Former East Berlin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

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| Berlin, Germany

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75 to 90 minutes (approx.)

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Overview

Explore Former East Berlin’s mix of architecture at your own pace with this affordable walking tour.

• Take in 400 years of history and find traces of the city’s days as the capital of the German Empire, and witness the devastation left by the World Wars
• Hear from the producer, Jo Eckardt, founder of the tour company, A Friend in Berlin
• Do it all in 75 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish.
• Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it.
• Use the virtual tour option at home.

Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under "Before You Go." Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code.

The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap Start. Voice Map has automatic GPS playback with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

What's Included

Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
VoiceMap app for Android and iOS
Lifetime access to this tour in English

Smartphone and headphones
Transportation
Food and drink

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Friedrichstraße
10117 Berlin, Germany

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Am Lustgarten
10178 Berlin, Germany

The tour ends in front of the fountain in Lustgarten.

What To Expect

Checkpoint Charlie (Pass By)

Starting at Checkpoint Charlie, you’ll make your way down Friedrichstraße and into the heart of the historic city.

Friedrichstrasse (Pass By)

As you make your way down Friedrichstraße, I’ll share the stories behind the area’s architectural treasures, like Gendarmenmarkt Square and Unter den Linden, the famous boulevard.

BlackBox Cold War Museum (Pass By)

On this tour you'll pass by and learn about the BlackBox Cold War Museum.

Gendarmenmarkt (Pass By)

You'll hear the stories behind the area’s architectural treasures, like Gendarmenmarkt Square and Unter den Linden, the famous boulevard.

Neue Kirche (Pass By)

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about the Neue Kirche.

Konzerthaus (Pass By)

I’ll point out various monuments and memorials, including the Friedrich Schiller monument in front of the Konzerthaus Berlin concert hall.

Franzoesischer Dom (Pass By)

I’ll tell you why the French community was given the rights to use the Französischer Dom (French Dome church) for all eternity.

Hotel de Rome, a Rocco Forte Hotel (Pass By)

I’ll show you where to find the spa and pool in Hotel de Rome, once a state bank.

SANKT HEDWIG MITTE (Pass By)

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about St. Hedwig's Cathedral.

Bebelplatz (Pass By)

On this tour, you'll walk through Bebelplatz and learn about the monuments that surround it along the way.

Book Burning Memorial at Bebelplatz (Pass By)

I’ll point out various monuments and memorials, including Micha Ullman’s Empty Library, also known as the Book Burning Memorial, which commemorates the day Nazis burned books by Jewish and communist authors.

Berlin State Opera (Pass By)

On this tour, you'll have a chance to learn about the oldest free-standing opera house in the world, the Berlin State Opera.

Humboldt University (Humboldt Universitat) (Pass By)

I’ll point out various monuments and memorials, including a statue of Frederic II on his horse in front of the buildings which were commissioned by the king and later transformed into Berlin’s first university, the Humboldt University.

Palais am Festungsgraben (Pass By)

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about Palais am Festungsgraben.

Maxim Gorki Theater (Pass By)

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about Maxim Gorki Theatre.

Neue Wache (Pass By)

On this tour, you'll have a chance to discover a modern pieta by Käthe Kollwitz, exposed to rain and snow and housed in the Neue Wache (New Guard House).

German Historical Museum (Pass By)

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about German Historical Museum.

Museum Island (Pass By)

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to see where Angela Merkel used to live on Museum Island when she was Chancellor.

James Simon Gallery (Pass By)

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to take in the works of famous architects like the German Historical Museum by I.M. Pei, the James Simon Gallery by David Chipperfield, and the Altes Museum (Old Museum) by Friedrich Schinkel.

Neues Museum (Pass By)

Alte Nationalgalerie (Pass By)

Altes Museum (Pass By)

Berliner Dom (Pass By)

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to hear about the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral).

Humboldt Forum (Pass By)

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to hear about the Humboldt Forum, where the Hohenzollern Palace used to be.

Lustgarten (Pass By)

The tour ends in Lustgarten.Former East Berlin’s mix of architecture paints a picture of its fascinating history across different eras. It’s here that you’ll see remnants of the 17th-century baroque town and the Communist era, find traces of the city’s days as capital of the German Empire, and witness the devastation left by the World Wars. On this walking tour, you’ll also see newer buildings created by the architects who, once again, transformed East Berlin and the way the world saw it.

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Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Please note: You won't be guided through any museums or other attractions mentioned en route. If you choose to enter and visit such places, you'll need to pay for it independently of this tour.

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Former East Berlin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour?

A: This tour is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded. Read more Apr 2025