Berlin in Stone: A Journey Through Symbolic Architecture in Berlin - AdobeStock_223736360.jpg
4.8

Berlin in Stone: A Journey Through Symbolic Architecture

  • 2.5 hours
  • City Highlight Tours
  • Berlin
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Choose one of 5 locals available

Experience hosted by Miha, Juan & other locals

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

Uncover Berlin’s hidden meanings through its most powerful architectural symbols. From the iconic Brandenburg Gate to the living memorial of the Parliament of Trees and the vibrant rebirth of Potsdamer Platz, each stop reveals a chapter of the city’s complex story. Join a local storyteller and experience Berlin’s past, present, and future carved in stone, steel, and memory.

Destination
Berlin, Germany
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
2.5 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, Español, Русский, עברית, Türkçe, Deutsch, Српски, Hrvatski, Slovenščina
Included
  • Private guide
  • All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral

6 reasons to book this tour

  • Can be 100% customized to your wishes
  • Get to truly embrace the culture of the city
  • Learn about architecture in Berlin
  • Connect with a knowledgeable local
  • Hear fascinating stories and insights
  • Discover cultural highlights & their local relevance

What you can expect

Berlin in Stone: A Journey Through Symbolic Architecture in Berlin - AdobeStock_223736360.jpg

Berlin is a city where history, memory, and ambition are etched into its very stones. On this private tour, your local host will take you on an inspiring journey to discover the deeper meanings behind Berlin’s architecture.

Through the art of storytelling and carefully chosen stops, you’ll immerse yourself in the powerful symbolism that has shaped Berlin — from moments of triumph to periods of reflection. Architecture here isn’t just about design; it tells the story of Berlin’s identity, resilience, and vision for the future.

As you explore the city's symbolic landmarks, you’ll see Berlin from a fresh perspective. Dive into the stories behind Brandenburg Gate, a global icon of unity and peace; visit the Parliament of Trees, a living memorial to division and hope; and experience the dynamic transformation of Potsdamer Platz, a symbol of rebirth in the heart of Berlin. Every corner you turn reveals how memory and modernity coexist in this fascinating city.

Your local hosts are passionate storytellers, each bringing their own unique backgrounds — from history to the arts — to the experience. They can't wait to share their insights, personal anecdotes, and reflections with you! Want to tailor the route or focus on specific aspects of Berlin’s story? No problem — your host will be happy to customize the experience and help you discover Berlin through their eyes, making your visit truly unforgettable.

Choose your local

Get to know these 5 passionate locals, each bringing unique perspectives and talents. Choose your favorite, check their availability, and book to create an unforgettable adventure tailored to you.

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with the host of your choice.

  1. Meeting point

    Meet at In front of Maxim Café & Bar - Berlin to start your journey

  2. Itinerary

    This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

  3. Culture of the City

    On this private tour, you’ll experience and discover Berlin through its culture. Whether it’s focused on a tradition, a special part of town with a story to tell, cultural beliefs, or around a cultural activity that shaped the city into what it is - this tour will be a cultural awakening you can’t miss!
  4. Architecture in Berlin

    Your tour will focus on Architecture, a very important cultural subject in Berlin. Thanks to your local host, you’ll learn and see how Architecture made an impact in Berlin, making you experience the city from a different perspective.
  5. Cultural Highlights

    As you deep dive into the subject of your tour, you’ll make stops to visit unique spots that will give you a full picture of the city. Visit Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, Parliament of Trees, and more and see how these cultural highlights are part of the local life but have so much history behind them!
  6. Storytelling Journey

    As you discover the cultural side of Berlin, you’ll be able to embrace it thanks to the amazing stories and storytelling skills of your local host. Feel free to ask any questions and feel as if you are reliving history in the present time.
  7. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

Flexible cancellation policy

  • Feel confident booking

    Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

  • Change of plans?

    Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

  • Loved by travelers worldwide

    Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

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Ursula🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
8 June 2025
Excellent guide. We enjoyed every minute!!
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María Victoria
(About local )
2 June 2025
The most wonderful afternoon tour! Miha’s skills, knowledge and abilities were absolutely the best. His insights certainly has made our experiencing Berlin an everlasting memory. He provided not only the city’s history but shared stories that gave us a deeper understanding and perspective. And he was kind enough to answer all of our questions. It was our honor to meet and share this time with Miha. Outstanding walking tour
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Cameron🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
27 May 2025
If you’re looking for the perfect way to experience Berlin’s beauty and history, look no further than a private bike tour with Miha. I had the pleasure of doing just that, and it was easily one of the highlights of my trip to Germany. From the moment I met Miha, I knew I was in great hands. Energetic, knowledgeable, and full of charm, he guided me effortlessly through the heart of Berlin — from iconic landmarks to hidden gems I would never have found on our own. It was the ideal balance of storytelling and sightseeing: Miha brought the past to life with gripping anecdotes and a great knowledge of history, all while making sure I was enjoying the ride (literally!). Loved it!!!!!!Miha Made Berlin Shine!
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Joel
(About local )
27 May 2025
We had a wonderful tour with Alex. He was extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic and he was eager to share his insights and information about the neighborhoods in Berlin which we explored. I would highly recommend him and any tour he offers. You won’t go wrong!Tour with Alex
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Mark
(About local )
27 May 2025
Miha was great. He met us at our hotel and walked us to all the sites we were hoping to see. He provided tons of personal insight, including restaurant recommendations – we tried two; both were fantastic. Would highly recommend Miha for anyone looking for a unique and insightful tour of BerlinWonderful Experience
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Collette
(About local )
23 May 2025
We had a nice 3 hours tour. Juan was very knowledgeable about the history of Berlin. We highly recommend him! Informative friendly tour guide
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Kit
(About local )
22 May 2025
Betty was a breath of fresh air. Very knowledgeable around World War 2 and the cold war. Betty made learning easy and adapted the tour to be fully wheelchair accessible. Betty also showed us parts of Berlin that would be of interest to us for the rest of our stay that week. Thank you Betty from Kit and the team.New to Berlin
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Heather
(About local )
21 May 2025
Betty was a perfect companion for a day of touring around Potsdam. She was knowledgeable of local history and made sure to fill every minute with engaging conversation. I appreciated her flexibility when I wanted to explore two locations that caught my attention along the way, two short side quests. She even handled the train tickets, giving me a chance to observe how to use the rail system. We easily coordinated our meeting spot and itinerary via the app's chat feature. Betty's offer to recommend other notable places to visit after our tour was incredibly helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Betty and would choose her as my guide again.Knowledgeable, Friendly, and Fun!
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Richard and Garrett🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
19 May 2025
Betty was a fantastic guide; informative, thoughtful, entertaining, and knowledgeable. You will learn so much from her and see places you would not have thought to look up and see. Thank you for sharing Berlin with us!Wonderful Tour
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Inga
(About local )
19 May 2025
We were 6 ladies on a birthday weekend in Berlin and had the best time with Miha being our tour guide. He told us so many stories and historical facts about Berlin , related to the places , buildings we were passing, it was very interesting and fun at the same time. We also took many little side streets where Miha showed us such nice hidden spots, we absolutely loved it and want to come back for another tour with Miha!Awesome tour with MIHA
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Maggie🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
17 May 2025
Juan was able to provide an excellent summary on the history of Berlin which he combined with tolerance and good humour. Thank you.Knowledgable, efficient and very pleasant
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Jenny🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
14 May 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Betty, and we were so glad that we saw parts of Berlin that most tourists miss. Together with the more usual activities and "attractions" we'd already enjoyed, the afternoon enabled us to experience à more rounded and "real" impression of the city. Betty was willing and able to taylor the experience to fit our preferences, so we started off looking at architecture on Museum Island (Insel), continued to some fascinating shops & galleries in Hackescher Markt, & finished in a community arts centre in the "alternative" neighbourhood of Kreuzberg. Betty was a well-informed, energetic, enthusiastic and engaging guide, who was nevertheless prepared to go at our pace, and respond to what we wanted. This was definitely a tour for visitors wanting something different from, or in addition to, the popular tourist haunts, who are prepared to be open to new and sometimes edgy experiences and possibly have their assumptions challenged. A great afternoon "off the beaten track"
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Jody
(About local )
11 May 2025
Miha walked my 75 yr old mom and I through the history of Berlin. There is no way we would have gained so much knowledge on our own and Miha was a sweetheart to my mom walking at a nice pace. He is a top notch guide that is worth every penny! This is a must for Berlin. Thank you for such a memorable tourTrust us-Book Miha!
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Gian
(About local )
7 May 2025
Alex is an absolutely fantastic person and an outstanding guide! Not only is Alex incredibly knowledgeable about Berlin's history and culture, but he’s also a warm, engaging, and patient person. His English is excellent. Exploring the city with Alex is an absolute pleasure—his passion for Berlin is contagious, and his friendly, easygoing nature makes walking around berlin feel like a fun day out with a good friend. If you’re looking for someone who’s not only highly skilled but also a genuinely great person, Alex is the one. Highly, highly recommended!like a fun day out with a good friend
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Jill🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
6 May 2025
Betty was awesome so fun she made the tour really enjoyable!!
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Hector
(About local )
1 May 2025
I’d told myself I’d return to Berlin once all the pandemic stuff settled down, and I finally made it back in October 2022. Alex really knows his way around the city. He was flexible and accommodating when my cousin and I had some last-minute changes, which we really appreciated. Even though this was my third time in Berlin, there was still plenty I hadn’t seen. We got a great view of the city from a hilltop and popped into a second-hand bookstore that had tons of charm. Alex’s humor and energy really brought the experience to life. We walked away with a deeper appreciation for the city. Highly recommend his tours—even if you’ve been to Berlin before. Leslie and Hector a great view of the city
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Pixie
(About local )
26 April 2025
Danke Alex, dass du uns auf unsere Walking Tour durch Kreuzberg die vielen Fragen alle geduldig beantwortet hast. Und das auch noch zweisprachig. Es hat mir echt geholfen meinen internationalen Verwandschaftsbesuch zu unterhaltenWalking Tour durch Kreuzberg
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Lloyd
(About local )
22 April 2025
I had an amazing visit to Kreuzberg which will live on as a very special memory of my trip to Berlin - the very best of a number of good experiences. Juan introduced me to the unique history of this area and showed me how this is very much present in the atmospheric, beautiful, iconic and thought provoking streets and buildings we walked through. Juan's knowledge and passion for Berlin was my very great luck to share in. Thank you Juan for a very special afternoon in Kreuzberg. Unforgettable visit to Kreuzberg
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Anne Kathrine🇩🇰 Denmark
(About local )
11 April 2025
12 students in their mid-twenties and their trancher had the pleasure of a hip and historic guided tour around Berlin and especially X-berg and Friedrichshain. A great experience! A great tour around Berlin
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Patrick🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
9 April 2025
It was a great tour, we had so much fun. Betty is so energetic and passioned about Berlin. Was a shame that we only had so little time. Next time we will be back for longer, promise!great and energetic tour of Berlin
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Deborah
(About local )
3 April 2025
This was my first time in Berlin and I didn’t choose the tourist highlights although even on this ‘off the beaten track’ tour there were large groups of tourists going through these areas. Miha was very knowledgeable and helped orient me to the area and point out the street art. We had a beautiful sunny spring day to explore Berlin and I appreciated the artisanal coffee shop he took me to. The only downside was that he arrived late and could have been better at communicating this to me. He did answer quickly once I messaged him on the app. Great street art tour
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hm4fzkxw5x🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
25 March 2025
Our family including our 2 teenage boys recently did the history tour with Miha. He was a great guide and kept the interest of our boys. It was a great way to see some of the highlights of the city and to learn some history behind them. I would highly recommend a tour with Miha! Berlin Hstory Tour
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Prudence🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
20 March 2025
This was a first visit to Berlin for both my husband and myself and Miha was the perfect guide. His love for the city and his extensive knowledge shone through and he was endlessly patient with our many questions. We enjoyed his company and his willingness to share facts, anecdotes and personal experience. Thank you Miha for a great start to what had been a wonderful stay in Berlin!!A great introduction to Berlin!
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Robin🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
19 March 2025
Juan is very knowledgeable and easy to talk to. He is a nice person and is sensitive to all members of the group and their needs.Good tour
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Andrew🇳🇱 Netherlands
(About local )
9 March 2025
Great afternoon spent with Juan walking the streets of Berlin - very knowledgeable, good with the history of the city and a few interesting food stops along the way.Juan knows his stuff !
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Sammy
(About local )
24 February 2025
We had 6 days in Berlin and on our 5th day we felt like getting some insider info. That’s where Alex proved such a genial host. He met us at the hotel lobby and walked us through his neighbourhood, sharing both stories from when the wall was still up and his personal, contemporary insights. We took a couple brief breaks to rest along the way and got to see different areas of Kreuzberg, some grungy, others stately. We appreciated learning more about the rich history of this many-sided part of Berlin. I can confidently say that by the end of our walk we learned a ton. Thanks Alex. Also, your English is excellent. - Sammy and Fred learned a ton
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Talal Peace 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
(About local )
22 February 2025
Such a great tour with Betty. She’s full of positive energy and great fun personality. It’s was good time strolling around knowing the history of Berlin, visiting hidden gems, local spots and even beyond by recommending more places to check out. She’s very knowledgeable about the city history and art. Got to see nice stores for shopping as well. I really loved the graphite area. recommended tour with Betty. Great Tour with Betty
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Unknown
(About local )
14 February 2025
Excellent trip with Betty, kept us engaged and informed throughout and was a lot of fun too! Definitely recommend her passion for history and energy, never a quiet moment 😀Berlin on foot in the snow!
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Helena
(About local )
8 February 2025
What a breath of fresh air and inspiring enthusiasm Betty brought us whilst showing us “artsy Berlin”. Not only is Betty very knowledgeable and is she up to speed in what’s new and happening in Berlin, she is proved to be a great source of Berlin’s history and facts. Add to all this Betty’s pleasant and bubbly personality and you can guess what a wonderful time we had exploring Berlin. Betty; Bliss in Berlin
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Harvey
(About local )
3 February 2025
It was my first time in Germany in November 2024, so I took the kickstarter tour with Alex who was very knowledgable and generous with his time. Alex was happy to tailor the tour to my requests and introduced me to many sights I would otherwise have missed. It happened to be really rainy and windy that day. Alex was able to work around that and kept things running smoothly throughout the whole tour. It was a very short visit for me and I definitely got a lot more from the trip because of Alex. I highly recommend him. 5/5 Hvery knowledgable
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juan🇪🇸 Spain
(About local )
27 January 2025
Juan es un berlinés español desde hace muchos años. La ruta con el nos dio el punto de vista de un español inmerso en la cultura alemana. Fue atento e hizo la visita amena. Una mañana interesante
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Philipp
(About local )
19 January 2025
Alex kennt seine Stadt in und auswendig und zeigt einen die besten Orte in Berlin. Obwohl ich selbst regelmäßig in Berlin bin, hat mir Alex den ein oder anderen interessanten Ort zeigen können der mir selbst unbekannt war. Eine Tour mit Alex ist ein absoluter Muss für jeden der ein kulturelles Berlin abseits der Touristenströme entdecken will.Bester Tourguide in Berlin!!!
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Valentina
(About local )
10 January 2025
I have booked Juan, as our colleagues from Spain came to visit Berlin, therefore we thought it would be nice to have a Spanish guide who shows them around. It was an overall great experience with lots of fun, knowledge and just a good time. Gracias Juan!It was a great experience
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Joanne🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
9 January 2025
Miha was lovely. So informative too. Gave us a refresh of school history too as we were a little confused 😵‍💫 at times with Germanys and Berlin’s history. We loved it. Saw some awesome artwork on the walk too. Would recommend Miha as your tour guy. Really enjoyed our 3 hours with him. Thank you from your Aussie guests. Fun art and sights tour
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Faysal🇲🇦 Morocco
(About local )
5 January 2025
had the absolute pleasure of spending four hours with Betty on a tour exploring the history of Berlin and World War II, and I couldn’t recommend her enough! Betty is not just a guide; she’s an incredible storyteller with a fun, energetic personality that makes history come alive. What stood out the most was how effortlessly Betty wove historical facts about Berlin and its architecture into fascinating stories. She has a knack for presenting information in a way that’s engaging and easy to follow, even for those who might not typically find history exciting. Time flew by as she brought each monument and historical sight to life with insights you won’t find in history books. Betty also went beyond the typical tourist trail, taking me to hidden spots and little-known gems that gave the tour a unique, personal touch. Along the way, we had great conversations that made the experience even more enjoyable. I learned so much, had a fantastic time, and left with a deeper appreciation for Berlin’s rich history. If you’re looking for a tour guide who’s knowledgeable, entertaining, and truly passionate about what they do, Betty is the one. Highly recommended!insightful fun and engaging
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siobhan🇮🇪 Ireland
(About local )
2 January 2025
The tour was great fun and well worth doing, we saw little parts of Berlin we would have missed. Miha was very informative and really interesting stories to tell. The tour flew by. Very informative and great fun
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Alta🇿🇦 South Africa
(About local )
1 January 2025
We spend a lovely morning with Miha showing us the Christmas markets in Berln but in the process sharing much about the history of this lovely cityA fun walk through Berlin
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Katherine🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
27 December 2024
We had a great morning with Betty exploring the city and its street art. She was a great guide - highly recommend.Berlin streets
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Eliza🇸🇬 Singapore
(About local )
22 December 2024
We have a 12 & a 5 year old so It is not easy to lead a tour with children. But he was very patient & tried to tailor the tour to suit the family needs. He brought us to the key attractions and he took into consideration where we like to visit and dropped us off at our first x’mas market. ( we were doing a road trip in Germany) My son left his phone at the Holocust memorial he was quick to offer to go back to look for the phone. And by the grace of God, we found it! Thanks to the staff onsite who kept it safe for us. Overall, it was a great trip by Miha , thanks Miha!! A patient & experienced guide.
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Avon
(About local )
19 December 2024
Alex tried his best in showing and sharing stories of Berlin. He was not our chosen guide - our original guide Minha was unable to make it (despite confirming he could) and we were transferred to Seth who then bounced us to Alex. Honestly, was disappointing and was thrown off. On hindsight, I should have cancelled when Minha couldn’t make it. It was our first visit to Berlin and our first tour upon landing on Berlin. Was hoping the tour gave us insights and insider tip to Berlin but experience was in line with expectation despite it being a private tour. Berlin - discovery
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Carlos🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
13 December 2024
Miha was the best - Friendly, knowledgeable, and thoughtful. I cannot recommend him enough as your next Berlin tour guide. I’ve been to Berlin several times and Miha helped us to better understand the history of this amazing city. Thank you Miha for a wonderful tour! Incredible!
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Katherine
(About local )
9 December 2024
Juan has lots of knowledge and history of Berlin and shared in an entertaining way. We visited 4 different Christmas markets along the way. The tastings were not the expected result- one pretzel, one beer, one hot drink and one bratwurst and shared berliner…. Not what a sampler tasting of 6 would suggest for the price of 95 euros a person.Great knowledge but lacked value
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Graeme🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
9 December 2024
Betty really made our morning in Berlin, informative, funny and gave us a great insight to Berlin. The time flew, and we had a throughly enjoyable time. Thank you Betty and who ever else books a tour with you in in for a great time. Excellent Morning with Betty
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Jason🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 December 2024
The best experience by far .. seeing the art and the neighborhoods that would not typically have seen were the best part of trip . From the history to the markets , completely amazing day . Uygur was an amazing guide through the history of Berlin to the local neighborhoods …his knowledge and excitement of the area made the whole day …Perfect day
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Jason🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 December 2024
Wonderful day learning about and tasting the food, as well as learning the area on the tour .. Uygur was truly a pleasure and extremely informative about the local food and the areas the food was located . I highly recommend the tour and most definitely would recommend uygur as the guide ! Awesome experience
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Patrick 🇮🇹 Italy
(About local )
9 December 2024
Uygur is a friendly and knowledgeable guide. Easy going. We enjoyed his tour which gave us a good understanding of Berlin.
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Kathy🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
5 December 2024
We did the Highlights and Hidden gems of Berlin tour with Miha on our first day in Berlin. Miha showed us the locations and features of the city we would never have known were there . He was knowledgeable charming, warm and engaging . We can’t recommend him and the tour highly enough. Terrific
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Bodo
(About local )
2 December 2024
We had an amazing Kreuzberg tour with Uygur tailor-made to our needs. At the same time Uygur managed to give us an insight in his personal view of this fascinating Berlin borough. Thank you, so much!Fascinating Kreuzberg tour with Uygur
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Tony
(About local )
29 November 2024
I was met by Alex at the hotel who was waiting for me. He introduced himself gave a brief outline of how he knew Berlin so well and the exciting thing we were going to explore. Alex is an encyclopaedia of information on Berlin from its architecture to the politics around the fall of the wall. Alex was extremely well informed to the events of the war and the main areas of interest. He was sensitive to past and excited for the future of Berlin. Alex has a magical storytelling ability so as your are consumed with the tour. I can not recommend Alex enough, if you are looking for an amazing tour please book Alex you will not be disappointed. Tony Byrne London - September 2024 Requested duration: 3 hoursmagical storytelling ability
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Marianne🇲🇹 Malta
(About local )
11 November 2024
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Betty. She has a sparkling energetic personality and good stories to tell on route. Vibrant and interesting

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Private & personalizedNo strangers, just you. Fully customize your trip to your needs.
With a local expertFrom historical facts to the most up-to-date health regulations.
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Other City highlight tours in Berlin

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