Beyond Alexanderplatz: Berlin Off the Beaten Path

Itinerary

• Our first stop in Friedrichshain will be the most monumental street in Berlin, Karl-Marx-Allee, formerly known as Stalin Alley. It was along Karl-Marx-Allee that the Soviet troops entered Berlin in the spring of 1945. After the war, this boulevard provided the leaders of the GDR with carte blanche to create a golden future for the young socialist republic. Residential skyscraper palaces for workers, cozy cafes and restaurants, cinemas, and exemplary showrooms quickly appeared on the boulevard, impressing the West. To fully appreciate the splendor of Stalinist architecture in the GDR era, we will also explore the streets with houses built at the end of the 19th century, where representatives of modern bourgeoisie now quietly coexist with anarchists.

• Next, we will follow the GDR's official route briefly detouring to Prenzlauer Berg. Today, this is perhaps the most fashionable district in central Berlin. The only reminders of its socialist past are the street lamps. I will tell you why opposition members of the GDR used to live here. We will also see another exemplary GDR street and learn how they managed to preserve the imperial architecture amidst concrete developments.

• Then, we will head to the Pankow district, specifically to the former “territory of the military town of SVC in the Pankow district of the Soviet sector of Berlin.” In the summer of 1945, this area with respectable mansions was chosen by the Soviet command for the resettlement of future GDR party leaders. Behind guarded gates lived many members of the leadership of the SED, including President Wilhelm Pieck and party leader Walter Ulbricht. During our walk, I will tell you about the inhabitants of the “red ghetto” and the fate of the GDR rulers after Germany’s reunification. You will also see where the “two plus four” negotiations took place in 1990 for the final settlement regarding Germany.

• Additionally, our route includes the Prussian palace Schönhausen (the official residence of the GDR president), the Berlin Wall with the Brezhnev and Honecker kiss (East Side Gallery), and much more.

The tour includes transfer to/from the hotel in a compact car (cost included) and walking tours to interesting locations.

Who Is This Tour For

For those interested in history and those who want to see Berlin beyond Alexanderplatz.