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Berlin Culture & history

Our most recommended Berlin Culture & history

Berlin: Reichstag, Plenary Chamber, Cupola & Government Tour

1. Berlin: Reichstag, Plenary Chamber, Cupola & Government Tour

Join a guided walk through the government district. Visit the plenary chamber and dome of the Reichstag building and gain insight into the history of the district on this 60-minute walk along the River Spree. See the old government buildings as well as the modern government and parliament buildings built after 1995. See Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, Marie-Elisabeth-Lüders-Haus, and the Federal Chancellery. Pass through the security check to get into the Reichstag building. Listen to an interesting talk in the plenary chamber, and learn about German parliamentary history as well as interesting details about the Reichstag building itself. Hear about the history and architecture of the building as well as the reconstruction by British architect Sir Norman Foster that transformed it into one of the most modern and innovative parliament buildings in the world. Step onto the roof terrace and witness the glass dome of the Reichstag building. From here, enjoy the breathtaking views of Berlin. Stay up on top of the Reichstag for as long as you like, as long as it is not after closing time at midnight.

Berlin: Illuseum Berlin Entrance Ticket

2. Berlin: Illuseum Berlin Entrance Ticket

Take a break from the real world and step into the Illuseum Berlin. Located in the center of Berlin, the Illuseum is a place where nothing is as it seems and where fun, entertainment, and interactivity for visitors of all ages is the focus. Whether it's slate space or infinite space, baffling holograms, or an impressive tunnel, anyone can immerse themselves for a moment in a world full of illusions, allowing themselves to fall under the spell of their senses. Experience a one-of-a-kind museum where you will defy gravity, lose the ground under your feet, see yourself grow and shrink, and become inspired by optical illusions. As a special treat, check out clever play-areas made of sustainable wooden toys with many impressive 3D puzzles and riddles that are not only fun but also train your logical skills. It's easy to waste a day at this tricky fitness center for the brain.

Berlin: DARK MATTER Experience Entry Ticket

3. Berlin: DARK MATTER Experience Entry Ticket

Explore light, movement and sound, merging into expressive choreographies of luminous forms and colors with the DARK MATTER exhibition. Discover the 1,000 square meters of exhibition space and a range of multimedia installations. In the pitch-black rooms of a converted factory, visitors embark on a journey through seven artworks. From breathtakingly intimate light compositions, and interactive walk-in structures to room-encompassing audiovisual performances, become part of a fully immersive experience.

Berlin: Pergamon Museum Entrance Ticket

4. Berlin: Pergamon Museum Entrance Ticket

Visit the Pergamon Museum, whose redevelopment will transform it into a worldwide attraction among the Berlin museums. The redevelopment is still ongoing, however, you will be able to enjoy most of the museum. The Antiquity Collection The Pergamon antique collection is one of the world's most significant collections of Greek and Roman art. See the architectural installations from Ancient Greece and Rome, including the gem of Roman architecture: the Market Gate of Miletus from circa 100 AD. As part of the renovation, the hall with the Pergamon Altar will remain closed until at least 2024. The Middle East Museum The Middle East Museum collects artifacts of the 6,000-year cultural history of civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Anatolia. Among the 270,000 objects, the main attractions are the reconstruction of the gloriously colorful Ishtar Gate and the Procession Way of Babylon from the time of Nebuchadnezzar II. Gaze in wonder at the earliest examples of writing in Cuneiform script on clay tablets from Uruk. Islamic Art Museum The Museum for Islamic Art displays both masterpieces of applied art and archaeological artifacts from Muslim as well as Christian and Jewish groups from the 8th to 19th century. Let yourself be amazed by architectural works that you will not find in any other museum. See the richly decorated stone facade of the Mshatta palace and the famous Aleppo Room with its colorfully painted wall paneling.

Berlin: Small-Group Third Reich and Cold War Walking Tour

5. Berlin: Small-Group Third Reich and Cold War Walking Tour

Hear about the tumultuous contemporary history of Berlin on a guided walking tour to historical sights. Choose from group or private walking tour. Pass by sights like the German House of Parliament, Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten, and Checkpoint Charlie. Meet your tour guide in front of the Brandenburg Gate, the site of many changes in 20th-century Berlin. Listen to commentary about the last days of the Second World War and hear how the gate came to be a symbol of reunification in Germany after 1989.  Learn about the curious Reichstag Fire of 1933 as you pass the German House of Parliament. Delve deep into the events that took place after the appointment of Hitler as Chancellor of Germany in 1933, what happened to this building since the fall of the wall in 1989. Continue your sightseeing tour by heading to the Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten, where you’ll have the chance to examine Soviet military hardware. Walk to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, a poignant dedication to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. See the site of Hitler’s Bunker and stroll to Hermann Göring's enormous Ministry of Aviation building at the Detlev-Rohwedder-Haus, which was site where the GDR was founded in 1949. Next, you’ll head to see where the SS and the Gestapo institutions were located. Contemplate life on both sides of the Berlin Wall while gathering around a 200-meter long stretch of the wall. Despite the wall falling 30 years ago, standing here allows you to absorb the very palpable history of the city. Round off the walk with a stop at Checkpoint Charlie, where your guide will finish the tour with anecdotes about the infamous American versus Soviet tank standoff and the final hours before the wall fell.

Berlin: Madame Tussauds Admission Ticket

6. Berlin: Madame Tussauds Admission Ticket

Immerse yourself in the most iconic moments of the last 100 years of Berlin's history with your entry ticket to Madame Tussauds Berlin. Get closer than ever to celebrities and famous characters. Get on stage and sing with Taylor Swift, become a model in the fashion zone, or date Leonardo DiCaprio at the most exclusive VIP party in town. Carry on and celebrate the World Cup with Angela Merkel at the legendary Fan Mile. Cheer with sports legends at the football stadium, pass the IQ test with Albert Einstein, or become a real Jedi Knight in the immersive Star Wars area. In the divided city, John F. Kennedy shouts "Ick bin ein Berliner," and Udo Lindenberg takes the "Sonderzug nach Pankow" until David Hasselhoff brings down the Berlin Wall. Visit the "Golden 20s" and experience the joy and extravagance of this famous decade. Dance the Charleston with Josephine Baker, enjoy a drink with Marlene Dietrich, and swing with Liza Minelli. Madame Tussauds Berlin offers the perfect spots for your family photo or Instagram selfie, including the latest wax figures of comedy star Teddy Teclebrahn or singer-songwriter Zoe Wees.

Skip-the-Line: Berlin Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie

7. Skip-the-Line: Berlin Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie

The museum was founded on October 19th, 1962, shortly after the construction of the Berlin Wall, as a protest against the Wall and to provide assistance to the people seeking help. The Berlin Wall Museum was formed with the purpose of fighting against human rights violations as a result of the wall. Gradually the museum increased its exhibition space and contributed to the fall of the Wall. The museum had a vital role in history and the objects on display in the museum provide evidence of this. They are original artifacts from successful escapes such as a hot-air balloon, a mini-submarine, cars and airplanes. People helping East Germans to flee used the museum as a base from which they planned the escapes and organized resistance to the unjust GDR regime. After escaping, the refugees and their helpers donated their various means of conveyance and other objects to the museum. 

Berlin: Sights and Highlights Bike Tour

8. Berlin: Sights and Highlights Bike Tour

Glide through the streets of Berlin on a city bike tour. Follow your guide through the bustling capital and admire passing landmarks, including Prenzlauer Berg, Museum Island, and the Berlin Wall. Start in the painstakingly restored Kulturbrauerei in the trendy Prenzlauer Berg district. From there, ride to the most important highlights and hidden corners in the city. The tour takes you through the Government District, past Berlin Central Station, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Holocaust Memorial. Pass by the famous Berlin Wall, the Gendarmenmarkt, and the Museum Island. Ride at a relaxed pace and during the brief stops, listen to your guide's explanations. Learn the diverse stages of the history of Berlin, from Prussian pomp and ceremony to the rapid changes after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Berlin: Entry Ticket to the Studio of Wonders

9. Berlin: Entry Ticket to the Studio of Wonders

Embark on an adventure and enjoy one of the most exciting art-concepts of recent years that has opened in the center of Berlin. Discover the studio with over 30 interactive installations built for taking amazing pictures and videos. Have a marvelous time while creating your own wonders and will become part of the exhibits.  Explore more than 700 m2 that the studio offers and enjoy plenty of room to re-explore your inner child and dwell in stunning moments.  Nothing is as it might seem at first sight: its creators use optical illusions, infinity effects, and different perspectives to address all your senses. Plants are brought to life in the Wonder-Forest while lighting effects and a combination of scents and soft sounds draw the visitor deeper into the exhibit until they are completely immersed and everyday life is a distant memory.

Berlin: World Heritage Cruise to Potsdam

10. Berlin: World Heritage Cruise to Potsdam

This boat cruise takes you from Wannsee along the Havel River to Potsdam and back. Cruise through the palaces and gardens of Potsdam and Berlin, a UNESCO World Heritage region. Here you’ll have the opportunity to experience Prussia’s history. The chain of lakes in and around Berlin attracts visitors from all over the world. Visitors can relax at one of the lidos or walk around the picturesque natural landscape that extends along Wannsee and the Oberhavel lakes. Discover the rich history of two regions near Berlin: the southwest and north. Famous personalities, such as the painter Max Liebermann or the playwright Heinrich von Kleist, lived and worked in Wannsee, making it a place of historical importance. The historical places give you the opportunity to go back in time and relive history. The cruise takes you from Wannsee to Kladow, passing by Pfaueninsel (Peacock Island), Nikolskoe, and the Church of St. Peter and Paul. Continue on towards the Savior's Church, Cecilienhof Palace and its old dairy farm, and the Glienicke Bridge. Float by the Babelsberg Palace, Flatow Tower, Hans-Otto-Theater (Schiffbauergasse), "Freundschaftsinsel" (Friendship Island), and Potsdam/Lange Brücke before returning back to Wannsee.

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What people are saying about Berlin

Overall rating

4.7 / 5

based on 32,889 reviews

Sachsenhausen tour is very educational and emotional as everybody can surely imagine. But it is actually the tour guide who transformers you from the present to the past and makes this place of terror really authentic. Our guide Chris - Canadian young gentleman - has delivered an exceptional experience ( One of the few top quality guided tours we attended in Berlin). Firstly, we learnt significantly more than we expected and it was clear that we could continue for endless hours to learn more and more. Secondly, Chris's passion for history and passing it onto next generation is simply admirable and also contagious! Lastly, Chris's humour also greatly contributed to a fabulous memorable tour. Definitely recommend for everybody visiting Berlin! I would actually say it is a 'Must do' that helps you to see a human being and life from different perspective! Thank you so much!

Our guide Paul was fantastic. He gave us a great tour and was very informative giving us a really good overview of Berlin and some of its history. Paul made the tour for us all and was an all round top man.

This place is huge - could have stayed for hours. Massively informative, there was so much I hadn’t heard of before. I’d go back if I was in Berlin again.

A perfect way to get years of history told and shown in a couple of hours

Fantastic tour with guide Mickhail , very knowledgable and helpful .