Berlin? Berlin!

Berlin, the city that is, ever since its very first beginnings, constantly changing. Berlin never “is”, it is always in the process of “becoming”. A tour to get acquainted with a city that changed the course of history. Get to know its character and history in a nutshell, from the first settlements in the swamps to the capital of the united republic. Surprising historical facts, “typical Berlin” anecdotes, fascinating and often dramatic stories are told en route along its most iconic and significant landmarks: e.g. Brandenburg Gate, Unter den Linden, Berlin Cathedral, Museum Island, Scheunenviertel (Jewish Quarter), Holocaust Memorial, Reichstag, remains of the Berlin Wall.

Berlin Divided 1961–1989

How did the allied forces divide Berlin in 1945, which events played a role in the rising tensions of the Cold War, leading to the closing of the borders and, ultimately, the erecting of the Berlin Wall? What was everyday life like in East and West Berlin, and to what extremes did citizens in the GDR go to escape the oppressive and suffocating regime? Which events set off the thawing of the Cold War, the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of the city after 28 years? These are some of the questions we’ll explore on this tour, while also taking a look at the consequences of the division of Berlin and Germany, which are present until today, in Berlin, in Germany itself, and well beyond its borders.

Berlin Walls

A mixed tour in which we trace the connection between the Berlin Wall and the rise of Berlin as one of the world’s leading Street Art hotspots. Discover how the concrete barrier turned into a messaging canvas of hope and protest for West-Berliners, and how it drove citizens in the GDR to ever more creative, daring, sometimes hair-raising attempts to escape across the border. Along the former border between East and West Berlin we delve into the political, personal and artistic consequences of the division of the city, interspersed with stops at fantastic murals, graffiti and other forms of Street Art.

Street Art

As opposed to our “Berlin Walls” tour, we focus more on the roots of Street and Urban Art, which by today have taken up a unique position in art history. We will dive deeper into the different trends, currents and forms of Street Art, as well as the different styles of artists, famous and obscure. During our excursions, we will of course also find answers to questions like: „What is the difference between Urban Art and Street Art?“ „Is anyone just allowed to do that?“ and, more diffuse and indistinct, „what actually is still considered Street Art today?“

This light, colourful tour leaves lots of room for your own interpretations of this modern art form!