Podcast Tour Bonn: Cold War to Climate Center

Walk Bonn's political pivot from Cold War to climate diplomacy

A self-guided podcast tour of Bonn covering 4.8 km across 7 stops, narrated by experts and locals in podcast style, that traces the city's transformation from West Germany's provisional capital to the seat of global climate protection. The app provides navigation, audio content and answers to questions about each stop. Suitable for ages 13 and up. Available in English and German.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Bonn's climate and diplomacy sites

• Start at global environmental NGOs site
• Visit German civil society hub
• See IDOS academic research center
• Explore global diplomacy stage
• View former emergency parliament hall
• Visit UN City Bonn landmark
• Discover Germany's global dialogue voice

The experience

How did a city lose its government and become more powerful? That's the question this tour answers as you move through Bonn on your own schedule, following the app's directions and listening to the story unfold. You start at the point where international environmental NGOs began arriving, then move through the hubs where German civil society connects with projects across the Global South. The route takes you past the IDOS research institute in the former government press quarter, then to the modern conference center where climate summits now draw thousands of delegates to the Rhine.

The tour doesn't skip the Cold War traces. You'll stand at the former pumping station that served as an emergency parliament hall during the division of Germany, now part of the UN campus. The high-rise towers of UN City Bonn, former parliamentary buildings, house the UN Climate Secretariat and mark the visual heart of the city's reinvention. A stop at the Goethe Institut rounds out the picture, showing how Bonn promotes global dialogue and maintains its multicultural character. Each stop is built into the app so you can linger, ask follow-up questions through the guide, and move on when you're ready.

The whole route runs about 2.4 hours at a walking pace, though you control the timing. The podcast-style narration from experts and locals keeps the story moving between stops, and the in-app navigation means you won't backtrack. Public transit is nearby if you need a break or want to skip ahead.

What’s included

• Podcast-style audio narration by experts and locals.
• in-app navigation between all 7 stops.
• interactive guide feature to ask questions about the story and surroundings.
• precise directions across the 4.8 km route.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Under 13: can't be booked

Audio guideEnglish and German

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 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Red Thread

Is this one for you?Walk this tour solo or with a friend at your own pace: the self-guided format and app-based navigation mean you're never rushed, and you can spend as long as you want at any stop that holds your interest.

Top questions

How does the app guide me between the seven stops?

The in-app navigation provides precise directions from one stop to the next across the 4.8 km route, so you follow the path without needing a separate map or GPS.

Can I pause the tour and come back to it another day?

Yes, you control the pace entirely. The app saves your progress, so you can walk a few stops, leave, and pick up where you left off whenever you return.

What is the former pumping station stop actually about?

The pumping station served as an emergency parliament hall during Germany's division and is now integrated into the UN campus, illustrating how Bonn's Cold War infrastructure was repurposed for its new role in global diplomacy.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not interested in climate policy?

The tour is built around power, protest and public spaces in Bonn's history, so it appeals to anyone curious about how cities reinvent themselves politically and architecturally, not just climate specialists.

What languages is the audio available in?

The podcast-style narration is available in English and German, so you can choose whichever suits you.