About this experience
For several decades now, Berlin has been the fastest developing city in Europe. Guidebooks can't keep up with the changing list of landmarks, while Berliners and travelers are trying to keep pace with trends. I invite you to ride through recognizable, never outdated places and delve into alleys not found in tourist guides. The wall dividing the city may be gone, but West and East Berlin continue to compete. You will see all the most impressive sights in the two centers and collect an unforgettable collection of experiences!
What to Expect
The City from All Sides
On the west side of the city, you will immerse yourself in both imperial and typical modern life of Berliners and visit places where most tourists on sightseeing tours do not stop. I'll show you how the famous Berlin altbau buildings are arranged inside and their inner courtyards. I'll introduce you to one of the most tolerant and safest places in Europe, where Marlene Dietrich first appeared in a pantsuit. In the historical center of Berlin in the east, I will acquaint you with the classic "parade" capital of Germany. At the end of the bike tour, I will suggest other places worth visiting in Berlin, and we will part ways in a trendy neighborhood with plenty of cafes, breweries, and restaurants where you can easily find a place to your liking to recharge and enjoy the rest of the day.
Bonus: if you wish, and time allows, as a complement to the bike tour, I will show you the Nikolai Quarter and other remnants of medieval Berlin.
In our Route:
- Architectural masterpieces of Schinkel, Stüler, and Schlueter from the time of the Prussian kingdom and surviving buildings from the National Socialist era.
- Location of the first Berlin film festivals during the Cold War and the theater currently fighting for the 'Golden Bear'.
- The famous Stumbling Stones and other memorials to the victims of the National Socialist regime.
- Imperial Victory Column, Great Star Square, and Presidential Palace 'Bellevue'.
- 'Leap over the Spree', 'Palace', 'Eagle', and other famous bridges of Berlin.
- Europe's largest musical instrument with 68 bells and the place where the parliament of Nazi Germany met.
- Reichstag building, reconstructed by Sir Norman Foster, impressive modern architecture in the Government Quarter, and Main Berlin Train Station in Hi-Tech style.
- Official symbol of Berlin - Brandenburg Gate and the ceremonial part of Unter den Linden Boulevard.
- Modern creation of the world's leading architects - Potsdam Square and the main showcase of East Berlin - Friedrichstrasse.
- The most prestigious shopping boulevard of the West - Kurfürstendamm with bird cages hidden from tourists' eyes.
- One of Germany's most beautiful squares - Gendarmenmarkt - and an equally pompous but sadly famous 'square of burning books'.
- Never-sleeping Hackescher Markt and its popular labyrinth of eight inner courtyards.
- Permanently closed by construction scaffolds Museum Island and the restored Berlin Royal Palace.
- Germany's most famous department store, KaDeWe, ruins of the Emperor William Memorial Church, New Synagogue, Berlin Cathedral, and everything worth seeing but impossible to cover on foot.
Optimal Tour Format
The German capital is one of the major cycling cities in the world. The metropolis is densely wrapped in cycling infrastructure, so you will see much more than an averagely prepared pedestrian. During the bike ride, you will find yourself in non-touristy places where not only the bourgeois life hidden from prying eyes flows, but also interesting landscapes, architecture, and history are revealed. Of course, we won't rush without stopping all this time: short and long rides are interspersed with stops to explore the sights. You will travel the optimal path, and I will show you all the most interesting things and, in conclusion, gladly share what I know on the trip, answering your questions.
Bike Rental
Most Berlin hotels will gladly offer you bike rental right in the hotel (recommended) or nearby within walking distance. In addition, there are popular scattered mobile bike options throughout Berlin. The most common options are Donkey Republic, nextbike, Call a Bike, but there are also others, including electric bikes JUMP, Tier, and Lime-E. You can come to the meeting place by bike, bring it with you on the U-Bahn (subway) or S-Bahn (surface train). If you arrive at the meeting place without a bike and did not use a rental, you can find a bike through a mobile app nearby.
Renting a bike is usually very easy. After booking, you will receive detailed instructions and rental addresses near the meeting point.
Six hours of rental on average cost ≈ 6-10 EUR; for a day ≈ 12-20 EUR. Transporting one bike by metro will cost you 2.00 EUR. In the metro, use the elevator and bicycle car. Please choose your bike in advance before the start of the bike tour.
The biking season in Berlin lasts all year round, except for a few weeks in winter, if it snows - don't worry! The tour will definitely take place in a reasonably shortened walking format.
Who Is the Tour For
Participants over 16 years old, ready for aerobic loads and pleasant experiences. You must be confident in riding a bike and have average physical fitness. If you haven't been in the saddle for a long time, you may feel slight leg fatigue the morning after the trip.
Organizational Details
How the Tour Goes
- Start: at the square of Wittenbergplatz station (U-Bahnhof Wittenbergplatz). Finish: at the square of Hackescher Markt station (S-Bahnhof Hackescher Markt).
- Total route length: 20 km. Approximately 28 stops. Movement/pause time ratio: approximately 50/50.
- The bike tour format does not involve visiting shops, restaurants, snack bars, etc.
- At the halfway point, a short stop is planned for a coffee/tea break.
Additional Expenses
Bike rental and, if necessary, transporting it by public transport to the meeting point
