Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free

Discover the Rich Cultural Heritage of Berlin on a Free Walking Tour

by | Oct 22, 2024 | Walking Tour

Uncover the Fascinating World of Berlin’s Museums

For its rich history, arts and culture, Berlin is the capital of Germany whose vibrant history, arts and culture combine to make it a great city to visit. There are far too many world class museums to bother anyone who wishes to spend any time exploring Berlin’s cultural scene. And the best part? A free walking tour is a great way to get out and embark your museum visits as well as explore multiple attractions and learn about the city while on foot. In this article you will be taken through the best museums you will find on a free walking tour in Berlin.

The Pergamon Museum – Step into the Ancient World

The Pergamon museum is our first stop on the free walking tour of Berlin’s museums. It houses ancient treasures from around the Near East and beyond. The first thing you’ll see upon entering is Pergamon Altar, a towering mass of a building, yet not even 2000 years old. The Market Gate of Miletus, the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the incredible Aleppo Room are all part of the museum. Get away with history you can dig into these awesome artifacts and learn more about ancient civilizations.

Tips:

If pepper is your thing, arrive early to avoid long queues, it’s especially the peak tourist season.

If you plan on visiting a number of museums (including the Pergamon) it might be worthwhile to consider buying a museum pass.

You’ll be doing a fair amount of walking, so wear good walking shoes.

Avoid long queues with long tourist season by arriving early.

If you are planning a whole bunch of museums, I would suggest getting a museum pass.

Bring comfortable shoes, because you’ll be doing quite a bit of walking.

Checkpoint Charlie Museum – Relive the Cold War

Our next stop on the walking tour is the Checkpoint Charlie Museum. This museum rests at the site where the infamous border crossing between East and West Berlin once stood, and gives a look at the soup of brutalities that comprised the Cold War. The Checkpoint Charlie Museum II—foiling, escaping, escape—documents imaginative and daring escape stories from across East Berlin as well as a variety of artifacts, documents, and exhibitions relevant to the Berlin Wall. Gain an understanding of the fact of the division and reunification of Berlin and the lives of those who lived there during this time.

Tips:

Go visit the museum on weekdays when there’s less of a crowd.

Use the audio guide with multiple languages available for even better enjoyment.

Also, allow some extra time to wander the area besides the border crossing at Checkpoint Charlie.

Go to the museum on weekdays to be able to avoid crowds.

Listen to the audio guide available in many different languages to do so.

If you plan to take photos at the famous Checkpoint Charlie border crossing, enjoy plan to enjoy some extra time to explore the area and take pics.

Museum Island – A Paradise for Art Lovers

Museum Island is an UNESCO world site, the famous place to go to check out various world class museums and their collections in the same area. But art enthusiasts will be in heaven within all the rest: Bode Museum; Altes Museum, altes and Neues Museum; Alte Nationalgalerie and the omnipresent Pergamon Museum. Museum Island is home to some wonderful museums, from classical sculptures to Renaissance paintings and ancient Egyptian artifacts. Each museum displays a slightly different, unique collection, giving an overview of how these artistic movements played out through the course of history.

Tips:

If that sounds interesting, perhaps it’s time to think about purchasing a day pass for Museum Island, where you can see several different museums with a set price.

Make a plan of the museums you most want to visit, and plan your visit accordingly.

Between museums have a rest and enjoy the views with the nearby stunning Berlin Cathedral.

If you’re going to visit the museum on a limited day, purchase a day pass for Museum Island which will allow you to visit several museums at your own pace.

Instead, plan your visit in advance and make your must visit museums a priority.

If you’re in Berlin on a particular day, make sure to break the line of museums for a pit stop to sit back and admire the scenery surrounding you, including the incredible Berlin Cathedral right across the road.

DDR Museum – Experience Everyday Life in East Germany

If you’re at all curious about life in East Germany whilst East Germany was a country, visiting the DDR Museum is a must. An interactive museum, this lets you get hands on providing a view of how East Germans lived. The DDR Museum offers an interesting and enriching viewpoint on history encompassing everything from sitting in an East German Trabant car to exploring a reconstructed Plattenbau apartment. Discover more about political, social and cultural aspects of life in former German Democratic Republic.

Tips:

The museum is popular, so if you visit the DDR Museum early in the morning or later in the afternoon, you may really avoid the crowds.

So take your time to use the exhibits and read the informative displays to get the most out of the experience.

Don’t miss the opportunity to try the virtual reality exhibit, a view into historic Berlin.

As it’s so popular though, you might want to try and visit the DDR Museum early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

And give yourself some time to wander through the exhibits reading their informative displays and to really experience this.

Don’t forget to go on the virtual reality exhibit, which gives us a preview of historic Berlin.

Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Center – Reflect on History

The Berlin Wall Memorial and Documentation Center shouldn’t be missed if you visit Berlin. By the way, Bernauer Strasse was one of the most divided streets in the city, and this opened air museum is here. When you walk through the preserved part of Berlin Wall you will really get a sense of the divide that once existed between East and West Berlin. With historical context, personal stories and on the development and collapse of the Berlin Wall, the museum’s exhibition offers.

Tips:

While visiting the Berlin Wall Memorial, combine your walk with a walking tour of the neighborhood so you can learn even more about Berlin’s history.

Catholic Archbishop Desmond Tutu also spoke at the Wall’s Chapel of Reconciliation, a symbol of peace and unity built in the wake of the 1995 Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk Nobel Peace Prize victory.

See informative displays and videos in the History section of the Documentation Center to learn more about the Berlin Wall’s history.

Visiting the Berlin Wall Memorial combined with a walking tour of the neighborhood next door adds to the story of the city.

If you feel it’s the moment, visit the Wall’s Chapel of Reconciliation as a symbol of peace and unity.

Go to the Documentation Center to see a deeper dive into the Berlin Wall’s history through videos and displays.

The best way to see the history, art, and culture of Berlin and experience the city is to embarking on the free walking tour of its museums. Think about your route ahead of time, and consider comfortable shoes, enthusiasm for learning and discovery. From ancient civilizations to Cold War history, and from contemporary art to tangible memorabilia – Berlin’s museums will appeal to anyone. With your map at hand, your walking shoes on, and your familiarity with Berlin’s cultural heritage, so grab it and go for a walk down Berlin’s colourful streets.

Thank you for reading. If you're inspired by the stories of Berlin and want to delve deeper, why not join us on our Free Berlin Walking Tour? It's a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the city's rich history and vibrant culture. We look forward to welcoming you soon.

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • 3.5 hours walking tour
  • Berlin’s major highlights
  • Brandenburg Gate
  • Reichstag and Berlin Wall
  • Historical sites

Free Walking Tour Berlin

When: Every day 10am & 12pm every day
Where: The meeting point is in front of the ehemaliges Kaiserliches Postfuhramt Berlin, Oranienburger Straße, 10117 Berlin, Germany, next to the entrance.
Price: Free