Third Reich, Hitler & Cold War - Berlin City Center Walking Tour - Private
About this activity
A 3-hour private outdoor walking tour of Berlin’s Third Reich, World War II and Cold War history. See Museum Island’s exterior landmarks, the Holocaust Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie and Brandenburg Gate with an expert guide. No museum admission is included.
Highlights
- Brandenburg Gate and German reunification history
- Holocaust Memorial: walk among 2,711 concrete stelae
- Checkpoint Charlie and Cold War Berlin
- Topography of Terror at the former Gestapo site
- Museum Island, Bebelplatz and Hitler’s bunker site
Full description
Trace Berlin’s history from Prussian power through the Third Reich, wartime devastation, Cold War division and reunification on this three-hour private walk. Your expert guide leads the route from Museum Island to Brandenburg Gate, with time at the Holocaust Memorial and Checkpoint Charlie. Learn how the city’s surviving streets and memorials tell these chapters of German history.
Begin on Museum Island and see Berlin Cathedral and the Berlin Palace from outside. Continue through Bebelplatz, where the 1933 book burning is commemorated, then discuss the former SS and Gestapo headquarters at today’s Topography of Terror. At Checkpoint Charlie, hear about the divided city before visiting the Führerbunker site and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Finish at Brandenburg Gate, a landmark of both Cold War separation and reunification. Stops may vary with local conditions. This is an outdoor tour; no museum or monument admission is included. The walk operates rain or shine.
Included / Excluded
- 3-hour private guided walking tour for your party (max 12)
- Professional expert guide dedicated to your group
- Outdoor tour runs rain or shine
- Museum and attraction admission is not included
- Food and drinks are not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included
- Gratuities and luggage or coat storage are not included
Itinerary
Museum Island — Bodestraße start
Meet at 1–3 Bodestraße on Museum Island and explore the outdoor museum district, Berlin Cathedral and Berlin Palace exteriors.
Bebelplatz book-burning memorial
Discuss Prussian and Nazi-era Berlin around Bebelplatz and its memorial to the 1933 book burning.
Meeting point
Start Location
Museum Island meeting point — Bodestraße 1–3
Bodestraße 1–3
Meet the guide at 1–3 Bodestraße, Berlin 10178, 10 minutes before the reserved start.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- Private tour for your party only; maximum 12 guests.
- Museum and attraction admission is not included.
- Stops may vary; check the itinerary for the main sites covered.
- The private Berlin walk can be wheelchair friendly; contact Babylon Tours before booking to plan an accessible route.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for the moderate walk over mostly flat terrain.
- This is an outdoor tour and operates rain or shine.
- Review the listed route highlights; stops may vary with tour conditions.
Cancellation policy
Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
Reviews
We booked this tour to get as much as possible out of our time at The Met. What we didn’t know we were getting was a personalized experience full of captivating stories about the artists' lives and the people who brought the art to the museum. Robin was a wealth of knowledge and a highlight of our trip to New York!
Spent a great day with Charlie he was very engaging and shared lots of information and entertaining stories with us. He took great care of us and we would recommend him for any future tours.
Mark, tour guide for the Metropolitan Museum is an outstanding teacher: engaging; entertaining; professional; personable; experienced and deeply knowledgeable as a result of a lifelong passion and relationship with the Met. He loves what he does and cares deeply about sharing his knowledge and insight to spark curiosity and inspire his clients--his students--to understand context and meaning of each piece or work of art reviewed. My wife, a retired professor emeritas and myself both left thoroughly impressed and grateful to have been taught by best and most captivating guides we have had the privilege of meeting on one of our many travels and adventures. Hire the best. Hire Mark. Worth every penny and every minute of your time you can afford at the Met. Like us, you will look forward to coming back for another teaching session from Mark. In my case, hopefully we will be back on my birthday next year! (Thanks again Mark!)
Frequently asked questions
FAQs
Additional information
Meet at 1–3 Bodestraße, Berlin 10178, at the Museum Island starting point. Arrive 10 minutes before your reserved start. Bring an ID or a photo of an ID. Wear comfortable walking shoes.