Former East Berlin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour

5.0 (one review) 1 h 15 min – 1 h 30 min Private tour

out of 5

one review

5.0

Former East Berlin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Former East Berlin: A Self-Guided Audio Tour, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Explore Former East Berlin’s mix of architecture at your own pace with this affordable walking tour.

Take in 400 years of history and find traces of the city’s days as the capital of the German Empire, and witness the devastation left by the World Wars
Hear from the producer, Jo Eckardt, founder of the tour company, A Friend in Berlin
Do it all in 75 minutes or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish.
Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it.
Use the virtual tour option at home.

Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under "Before You Go." Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code.

The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap Start. Voice Map has automatic GPS playback with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Audio Guides Architecture Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Low

At a glance

Duration: 1 h 15 min – 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: German, English
Written guide: German, English
Operated by: VoiceMap Audio Tours

Ages: Adults (6–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Lifetime access to this tour in English
Included: VoiceMap app for Android and iOS
Included: Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata

Not included

Not included: Smartphone and headphones
Not included: Transportation
Not included: Food and drink

Itinerary

Checkpoint Charlie

Passing by

Starting at Checkpoint Charlie, you’ll make your way down Friedrichstraße and into the heart of the historic city.
Friedrichstrasse

Passing by

As you make your way down Friedrichstraße, I’ll share the stories behind the area’s architectural treasures, like Gendarmenmarkt Square and Unter den Linden, the famous boulevard.
Black Box Cold War

Passing by

On this tour you'll pass by and learn about the BlackBox Cold War Museum.
Gendarmenmarkt

Passing by

You'll hear the stories behind the area’s architectural treasures, like Gendarmenmarkt Square and Unter den Linden, the famous boulevard.
Neue Kirche

Passing by

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about the Neue Kirche.
Konzerthaus

Passing by

I’ll point out various monuments and memorials, including the Friedrich Schiller monument in front of the Konzerthaus Berlin concert hall.
Franzosischer Dom / French Cathedral

Passing by

I’ll tell you why the French community was given the rights to use the Französischer Dom (French Dome church) for all eternity.
Stop 8

Passing by

I’ll show you where to find the spa and pool in Hotel de Rome, once a state bank.
Stop 9

Passing by

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about St. Hedwig's Cathedral.
Bebelplatz

Passing by

On this tour, you'll walk through Bebelplatz and learn about the monuments that surround it along the way.
Book Burning Memorial at Bebelplatz

Passing by

I’ll point out various monuments and memorials, including Micha Ullman’s Empty Library, also known as the Book Burning Memorial, which commemorates the day Nazis burned books by Jewish and communist authors.
Stop 12

Passing by

On this tour, you'll have a chance to learn about the oldest free-standing opera house in the world, the Berlin State Opera.
Humboldt University (Humboldt Universitat)

Passing by

I’ll point out various monuments and memorials, including a statue of Frederic II on his horse in front of the buildings which were commissioned by the king and later transformed into Berlin’s first university, the Humboldt University.
Stop 14

Passing by

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about Palais am Festungsgraben.
Stop 15

Passing by

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about Maxim Gorki Theatre.
Neue Wache

Passing by

On this tour, you'll have a chance to discover a modern pieta by Käthe Kollwitz, exposed to rain and snow and housed in the Neue Wache (New Guard House).
Stop 17

Passing by

On this tour, you'll pass by and learn about German Historical Museum.
Museum Island

Passing by

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to see where Angela Merkel used to live on Museum Island when she was Chancellor.
Stop 19

Passing by

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to take in the works of famous architects like the German Historical Museum by I.M. Pei, the James Simon Gallery by David Chipperfield, and the Altes Museum (Old Museum) by Friedrich Schinkel.
Neues Museum

Passing by

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to take in the works of famous architects like the German Historical Museum by I.M. Pei, the James Simon Gallery by David Chipperfield, and the Altes Museum (Old Museum) by Friedrich Schinkel.
Alte Nationalgalerie

Passing by

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to take in the works of famous architects like the German Historical Museum by I.M. Pei, the James Simon Gallery by David Chipperfield, and the Altes Museum (Old Museum) by Friedrich Schinkel.
Altes Museum

Passing by

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to take in the works of famous architects like the German Historical Museum by I.M. Pei, the James Simon Gallery by David Chipperfield, and the Altes Museum (Old Museum) by Friedrich Schinkel.
Berliner Dom

Passing by

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to hear about the Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral).
Humboldt Forum

Passing by

On this tour, you’ll also have a chance to hear about the Humboldt Forum, where the Hohenzollern Palace used to be.
Lustgarten

Passing by

The tour ends in Lustgarten.

Former East Berlin’s mix of architecture paints a picture of its fascinating history across different eras. It’s here that you’ll see remnants of the 17th-century baroque town and the Communist era, find traces of the city’s days as capital of the German Empire, and witness the devastation left by the World Wars. On this walking tour, you’ll also see newer buildings created by the architects who, once again, transformed East Berlin and the way the world saw it.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Before arrival, please install the VoiceMap mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. This is a self-guided audio tour that you can start, pause, or restart at any time and complete at your own pace. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

The tour ends in front of the fountain in Lustgarten.

Using your ticket

VOICEMAP CODE

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Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour.

This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code.

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS

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Once you've received your code, please follow these steps:

1. Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app

2. Create an account

3. Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes

4. Enter your code then select Download Now

PLEASE NOTE

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You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point.
This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next.
When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point.
Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour.

SUPPORT

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For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

If you cancel	You get back
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please note: You won't be guided through any museums or other attractions mentioned en route. If you choose to enter and visit such places, you'll need to pay for it independently of this tour.