Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany. This tour has numerous stopping points which showcase Berlin’s 800-year history. Your expert guide will talk you through Berlin’s past and present, regaling you with anecdotes and insights tailored to your interests and questions – you won’t find this level of dynamism and interaction in any audio guide! From the classical beauty of the Gendarmenmarkt with its twin cathedrals and concert hall to other iconic landmarks, you’ll experience the full spectrum of Berlin.
Founded in the 13th century, Berlin was at the center of education, art, and power for centuries. Here is a snapshot of what you’ll experience:
The Victory Column, built to honor three victorious Prussian wars with Denmark, Austria, and France in the 1870s, is situated in the center of the Tiergarten park. Two hundred hectares in size, it was once the royal hunting ground. You’ll also learn about the industrialization of Berlin in the 19th century when it became one of the largest cities in the world in a very short time.
Facing the Tiergarten, you can’t miss the beautiful neo-Renaissance Reichstag building. The German parliament is next to the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s most iconic monument. You’ll drive down the famous tree-lined Unter den Linden boulevard and at Alexanderplatz you’ll learn of the mass protests that led to the collapse of the Berlin Wall.
The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a famous landmark of Berlin, known locally as ‘the hollow tooth’. On Kurfürstendamm, Berlin’s main shopping street, it was bombed during World War Two. It is both preserved as a memorial but has also been rebuilt as an ultra-modern church. You’ll also learn about Kaiser Wilhelm, the First World War, and the fall of the Imperial family.
Berlin’s rich architecture and cultural heritage can be found in the Mitte area: Berlin Palace, the former royal palace now hosts the vast Humboldt Forum experience. Adjacent is the stunning Berlin Cathedral and UNESCO World Heritage-listed Museum Island. Idyllically situated in the middle of the River Spree, it is home to five magnificent, world-leading galleries of art and natural history.
At Bebelplatz – home to St Hedwig’s Cathedral, the German state opera, and the prestigious Humboldt University (which has produced 30 Nobel laureates) – you will learn of Germany’s rich contribution to European scholarship, religion, and music. You will also learn of the Nazi’s terrible rise to power marked by the infamous book burnings that happened here in 1933.
Berlin was a focal point of the 20th Century. You’ll stop at the Holocaust Memorial as well as other major sites from the Second World War, including the Topography of Terror. You’ll learn about Cold War-era espionage and the division of East and West at Checkpoint Charlie, the remains of the Berlin Wall, and the political street art of the East Side Gallery.
After its turbulent past, today’s Berlin is one of the world’s best-loved cities. Each stop on your tour holds the secrets and stories that unlock a deeper understanding of this complex, beautiful city.