Berlin: Jewish history walking tour with local guide

Summary

Follow stories of Berlin’s Jewish community on a personal city walk

Step into Berlin’s layered Jewish history with a local guide who brings stories to life at sites like the New Synagogue and Platform 17 Memorial. You’ll explore hidden courtyards, hear tales of courage at Otto Weidt’s Workshop for the Blind, and feel the weight of memory in unexpected corners—a day trip through Berlin you’ll remember long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

Hands in his pockets, our guide David paused outside the New Synagogue, letting the city noise settle before he spoke. He’d lived in Berlin for years—his accent was half local, half somewhere else—and he started telling us about the building’s golden dome, how it survived the war by some miracle (or maybe stubbornness). I remember the way sunlight hit those tiles, almost too bright to look at directly. There was a faint smell of coffee from a nearby café and someone’s dog barking in the distance—Berlin never really goes quiet.

We wandered through narrow streets to Haus Schwarzenberg, where graffiti covers every inch of wall but somehow doesn’t feel out of place. David pointed out what remains of the oldest synagogue here—just fragments really—and I tried to imagine what this street sounded like a hundred years ago. At the Museum Blindenwerkstatt Otto Weidt, he told us about Otto hiding his Jewish employees from deportation. The room still smells faintly of old wood and paper glue; it’s strange how certain places hold onto their pasts so tightly.

The Platform 17 Memorial at Grunewald station was colder than I expected (bring a jacket, even if you think you won’t need it). There’s something about standing on that platform—seeing names and dates carved into metal—that makes everything else fade out for a minute. David didn’t say much there; he just let us read and think. On the way back, we passed the Missing House memorial and talked about memory—how Berlin keeps finding ways to remember without turning everything into a museum piece. I still think about that silence at Platform 17 sometimes—you know?

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Jewish Berlin Historical Sites

• Visit oldest synagogue remains
• See Women's protest monument
• Explore historic site
• Visit Otto Weidt's Workshop Museum
• See oldest Jewish Cemetery remains
• Discuss Missing House monument
• Visit New Synagogue
• Explore Platform 17 Memorial

Top questions

Is this Jewish history walking tour in Berlin wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all routes are wheelchair accessible and suitable for strollers or prams.

Does the tour include entry to museums or memorials?

You’ll visit sites like Otto Weidt's Workshop for the Blind and Platform 17 Memorial as part of the experience.

How long does this Berlin Jewish history walking tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 5 hours.

Who leads this walking tour in Berlin?

The tour is led by local guides who are academics living in Berlin.

Are service animals allowed on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed throughout the tour.

What are some highlights included in this day trip?

You’ll see Platform 17 Memorial, New Synagogue, Haus Schwarzenberg, Missing House, and Otto Weidt's Workshop for the Blind.

Is public transportation available near the meeting point?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby.

What’s included

Your day includes visits to key sites like Platform 17 Memorial, New Synagogue, Haus Schwarzenberg, Missing House, and Otto Weidt's Workshop for the Blind—all guided by an academic local expert. The route is fully accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, with service animals welcome throughout your journey.