ABOUT THE Communist Berlin and Berlin Wall Free Tour
On this 2-hour walking tour, an experienced local guide gives you a true and accurate account of life in Berlin on the Eastern side of the Berlin Wall under the GDR – the good as well as the bad. Learn about the East German secret police (the Stasi), hear about the spying between the Americans, the British and the Soviets, and discover what life was like for the families who were divided by the Berlin Wall.
Your Communist Berlin and Berlin Wall Tour meets in front of the Starbucks at the Brandenburg Gate (S/U-Bahn Brandenburger Tor). We never cancel; tours run rain, hail or shine.
A city divided
This 2-hour tour starts at the Brandenburg Gate, which stood alone between East and West Berlin during the time the years of 1961 – 1989, when the city was divided. From there, you’ll head deeper into East Berlin, stopping to see what was the Soviet (and is now the Russian) embassy – only a stone’s throw from where the American Embassy in East Berlin once stood.
Cold War spying
You’ll learn not only about the Cold War-era spying between the East and the West (complete with tunnels, double agents, and even gadgets like poison-tipped umbrellas), but also the spying that took place by the East German government on its own people, with the Stasi collecting thousands of records, imprisoning and interrogating their citizens, and even collecting smell jars with their people’s scents.
The Berlin Wall and families kept apart
From there, you’ll visit the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears) to hear about how families in the West and East were suddenly divided when the Berlin Wall went up in 1961, and their limited reunions in the 28 years that followed. Your expert local guide will then take you to see the most historically accurate piece of the Berlin Wall, explaining to you how the two-wall system (with the Death Strip in the middle) functioned, and telling you about some of the people who tragically died trying to go over the Wall.
The Communist Berlin and Berlin Wall Tour starts in front of the Starbucks at the Brandenburg Gate (S/U-Bahn Brandenburger Tor)
Hear about the Cold War spying between the Americans, the British and the Soviets
Discover the Palace of Tears and the heart-breaking division of Berlin families
Visit the piece of the Berlin Wall with both walls and the Death Strip still in tact
Learn about the Stasi, the feared East German secret police, who relentlessly spied on their citizens
Remember those people who lost their lives trying to go over the Berlin Wall
Get a deeper understanding of life for citizens of the GDR
TOUR SCHEDULES
Today
This tour doesn‘t run today
Next departure in Spanish : Friday 7th Jun 20242:00 PM
Next departure in English : Sunday 9th Jun 20242:00 PM
PHOTOS
Inclusions & exclusions
What’s included
Local English-language expert guide
What’s not included
Train ticket (AB day pass required)
Food and drinks at break
Additional Information
You will need to purchase an AB day transport ticket for this tour
Children up to 13 years old may join free, however, please note that some content may not be suitable for younger guests
Wheelchair accessible
Our business is connecting great guides and smart travelers, and we're proud to help so many local guides welcome travelers like you on their journey through some of the world's best cities. No two tours are alike, and the sites, stories, and length of the tour will vary depending on what your guide decides is best. That's why the tours we promote never get stale or feel scripted, and why savvy travelers prefer SANDEMANs
MAP
The Communist Berlin and Berlin Wall Tour starts in front of the Starbucks at the Brandenburg GateOpen in Google Maps
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Customer reviews
Red Berlin Tour makes key period in Berlin history come to life
Sandemans’ Red Berlin Tour gives an excellent look at this key period in the city’s history. Our guide Georgia provided a colourful tour full of insightful stories and anecdotes. She was very well informed and we could tell she really liked giving this tour and sharing her knowledge of the city’s past. Her stories about the Berlin Wall and its impact on the city and its people were memorable and well researched. Her detailed account of the decision making that led to the end of the Wall was most informative. We loved every minute of the three hours. This tour goes well with a visit to the DDR Museum.
We did the Red Berlin tour with Rob Shaw. Rob balanced historical site seeing with information about the significance of the sites, human stories, and allotments of time to explore each location. With a group of 13, Rob managed to answer individual questions and also was able to relate the narrative to the tourists’ individual backgrounds. Rob’s enthusiasm for Berlin and it’s history is infectious. We had a great time.
Took the red Berlin tour led by Sophie. Explained the context and history of the division really clearly, especially for us who knew little before! Interesting stops, includes opportunity for a toilet break as well as a snack and Sophie really knew her stuff and has good recommendations on other places to visit relating to the subject. Would recommend this to anyone interested in the East/West divide in Berlin.
Had a fantastic 3 hour tour experience with Irish Mark on the Red Berlin Tour. Mark has an extremely thorough understanding of German history and his enthusiasm for the subject shines within every sentence. Mark gave us incredible insight and a unique perspective on the Cold War throughout the tour. If you are in Berlin then you must do this tour and ask for Irish Mark!
We enjoyed the Red Berlin tour. The tour gives a good overview of life behind the iron curtain in East Berlin. Sarah from Melbourne was a knowledgeable and passionate guide who gave us a lot of information and background of each of the sites we visited. In addition to just doing the guide duties, she also sent some reference material later via e mail. Some of the sites that we enjoyed viewing during the tour were the museum of tears and the ghost stations. I strongly recommend this tour and also commend Sarah from Melbourne for her enthusiasm and passion during this tour.
We've done several Sandeman tours in Berlin and Amsterdam. They are well worth the money (and aren't very expensive). The Red Berlin tour with Leen was both highly interesting and informative. Leen's depth of knowledge and enthusiasm for her subject were very evident: the day we went happened to be federal election day, and also the day of the Berlin marathon (so much of central Berlin was shut to traffic), and it was wet and cool to boot, but there was so much to see and absorb that it hardly mattered. I enjoyed the tour a great deal and would recommend it to anyone. (The Free Berlin tour, and the Potsdam tour, were also highly informative and entertaining. Berlin is so stuffed with history you could spend a week just walking around, seeing something new all the time.)
The Free Tour is the best introduction to Berlin! A general overview tour including many of the highlights of the city, the Free Tour usually lasts around 2 hours and is led by a superb local tour leader, so tour content can vary depending on your tour leader’s particular area of interest and expertise.
The Free Tour is a walking tour with no need for public transport and is designed for independent travelers, not groups. You can book your spot in advance online or simply show up at the start point on the day. There is no payment necessary at the start of the tour but you are welcome to tip your guide at the end!
We believe in supporting local communities and are committed to giving a voice to some of Berlin's best local freelance tour leaders, who passionately share the city's history and culture with their own unique and always-entertaining style. They'll never pressure you to tip; we believe that, if money is given, it should be voluntary and in direct proportion to the quality of the tour and the budget of the traveller.
Why join the SANDEMANs FREE Tour?
The route covers many of Berlin's major landmarks
The meeting point is centrally located in the Brandenburg Gate
The Free Tour is guaranteed to fit within your budget
The guides performing tips-based Free Tours are incentivized to perform every time
Explore Berlin’s final World War II battlefield and uncover the profound scars still found in the ci ...
Info & Booking
€ 350
Customise Your Private Tour!
Tell us the landmarks, stories or parts of the city you want to see, how long you have to see them and when you want to go, and we’ll build an itinerary that suits you.
Explore Berlin’s final World War II battlefield and uncover the profound scars still found in the ci ...
Info & Booking
€ 350
Participation in tours promoted by SANDEMANs NEW Europe is strictly on a voluntary basis. Neither SANDEMANs NEW Europe, its staff members, nor any of the freelance guides we work with will be held responsible in any way for injuries to body or property incurred during tours. The tour guides and tour leaders reserve the right to deny participation in any tour, to any person, for any reason. Thank you for your understanding.
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