Private Tour of David Bowie's West-Berlin

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Private Tour of David Bowie's West-Berlin — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Private Tour of David Bowie's West-Berlin, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This tour takes you back to the West-Berlin of the 1970s by highlighting the massive changes Berlin has undergone since. By doing so the tour traces sites and places that Bowie sings about in his 2012 elegiac homage to Berlin, "Where are We Now?". Starting at Potsdamer Platz, we will then walk over to Hansa Studios. From there, we'll board the train to take us to the City West. After checking out Zoo Station we'll head towards the erstwhile location of the famous "Dschungel" followed by the KaDeWe - both of which Bowie frequently visited and therefore references in his song. Next, we'll board the train again to take a look at the gay bar Bowie used to have his nightcap in, before concluding our tour outside the building he used to call home between 1976 and 1978.

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At a glance

Duration: 3 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–8
Guide: German, English, French
Operated by: The West-Berlin of David Bowie

What is included

Included

Included: Guiding services

Not included

Not included: Tea and coffee: Coffee and/or Tea
Not included: tickets, etc.

Itinerary

Potsdamer Platz

15 min

This iconic square went from bustling hub to wasteland and back to being a bustling hub yet again! Bowie sings about this square in his 2012 song, "Where are We Now?", and on tour, we are tracing the places and Berlin haunts Bowie sings about in his song. Potsdamer Platz is one of them!
Kaufhaus Des Westens

15 min

Another famous Berlin landmark Bowie sings about in his homage to Berlin, "Where are We Now?". He used to buy his groceries in this famous department store, one that is deeply steeped in history.
Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten

15 min

The notorious Christiane F. was a huge David Bowie fan. Along with her friends she hung about Zoo Station, which back in the day, was a dingy place indeed. Times have changed! In the movie based on her book, Bowie's music can be heard throughout as he provided the soundtrack, or rather, allowed the producer and the director to use his songs.
Stop 4

20 min

This is where Bowie recorded the better part (literally!) of his "Berlin Trilogy". That's you opportunity to take pictures of this iconic studio and admire the fabulous GIF-animation of him in one of their windows!
Stop 5

15 min

Former location of the Dschungel, one of the hang-outs where Bowie could be found almost every night. Though the Dschungel no longer exists, the location where it used to be, does!
Stop 6

15 min

Bowie's former home! Here's your chance to take a good look at the building Bowie called his home for almost 3 years between 1976 and 1978. There are always flowers or candles, etc. outside placed on a ledge, a ledge that is part of this turn-of-the-century building, so as if the building's architect had known, that about 70 years later a famous musician would one day live here, for fans and admirers to pay their respects!
Stop 7

10 min

"Neues Ufer"/ formerly "Anderes Ufer", a local gay bar where Bowie hung out a lot, usually to take a night cap as back then, this bar was open 24/7. Having a drink here is optional, and many customers choose to have one after the tour.