• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Go beyond the typical tourist sites and explore Berlin's multicultural scene. Experience creative street art, fabulous subway stations, a beautiful park, Nazi-era buildings next to Germany's oldest mosque, and get to know the "real" Berlin that few visitors get to see!

Destination

Berlin, Germany

Category

Off The Beaten Track

Duration

3.5 hours

Transport mode

Public Transport

Available languages

English, Français, Deutsch

Included

• Private guide

What you can expect

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 Martin .

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Fehrbelliner Platz - Berlin to start your journey

   View on Maps

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. Check out a local mosque

   Berlin is a melting pot of cultures, check out this beautiful local mosque, Germany's oldest and arguably most beautiful

4. U-Bahn station

   Check out one of Berlin's prettiest U-Bahn Stations

5. Short ride

   Take the U-bahn to the Südstern-Kreuzkölln neighborhood

6. Impressive bunker

   Admire an impressive nineteenth-century gasometer that was later turned into a bunker and then into luxury homes in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin

7. Beautiful fountain

   Take a look at a beautiful fountain that holds a unique story

8. Former hospital

   See how the former Urban Hospital has now been converted into a stunningly beautiful apartment complex replete with park, playground, and Buddhist Centre

9. Synagogue visit

   Learn more about the Fraenkel Synagogue, its tumultuous history and its architect

10. Turkish market

    Wander through a colorful local favorite Turkish market

11. Bye bye

    Criss-cross through one of Berlin's hippest neighbourhoods and be surprised at the diverse range of stores, bars, and cafes. Stroll to U-Bahn Herrmann Platz ... say goodbye!

12. 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.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

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

Owen🇺🇸 United States

8 July 2024

As we had previously been to Berlin, we were looking for something a bit different and Martin provided us with a real jewel of a tour. We enjoyed an amazing and entertaining tour of some of Berlin's lesser known, but truly interesting historical sites. Martin was happy to curate a tour that addressed our specific request to visit a cemetery, as well being so knowledgeable to modify the tour on the fly when we were running up against a time deadline. Martin clearly loves Berlin and loves showing it off. We cannot recommend Martin enough and assure all that you will not be disappointed. Berlin's History Hidden in Plain Sight

alexandra

7 June 2024

I recently had the pleasure of exploring Berlin with Martin, and it was an incredibly enjoyable experience. Martin's deep, local knowledge of the city brought hidden gems to life in a way that a typical tour never could. His passion for history and attention to the details that matter made each stop fascinating and memorable. Martin's charm and engaging storytelling made the tour both educational and entertaining. He has a knack for uncovering the stories behind Berlin's iconic and lesser-known sites, making the city's rich history accessible and intriguing. If you're looking to see Berlin beyond the usual tourist spots and want to learn about the city's hidden gems, I highly recommend Martin. His tours offer a unique perspective that history enthusiasts and curious travellers alike will appreciate. A highlight of our 72 hours in Berlin

Brigitta🇩🇪 Germany

11 May 2024

Wir hatten eine wunderbare Führung mit Martin und haben dabei sehr viele interessante Informationen erhalten und einige Spots abseits der Touristenpfade erkundetSuper Führung

Regine🇧🇪 Belgium

22 April 2024

We discovered with charming Martin the heart of Kreuzberg, SO36 : streetart "Nature Morte" of ROA (Belgian streetartist, thx, Martin!) en other local streetartists; Rüdesheimer Platz: a lovely place to come back in summer to taste the good wines of the Rhine region, sous les platanes. He introduced us the Oranienstrasse, a little deviation by the VOOstore & The Orania Hotel. A meeting with "the Grenzgänger" (Stephan Balkenhol) at the Axel Springer-Haus. The Sugar Walhalla (House of Sweets Berlin) or the Lindner Esskultur? Les gouts et les couleurs ne se discute pas :) Thanks, Martin, you were the cherry on the cake on this birthdaytrip for Inge! To choose for Martin is to choose for "les finesses de la vie"'!Martin, man of the world

Nic🇬🇧 United Kingdom

28 August 2023

Being guided around "Hidden Berlin" by someone that has lived here before reunification and with such a depth of knowledge was the best experience. We have left Berlin with a deeper understanding than we would have had from just visiting the top sites. History was all around us and Martin helped us to see it Inside knowledge

Damian🇩🇪 Germany

22 February 2023

Wir können eine Tour mit Martin nur empfehlen. Martin ist problemlos auf unsere Sonderwünsche eingegangen und hat die Tour auf unsere Bedürfnisse zugeschnitten. Kommunikation top, Tour top, Martin top 👍 Vielen Dank nochmal auch an dieser Stelle! Absolute Empfehlung - gerne wieder!

Ian🇬🇧 United Kingdom

15 February 2023

We spent a good few hours with Martin on a combo bespoke tour combining WW2 with hidden Berlin. Martin was incredibly thorough and knowledgeable, fun and conversational. In short, everything we love about Withlocals! Would highly recommend!Very enjoyable tour with Martin!

Mie Østrup🇩🇰 Denmark

20 December 2022

We did a 3.5 hour tour with a group of 12 people. Though it was a very cold day and most of us were tired (and a bit hung over) Martin was able to make the content so interesting that all of us had a fabulous tour. Great to expierience new parts of Berlin!! Martin speaks a very good English and was very friendly and professionel. Thanks for a great expierience, Martin!!Talented, professionel and inspiring!!

Richard🇬🇧 United Kingdom

4 October 2022

Thanks so much for your friendly and knowledgeable insight into a Berlin we would not otherwise have experienced. It was a marvelous tour!Really interesting tour

Jeanette🇬🇧 United Kingdom

28 September 2022

Martin was so knowledgeable and this tour was really interesting, visiting areas of Berlin generally off the tourist track. I would definitely book another tour with Martin who was a lovely warm individual great at imparting information, and I recommend this tour to anyone wanting to see a bit more of Berlin and who would like a greater understanding of the history/ culture of Berlin. Fabulous tour Fantastic Berlin Tour

Arne🇩🇪 Germany

23 August 2022

Martin has been an amazing tour guide! He is a worldly, open person who's very knowledgable about the city's history. His storytelling is highly engaging and we loved to listen to the stories about the different districts and hidden places of Berlin, discovering a new and exciting side of the city. I can only recommend Martin for your tour, you will definitely enjoy this experience. Discovering Berlin's hidden places

Nik🇺🇸 United States

12 July 2022

Martin is knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about the history of Berlin and the way we tell it today. Would recommend to all my friends!10/10

צביקה🇮🇱 Israel

17 June 2022

We took the Tour with Martin to the hidden places in Berlin. The tour was really an "eye opener" for us, as Martin succeeded to touch so many aspects of Berlin history by visiting those places that are not on the touristic main track. Martin is very knowledgeable, ready to discuss issues that rose from other opinions, and it was really an excellent partner for exchanging of ideas and opinions. Martin was very helpful by assisting us with minor logistic issues, and the tour was really a time very very well spent. If you are interested in history and want a very interesting and different angle - we warmly recommend this tour with Martin.The hidden Berlin with Martin

Erdem🇦🇹 Austria

6 June 2022

Excellent tour with a highly knowledgeable tour guide. We saw many hidden gems and got a good feel for the different aspects of Berlin. Martin really knows his stuff, but makes you feel at ease and interacts very well with his guests.Wonderful and informative

Philip🇺🇸 United States

25 January 2022

Martin did a great job taking me around various Berlin neighborhoods, all very different from each other, and explaining the history behind these areas and why they developed in the way that they did. When you ask him a question, his deep knowledge becomes very apparent, as he can go in depth, for example: about the less-known history of the interactions between the Jewish and Islamic communities in Berlin. I asked him to conduct the tour in German (so I could practice), but when I didn't understand something, he seamlessly switched to English to clarify. Berlin is a cool city, and it's even cooler when you know some of its lesser known history -- thanks Martin.Let Martin show you Berlin

Marc🇩🇪 Germany

6 October 2021

Tolle Tour mit Martin an einem verregneten und trüben Tag in Berlin. Martin führte mit vielen Informationen und Anekdoten durch die verschiedenen Stadtviertel Berlins. Die Tour war jederzeit sehr unterhaltsam und trotz der nicht optimalen Rahmenbedingungen durch das schlechte Wetter absolut kurzweilig. Werde bei meinem nächsten Berlinaufenthalt gerne wieder eine Tour mit Martin buchen!Spannende unbekannte Seiten Berlins

Duurt🇳🇱 Netherlands

30 July 2021

Martin is a gentle, entertaining, kind guide who is full of great stories. He takes you to places you usually would NEVER see in a city. I would absolutely recommend him! Martin is great!

Robert🇬🇧 United Kingdom

2 January 2020

We took this tour with Martin on a very cold New Years Day and it was excellent. Martin has an incredible depth of knowledge and his passion for the history of Berlin really comes across. We enjoyed his good humour and felt nothing was too much trouble. This tour really shows you another side of Berlin and gives you an understanding of the formation and development of the city. When we return to Berlin we will absolutely be getting in touch for another tour.Really Interesting and Informative Tour

Yasmine🇫🇷 France

26 October 2019

Le meilleur du berlin caché est un super tour qui permet de voir Berlin d'une autre facette. Faîtes le sans hésiter. Vous ne regretterez pas de rencontrez Martin et ses explications. Encore merci.Super =)

Dean🇩🇪 Germany

4 September 2019

Although I have been living in Berlin I was looking to explore areas and new aspects which I would have never come across on my own. Martin was the Perfect Guide für that. My parents came for a visit and we took the tour together. We enjoyed it very much. Martin is very Well read and is a real walking history encyclopedia! The places and buildings we have walked by all had a unique story. As tourists we would have never come across them on a travel Book/website. We were looking to see the city differently. Apart from all the well known sight-seeing. And Martin managed to present it to us very well. Highly recommended!! Many thanks Hidden Berlin Walking Tour

Duncan🇱🇺 Luxembourg

10 August 2019

Martin was an excellent host and his sidekick Lucas kept us well "on track". From the very outset Martin revealed the secrets of buildings we would have just walked straight past without blinking, took us into quiet residential streets where nearly forgotten stories of Berlins past still survive and into the underground to discover artifacts left in plain sight by the builders of Berlin. It was a fantastic tour, even for someone who has visited Berlin many times, revealing things that even the locals might have missed. We would highly recommend Martin (and Lucas if his schedule is clear) to anyone wanting to discover more of Berlin than just the tourist attractions.What the tourists miss

Lori🇨🇦 Canada

26 July 2019

If you have any question about Berlin, or even Germany Martin is the gentleman to ask. Incredibly knowledgeable. This tour gave myself a valuable look at the other side" of Berlin. We come from Canada and I'll be honest my kids were interested in most of the things that Martin was showing us, but many of the dates and facts were a bit over their heads. Martin was a pleasure to meet and you will not be disappointed with your tour. If you have the time while visiting the city by all means book one of the tours - we did the hidden gems tour! This is the guy to ask

Raj🇺🇸 United States

10 July 2019

I had seen the major sites of Berlin on previous visits, so was drawn to the possibility of seeing Hidden Berlin. Personable and knowledgeable, Martin showed me parts of Berlin that I would not have discovered on my own, among others a beautiful uncrowded town square surrounded by an early 20th century housing development, and a tree-lined canal where swans gathered. Not only was he able to discuss in detail the history and sociology of the places we visited, but he did so in an engaged and engaging manner. The tour was well organized. It was also comfortably paced and gave me time to photograph, absorb, and converse about what we saw. I wanted to take another tour with Martin, but he was already booked for my remaining days in Berlin. I’ve had guides in many countries around the world. Martin ranks with the best, and may well have been the most informed when it came to historical facts and social context about the sites visited. When the tour ended he also gave me pointers on top restaurants in Berlin. He is completely fluent in English. If you book a tour with him, be prepared for a delightful and informative experience.

Jaye🇦🇺 Australia

26 June 2019

My friend and I were so glad that we decided to seek out a more off the beaten track tour in Berlin. "Hidden Berlin" hosted by Martin was terrific. We visited pockets of Berlin that we would never have discovered on our own. Martin is passionate about his city and had a wealth of knowledge about its history and culture to share with us. He was friendly and courteous. Highly recommended!Hidden Berlin

Mike🇨🇦 Canada

17 June 2019

This was my third tour with Martin and he never fails to impress. This time we did a mostly customized tour which began in Potsdamer Platz and ended with a well-earned beer just past Christopher Isherwood's house. During the tour visited lots of historically and politically relevant sites. But the highlight (believe it or not) was likely when Martin charmed his way past the gatekeeper of the world's most decadent powder room and allowed us to stand mouths agape in wonder for several minutes. It was a place that really needs to be seen to be believed. Martin always knows where to find magic in this city.The Only Tour Guide You

Tomás🇩🇰 Denmark

30 May 2019

Martin, besides being a lovely person, knows a ton about Berlin. We had a private tour of 2 and saw so many parts of the city we would never have seen otherwise, adding of course Martin’s knowledge of what the buildings were before and are now, WWII and about local places where you’ll be the only tourists. We definetely recommend a tour with Martin, as he was easy to talk with, was personal and tailored it to our interests.Historic places in modern daytime

Ricardo Gentil🇧🇷 Brazil

27 May 2019

After 3 tours, one with locals, one with the hop on hop of bus and one with a professional tour guide in Berlin, I was really afraid I would see more of the same with Martin, but fortunately that was not the case!! Great tour, really hidden places and vast knowledge about history and the city!! Thanks Martin, very good experience!!Really Hidden, awesome!!

Frans🇳🇱 Netherlands

23 May 2019

Yesterday we had a super morning with Martin. In just 3 hours Martin took us to many unknown parts of Berlin. Martin knows so much about the hidden parts of the city and he can tell very interesting stories. Away from the crowded touristic parts, just you and Martin. Next time when we are in Berlin we will ask Martin again for a tour in the city.When in Berlin: go with Martin (highly recommended)

MARSHA🇺🇸 United States

8 May 2019

We really enjoyed this tour that took us to less familiar but stunning neighborhoods with historic relevance and pleasurable sites traveling the rail was also a treat martin is extremely knowledgeable and was an excellent tour guide Excellent tour of hidden berlin wi martin

David🇺🇸 United States

7 May 2019

What a delight it was spending time with Martin seeing the less touristy areas of Berlin. Martin is a wealth of knowledge & his passion for Berlin is infectious. We enjoyed every minute with him and we learned so much about the city, the war & the reunification. He was also invaluable in giving us tips on where to see the best street & urban art....a huge thank you to Martin and we reccomend him highly. David Bistrin & Terri Levich, San Francisco, CAOff the beatin path with Martin

Claudia🇺🇸 United States

7 May 2019

I booked Martin same day for an afternoon Hidden Berlin tour, and was so glad I did. My husband and I had 3 enjoyable hours learning about many different locations and unique spots around Berlin. Berlin is absolutely huge - we learned from Martin that it is about 9 times the size of Paris! So you sure have lots to cover. Martin has created a unique tour that covers different areas and unique historical or modern spots in each one. Super personable and easy going Martin was well informed and provided lots of great historical information as well. Thank you Martin!Excellent and informative tour with Martin

Tania🇦🇹 Austria

11 March 2019

Eine Tour mit Martin ist immer eine Bereicherung. Diesmal hat Martin für uns eine neue Berlinführung kreiert, eine abwechslungsreiche Tour, in der er "Hidden Berlin " und "Kreuzberg" kombiniert hat. Martin ist für uns der perfekte Local guide, professionell, gut vorbereitet, gebildet, eloquent und immer für eine Überraschung gut. Wir können Martin wärmstens empfehlen 😃 Tania Hidden Berlin & Kreuzberg

Mark

11 January 2019

I can't abide walking tours, particularly with guides. I've always had better luck walking around on my own. Then, I met Martin. And, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with Martin this past December in Berlin. His knowledge of the area, both from the standpoint of what it's been and what it is today was interesting, captivating, and constantly fresh. His film scholarship background is evident in the way he relates a storyline; be it about a building, a person, or an event. This was not a guided tour. It was a conversation and walk around town with a new friend. Do yourself a favor and book a tour with Martin. You'll spend the afternoon/day with a delightful person whose knowledge and willingness to answer questions is as refreshing as it is engaging.On Foot Through Berlin

Ingrid🇨🇦 Canada

8 January 2019

Ingrid and I really enjoyed spending time with Martin, he is very passionate and knowledgeable about the history of the areas we toured on our walk together. Martin took us to a number of Berlin neighborhoods, some that we probably wouldn’t have discovered on our own. Our time with Martin was a real pleasure, his enthusiasm and insights gave us a great start to our very enjoyable visit to Berlin. Thanks. Alex & Ingrid Thanks Martin,

Stephen🇺🇸 United States

28 December 2018

Martin was knowledgeable, personable, flexible, and responsive to our needs. In short, the perfect guide. The tour ranged from the historical to the hipster, and we enjoyed it all. His familiarity with the neighborhoods' history and culture was immense (and entertaining), and his dining recommendations were delicious. Hidden Berlin, easy to find and enjoy with

Turlough🇬🇧 United Kingdom

12 November 2018

We spent a very pleasant and interesting few hours with Martin visiting areas in Berlin that we had never experienced on prior trips. Martin is very knowledgeable on both the history of the city and current issues and well capable of customising a trip to your interests. We hope to do a tour with him again the next time we're in this great city. Turlough & IngridHidden Berlin

David 🇨🇦 Canada

31 October 2018

From the start you could feel Martin’s enthusiasm and love for Berlin. He pointed out details on buildings, parks, and neighbourhoods that one would not generally see and appreciate on their own. Really enjoyed traveling by subway as it gave us exposure to a variety of attractions in a short time frame. Martin had his four legged friend “Luca” with him who seemed to know Berlin as well as Martin. Highly recommend spending time with Martin to get a real feel for the City. Berlin’s Hidden Gems

Vanessa🇬🇧 United Kingdom

1 September 2018

Martin was a lovely, well educated guide who made us feel very welcome. The tour was great because it showed us areas of Berlin we wouldn’t have seen otherwise and also gave us a glimpse into the Berliners lifestyle. Martin was easy to chat to and was open to talking about all sorts of topics including answering all our questions! It was a shame the areas were mostly closed at the time of day we had requested to do the tour and I would recommend a late afternoon when more restaurants etc are open so there’s more to see. We still loved it however. Thank you Martin!Fantastic!

Rory

29 August 2018

We had come to Berlin with the kids for a few days, and took in all the unmissable sights and museums, However, we knew that we wanted something more to give us a bit of background and context. Martin's tour gave us exactly what we wanted, and it was superb. We loved the idea of the A-side and the B-side side which gave a super background to the history (right up to the present) of living in both West Berlin and East Berlin. His choice of places was spot on, and the subject matter was gritty and interesting. In addition to this Martin is an absolutely charming host, and I thoroughly recommend his tour to anyone looking for a bit more than the obvious stuff. I won't say anything about his choice of sights as I don't want to spoil it. Thank you Martin, we enjoyed every minute of it. Keep up the good work. Rory and Vanessa.The icing on the cake.

Kathrin🇺🇸 United States

22 August 2018

We booked the “best of hidden Berlin” tour with Martin. What an amazing time! Martin was not only extremely knowledgeable, but also very charming and personable. And he brought his adorable little dog Lukas! Having lived inBerlin 25 years ago, I was very interetested in all the changes the city had gone through, and this tour did not disappoint. I highly recommend Martin and can’t wait to come back and experience his new guided tour of 20 century icons!Amazing tour of the not so touristy places

Jade🇨🇦 Canada

19 August 2018

I went for a one-on-one afternoon ‘hidden Berlin’ tour with Martin on my first day in Berlin. It was fun to discover some interesting pockets that I would never have found on my own. I was planning to do the famous sites on another day so Martin gave me something different. It was very relaxed and casual and we ended at the Turkish market having a drink and listening to live music, which was fun. Martin was full of knowledge and a charming companion. I highly recommend him. A great peak at interesting neighbourhoods

Karine🇫🇷 France

5 August 2018

We highly recommend Martin's hidden Berlin tour. The withlocals' tours give a wonderful opportunity to have locals share their Berlin stories and preferred places only locals know of. With Martin you will have on top that a very friendly professional trained guide with a deep knowledge of the city's culture and history. The best hidden Berlin tour

Deb🇩🇪 Germany

27 July 2018

We just spent the morning with the very engaging and amiable Martin. We saw parts of Berlin that would never have been on our radar otherwise. His knowledge of the city was vast and he was able to answer so many questions. We learned about the unique cultures and the history of this vibrant city. What a fantastic way to start our visit. We have a list of great restaurants to visit and plenty of things to do. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this tour.Amazing experience!

Sandra🇳🇱 Netherlands

5 July 2018

We had a great walk through the city with Martin. Martin took us to the lesser-known areas and especially the streets and the stories behind them, which are not in the tourist booklets. Very nice! Martin has a lot of knowledge of the area, the history and the people. Very cozy morning, nice things seen and learned. Thank you Martin!Recommended!

Isabel 🇩🇰 Denmark

22 May 2018

We had the most amazing trip around Berlin, thanks to Martin. We had chosen "The Best of Hidden Berlin" tour, and Martin was the perfect guide: Knowledgeable about history, art, film, and architecture. Add to that he was willing to share the great places to drink coffee, have lunch made it a truly memorable trip. Don't forget to ask Martin to bring along his adorable dog - then you'll get in touch with even more people, especially on the underground! The Best of Hidden Berlin

Lenny🇺🇸 United States

21 May 2018

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Martin, he showed us parts of Berlin we would not have seen on our own. Martin's knowledge of Berlin's culture and history past and present added greatly to the tour. We highly recommend Martin as a tour guide. Lenny and Andrea A Great Tour With Martin

Sarah🇫🇷 France

11 May 2018

Superbe découverte de Berlin avec Martin qui parle très bien français ! Ça permet de voir Berlin d'un autre œil avec une personne qui connaît très bien l'histoire de Berlin. Découverte artistique, religieuse et surtout culturelle ! Nous avons passé un agréable moment ! Merci Martin ! Intéressante découverte

Regina🇺🇸 United States

27 April 2018

We had a fantastic day with Martin. He is extremely informative and entertaining. Our tour with him was definitely a highlight in our visit to this beatutiful city. I would highly recommend Martin’s tour to everyone.Hidden Berlin Tour

Kiri🇳🇿 New Zealand

23 April 2018

Had a great morning with Martin taking us around the not so known parts of Berlin. Martin was a wealth of information and we found him very interesting and easy to get along with. Highly recommend this tour to visitors to Berlin. The Best of Hidden Berlin

Jürgen🇩🇪 Germany

18 March 2018

Vielen herzlichen Dank Martin, für den kurzweiligen Trip durch die jüngere Geschichte Berlins! Es hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht und meine Frau und ich haben einige neue Informationen erhalten und konnten viele Eindrücke sammeln. Trotz eisigem Wind hast Du nie deine Erzähllaune verloren! Vielen Dank! Beste Grüße JürgenWWII-Trip durch das eiskalte Berlin!