Berlin Under the Cold War: A Journey Through Division in Berlin - AdobeStock_571898227.jpg
4.8

Berlin Under the Cold War: A Journey Through Division

  • 2.5 hours
  • City Highlight Tours
  • Berlin
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Choose one of 3 locals available

Experience hosted by Miha, Pablo & one other local

  • Private Tour
  • Carbon Neutral

Step into Cold War Berlin and explore the city’s divided past with a passionate local guide. Visit iconic landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall Memorial, and Checkpoint Charlie, and uncover powerful stories of espionage, escape, and resilience. Experience how Berlin’s history of division and unity still echoes through its streets today.

Destination
Berlin, Germany
Category
City Highlight Tours
Duration
2.5 hours
Transport mode
Walking tour
Available languages
English, Español, Deutsch, Српски, Hrvatski, Slovenščina, Italiano
Included
  • Private guide
  • All Withlocals tours are carbon neutral
Excluded
  • Entrance to attractions
  • Public transport

6 reasons to book this tour

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

What you can expect

Berlin Under the Cold War: A Journey Through Division in Berlin - AdobeStock_571898227.jpg

Berlin is a city shaped by the tides of history, and on this private tour, your local host will take you deep into the fascinating and dramatic story of the Cold War.

Through the vivid storytelling of your knowledgeable host and carefully chosen stops, you'll immerse yourself in Berlin's divided past and explore how the Cold War left its mark on the city’s culture, identity, and spirit. Discover how the tension between East and West shaped everyday life, architecture, and the very streets you walk on today — because understanding a city’s past is what makes exploring it truly unforgettable.

As you trace the echoes of the Cold War, you’ll uncover stories of borders, escape attempts, spies, and resilience. Your journey will lead you through Berlin’s historic city center, where you’ll visit iconic locations such as Brandenburg Gate, the Berlin Wall Memorial, and the famous Checkpoint Charlie. At each site, you’ll see how history and culture are woven into Berlin’s urban fabric, blending stark reminders of the past with the city's vibrant present.

Our local hosts are passionate storytellers with backgrounds in history, culture, and the arts. They can’t wait to share with you not only key facts but also personal anecdotes and little-known stories that bring Cold War Berlin to life. Want to personalize your tour? No problem — your host will be happy to adapt the route to match your interests, making their Berlin your Berlin.

Choose your local

Get to know these 3 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 Cafe Bar Central - 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. Cold War in Berlin

    Your tour will focus on the Cold War, a very important cultural subject in Berlin. Thanks to your local host, you’ll learn and see how the Cold War 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, Berlin Wall Memorial, Checkpoint Charlie, 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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Katie
(About local )
8 July 2025
We very much enjoyed our tour with Miha. He provided a lot of information and was very happy and able to answer our many questions, including questions about Berlin more broadly and not only the 'topic' of the tour. He was friendly and was flexible in his approach to the tour, taking into consideration what we had or hadn't already seen.Friendly and informative
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Drew🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
30 July 2025
We spent two hours with Miha as he took us on a walking tour of Berlin and into The Reichstag. Unlike other tour guides we’ve had in the past, Miha stayed with us, listening along to the audio tour and adding additional information and context to what was on the recording. He was also generous with answers about his family’s experiences with events in Europe over the last 80 years that really brought the history out of names and dates into the impact it had on people and their descendants. A friendly, knowledgeable guy, I’d highly recommend Miha. Making history personal
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Shamit🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
29 July 2025
Spending a few hours eating and drinking with Sara was an absolute pleasure. She accommodated my pescatarian teenager, despite Berlin not being a terribly seafood friendly city. Extremely knowledgeable and interesting throughout, not just with food, but also with respect to culture, history and politics. Learnt a lot, and a great introduction to the Kreuzberg district. Thoroughly enjoyed our time with Sara. Positive feedback from 2 teenagers as well!Excellent guide and food
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Sean🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
28 July 2025
We had a great time on our food tour with Sara. Sara is very knowledgeable of the history of Berlin while sharing with us culturally significant dishes. There’s a lot of food to try, and portions are big, so come hungry!Great way to explore Berlin!
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Trevor🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
23 July 2025
Miha was a wonderful guide - it was a great way to learn about Berlin to help shape the rest of our visit. Miha shared history, backstories and local secrets. We so enjoyed our conversations - we could ask anything and got an honest local perspective. Great way to start a vacation
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Jayme
(About local )
18 July 2025
Miha was a great guide! He navigated the city well and was very knowledgeable on history and interesting facts about the area. Would highly recommend him!Great guide!
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Jerry
(About local )
17 July 2025
Miha was knowledgeable and professional, he went the extra mile in every sense of the word. he knew the city and worked hard to make sure we got to see as much as possible.Be serious!
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Julio🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
13 July 2025
I recently did a 4-hour walking tour of Berlin with Miha, and it was nothing short of incredible. Miha brought the city to life with a perfect blend of history, culture, and local insight. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, he made sure we experienced both the must-see sights and the soul of the city. What truly stood out was Miha’s passion and depth of knowledge—he shared stories that were both powerful and thought-provoking, while keeping the tour engaging and accessible. Whether it was discussing Berlin’s complex past or pointing out the best local spots, he made every moment count. If you’re in Berlin and want more than just a sightseeing trip—something meaningful, informative, and inspiring—this tour is a must. Highly recommended! An Unforgettable Berlin Walking Tour!
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Agos🇦🇷 Argentina
(About local )
11 July 2025
Por favor no duden en reservar u tour con Pablo!! Realmente cambi toda su visita a Berlín! Pasamos por los mismos lugares que habíamos visitado solos pero tomaron una profundidad, una riqueza que nunca hubiésemos logrado sin él. Pablo es sumamente culto, informado y, a la vez, ameno, cálido, cercano. Fue mejor de lo que podríamos haber pedido. Respondió todas nuestras preguntas, adaptó el recorrido a nuestros intereses, fue super generoso con su tiempo. No suelo dejar reviews pero realmente quiero transmitir lo importante de hacer esto, cambia todo!!!!! Como una viñeta representativa: ayer pasamos por un lugar que, pensamos, era una biblioteca refaccionaría. Hoy, con Pablo, no esteramos que en realidad era una sala homenaje a la quema de libros nazi y toda la historia por detrás. Es eso: conocer la ciudad o solo caminar sus calles. Arreglen con Pablo y conozcan de verdad Berlín. Gamechanger in your visit!
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Emma
(About local )
9 July 2025
Miha gave a good overview of the Jewish monuments and places.
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Jennifer🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
9 July 2025
Miha ist ein sehr sympathischer Mensch mit einer tollen Art einem das Leben und die Geschichte Berlins näher zu bringen. Wir hatten eine tolle Zeit. Vielen Dank. Ein schöner Tag in Berlin
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Lauren
(About local )
19 June 2025
Sara was very engaging and passionate about the subjects we walked around We were also very grateful she stood us in the shade on a 30 degree day!Hugely passionate and knowledgeable
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Martha and Bill🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 June 2025
We scheduled a kickstart tour with Miha while in Berlin recently. Found him to be very knowledgeable about Berlins history and showed us a lot in the amount of time allotted for this tour. We especially liked that he helped us navigate the subway - so helpful! Don't hesitate to use him for your next tour!
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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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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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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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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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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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Riju🇬🇧 United Kingdom
(About local )
30 March 2025
First visit to Berlin, and we booked this experience for day one. What a phenomenal walking tour with Pablo. He made us feel relaxed and we built an instant rapport. Great facts and trivia about Berlin and German history. We would recommend this experience and especially Pablo, who even managed to organise a stunning sunset (lol!) at the end of the tour. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Heavenly historical hike!
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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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Shona
(About local )
5 March 2025
This was the best way to get to know Berlin on our first trip to the city. Pablo showed us the big sights, but took us to less well known places that we would not have otherwise visited. He told us the history and stories behind the sights which was exactly what we wanted from the tour. He was super friendly and fun to be with for the afternoon and patient and accommodating when I wanted to stop to take photographs. I would have no hesitation in recommended Pablo as your tour guide.Under the skin of Berlin with Pablo
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Martin
(About local )
30 January 2025
Realmente Pablo un excelente guía para saber los detalles de Berlin Recomendable 100%Espectacular!
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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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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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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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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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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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Mhairi
(About local )
25 November 2024
Sara was lovely and insightful giving us a great small history lesson while showing us delicious food from lots of culturesGreat tour
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Nicolo🇩🇪 Germany
(About local )
1 November 2024
We had great time with Miha for our Berlin tour. He has been very knowledgeable and adaptable considering that we had already visited certain sightseeing the day before. I especially appreciated the time he dedicated to our 9 year old son, answering with patience to all his questions! It has been a good combination of classic historical facts, combined also with many insider tips ! Highly recomendable!Family tour
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Edir
(About local )
25 October 2024
Miha was what I expected to be. Very knowledgeable, answers our questions and It was a pleasure for us to be with him those 4 hours. Wonderful tour and guide
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Theresa🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
24 October 2024
Sara was wonderful. Very knowledgeable, shared historic sights with us and was completely engaged with us.WW2 Walking Tour of Berlin
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Javier🇪🇸 Spain
(About local )
21 October 2024
If you want to know Berlin from another perspective , Pablo is the best option. He can show you the places where locals go, what they do and how to enjoy the city and its genuine flavours. We will ask Pablo again to share his experience with us next time we come back! Thanks !A very good choice!
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Kathy
(About local )
18 October 2024
We received a perfect history tour from Sara on our first visit to Berlin. She was immensely knowledgeable, answering questions with patience and great insight. We went over our allotted time of four hours and the time went by so quickly! Sara was a wonderful ambassador for Berlin!An amazing tour of Berlin!
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Sherry
(About local )
13 October 2024
I can’t say enough good things about my tour with Miha! It was an incredible & amazing tour. Miha is very knowledgeable & geared my tour towards the history of Berlin & lots of fun facts along the way. He was so kind & it was a pleasure to tour with him. Miha even taught me some things I did not know about the S bahn & U bahn (such as the differences in the tickets and how to tell when the approaching train was full or semi full through the red lights.) Miha took me to the roof top of a building (I can’t remember the name) & we viewed beautiful Berlin from a different perspective. It was amazing! Miha even offered to help me purchase tour tickets and restaurant recommendations. He is a phenomenal & brilliant tour guide. I would highly recommend Miha as your tour guide. Excellent tour guide!
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Marta🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
9 October 2024
Miha was excellent at communicating with us and was flexible when our train schedule changed. We enjoyed his knowledge about Berlin and Felt that the pace of the tour was just right. We never felt rushed. Miha made the tour interesting and enjoyable. We highly recommend Miha! Loved our tour with Miha!
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Megan🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
27 September 2024
Miha was a great guide. He is very informative and seems to really enjoy sharing his knowledge. He was able to answer all of our random questions. The tour was well paced and we felt we fit a lot in the 4 hours we spent with him. He gave some good tips on other places to see while in Berlin and taught us how to use the subway. We would highly recommend Miha if you are visiting Berlin. Would definitely use him again.
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Deveri🇦🇺 Australia
(About local )
23 September 2024
We enjoyed a personal tour with Miha, who knows Berlin extremely well. He took us all over the city while explaining the significance of various landmarks as they relate to WWII. Miha knew the answer to all our random questions and was fun to be with. The tour gave us a lot to think about and discuss later. The following days we were able to visit some of the museums and sites that Miha showed us during our exploration of Berlin. We also enjoyed an excellent Vietnamese restaurant recommended by Miha called King King. If you are planning a trip to Berlin I recommend you tour the city with Miha!!Berlin Live
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jacqui
(About local )
18 September 2024
Sara was an INCREDIBLE representative for WithLocals. She reached out ahead of time to be sure we were up for walking in the heat and adjusted her pace for us as we recovered from jet lag. She's extremely knowledgeable and so engaging to listen to. She set us up for success for our whole trip, including a crash course on public transit. We absolutely loved our time with her and would come back to Berlin just to go another tour with her.The Absolute Best
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Jocelyn🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
17 September 2024
One if the nicest guides I have ever had. The time we spen with him was the best. He was kind and informative. Kept the pace for my 81 year old mother. Don't know how he did it, but we even got a full rainbow at sunset. ☆☆☆☆☆
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Carolyn 🇺🇸 United States
(About local )
13 September 2024
Really enjoyed hearing about the local artists and the art scene during our walk around Kruezberg. Miha was great adding touches from his and his friends experiences. Definitely recommended.Great walk around Kreuzberg!
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Stefan🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
8 September 2024
Wir haben einen Grossartigen Eindruck von Berlin und gute Erklärungen von Miha bekommen. Besten Dank!Grossartiger Eindruck von Berlin
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Ronan🇮🇪 Ireland
(About local )
17 August 2024
Sara, is such a lovely guide. Gave us lots of background information about Berlin and Germany. We had seen some of the main attractions so she gave us additional information on them. She changed the tour and got to see lots of off the beaten track areas and interesting information. Our teenage kids throughly enjoyed the tour. Would recommend Sara to people to get an understanding of Berlin and German history.Amazing educational tour
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Hagai🇮🇱 Israel
(About local )
16 August 2024
Miha was great, with a lot of knowledge and made first day in Berlin very interesting!Great tour with Miha!
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Mélusine🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
8 August 2024
I lived in Berlin for one year in the early 90's. I've been coming back on a regular basis for 12 years now, to meet my friends and breath Berlin's air and vibes. I booked a tour with Sara for me and my 3 quite grown up daughters, who love Berlin and are interested in history and like to learn new stuff. Sara is a wonderful guide. She explained us in a very easy going way and very pedagogically how Berlin turned into the important and very special city she now is. She told us many vivid things about WWII, the raise of Nazism, how Germany became Germany. She took us to places random tourists never go to. Sara is a professional but in no way a "boring teacher". She brought up a critical view on the German history. Furthermore she's a very nice person. And she suggested us a wonderful restaurant she particularly likes for our lunch. We absolutely recommend Sara as guide and thank her very much. Marvelous fascinating tour and guide!
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Laura🇨🇦 Canada
(About local )
2 August 2024
Miha was a wonderful host. He took us to places we would have never found on our own. He was a wealth of interesting Berlin knowledge. Thank you Miha!!!A Fantastic Afternoon
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Thomas🇨🇭 Switzerland
(About local )
1 August 2024
Miha hat es verstanden uns Berlin in seinen Worten zu erklären und zu zeigen. Er hat uns mit seiner aufgeschlossenen und freundlichen Art mehr als „nur“ die Sehenswürdigkeiten von Berlin gezeigt. Wir können ihn als Guide nur bestens weiter empfehlen. Symaptisch und freundlich

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