Berlin Third Reich & Cold War Walking Tour: 2 Hours

From the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie: a walk through divided Berlin

A 2-hour guided walking tour of Berlin's Third Reich and Cold War sites, led by a local English-speaking guide. You'll stand at the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, above Hitler's bunker, and end at Checkpoint Charlie, hearing the story of each place from someone who knows the city's 20th-century history in detail. Meet 15 minutes early at the Tourist Information office at the Brandenburg Gate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Brandenburg Gate15m
2. Reichstag10m
3. Soviet War Memorial Tiergarten7m
4. Berlin Victory Columnpassing by
5. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe10m
6. Führerbunker10m
7. Topography of Terror15m
8. Checkpoint Charlie15m

Explore Berlin's Third Reich and Cold War sites

• Start at Brandenburg Gate
• Visit the Reichstag building
• See Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten
• Pass by Berlin Victory Column
• Walk through Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
• Stand above Hitler's bunker site
• Walk along Hermann Goering's Airforce ministry
• Visit Topography of Terror exhibition
• See a piece of the Berlin Wall and hear escape stories
• End tour at Checkpoint Charlie

The experience

You start at the Brandenburg Gate and walk the length of Berlin's most consequential sites without needing to arrange transport or navigate between them yourself. The guide leads you through the Reichstag, explaining the building's role in 1933 and under Hitler's dictatorship, then moves through the Soviet War Memorial in the Tiergarten, where T34/76 tanks from World War II still stand. The Victory Column comes next. You'll hear why Albert Speer relocated it and what his plans for a renamed capital city, Germania, would have meant if the Nazis had won.

The walk takes you through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a space designed for reflection, then to the site above Hitler's bunker where the guide describes the final days of World War II and Hitler's suicide on April 30, 1945. You'll see the former Ministry of Aviation, where East Germany was proclaimed in 1949, and the grounds of the Topography of Terror exhibition, built on the site where the SS, Gestapo and SD had their headquarters. A section of the actual Berlin Wall appears along the route, with stories of escape attempts and life on both sides of the division.

The tour ends at Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous crossing point on the Wall. Your guide covers the Soviet and American tank standoff in 1961, the night the Wall fell on November 9, 1989, and how reunification has reshaped the city over the last three decades. The whole route is wheelchair accessible, and children from age one are welcome: infants can ride in a pram or stroller.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking local guide leading the entire 2-hour walk.
• entry to all outdoor sites and memorials along the route.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (1 to 12 years)

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Insider Tour Berlin

Is this one for you?Two hours is long enough to cover the major sites from the Brandenburg Gate to Checkpoint Charlie without rushing, but short enough to fit into a morning or afternoon if you're in Berlin for just a day or two. If you have a full day and want to linger at museums or go deeper into one period, a longer tour would suit you better. If you're short on time and want the essential story of Berlin's 20th century told by someone who lives here, this one holds it all.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (1 to 12 years).

What exactly is the Topography of Terror, and what will I see there?

The Topography of Terror is an exhibition built on the site where the Nazi SS, Gestapo and SD had their headquarters during World War II. On the tour, you'll walk the grounds and learn about the crimes these institutions perpetrated. The exhibition itself is not entered as part of the walking tour, but the outdoor space and its history are covered by your guide.

How much walking is involved, and will I be standing still for long stretches?

The tour is 2 hours of continuous walking between sites across central Berlin. You'll move at a steady pace from one landmark to the next, with stops at each location to hear the guide's explanation. The route is flat and wheelchair accessible, and suitable for all fitness levels.

Will we go inside the Reichstag, or just see it from outside?

The tour includes a visit to the Reichstag building itself, where your guide explains its history during the 1933 fire and under Hitler's dictatorship. You'll experience the building and hear why it encapsulates Berlin and German history over the last 100 years.

What's the story behind the Berlin Wall section we'll see?

You'll see a large remaining piece of the Berlin Wall and hear stories of people who escaped over it, what happened to those who tried but didn't make it, and what daily life was like on both sides (East Berlin and West Berlin) during the division.

Where do I meet the guide, and how will I recognize them?

Meet 15 minutes before the tour begins in front of the Tourist Information office at the Brandenburg Gate on the Pariser Platz side. Look for the guide carrying a pink umbrella.