Cold War, Berlin Wall, Spies and the East Side Gallery
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Berlin, Germany
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Discover Berlin as the frontier of the Cold War on this guided historical walking tour. After World War II, Berlin changed from the capital city of Nazi Germany into the pivotal city in a struggle to control war-torn Europe. Retrace the trail of the “death strip” and the Berlin Wall. Visit some of Berlin’s most popular Cold War attractions, like the Berlin Wall Memorial, underground "ghost stations," and more. Learn about the history of Berlin, from its founding to this divided city of the Cold War.
- See the Berlin Wall, the Palace of Tears (Traenenpalast) and hidden areas of the Death Strip
- Learn about the military tension between the United States and its NATO allies and the Soviet Union and its allies
- Hear about the CIA, KGB and Stasi surveillance techniques
- Learn about daily life for Berlin's citizens during the Cold War
What's Included
- Local Expert Guide
- Berlin Transport daypass AB Zone ticket which can be purchased from meeting point€10.00 per person
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Reichstagufer 17, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Meeting point: outside FRIEDRICHSTRASSE TRAIN STATION, on the square beside the 'Traenenpalast' (Palace of Tears), Reichstagufer 17, 10117 Berlin. Our guides will be wearing a blue lanyard with a yellow name tag, holding yellow umbrellas!
End point
- East Side GalleryMühlenstraße, 10243 Berlin, Germany
The tour concludes at a strategic location surrounded by a multitude of transportation options, offering you seamless and convenient choices for your onward journey.
Operating hours.10:00 am
Itinerary
Begin this walking tour with a meet and greet outside Friedrichstrasse train station with an expert local guide, who will provide a detailed account of Berlin’s fascinating and oftentimes troubled history — specifically its place in the Cold War. After World War II, Berlin turned from its role as the capital city of Nazi Germany into the pivotal city in a struggle to control war-torn Europe. Berlin became the centerpiece of the Cold War, where the two superpowers collided.
Discover this divided city and retrace the trail of the “death strip” and the Berlin Wall. Walk along Bernauer Strasse, the site of many remarkable escape attempts, and the remains of the wall at the Berlin Wall Memorial and Former Stasi (DDR secret police). Walk under the famous Brandenburg Gate, one of Berlin’s most important monuments. It was a symbol of division between Berlin and Germany during the war, but it’s now a national symbol of peace and unity.
Learn about the history of Berlin, from its founding to this divided city of the Cold War, and get a fascinating insight into what it meant to live in the German Democratic Republic, the Eastern Bloc’s most heavily policed state. Find out what it was like to live behind the Berlin Wall.
Discover this divided city and retrace the trail of the “death strip” and the Berlin Wall. Walk along Bernauer Strasse, the site of many remarkable escape attempts, and the remains of the wall at the Berlin Wall Memorial and Former Stasi (DDR secret police). Walk under the famous Brandenburg Gate, one of Berlin’s most important monuments. It was a symbol of division between Berlin and Germany during the war, but it’s now a national symbol of peace and unity.
Learn about the history of Berlin, from its founding to this divided city of the Cold War, and get a fascinating insight into what it meant to live in the German Democratic Republic, the Eastern Bloc’s most heavily policed state. Find out what it was like to live behind the Berlin Wall.
1
Berlin Friedrichstrasse Station
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Admiralspalast Berlin
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Palace of Tears
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Alexanderplatz
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Karl-Marx-Allee
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
6
East Side Gallery
25 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Zone AB transportation ticket required
- IMPORTANT; Please be at meeting point 15 minutes before tour begins
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 22 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 1,088 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Avinesh_M, Jul 2026
It was informative tour. The guide, Klaus, was able to share his own experiences of cold war. Detailed information was provided on the both east and west berlin. Klaus took the tour what I would call off the beaten, items related to the cold which I have never heard. Overall quite an enjoyable experience
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your review.
We're delighted you chose to discover Berlin with us.
We hope to see you again.
Thanks and all the best, Insider Tour
Darin_J, Jul 2026
Tina was so informative and has clearly done a lot of research on this and related topics. She was able to address any question we had and navigated us through the city quite easily. Fascinating to hear about and be in the places we think we know about but really have no idea.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your lovely comments.
We're happy the tour left you with lasting memories.
Thank you for choosing Insider Tour.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Lorraine_T, Jul 2026
The small group was lovely. The guide very knowledgeable and interesting. Plenty to see and do. Thank you
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful comments.
We're pleased the tour became a highlight of your stay.
We appreciate your support.
Thanks and all the best, Insider Tour
Jane_P, Jul 2026
This was a great insight into history of Berlin. There were some great stories told by Emma, who was extremely enthusiastic about her role as guide.
There were lots of interesting facts about what went on during the Cold War. Even though I had a lot of knowledge about Berlin, the tour provided more information.
I now have places I want to go back to, to revisit. Those places you wouldn’t know about. The walking was ok, with going onto the S-bahn and tram, so you need a A/B zone day transport ticket.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
We're thrilled you enjoyed your guide.
Thank you for choosing us.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Natalie_H, Jul 2026
We had an excellent tour guide, Joseph, who was so knowledgable and friendly! Well paced tour and learned a lot.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your lovely feedback.
We're delighted the tour became a highlight of your trip.
Safe travels home.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Sowjanya_A, Jul 2026
Enjoyed the walking tour.
We learned about
1) The 1974 East Germany versus West Germany match.
2) The KINO theatre on the day the wall fell
3) How to tell the difference between East Berlin and West Berlin by looking at the buildings and the roads.
etc etc etc etc.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your lovely comments.
We're pleased the tour helped make your visit memorable.
We hope to see you again in Berlin.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Rachel_M, Jun 2026
Fantastic tour. Would highly recommend. Very engaging with lots to see. Ending up at the East Side Gallery a particular highlight.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Your review made our day.
We're delighted you enjoyed learning about Berlin's history.
We hope you enjoyed the rest of your stay.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Tee_H, Jun 2026
Ru our tour guide kept up the pace and provided excellent commentary.
I was good to see a different part of Berlin, rather than the usual centre.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for exploring Berlin with us.
We're delighted you had such a great experience.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Christine_M, Jun 2026
Fantastic tour! Learnt so much. Thanks to our brilliant guide Xavier! He deserves a medal! Amazing knowledge and pitched at the right level and well delivered.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind words.
We're thrilled the tour left such a positive impression.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Giovanna_G, Jun 2026
Our guide, Xavier, was a delightful host. He was very informative, had lots of knowledge about everything, and allowed enough time for everyone to take photos. He ensured everyone on the tour was comfortable at all times, considering it was quite hot.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your kind words.
We're thrilled you had such an enjoyable time.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Joan_S, Jun 2026
Paul was very knowledgeable and humorous and used tablet images to support his presentation. Bravo! ! I can’t imagine trying to explore Berlin without the excellent grounding his tour provided. Paul aside, a couple of suggestions for improving the tour: 1) how can any tour of the Cold War and the Berlin Wall not include Checkpoint Charlie and a mention of The Wall Museum? 2) use of a map to show where the wall was in relation to sights and neighborhoods would be very helpful.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the lovely recommendation.
We're delighted you enjoyed your experience with us.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Todd_K, Jun 2026
Glenn did a wonderful job explaining the German history. Learning about the spots of the Cold War and the ease of getting on the trains and off the trains and getting through Berlin was great.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We appreciate your kind feedback.
Our team is delighted to hear it.
Thanks and all the best, Insider Tour
Irina_I, Jun 2026
Comprehensive tour in an easy not rushed way, eye opening and at times breathtaking. Highly recommend! Glen, our tour guide, helped us to bring dots together with his lively stories and factual information. Glen was a very caring person and accommodated our individual needs.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for joining our tour.
We're delighted it left a lasting impression.
Thanks and all the best, Insider Tour
Jill_M, Jun 2026
Our guide, Glen, was great. Full of knowledge about the history of Berlin and enjoyed the stories he told.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for the great review.
We're delighted the experience was memorable.
Thanks and all the best, Insider Tour
Angela_E, Jun 2026
What makes this tour special compared to a self-guided tour from a book is the extensive additional information provided by our guide - Ru - who had evidently done his own research which provided colour and context to life in old East Berlin during the cold war era. The itinerary is logically arranged and uses the bahn and tram system to facilitate wider area coverage. Ru was also able to provide an insight into Berlin life in general beyond the scope of this tour which enhanced my appreciation of the city.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
We appreciate your recommendation.
It's great to know you had a memorable day.
Thanks and safe travels, Insider Tour
Rebecca_R, Jun 2026
Tina was AMAZING!!! She was fun, engaging, and so very knowledgeable. Some of her comments really made me think about Soviet East Berlin in ways I hadn’t before. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your amazing review and support. We are delighted that you found the experience engaging, educational, and enjoyable. Your kind words encourage our whole team. All the best, Insider Tour
Jason_L, May 2026
Top tour, plenty to see, learn about, easy to get around, lot's of valuable photo opportunities and a great guide in Klaus. 👌
Response from Host, May 2026
We really appreciate your lovely comments and thoughtful feedback. It is wonderful to know that our guide helped create such a memorable experience for you in Berlin. Thank you again for touring with us. Safe travels, Insider Tour
Robert_T, May 2026
An excellent and informative tour. Our tour guide was highly knowledgeable and had some visual aids which really added further context to the locations we saw and the stories told. Would highly recommend. Be aware that you don’t end the tour where you start and you will likely want to spend some more time at the last stop after the tour ends to really get the most from it.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thank you so much for your kind feedback and support. We are thrilled that you had such an enjoyable and memorable experience with us. Our guides work very hard to create tours that are informative and enjoyable for every guest. We are grateful that you chose to spend part of your time in Berlin with us. Safe travels, Insider Tour
Stephen_B, May 2026
Great experience. Very informative. Terrific guide. Got to see and hear about what life here was like during the Cold War.
Response from Host, May 2026
We really appreciate you taking the time to leave such a thoughtful review. It is fantastic to know that you enjoyed the tour and found it both informative and engaging. Hearing feedback like yours motivates us to keep delivering meaningful experiences every day. Thank you again for your support and kind words. Safe travels, Insider Tour
Alan_S, Apr 2026
Great tour, excellent and knowledgeable tour guide. Detailed information insights into the culture and complex social dynamics of both sides
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks for your amazing review. We’re happy to hear the tour stood out for you. It’s always great to get such positive feedback. We hope to see you again. Safe travels, Insider Tour
Steve_P, Apr 2026
Jamie G is an excellent tour guide. Great tour and you will see areas not on other Berlin tours. Very informative.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your kind comments. We’re glad the tour met your expectations. It’s always rewarding to hear this. Your feedback is valued. Safe travels, Insider Tour
Karen_B, Apr 2026
Maria was our guide and she was a brilliant guide who knew her knowledge. We both enjoyed the tour and the places we visited. Does Maria do a film tour? If not she should 😁.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review. We’re happy you had a great experience. Our team is committed to quality tours. Your support means a lot. Safe travels, Insider Tour
Russ_Y, Apr 2026
Well, we didn't make the Cold War Wall tour due to our own mistake. However, the tour group was very understanding and allowed us to take the Third Reich tour that afternoon. Will was a great guide so knowable on the subject. We learned a lot and enjoyed our time. Thanks to Will and the tour company for a great day.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We truly value your feedback. It’s great to know you enjoyed the tour. Our team is committed to excellence. We hope to see you again soon. Safe travels, Insider Tour
Elizabeth_M, Apr 2026
Very informative. Tina was a fantastic and extremely knowledgeable guide. She could answer every question with thoughtful responses. She is very passionate about Berlin and its history.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you for your lovely review. We’re happy you had such a great time. Our guides aim to create unforgettable experiences. We appreciate your support. Thanks and all the best Insider Tour
Donna_L, Apr 2026
Campbell was great! He made the complicated history of the Cold War make sense. He made seamless transitions from one location to another. He answered all of our questions. I even loved his Trump impression!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
We truly appreciate your kind feedback! It’s great to know you had a memorable experience. Our guides love what they do. We’re glad you joined us.
Safe travels, Insider Tour
Sarah_S, Mar 2026
Ariel was a great guide! He was so patient with our children and full of interesting facts that we were still talking about days later.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for your generous feedback. We’re so pleased the tour was such a success for you. It’s great to hear.
All the best.
Insider Tour
gregg_w, Mar 2026
Super !! Worth every penny !!Tour guide Klaus was very l knowledgeable .i learned so much about east and West Berlin . Recommend with tour to all history buffs
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We appreciate your lovely review and are so pleased you enjoyed the tour with us.
All the best,
Insider Tour
Rebecca_S, Feb 2026
Paul was an excellent guide well informed throughout the tour. Presented well with a variety of stories.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for your kind feedback. We’re delighted to hear that Paul’s knowledge and storytelling made the tour such an engaging experience. We’ll be sure to pass on your lovely comments to him.
All the best,
Insider Tour
Rebekah_G, Jan 2026
This tour is a must-do, mostly because our guide, Klaus, was fantastic. They had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Cold War era but presented it in a way that was engaging and easy to digest. He took the time to answer everyone’s questions.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We’re delighted to hear that Klaus’s encyclopaedic knowledge and engaging, approachable style made the tour such a must-do experience, and that he took the time to answer everyone’s questions.
All the best,
Insider Tour
AUGUSTO_C, Dec 2025
It was a wonderful guided tour through the recent history of the Soviet occupation of East Berlin. Maria (the guide) gave us a real lesson, teaching and informing us a great deal about the subject.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you found the tour through the history of Soviet-occupied East Berlin so rewarding. It’s wonderful to know that Maria delivered such a clear and informative experience, turning the tour into a real lesson that deepened your understanding of this important period.
All the best Insider
From $25.54
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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