Berlin: Then and Now Walking Tour with Archive Photos
See more
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.
Free cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reserve now
Check a date here, then finish booking with our partner. Payment options are confirmed at checkout.
Duration 2.5 hours
Check availability to see start times.
Live tour guide
English
Key facts
What's included
Included
- Guided walk with a local guide
- Archive photograph comparisons along the route
Not included
- Admission to museums, the TV Tower and other attractions (we view them from outside)
- Food and drinks
- Public transport tickets
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Itinerary
-
Stop 1
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.
-
Stop 2
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.
-
Stop 3
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.
-
Stop 4
Right beside the city hall. An archive photo shows the fountain in its first place, in front of the royal palace.
-
Stop 5
St. Mary's Church now stands in a wide open space. Archive photos show the houses and narrow streets that once surrounded it.
-
Stop 6
At the Marx and Engels statues we talk about GDR memory and the old streets that disappeared from this area.
-
Stop 7
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.
-
Stop 8
We cross the Lustgarten, the garden between Berlin Cathedral and the Altes Museum.
-
Stop 9
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.
-
Stop 10
We look at the Altes Museum's colonnade from the Lustgarten; admission is not included.
-
Stop 11
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.
-
Stop 12
Seen from outside; admission is not included.
-
Stop 13
Seen from outside; admission is not included.
-
Stop 14
Seen from outside; admission is not included.
-
Stop 15
We cross Friedrichsbrücke from Museum Island towards Hackescher Markt.
-
Stop 16
The walk ends at Hackescher Markt, close to food options and public transport.
Meeting point & pickup
Meet at the starting point
Meet me beside the World Clock (Weltzeituhr) on Alexanderplatz at 12:25, five minutes before the 12:30 start. Look for my green umbrella.
Open in Google MapsCancellation & confirmation
Free cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- 100% refund if cancelled at least 1 day(s) before
- 0% refund if cancelled 0–1 day(s) before
- May be cancelled if there are not enough travelers
Instant confirmation
Your booking is confirmed immediately after checkout.
From $17.00 per person
- Free cancellation
- Secure checkout with our booking partner
