Quick Overview
Guide: A Queer graffiti & tattoo artist + photographer based in Berlin, Sketchy Shona
Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours.
Max group size: 6 people.
The Route: Hermannplatz area, an independent queer-feminist book space, Neukölln back alleys, and Weserstraße community hubs. Walking Pace: Over 1.5 to 2 hours, you will be exploring back alleys and community spots on foot, so comfortable shoes are essential. Since a major component of the tour is professional outdoor portrait photography, the lighting and experience will shift depending on the weather.
Photos by Sketchy Shona: High-quality street portraits shot on a digital camera (sent within 48 hours) + a curated digital guide to Berlin's underground spaces.
The Impact: A portion of your ticket goes directly to our queer art collective, Countercult, to hire local community members.
(Note: Perfect winter option. We split time between the stroll and heated local spaces. Highly inclusive and sober-friendly.)
️The Experience
Join a queer working artist for a look into the intersection of art, music, and social activism in Berlin. This walk explores how visual art is used not just as decoration, but as a live tool for political messaging and community organizing on the streets and inside the city's legendary queer parties and club nights. You do not need any preparation to join, just a respectful attitude and an interest in real Berlin queer / lgbtq+ and local subcultures.
The Route & Street Portraits
We meet at Hermannplatz to discuss how grassroots networks and creative resistance shape the modern neighborhood. Our walk cuts through hidden back alleyways and street art hotspots near Rathaus Neukölln, stopping by an independent queer-feminist bookstore. Along the route, I will capture professional portraits of you against Berlin's raw urban backdrops using a digital camera. As we walk, we will decode the visual language of the streets, focusing on how temporary paste-up art and poster culture are weaponized for fast-moving local political actions.
Clubs & Community
We move into the Weserstraße scene, visiting independent safe spaces including a self-managed collective café and an iconic neighborhood bar. This experience works exceptionally well for both sober crowds and nightlife explorers, as the spaces we visit support diverse lifestyles. Over a drink, we will discuss how street-level activism bleeds directly into the visual culture of Berlin's nightlife, alongside an insider blueprint of underground club door policies and local party collectives.
You get a curated list of our fave spots and collectives in Berlin
After our walk, you will receive a curated digital guide containing personal recommendations for independent collectives, community safe spaces, sober-friendly hangouts, and underground art venues across Berlin. We wrap up at an artistic neighborhood favorite, leaving you perfectly set up to explore the real local scene.
