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Offered languages
- English
St. Mary's Church stands in a large open space near Alexanderplatz. Archive photos show a different scene: houses and narrow streets pressed around the church. On this walk, I use photographs of the places along the route to help you see the Berlin that disappeared.
I'm Yusuf, your guide. We start at the World Clock on Alexanderplatz and walk through the historic centre of former East Berlin. Along the way, I hold up archive prints so you can compare the old views with what stands in front of you: the missing streets around St. Mary's Church, the Neptune Fountain that once stood before the royal palace, the palace site at the Humboldt Forum and the war damage and rebuilding on Museum Island.
My advice: hold your phone beside my print and photograph the comparison.
The walk takes about 2.5 hours and covers about 3 km, with no more than 10 guests. It ends at Hackescher Markt, close to food and public transport.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet me beside the World Clock (Weltzeituhr) on Alexanderplatz at 12:25, five minutes before the 12:30 start. Look for my green umbrella.
The walk ends at Hackescher Markt S-Bahn station, close to food options and public transport.
Itinerary
-
1Alexanderplatz
We meet at the World Clock on Alexanderplatz. I introduce the walk and show you how this square looked before it was rebuilt as the centre of East Berlin.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Berliner Fernsehturm (Pass by)
We look up at the TV Tower and talk about why East Berlin built it here in the 1960s. We stay outside for 10 minutes; going up the tower is not included.
Admission ticket free -
2Rotes Rathaus
At Berlin's red city hall and the Neptune Fountain, I show you how the fountain once stood in front of the royal palace before it was moved here.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Neptunbrunnen (Pass by)
Right beside the city hall. An archive photo shows the fountain in its first place, in front of the royal palace.
Admission ticket free -
3St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church now stands in a wide open space. Archive photos show the houses and narrow streets that once surrounded it.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4Marx-Engels-Forum
At the Marx and Engels statues we talk about GDR memory and the old streets that disappeared from this area.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
5Humboldt Forum
We pass the Sanchi Gate replica beside the building, then compare the palace site with the Palast der Republik and today's rebuilt facade. We take a 10-minute break here.
25 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Lustgarten (Pass by)
We cross the Lustgarten, the garden between Berlin Cathedral and the Altes Museum.
Admission ticket free -
Berliner Dom (Pass by)
From the Lustgarten we look at Berlin Cathedral and the Altes Museum beside the Spree. We stay outside for 20 minutes; admission is not included.
Admission ticket free -
Altes Museum (Pass by)
We look at the Altes Museum's colonnade from the Lustgarten; admission is not included.
Admission ticket free -
Museum Island (Pass by)
On Museum Island we look at the Neues Museum, the Alte Nationalgalerie and the Pergamon Museum from outside for 20 minutes. Archive photos help explain the war damage and the restoration behind what you see today. Museum admission is not included.
Admission ticket free -
Neues Museum (Pass by)
Seen from outside; admission is not included.
Admission ticket free -
Alte Nationalgalerie (Pass by)
Seen from outside; admission is not included.
Admission ticket free -
Pergamonmuseum (Pass by)
Seen from outside; admission is not included.
Admission ticket free -
6
We cross Friedrichsbrücke from Museum Island towards Hackescher Markt.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7Hackescher Markt
The walk ends at Hackescher Markt, close to food options and public transport.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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