Day Trips from Berlin

No visitor to Berlin can deny that this is one of Europe's most historic cities. There is something to learn and remember in every corner of Berlin, and to discover it, nothing is as essential and recommendable as a guided tour.

It's hard to think of Germany without considering its history, and that history is intimately linked to the Second World War and the rise of the Third Reich. Throughout the city there are different places that remember and commemorate the victims of Nazism while others related to the executioners are not even marked.

The total duration of this guided tour of the Third Reich is around two and a half hours and is available in English, Spanish and German.

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Another way to explore the centre of Berlin is on a guided bike tour. The city lends itself so well to this that in recent years guided tours of Berlin's city centre have been organised that include bike rental. These tours are for small groups (about 9 people), available in English and Spanish and last between 3 and 4 hours.

The advantage of this tour is that you can cover longer distances than on a walking tour and therefore get to know more areas and more aspects of the city, as you will be accompanied at all times by an expert guide who will talk to you about the Prussian monarchy, the Second World War and the Cold War.

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The famous Iron Curtain left its mark on the life of the city of Berlin and although the atmosphere of freedom in the streets of Berlin today is a far cry from that, this part of history has left traces throughout the city. On this guided tour of East Berlin you will learn about life in the Soviet and Communist part of the city and what stories the Cold War period brought with it.

This guided tour of East Berlin lasts 3 hours and is available in English and Spanish. Although we all know anecdotes about the famous Berlin Wall, the ones your guide will tell you during the tour will make your hair stand on end and make you wonder how such a surreal situation was possible in the German capital.

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• Brandenburg Gate
• Russian Embassy
• Palace of Tears
• Berlin Wall
• East Side Gallery
• Bernauer Strasse

This free tour, which you can book online for 3 euros, covers different historical areas in the centre of Berlin, but takes a very different approach to other tours.

The procedure of this politically incorrect tour of Berlin is the same as any other tour: a local guide meets you at a meeting point and takes you through different parts of the city with a series of explanations. The difference is that there is a lot of black humour and the point of view is far from politically correct.

I don't recommend this tour if you are a sensitive person, but it can be an interesting experience if you are in the mood for a good laugh and another insight into the history and culture of a city where diversity reigns supreme.

It's not all about history on a guided tour of Berlin. The city should also be enjoyed and what better way to do so than with a traditional German snack and a tasting of three different types of beer. This Berlin beer tour is the ideal plan for those who want to learn about the history of a drink that makes Germany famous and, of course, taste it.

The tour is available in English and Spanish, lasts 3 hours and costs 26 euros. An expert guide will meet you at a central meeting point in Berlin (you will be emailed the exact time and place when you book online) and take you to some of the city's best breweries and atmospheric areas. This tour is a great way to have a good time and meet other travellers.

There is controversy surrounding visits to Nazi concentration camps. The visit is not pleasant and is understandably an experience to be avoided for many. However, despite its harshness, the guided tour of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp is an important reminder and awareness of the political mistakes of the past. If you are interested in this part of history, I recommend that you try this guided tour and judge for yourself.

This visit to Sachsenhausen is based on the concept of a free tour, so you set the final price for your experience (the 3 euros you pay at the time of booking covers the administration fee and the donation to the memorial). The transfer to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp is included in the experience as well as the guided tour of the camp. The total duration of the tour will be about 5.5 hours.

The maximum group size is 30 people and the tour is adapted for wheelchair users. Please remember the connotations of the place you are visiting and try to dress appropriately. The tour will be conducted in Spanish, but you can ask for information by email when booking your place about the possibility of doing it in other languages.

Throughout the tour you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will explain everything you need to know about this difficult historical period. Including travel time, this tour will last about five hours.

If you know anyone who lives in Berlin, they will surely have told you about the alternative atmosphere that pervades the city today. With this guided tour of underground Berlin, you'll discover a side of Germany's capital that you probably didn't count on before your trip.

If you're someone who prefers to stay off the beaten tourist track, this tour is for you, but I can't guarantee that you'll be able to finish it without wanting to stay and live in Berlin. Communes, street art, graffiti, non-conformism, demonstrations, riots... these concepts will stay with you throughout this 3-hour tour in which a local guide will show you the less bourgeois side of the city.

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Ana's Traveller Tip

Berlin is a city with so much history that the guided tours are themed; take several of them to come back with as complete a picture of the city as possible.

Potsdam is a German city located on the outskirts of Berlin. It is known for having been the city of the German Kaisers and therefore home to elegant palaces and castles. Its baroque architecture and the role it played as an important enclave at the end of the Second World War attract thousands of travellers every year. On this six-hour guided tour of Potsdam you'll learn all the secrets of this city.

It's well worth booking one of the days of your trip to visit this city (on my first visit to Berlin I didn't and regretted it). But before you book online, there is one thing to bear in mind: the price of the tour does not include transfer to and from Berlin (train tickets cost 3.40 each way) or entry to Sanssouci Palace (it costs 12 euros and I recommend that you set aside time to see it on your own).

The total duration of this tour to Potsdam (although you will be responsible for your own transport, you will travel by train with the rest of the group from a meeting point in the centre of Berlin) is 6 hours and you can do it in English or Spanish.

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Dresden is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany and is located two hours from Berlin. If you have time during your trip, I recommend visiting it (leaving early to make the most of the day) either as part of an organised tour to Dresden or on your own. Besides being a city with a special charm, Dresden has one of the best Christmas markets in Europe.

With each of these tours you will learn about a different aspect of Berlin and its history, but you can also take less 'intense' walks around the city just to enjoy the sights. I recommend either a boat cruise through Berlin or a sightseeing bus tour with panoramic views of Berlin.

If you choose the option of free stops, in addition to enjoying the tour you will also be able to move comfortably around a city that you will have already discovered is gigantic and therefore difficult to reach on foot. Here are my articles with all the information you need to organise your cruise or sightseeing bus tour: Boat Tours and Cruises in Berlin y Berlin Hop-On Hop-Off Buses.