Berlin can't be understood just by seeing Brandenburg Gate and the Wall. After reunification, empty buildings and a mix of cultures turned several neighborhoods into the laboratory of art, music, and alternative lifestyles that define the city today. This sightseeing tour takes you to that alternative Berlin, in Spanish and with a live guide who lives here.
We've been showing Berlin to Spanish-speaking travelers for over 10 years, and more than 800,000 people have explored the city with our team. On this sightseeing tour, we apply that experience to the less monumental side of the German capital.
THE TOUR
We'll set off from Brandenburg Gate towards Oranienburger Straße, one of the central streets of Jewish life in Berlin in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You'll see how the neighborhood has changed since then.
We'll then continue on to the Hackesche Höfe, a complex of Art Nouveau-style inner courtyards that today houses workshops, galleries, and small shops.
Then we'll head over to Kreuzberg. In Kotti (Kottbusser Tor), you'll discover one of the most multicultural neighborhoods in the city: punk bars, clubs with their own unique character, and halal restaurants. Here, you'll learn about the history of the Turkish community in Berlin and why this neighborhood is linked to the origins of Turkish-German hip hop.
We then continue to Köpi, one of Berlin's most famous squat projects, where punk culture and political activism intersect. We'll also stop by YAAM, a cultural venue with African and Caribbean food stalls and, hopefully, live reggae.
We'll end at the East Side Gallery, the longest surviving section of the Wall, now an open-air art gallery.
WHAT YOU'LL TAKE AWAY
The keys to understanding Berlin's street art: what it says and why it appears here
The history of squatted houses and the underground scene after 1989
How Turkish heritage, punk, and the modern-day city coexist in the same neighborhood
A view of the city that complements the classic historical sightseeing tour
WHO IS IT FOR?
For those who already know monumental Berlin or want to see it from another angle. It's perfect if you're interested in street art, music, social history, or learning how Berliners live off the tourist track.
Book your spot and join us on a tour of alternative Berlin, which continues to change every year.
