Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
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TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Group sizeUp to 10 travelers
Overview
St. Mary's Church stands in a large open space near Alexanderplatz. Archive photos show a different scene: houses and narrow streets pressed around the church. On this walk, I use photographs of the places along the route to help you see the Berlin that disappeared.
I'm Yusuf, your guide. We start at the World Clock on Alexanderplatz and walk through the historic centre of former East Berlin. Along the way, I hold up archive prints so you can compare the old views with what stands in front of you: the missing streets around St. Mary's Church, the Neptune Fountain that once stood before the royal palace, the palace site at the Humboldt Forum and the war damage and rebuilding on Museum Island.
My advice: hold your phone beside my print and photograph the comparison.
The walk takes about 2.5 hours and covers about 3 km, with no more than 10 guests. It ends at Hackescher Markt, close to food and public transport.
What's included
Guided walk with a local guide
Archive photograph comparisons along the route
Admission to museums, the TV Tower and other attractions (we view them from outside)
Food and drinks
Public transport tickets
Hotel pickup and drop-off
What to expect
Alexanderplatz
10m
We meet at the World Clock on Alexanderplatz. I introduce the walk and show you how this square looked before it was rebuilt as the centre of East Berlin.
Berliner Fernsehturm
Pass by
We look up at the TV Tower and talk about why East Berlin built it here in the 1960s. We stay outside for 10 minutes; going up the tower is not included.
Rotes Rathaus
15m
At Berlin's red city hall and the Neptune Fountain, I show you how the fountain once stood in front of the royal palace before it was moved here.
Neptunbrunnen
Pass by
Right beside the city hall. An archive photo shows the fountain in its first place, in front of the royal palace.
St. Mary's Church
15m
St. Mary's Church now stands in a wide open space. Archive photos show the houses and narrow streets that once surrounded it.
Marx-Engels-Forum
10m
At the Marx and Engels statues we talk about GDR memory and the old streets that disappeared from this area.
Humboldt Forum
25m
We pass the Sanchi Gate replica beside the building, then compare the palace site with the Palast der Republik and today's rebuilt facade. We take a 10-minute break here.
Lustgarten
Pass by
We cross the Lustgarten, the garden between Berlin Cathedral and the Altes Museum.
Berliner Dom
Pass by
From the Lustgarten we look at Berlin Cathedral and the Altes Museum beside the Spree. We stay outside for 20 minutes; admission is not included.
Altes Museum
Pass by
We look at the Altes Museum's colonnade from the Lustgarten; admission is not included.
Museum Island
Pass by
On Museum Island we look at the Neues Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie and the Pergamon Museum from outside for 20 minutes. Archive photos help explain the war damage and the restoration behind what you see today. Museum admission is not included.
Neues Museum
Pass by
Seen from outside; admission is not included.
Alte Nationalgalerie
Pass by
Seen from outside; admission is not included.
Pergamonmuseum
Pass by
Seen from outside; admission is not included.
Friedrichsbrucke
5m
We cross Friedrichsbrücke from Museum Island towards Hackescher Markt.
Hackescher Markt
10m
The walk ends at Hackescher Markt, close to food options and public transport.
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
Meet me beside the World Clock (Weltzeituhr) on Alexanderplatz at 12:25, five minutes before the 12:30 start. Look for my green umbrella.
End point
The walk ends at Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station, close to food options and public transport.
Additional information
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
