BERLIN HISTORICAL WALKS

Berlin Walking Tours
With a Local Historian

Where the past comes alive
We believe that history is a STORY,
a story that can move us, make us cry
and laugh and leave us feeling more alive
and more engaged in the world.

Tours

The Dark Heart of the Third Reich Tour

This two-hour 'walking discussion' will take you off the beaten track and away from the big sites to explore the essentials of Nazism. We'll discuss why ordinary people supported the Reich as we stroll through a residential area. We'll stop by the old synagogue to discuss what drove their infamous Jewish policies and use a nearby park as a metaphor to help us understand their foreign policies. We'll also catch a glimpse of what it was like to fight on the streets of Berlin in 1945, using a role-playing technique that helps put you in the place of local commanders on both sides.

This experience is less a chronology of the rise of the Nazis and more a deeper dive into the WHY's of it all. By the end, you will have explored a now vibrant Berlin neighbourhood and unlocked some of its secrets, all of which will give you a deeper and more rounded picture of those disturbing 12 years. You'll also catch a glimpse of life in modern Berlin which helps you understand the profound changes that have occurred since the war.

Duration: 2 hours

The Old Berlin Tour

In this two-hour walk, you'll trace the city's past through several major squares and monuments on a tour full of those wonderful "a-ha, now I get it!" moments.

You'll uncover the secrets of the "Lost Berlin," whose entire medieval core was destroyed, completely redesigned, and then reimagined yet again.

Walking around the heat of old Berlin is like discovering a lost city if you know what to look for and how to see it.

You'll see how the politics of the last 150 years have reshaped the face of the city, resulting in entire buildings being moved, rebuilt, and replaced and reinterpreted. The city centre is like an ever-changing puzzle, and this tour will show you how the pieces fit together in the heart of the largely vanished old city.



Duration: 2 hours

Bernie Gunther's Berlin Tour

Come explore Berlin through the eyes of that legendary fictional detective, Bernie Gunther, whose exploits in Berlin in the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s have captured the hearts of millions of readers.

We'll explore some of Bernie's favourite hangouts, his homes, his workplace and the scenes of some of the crimes that were so masterly chronicled by his creator, the writer Philip Kerr.

Along the way, you'll get to see Berlin through his eyes, explore what these sites meant to the real citizens of Berlin, and get to know the city as a local might have known it in the tumultuous years of the Weimar Republic, the Third Reich, and the DDR. We'll hit a range of places both well-known and off the beaten track and learn the stories of the events that shaped Bernie's world.
You'll come away having seen a few of the big sites, but perhaps the greatest interest will be those places we visit which only a hardened local like Bernie would know about.

Duration: 2 hours

Specialty tours

We love to take people on private tours which reflect their own interests. We cater for corporate clients, private individuals or small groups. Just get in touch and we'd be happy to help you discover the most fascinating city in Europe!

Cost upon request
Reviews
300+ Reviews From Our Guests
Sean is very gifted in his ability to weave lots of historical facts together with stories, places and people. I also appreciated his engaging view of the perspective of past decision-makers. He is very clear in communicating the 'what happened here' over lots of sights, but he excels in clarifying the cause and effects behind the events. 'Making history come alive' is an often used phrase, but it applies to Sean Stewart. Be prepared to walk a lot, but you'll be so glad you did. Plus Sean is a great companion for the 4-hour you'll spend on this tour. I highly recommend!
Mary Ann
Experienced traveler
I took my whole family to Sean's and Ulyana's tour of Historic Berlin. If it wasn't for them, we would have not discover such an important part of world history linked to this city. If you are looking for a different perspective in your experience of Berlin, relive defining moments of world history and discover historic jewels of the usual tourist path, I would highly recommend this tour.
Andres
Journalist
You'd never realize how much history a normal building on the street of Berlin has. The tour is different from others in that Sean really knows these history. You can tell from his guide that he has read a lot about Berlin, German, and European history. Sean tries to give you a background before setting foot on a site, and he always answers your questions with great stroytelling skills. I took the tour called "Snapshot of the German-Soviet War", and Sean took us to sites which are not normally included in other commercial tours but definately worth visiting for understanding the topic.
Jianxiong
Student
Sean knows how tell the story in a way it's both interesting and relaxing. No hurry, enough time to ask questions, voice opinions and get to know with other listeners.
Marat
JavaScript engineer
I travelled to Berlin with my 19-year old son for the first time and we decided to book a private tour to make sure we visit all the main sites and learn the basic history of the city. Sean was a superb tour guide – friendly, funny and extremely knowledgeable. I liked the way he treated us – not like a teacher with school children, giving facts and names that we would have forgotten the next day. He was telling stories about the places we visited and people connected with these places, engaging us in those stories, creating emotions, provoking thoughts. History will never seem to be boring to me!
Elina
Customer Service Manager
Sean is an historian & storyteller who specializes in tours for small groups to ensure that everyone has his attention and expertise. I learned a lot on this tour and his knowledge base is remarkable! He is a wonderful person to consult with in the travel and tourism business having lived in many different countries over the years. Had a great time!
Darlene
Retired tax advisor
Sean, a Globetrotter originally from Chicago took me and a Georgian southern belle on the "Big tour of royal and imperial Berlin". The humorous historian (ten points here for alliteration) is a walking encyclopedia but with a LOT more zest. Without him I would have missed details like small copper plaques in between stones with names of Jews who lived there and got arrested, I really would have walked right over. And he pointed out splendid see thoughts. You really, really need a guide to make the city come alive, otherwise you think. When we stopped for tea and coffee, we talked politics, compared, asked. Really great!
Astrid
Artist
If you want the best imperial, GDR and Third Reich history tour with a welcoming sense of the sociological setting of each unique era of East Berlin then Sean is the guide for you! His extensive knowledge of why buildings were structured in a certain way and the reasoning for their (buildings) locations is awesome. I recommend all to book this experience!
Sym
Security consultant
It was an awesome experience! I got to know the city as if I were a local. Sean is a historian , very knowledgeable and entertaining. He told lots of interesting stories about history and we made lots of off the beaten track stops. Highly recommended during your stay in Berlin! Worth every penny spent. Must do!
Daniel
Consultant
Our family enjoyed Sean's walking tour around Berlin. He knows most of the history of Berlin, and he is able to convey them in such an interesting way. Trust me, I have been bored by history subject in classroom, but not with him. Definitely recommend this tour and other following tours with him.
Imaduddin
Engineer
Berlin is a fascinating city but as an American who grew up with a grandmother who grew up during the time of the Second World War, I was a little nervous to visit the city actually. Luckily, I had an amazing tour with Sean Stewart who I tasked with changing my mind about Germany and help me realize that this city is more than just the Second World War information I always see on the History Channel. The German people have had a tumultuous past but they are also survivors, passionate about their lives, art and making Berlin a better place.
Janiel
Travel blogger at Culturetrekking
About

Hi, I'm Sean and I'm a professional historian and a passionate storyteller who loves nothing more than bringing Berlin to life through stories.
You know those "aha" moments, when a person's face lights up with delighted understanding? Yeah, I live for that sort of moment.

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