Discover the history of Berlin and learn about the Third Reich's rise to power, as well as the build-up to the Second World War. Together, we’ll explore how Germany transformed in the 1930s and 40s, leading to the rise of the Nazis, the genocide of innocent citizens and the Second World War.
On this tour narrated by a local historian, we’ll explore both East and West Berlin, visiting Anhalter Bahnhof, the Topography of Terror, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and the Reichstag.
Venture off the tourist trail, and discover multi-layered neighbourhoods around Germany’s capital Discover Berlin’s historical context, secret stories and famous residents as you get a more local feel for the area.
Discover Berlin’s place in the Second World War, through its complex history in this captivating walk through central Berlin.
Note: This is a self-guided audio walking tour and does not include entrance tickets
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Offline Mode: Download tours in advance to listen without WiFi
✔ Location Aware: GPS map allows you to enjoy sites, without getting lost
✔ Access to your self-guided audio tour
✔ Instagram Hotspots: We find the spot for your perfect picture
✔ Audio tour provided by a local or historian
✖ Headphones
✖ Admission to Reichstag Building (from £10)
✖ Mobile device
Departure & Return
Departure:
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Start the tour at Anhalter Bahnhof train station. This is a self-guided tour and you can start as soon as you're ready!
Itinerary
1
Anhalter Bahnhof
Start the tour at Anhalter Bahnhof, a ruined train station once was known as the ‘gateway to the south’ and was one of the busiest train stations in the kingdom of Prussia. Learn about the birth of Germany and this station’s involvement in the Second World War.
Duration: 10 minutes
2
Gropius Bau
Visit Martin Gropius Bau. Completed in 1881 and designed by the architects Martin Gropiu and Heino Schmieden, this was originally designed to house Berlin's Museum of Applied Arts. Martin Gropius Bau serves as a space for diverse temporary shows. From ancient Buddha sculptures of Pakistan to the artistically staged photographs of Cindy Sherman, this elegant gallery has something for everyone.
Duration: 5 minutes
3
Topography of Terror
Visit the Topography of Terror, an open and free exhibition all about the Nazis rise to power and their 12-year dictatorship. Both the Gestapo and the SS once had their headquarters right here. The Gestapo was the official Nazi secret police service, and the SS, or the Shutzstaffel, was the Nazi agency of terror which among other things was in charge of policing the concentration camps.
Duration: 5 minutes
4
Walking up Wilhelmstraße, visit what was, in 1936, the Nazi Ministry of Aviation and learn about Hermann Göring. Then visit the the Ministry for Propaganda, one of the most infamous ministries of the Nazi dictatorship, headed up by Joseph Goebbels. His propaganda included management of culture and the arts, so films, music and theatre, alongside broadcasting, the national press, and censorship.
Duration: 5 minutes
5
Johann Georg Elser Sculpture
Visit this memorial to Johann Georg Else, who was almost one of the most important people in world history. Elser was quite a low-profile figure, historically speaking, but he was almost one of the most important people in world history.
Duration: 5 minutes
6
Fuhrerbunker
Stop at this unassuming car park which sits above what was once Hitler's Bunker. Hear about the end of the Second World War.
Duration: 5 minutes
7
The Holocaust Memorial - Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
Visit the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a free, above ground memorial designed by Jewish architect, Peter Eisenman to remember Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust. Walk through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, taking a moment to process the history this monument represents and hear about some possible interpretations of this design.
Duration: 5 minutes
8
Reichstag Building
Finish the tour at the Reichstag, the German house of Parliament, originally built in 1893 which has seen Berlin throughout the 20th century. This has, in essence, been dedicated to the German public. Only after Germany was reunited that the decision was made to reinstate Berlin as the capital city of reunified Germany, and to reinstall the parliament into their original home here, the Reichstag.
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional info
• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
