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The Berlin History Tour

The Mythbusting Berlin Tour

The All-In-One Berlin Experience

Duration6 HoursGroup6 PeopleFormatPrivate Van Tour
The Brandenburg Gate
Neue Wache
Topography Of Terror
Overview

…the Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall, the site of Adolf Hitler’s FührerbunkerCheckpoint Charlie, the Prussia Royal quarter, the Holocaust Memorial, the Reichstag building, Gendarmenmarkt and much more…

Experience the nuances of Berlin’s complex history over the course of this unique full day experience – combining the sights, sounds, and stories of our full length historical experiences into one unforgettable flagship adventure.

From Berlin’s inauspicious beginnings, through Prussian imperialism and the raucous years of the Weimar Republic, the countless tragedies of the Second World War, the intrigue of the Cold War, the ecstasy of German Reunification, to the vibrant & cosmopolitan city today.

Berlin Experiences - Best of Berlin Tour - Brandenburg Gate
Berlin Experiences - Best of Berlin Tour - Brandenburg Gate

Finding your feet in a foreign city can be as daunting as it is thrilling. With each junction the option between something authentic and undiscovered, and, well, a wrong turn.

Berlin Experiences - Best of Berlin Tour - Unter den Linden
Berlin Experiences - Best of Berlin Tour - Unter den Linden

I’m here to share my expert knowledge of Berlin with you; the sights, the stories, and the secrets of the city that only reveal themselves either by chance or following years of dedicated pursuit.

All packed into one incredible trip – a Berlin Highlights tour that covers almost 1,000 years of history of the German capital – a truly unique and unforgettable experience.

Berlin Experiences - Best of Berlin Tour - Neue Wache
Berlin Experiences - Best of Berlin Tour - Neue Wache

Certainly, it was far from evident from its humble beginnings – as a minor fishing village settled in an unforgiving backwater – that Berlin was destined for the world stage. The catastrophic events of the 20th century that have come to be so closely associated with the peaceful present-day German capital seem unbelievably distant from its time as part of the remote ‘Sandbox of the Holy Roman Empire’.

However, to remove Berlin now from the European story would leave many questions unanswerable; eras have begun and ended here; events served as catalysts to the great turning points in history.

Berlin, NS-Kundgebung im Lustgarten/Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-P022065 / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Berlin, NS-Kundgebung im Lustgarten/Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-P022065 / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Germany’s doomed involvement in the First World War; the city’s status as the nerve centre of Hitler’s Third Reich; Berlin carved up and occupied on the frontline of the Cold War conflict; the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall; and the reunification of Germany with Berlin as the country’s capital.

Berlin, Lustgarten, Rede Goebbels/Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-P046287 / CC-BY-SA 3.0
Berlin, Lustgarten, Rede Goebbels/Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-P046287 / CC-BY-SA 3.0

Within the six hours of this Berlin History tour, you will discover the city’s major and many minor sights – focusing on the central historic Mitte district and the five grand squares – the Lustgarten, Bebelplatz, Gendarmenmarkt, Wilhelmplatz & Pariser Platz – that dominate the area.

Not only will you leave well-versed in the facts & figures of Berlin’s fascinating past but also confident and capable of further exploring the city’s present.

Where it starts
Our Mythbusting Berlin Tour can start wherever is best for you – at your accommodation or elsewhere

Matt is extremely knowledgeable about the history of Berlin. Our tour was jam-packed with great sites, both in the can and walking. He was so friendly and approachable. Loved the tour! I would highly recommend Matt’s tour, especially for those who just have a day or two in Berlin!

Stephen KarinaThe Battle Of Berlin Tour · August 2025

Excellent presentations with use of pictures for visual addition of various locations. Provided background information on each site. Great lunch selection. Very competent driver, Max, as well as Matt, our guide! Efficient use of allotted time!

Tanny CraneThe Berlin History Tour · July 2025

Excellent tour guide, among the best we’ve had. We would definitely book with him again when we return to Berlin.

Jim DemandThe Berlin History Tour · July 2025

Matt is great. He is interesting and extremely informed. He entertained our history buffs and recommended some additions to the agenda. I highly recommend using him.

Noah KresslerBitesize Berlin Walking Tour · June 2025

I can’t imagine a better tour of Berlin than Matt’s. He’s extremely knowledgeable, yet makes it feel like a casual conversation rather than a lecture. It was a very enjoyable day and set us up with a great background and ideas to plan the rest of our week. Couldn’t recommend more.

Patricia BeckerPotsdam Parks & Palaces · June 2025

Matt and his driver Marcus did a great job of showing us Berlin in a 6 hour period. We were able to see and learn about the city and it’s rich history in an efficient and interesting manner. It was like having two good friends show you around their city. They shared many interesting facts and stories that we thoroughly enjoyed and will think about in the future. We highly recommend them and this tour.

Matteo SlaninaThe Berlin History Tour · May 2025

Matt is a fantastic guide. He is so knowledgeable, prepared and interesting. We were able to see so much in one day. I highly recommend Matt if you want a thorough and fascinating day in Berlin.

Gary StephensonThe Berlin History Tour · May 2025

Our group of six spent two full days with Matt and unanimously agreed he was an outstanding guide. His deep and wide-ranging knowledge of Berlin and German history—spanning centuries—enriched every moment of our time together. He answered every question with clarity and offered concise, engaging explanations of even the most complex topics. Matt was also incredibly flexible, effortlessly adapting each day’s agenda to suit our group’s interests. His restaurant recommendations were excellent as well. All in all, Matt was one of the best guides we’ve ever had the pleasure of encountering.

Amy ScarboroughBerlin Shore Excursion · May 2025

Matt was a wonderful guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and took us to many locations we didn’t know about or expect to see, yet still was very receptive to our requests on places we wanted to visit. Since one of our group was elderly and walked with a cane, he allowed us to walk at a slower pace and also suggested using a car on our second day with him. He supplemented his tour with a very comprehensive album of photos which he showed us on his large screen mobile device. His driver, Markus, also added to the tour with his stories of escaping from East Berlin. We would highly recommend Matt as a great tour guide.

Kate DonaldsonPotsdam Park & Palaces · May 2025

Matt is amazing. His depth of knowledge and interpersonal skills are unmatched. We had a great time ( my two teenage sons and myself) and learned so much! Highly recommend and thank you for an amazing morning!

Linda EppedioThe Berlin History Tour · April 2025

Fabulous tour full of insights and interesting facts. We saw several things/places that we would have never seen had we done our own touring of Berlin. Thank you, Matt, for a great day in Berlin!

Michelle BallThe Bitesize Berlin Tour · January 2025

Matthew is an experienced guide and from our first contact built a specific itinerary to meet my needs on Berlin . Large tablet of archive footage providing more contact information . Matthew assisted in solving some extra personal needs including booking train travel to my next City and other aspecs to make my stay in Berlin better .

Angie FaccendaThe Battle Of Berlin Tour · September 2024

Matt far exceeded every expectation for our first time in Berlin! It honestly felt as if I had someone with their PhD in all things Berlin following us around! I would recommend him for anyone wanting a great experience in Berlin!

Michael KopittkeThe Capital Of Tyranny Tour · August 2024

I highly recommend Matt as a tour guide if you are staying in Berlin or wanting a tour outside of the city as well! He has a wealth of knowledge about history and is excited to share it. You can tell he not only enjoys giving tours and the history he is presenting, but also being with his clients. He is easy going but at the same time incredibly professional. We booked the Potsdam tour with him and wish we had more time to do other tours with him such as a Cold War tour, and a WW2 tour. Thank you Matt for a great day in Potsdam for our family.

Hunter KillenThe Berlin History Tour · August 2024

Matt was so knowledgeable and professional during our Berlin, multi-gen family tour – thank you!

Nancy BeardThe Potsdam Parks & Palaces Tour · July 2024

Matt and Marcus (driver) were amazing. If I could leave more stars I would. Matt’s historical knowledge coupled with Marcus’s story of life behind the iron curtain made for a fascinating tour. I highly recommend.

Julie KoblishThe Berlin History Tour · July 2024

Matthew was excellent: informative, knowledgeable, responsive, great sense of humor. He was wonderful with our kids, conversational, and kept things moving at the perfect pace. The history and knowledge from Matthew was great context for the remainder of our trip, which included Auschwitz, Munich, and Bavaria. Highly recommend Matthew as a guide.

Elizabeth HutchersonThe Republic Of Fear Tour · July 2024

We had the most amazing tour with Matthew today. He is extremely knowledgeable and there was not a historical question he could not answer. I would highly recommend booking this tour.

Gordy HultenThe Berlin History Tour · June 2024

★ 5.0 · Google · Tripadvisor · Facebook

Good to know

  • We also offer private walking-tour variations of all our famous private transportation tours.
  • Get in touch for bigger group tours — we also offer bus tours for companies and schools.
  • English-language tours with native English speakers — in other languages on request.
  • Book directly with a local company — over 20 years' experience offering guided tours of Berlin.

The itinerary

Sites included on this tour.

  • Alexanderplatz
  • The Television Tower(Fernsehturm)
  • The former Prussian Royal Quarter
  • The Lustgarten
  • The site of the Stadtschloss (City Palace)
  • The UNESCO World Heritage listed Museumsinsel
  • The Berliner Dom
  • Unter den Linden
  • Humboldt University
  • Bebelplatz/the ‘Nazi Book Burning Square’
  • Gendarmenmarkt/ the former French Huguenot Quarter
  • Checkpoint Charlie
  • Wilhelmplatz/the former Nazi government quarter
  • The Berlin Wall
  • The former SS/Gestapo Headquarters
  • The former Nazi Airforce Ministry
  • Site of the Führerbunker
  • Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
  • The Brandenburg Gate
  • Pariserplatz
  • The American, French, British and Russian embassies
  • The current German government quarter
  • The Reichstag/German Parliament

Featured experiences

Deep-dives on the sites you'll explore.

Brandenburg Gate at Night
Walk Through The Brandenburg Gate
Museum Island in Berlin - UNESCO World Heritage site
Explore The State Musems On Museum Island
the Berlin TV Tower - Fernsehturm
Visit The Berlin TV Tower
Checkpoint Charlie Border Crossing
Cross The Cold War Border At Checkpoint Charlie
Site of the Führerbunker - Hitler's Chancellery Gardens
Visit The Site Of Adolf Hitler’s Führerbunker
The Berlin Palace
Explore The Reconstructed Berlin Palace
The Reichstag Building At Night
Visit The Reichstag Cupola At Night
Bebelplatz In Berlin Mitte
Explore The Forum Fridericianum
Humboldt University
Shop At The Humboldt University Book Sale
Memorial for the murdered jews of europe in Berlin
Journey Into The Memorial To The Murdered Jews Of Europe
the Neue Wache
Step Inside The Neue Wache
Bernauer Strasse Berlin Wall
Visit The Remains Of The Berlin Wall
The Glienicke Brücke - the Bridge of Spies
Walk Across The Bridge Of Spies
Topography of Terror Museum Building
Explore The Topography Of Terror
The Siegessäule
Climb The Prussian Victory Column
The Tränenpalast
Enter The Palace Of Tears
The Olympic Stadium In West Berlin
Step Inside The Berlin Olympic Stadium
Karl Marx Allee
Walk Along Karl Marx Allee
the Nikolaikirche
Visit The Oldest Church In Berlin
The Berliner Dom
Explore The Berliner Dom
The Ruins of Anhalter Bahnhof
Walk Through The Ruins Of Anhalter Bahnhof
Platz des Volksaufstandes
Stand On The Platz Des Volksaufstandes
Claus von Stauffenberg Memorial
Visit The German Resistance Museum
The Soviet War Memorial in the Tiergarten
Visit The Soviet War Memorial In The Tiergarten
The Georg Elser Memorial on Wilhelmstrasse
See The Georg Elser Memorial On Wilhelmstrasse
The Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche
Step Inside The Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtnis Kirche
Gleis 17 in the Grunewald
Visit The Gleis 17 Memorial
The Mausoleum at Schloss Charlottenburg
Visit The Schloss Charlottenburg Mausoleum
The Französischer Dom on Gendarmenmarkt - Berthold Werner
Climb The Französischer Dom at Gendarmenmarkt
Interbau 57 - Klaus Müller-Rehm and Gerhard Siegmann - Berlin
Explore The Interbau
The Otto Weidt Workshop Museum in Berlin - Yasminkaa
Explore The Otto Weidt Workshop
Tempelhof Airport
Spend The Day At Tempelhof Airport
View from the Panorama Punkt
Ride The Fastest Elevator In Europe
Soviet War Memorial Treptower Park
Visit The Soviet War Memorial In Treptower Park
Site Of The German Capitulation
Visit Karlshorst
the Socialist Cemetery in Friedrichsfelde
Visit The Socialists Cemetery
The Soviet Cemetery in Pankow
Visit The Soviet War Memorial In Pankow
Commonwealth War Cemetery Berlin
Visit The Commonwealth War Cemetery
The Allied Museum in Dahlem
Explore The Allied Museum In Dahlem
Spandau Citadel - A.Savin
Explore The Spandau Citadel
The Wannsee Konferenz villa next to the Große Wannsee - The Villa Marlier - A.Savin
Visit The Wannsee Conference House
Jewish Museum
Visit The Jewish Museum
Weissensee Jewish Cemetery - Entrance
Visit The Jewish Cemetery In Weissensee
The East Side Gallery
Walk Along The East Side Gallery
Volkspark Friedrichshain Flak Tower
Explore The Volkspark Friedrichshain Flak Tower
Teufelsberg
Head Up The Teufelsberg

Mythbusting Berlin

The myths we set straight on this tour.

This tour is not only an opportunity to explore Berlin’s present but also to come to understand its unique past and find answers to some of the most common questions related to its history.

Before you book

Frequently Asked Questions

View from the Siegessäule, Berlin
View From The Siegessäule
How do I book a private guided tour of Berlin?

Booking a tour via our website is simply a matter of navigating to the tour page and choosing the date you would like to tour and starting time via the calendar panel on the page. You will then be taken to a booking form, where you enter your personal details and can then choose your payment option. Once you complete your tour booking it will then enter our system as pending until confirmed on our side (this usually takes less than an hour depending when we see the booking request). Then within the next 24 hours we will contact your directly via the email you supply during the booking process to say hello and confirm the booking. If you have any special requests or requirements, please add them to your booking during the checkout process and we can finalise these details via email.

How do I pay for a tour?

Once we confirm your booking, we send a secure payment link (processed by Stripe) that accepts all major credit and debit cards – VISA, Mastercard, Amex, and more. If you would prefer to pay via bank transfer or PayPal, we can also arrange this. Contact us via email(info@berlinexperiences.com) with any payment questions you might have.

When do the tours start?

We find that as many of our clients are holidaying in Berlin that starting slowly in the morning for our Full Day Experiences is both recommended and most rewarding. A relaxing 10am start for our five/six hour tours also means that we can integrate a short coffee/snack break or lunch around 12:30pm. For the Half Day Experiences, we would also recommend the same – although along with the One Hour Experiences there is more flexibility due to the reduced length of the tours. When booking your tour, you will find the options for starting times in the booking window. If you don’t find the time you are looking for – get in touch(info@berlinexperiences.com) and we can work something out!

Where do the tours start?

For all of our Full Day Experiences, it is possible start and finish the tour at your hotel/accomodation. Depending on the location in the city and its distance from the areas we will be exploring, it may be more advisable to start at a centrally located landmark (within the Mitte district) such as the Brandenburg Gate or Museum Island. Our One Hour Experiences are designed with specific starting point and end points in mind – for each of these tours there is a train station nearby which is easy to reach for travellers wishing to arrive by public transportation. Check the description on the tour pages for these One Hour Experiences to see exactly where the meeting points are. For the Half Day Experiences, it may be possible in some cases (such as the Bitesize Berlin 3 Hour Private Van Tour) to start at your accomodation also. The other tours listed have specific starting points – be they the Berlin Brandenburg Airport for the Airport Transfer Tour or the Brandenburg Gate for the Berlin Explorer Tour.

Do you customise your tours?

While each of our tours have been designed to approach a certain historical theme or aspect of the city, we can always tailor your time in the city further. Berlin is not laid out chronologically, so when exploring it is only natural that we will pass landmarks and locations that are from different periods or are worth mentioning for certain events that have taken place there. If there is any aspect of Berlin’s history or theme that you would like to explore further we can always work on integrating relevant parts of the city into a tour you book – or suggest another tour that might be more relevant. Don’t hestitate to get in touch if there is something you would like to explore that you don’t see as part of our catalogue of tours. Send an email to info@berlinexperiences.com and we can discuss how to best make the most of your time in our extraordinary city.

What is your cancellation policy?

As referenced in the Terms & Conditions page, we do not offer refunds on bookings made closer than one month of the tour date. For example: if you book a tour on January 1st for July 1st, the same booking cancelled after June 1st is by that point non-refundable. Bookings cancelled up to one month before the tour date will be refunded at 75% of the cost (100% of the booking cost minus a 25% administration fee). If you would prefer to amend the tour date for another date this can be done at no additional cost. As we accepted bookings through credit card payment, any cancellations made last minute due to cancelled/delayed flights or emergencies may be covered by your credit card company. We do advise our clients to consider travel insurance to cover for unforseen circumstances. Our issued invoices can be then used to receive a refund from your insurance company or banking institution. Cancellations can be made via email to info@berlinexperiences.com.

Can I book multiple tours?

Absolutely. You can do this either by booking tours individually through the booking platform we used or by adding tours to the shopping card system and booking multiple tours together.

Do you accept last minute bookings?

Due to the high number of tours we have booked during the high season (April-December), we have a one week limit on our booking platform. This means that you cannot automatically book any tour that would take place within the next 7 days through the platform. If you would like to book a last minute tour – just because we do not list availability on our booking platform does not mean that one of our guides is not available – do get in touch via email(info@berlinexperiences.com) and we will see what we can do!

Does Matt personally lead all of the Berlin Experiences tours?

I (Matt) endeavour to lead all the tours I offer, but depending on availability may already be booked with other clients. In which case, I have a team of the best professional guides in Berlin, all with years of experience and dedication to their work, that I work with. All are members of the Berlin Guides Association, an organisation known throughout the world for its guiding excellence. When you book you will receive a confirmation email within 24hrs to follow up on your booking and present which guides might be available and best suited for your tour/s.

Are all the suggested sights listed in your tours covered on every tour?

The sights listed in the itinerary sections of our tours are a general guide to what may be covered when booking those particular tours and not necessarily what we may be able to cover during that day. Particular factors such as official state visits, political demonstrations, reconstruction – and even the odd bomb disposal of Second World War ordnance – can shape & reshape our path through the city. We appreciate that every guest is different and approaches the city with different expectations and interests – and we tailor our tours accordingly. If you find something in particular that interests you then please do refer to this when contacting us so we can arrange your day accordingly.

Can you arrange an airport transfer for my day of arrival/departure?

Our professional drivers are also available for airport transfers – provided with either Mercedes Benz V-class or Volkswagen Caravelle vans. This service is for up to 4 people – including a moderate amount of baggage (one large bag and one small bag per person). You can book directly via the private BER airport transfer item in our booking platform. If you are looking for a private airport transfer and require a larger vehicle for a bigger group – get in touch via email(info@berlinexperiences.com).

I am having issues with the booking process/my card was rejected.

If you are having issues booking through our booking platform – please get in touch via email ASAP(info@berlinexperiences.com) so we can see what we can do to fix the problem. If you receive a particular error message that might be due to our booking system please do take screenshots (photos of your screen with the error) if possible. We also accept alternative forms of payment through bank transfer/Paypal or cash on the day for clients who would prefer these methods.

Do you charge VAT on your tours?

As we are based in Germany, we charge the official 19% VAT (sales tax) – already calculated as part of the cost of our tours and the price that you see when you pay. Additionally, we include the booking fee, guide fee, admin fee, driver and transportation costs (where applicable), and the mandatory German tourism insurances as part of the costs we present. We aim to be 100% transparent with our services – offering a fair price for a fantastic day’s exploration!

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Step inside the story.

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Reserve The Mythbusting Berlin Tour