Berlin, Germany

Berlin

Berlin is a sprawling, green capital whose streets record the empire, the Nazi era, the Wall and reunification. Its historic centre in Mitte is best understood on foot.

Berlin: Discover Berlin Half-Day Walking Tour
Featured walk: Discover Berlin Half-Day Walking Tour · Photo supplied by Viator

The city on foot

Few cities wear their history as openly as Berlin. Within a short walk of the Brandenburg Gate are the Reichstag, the Holocaust Memorial, the site of Hitler's bunker, Checkpoint Charlie and surviving stretches of the Berlin Wall. Guided history walks are one of the most popular things to do here.

Berlin is large and spread out, so walks tend to focus on one district at a time, with the U-Bahn and S-Bahn in between. It is flat, green and full of cafés, and its neighbourhoods each have a distinct character.

What makes Berlin distinctive

  • The Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag dome
  • Remains of the Berlin Wall, including the East Side Gallery
  • Museum Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
  • Memorials to the victims of the Nazi era

Walking tours in Berlin

Hand-picked guided walks in Berlin, each rated highly by travellers. Ratings and photos are from Viator; select a tour to see dates, prices and full details, and to book.

Advertising disclosure: tour links go to Viator. If you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not affect the price you pay or which tours we choose.

Prices are Viator's lowest "from" price per person, converted to pounds and checked on 29 October 2026. The booking page shows the current price in your currency.

By theme: Food tours in Berlin · History walks in Berlin

Compare with other cities: Free walking tours · Food tours · History walks

More walking tours on GetYourGuide

GetYourGuide sells many of the same walks and some that Viator doesn't. Their list for Berlin is chosen and ranked by GetYourGuide, not by us.

Search Berlin on GetYourGuide

The button loads content from GetYourGuide, which may set cookies. Links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you book.

Main sights

Ticket links are affiliate links: if you book through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Neighbourhoods worth wandering

  • Mitte

    The historic centre, with the main monuments and museums.

  • Kreuzberg

    Multicultural, alternative and full of bars and street food.

  • Prenzlauer Berg

    Leafy streets of restored apartment blocks and cafés.

  • Friedrichshain

    Former East Berlin, home of the East Side Gallery.

Free self-guided walk

From the Reichstag to Museum Island

A free self-guided walk from the Reichstag through the Brandenburg Gate, past the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe and along Unter den Linden to Museum Island.

3.7 km · 7 stops · map and directions

See the walk

Best areas to explore on foot

  1. Unter den Linden

    The grand boulevard from the Brandenburg Gate to Museum Island.

  2. Tiergarten

    A huge park west of the Brandenburg Gate.

  3. Along the Wall

    Follow the double row of cobbles marking the Wall's route, or walk the East Side Gallery by the Spree.

Practical walking notes

  • Distances

    Berlin is large; combine walking with the U-Bahn and S-Bahn.

  • Bike lanes

    Bike lanes often run on the pavement. Keep out of them.

  • Terrain

    Flat, with wide pavements.

When to visit

  • Spring and summer

    Long days, beer gardens and open-air events.

  • Autumn

    Mild, with the Festival of Lights in October.

  • Winter

    Cold and grey, with Christmas markets.

Getting there and getting around

Arriving

  • By air

    Berlin Brandenburg Airport is linked to the centre by airport express train in about 30 minutes.

  • By rail

    Berlin Hauptbahnhof receives trains from across Germany and Europe; Munich is about four hours away.

Local transport

  • U-Bahn and S-Bahn

    Extensive and frequent; buy a day ticket or use the BVG app.

  • Buses

    Bus 100 and 200 pass many of the main sights.

Questions travellers ask about Berlin

Can I visit the Reichstag dome?

Yes, free of charge, but you must register in advance on the Bundestag's website.

Where can I see the Berlin Wall?

The Berlin Wall Memorial on Bernauer Strasse and the East Side Gallery have the longest surviving sections.

How many days do I need?

Three days cover Mitte, a Wall site, Museum Island and a neighbourhood or two.

Munich: Munich Old Town Walking Tour
Bavaria

Munich

Palaces, beer halls and the Alps on a clear day

Discover the city
Nuremberg: Nuremberg Walking Tour
Bavaria

Nuremberg

A medieval imperial city

Discover the city
Cologne: Cologne City Tour Experience cathedral city on the Rhine
North Rhine-Westphalia

Cologne

A great cathedral on the Rhine

Discover the city
Hamburg: Discover Hamburg Walking Tour
Hamburg

Hamburg

Canals, warehouses and a harbour

Discover the city
Dresden: Dresden History & Stories Walking Tour w/ Dr Fraser Macdonald PhD
Saxony

Dresden

Florence on the Elbe

Discover the city
Frankfurt: Frankfurt: Old Town Highlights Private Walking Tour
Hesse

Frankfurt

Skyscrapers and a rebuilt old town

Discover the city
Berlin: Discover Berlin Half-Day Walking Tour
Country overview

Germany

Twentieth-century history on one hand, beer gardens on the other

Explore destinations

Sources and review date

This guide was last updated on 2026-10-26. Opening hours, fares and services change; please confirm details with official sources before travelling.