Top Historic Berlin Sites - Self Guided Audio Walking Tours

Highlights

  • Offline Mode: Download tours and listen without WiFi

  • Location Aware: GPS map allows you to enjoy the sites

  • Instagram Hotspots: We find the perfect picture spots

  • Enjoy a private experience in a COVID-19 safe environment

Summary

Either in-person or from the comfort of your own home - this is a great way to explore Berlin and learn about its long history with these immersive podcast tours.

Tour info

Duration
1 hour 30 minutes -
Group Size
Pricing (From)
Adult: (5-90 years)
£14.99
Commentary
English
Meeting Point

6 Askanischer Pl., Askanischer Pl., Berlin, Berlin, 10963

Dropoff location

1 Platz d. Republik, Platz d. Republik, Berlin, Berlin, 11011

Why take this tour?

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. 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 the second tour narrated by a local historian, we’ll explore where the Berlin Wall once stood and learn about how Berlin has changed since its falling. 

Stroll around both East and West Berlin, visiting Anhalter Bahnhof, the Topography of Terror, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Reichstag and the Berlin Wall.

Discover how these areas became the birthplace of Second World War’s history, through its key architectural sightseeing spots, in a captivating historical walk in a must-see city.

With our two self-guided walking tours of Berlin you will discover more of this wonderful city and the history that has defined the area. In our first tour, join renowned historian Katie and culture vulture Colm as we hear about the Third Reich's rise to power and the build up to the Second World War. We’ll explore how Germany transformed in the 1930s and 40s, leading to the rise of the Nazi’s, the genocide of innocent citizens and the Second World War. 

On our second tour we explore both East and West Berlin, visiting Ackerstraße, Tunnel 57 and the Berlin Wall. Trace where the Berlin Wall once stood and learn how Berlin's place in the Iron Curtain defined the city for the second half of the 20th century. 

Start the Third Reich 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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Begin our tour of the Berlin Wall next to Start our tour of the Berlin Wall on the border between ‘Mitte’, a borough which belonged to the Soviets, and ‘Wedding’, part of the western French Sector. Take a look at a model of the Berlin Wall where we can see a bird’s eye view of how a clash of ideologies between capitalism and communism impacted Berlin physically. 

Visit the Memorial to the victims of the Berlin Wall, erected here in the former death strip in memory of those who lost their lives as a result of the division of Berlin. You can see beneath each face is a name and their dates of birth and death. Notice also, how there are some blank windows, representing indirect victims of the wall.

Cross the double-cobblestone brick line and head into into East Berlin, down Ackerstraße. Learn about the realities of communism for people living in East Berlin. Look out into the distance and spot the famous TV Tower and hea about the media and espionage during the Cold War.

Learn about Tunnel 57, 55 Strelitzer Straße and Egon Schultz in this story about a great escape from East Berlin. This story follows a team of engineering students who, between April and October 1964, secretly dug a 145 meter tunnel under the Berlin Wall to help their trapped family and friends escape.

Spot the iconic image of Konrad Schumann jumping over the barbed wire, into West Berlin and hear about how propaganda was used during the Cold War. Learn how loyal people really were to the system when presented with the opportunity to escape it.

Jumping forward to 1985, walk along the wall as you hear about protests, Poland and Mikhail Gorbachev. Take in some iconic photographs here of people rushing through the wall from East to West Berlin in 1989 as we hear about the Reunification of Berlin.

The Vidi Guides experience is enriched with on-screen photos and videos. We also point out where to take the perfect Instagram photos during the tour, and include recommendations for food, drinks, and local attractions. Don't worry, none of our recommendations are sponsored - they are simply favourites of the locals who helped craft the experience.

Vidi Guides creates immersive audio experiences that are like podcasts. This is a self-guided audio tour that can be started or stopped at your own convenience. Download the Vidi Guides app & your  tour to explore the area independently and safely! Make sure to download your tour before your visit to streamline your trip!

What’s included?

  • Access to your self-guided audio tour

  • Audio tour provided by a local or historian

  • Offline Mode: Download tours in advance to listen without WiFi

  • Location Aware: GPS map allows you to enjoy sites, without getting lost

  • Instagram Hotspots: We find the spot for your perfect picture

  • Headphones

  • Admission to Berlin Wall - £10

  • Admission to Reichstag Building - £15

  • Mobile device

Things to know

Before you book

  • This product is suitable for all ages

  • Do it at your own pace. This product is suitable for all fitness levels

  • English speaking Audio guide only

Before you go

  • You will need to bring your own mobile phone

  • You will need to bring your own headset/earphones

Covid Policy

  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience

This is a covid safe experience. Avoid the crowds and maintain social distancing with this independent tour.

Cancellation Policy

    Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund

Redemption information

    This is not your ticket! You will receive a separate email with a link to your tour. From that email, please click 'Download Now', install the Vidi Guides app, create an account within the app and click 'GetMyTour'. The tour will then be ready for download within your profile section. You can start the tour whenever you like!


    Your voucher will be collected or scanned on redemption

About operator:

Too many people visit places without discovering anything about them. And we can’t let that happen.


We believe that the true essence of travelling lies in the joy of discovering the authentic face of cities, neighbourhood and cultural sites, and unlocking the many tales they hold.


With that spirit in our hearts, we started out in search of these stories hidden in the nooks and corners of Paris, London, Cambridge and Oxford's most iconic spots. We then dived into each place’s culture, history, and traditions by collaborating with historians, famous architects, photographers, street artists, and many more. What we ended up finding was a treasure trove of stories that we have meticulously tied together just for you!


But how to deliver this information? We didn’t want to create another Wikipedia, with people looking at their phones instead of the sites. And let’s face it, audioguides and headsets belong to the 20th century.. This is why we’ve created our own storytelling format. Podcast-style tours, enriched with photos and videos, that keep you wanting more.


Our goal is to create a form of travel that will make you truly discover the places you visit.