rainbow tour through Schöneberg

Bookstore on Motzstraße in the Schöneberg neighborhood in Berlin
In Schöneberg, you’ll spot the symbol of the gay scene around every corner (© Denis Barthel, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Welcome to the Rainbow Kiez! This tour takes you through the colorful neighborhood of Schöneberg.

Over about 2.5 hours, you’ll trace the history of the gay scene from World War I through the Nazi regime. Since 1920, Berlin’s gay and lesbian community has called this neighborhood home.

You’ll get to know the people and famous places that have made Schöneberg the most tolerant neighborhood in Berlin. The many bars, cafés, and clubs around Nollendorfplatz keep things lively and make this a tour you’ll really enjoy.

The city walk costs about 19 euros.

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For explorers: A walk through the backyards of Berlin Mitte

Hackesche Höfe in Berlin
The Hackesche Höfe is one of the most beautiful courtyards in Berlin that you’ll visit on this city tour (© MP_foto71)

Still hunting for cool off-the-beaten-path spots in Berlin? Berlin Mitte is home to a whole range of hidden courtyards that are easy to miss on the typical tourist trail. This tour takes you straight to them.

Former horse stables and old factory buildings have been transformed into stylish restaurants and art galleries. Nowhere else in Berlin does the city’s industrial past sit so close to its modern present as in this part of town.

The tour lasts around two hours and costs 20 euros.

Our tip: The city tour ends in front of Clärchens Ballhaus, Berlin’s oldest dance hall. Its garden is a great spot to eat and drink.

Book the tour through the backyards of Berlin Mitte

Getting to Berlin’s Top Sights in Style: Tours with Unique Vehicles

Attention, car lovers! In Berlin, you don’t have to explore on foot or by bike. You can sit back and relax as you’re chauffeured to the most beautiful sights in Berlin in some truly one-of-a-kind vehicles. And if you want an even more comfortable option, the Berlin hop-on/hop-off bus is a great choice — check out our article on that too.

For car enthusiasts: Trabi tour of Berlin

Trabi tour through Berlin
On this Berlin city tour, you cruise in a convoy of Trabis — and you even get to drive one yourself (© heiko119)

Sightseeing entirely on foot sounds a little dull? Then give the Trabi tour of Berlin a try! For 75 minutes, you’ll cruise through the city in a colorful convoy of Trabis.

The route takes you past Potsdamer Platz, the Brandenburg Gate, the East Side Gallery, Checkpoint Charlie, and Berlin Cathedral. You’ll hear live commentary on the sights over the radio.

The tour costs 69 euros per person. Each car fits up to four people, making the Trabi tour a fantastic option for a family trip to Berlin with kids.

Our tip: Arrive early enough and you’ll get to pick your own Trabi.

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For those who like to take it easy: Private tour in a VW Bulli

Berlin City Palace
One of the stops on your VW Bulli tour: the Berlin Palace with the Humboldt Forum

Envious stares are guaranteed on this one: you’ll cruise through the streets of Berlin in a charming VW T1 vintage bus.

When you roll up in this classic, you’ll almost certainly become the subject of a few photos yourself.

You get a say in the route, and your driver will take you on a two-hour ride to your own personal highlights in Berlin.

The VW bus fits up to seven people. A group always pays 295 euros in total — so the more of you there are, the cheaper it gets per person.

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Special Tours in Berlin: Why Settle for Ordinary?

Want to experience something truly out of the ordinary on your visit? Here’s a unique Berlin tour just for you. For even more cool things to do, check out our article on activities in Berlin.

For fans of the creepy: Tour of the capital's dark side

Ruins of the Franciscan Monastery in Berlin
The ghost tour kicks off at nightfall at the ruins of the Franciscan Monastery (© Laima Gūtmane, CC BY-SA 3.0)

On this tour, you’ll discover the sinister side of the capital. Cynics might say that just means heading to Brandenburg. But it doesn’t.

The tour begins at nightfall and takes you to creepy locations around Berlin that even many locals don’t know about. Your guide will share chilling legends and show you the former sites of gallows.

For two hours of spooky fun, you’ll pay 23 euros.

Book the tour of the capital’s dark side