Welcome to Berlin, the enchanting city! If you are a first time visitor, how do you know where to begin exploring this exciting destination? Look no further! Walking tours are free and should top your list. These tours are not only a perfect way to meet the city’s rich history, vibrant culture and iconic landmarks in town, they are also ideal for those on a budget. In this all encompassing guide we will discuss why a free walking tour should be your first activity in Berlin and how it can enrich your overall experience in this amazing city.
What are Free Walking Tours?
These walking tours are sponsored by agencies who provide free walking tours, and which are guided by the knowledgeable and passionate local guides. Most of these tours range from 2-3 hours to cover popular nites and hidden gems in a particular area. The biggest draw for free walking tours is that they operate largely on the pay what you want principle. That’s to say you can join the tour without paying an upfront fee and at the end, you can tip your guide depending on how satisfied you are and what you can afford.
Independent guides or small local tour companies usually run these tours. They want to bring to life the city, share its history, its culture, the other things you are not going to see even in their guide books or by browsing online. Cities around the world are famous for free walking tours and tourist hot spot like Berlin are particularly rife with them.
So Why would you Join a Free Walking Tour in Berlin?
Conquer Berlin’s Intriguing History
A free walking tour in Berlin is a good way to get to know a city with a great past. Guided by knowledgeable guides, you enter the stories of Prussian kings and World War II, and through the Cold War, the Fall of the Berlin Wall. Here, you’ll visit iconic landmarks such as Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall Memorial, Reichstag and Checkpoint Charlie, and learn the stories that formed Berlin’s identity. The guides will narrate the sites with a passion as to bring you back in time and see the sites as they were, while also understanding their historical importance.
Explore the Culture of Berlin
With its vibrant and diverse culture, Berlin is known and Berlin is a perfect place to drop into this creative centre. Your guide will introduce you to the soul of Berlin, from the street art in the alternative neighbourhood of Kreuzberg all the way to the bohemian Friedrichshain. Find out about the city’s famous nightlife, the thing that helped give birth to electronic music, as well as the busy craft and food beer scene. Step by step, you will start to understand the culture that is so attractive to artists, musicians and those with creative minds to live in Berlin.
Local Recommendations and Insider Tips
Joining a free walking tour in Berlin will open you to the insider tips and local recommendations that can make your visit much more interesting and enriched. Often the guides are actually residents of the town who are enthusiastic about sharing their favourite hidden spots, local eateries and off the beaten track draws that regular guidebooks don’t touch on. You might have pleasant surprise as we go beyond the tourist trail and give you our recommendations for whether it’s a cozy café tucked away in a quiet courtyard or a charming flea market on the outskirts of town.
How to Join a Free Tour.
See the Schedule and Meeting Point
Before booking into a free walking tour in Berlin, make sure to check the schedule and meeting point. Most tours run daily, but it is always good to confirm timings before hand. Sometime the meeting place is a historical landmark like fountain or statue so it is easy to find.
So wear suitable footwear and dress comfortably.
One of the things about a free walking tour is, there will be a lot of walking involved, so it’s best to wear decent clothing and which have suitable footwear. Berlin’s streets are uneven and it’s nice to have comfortable shoes to do the tour in. So if you’re going in the colder months, layer your clothes as the weather can be different all day.
Bring Water and Snacks
Because walking tours can take several hours, they can be physically demanding. To keep your energy levels up you need to be staying hydrated and fuelling yourself with snacks. Don’t forget to have a snack and a water bottle ready for you while on the tour.
Engage with the Guide and Ask Questions
A free walking tour is not a passive event, this is an opportunity to talk to the guide and ask questions. But you are of course also more than free to ask about anything that catches your eye, be it history, culture or local recommendations. The guides are excited to teach you what they know, and your inquisitiveness will add to the excitement;
A free walking tour in Berlin is a great way to start your tour of this amazing city! When traveling to any new place, it is always great to have insider tips, and there’s no better way to find those tips than joining a free walking tour. Get ready to soak up the sights, sounds and stories that Berlin has to offer so put on your most comfortable shoes. Your journey awaits!
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