The Best Free Tours to Take in Berlin

Take yourself on a tour of the epic dome that forms part of Berlin’s parliament (Bundestag). It’s free to visit this impressive glass and steel structure, with an informative audioguide at no extra cost to enjoy as you climb the dome. Booking a slot online however, is essential – make sure to wait for your booking confirmation before crossing the threshold.

This free walking tour of Berlin is your perfect introduction to the city. Offered offered by Get Your Guide, it takes you through the the city’s top attractions including the Brandenburg Gate, Luftwaffe HQ, and the TV Tower on a whirlwind two-and-a-half-hour tour. You’ll get a summarised version of Berlin’s World War II and Cold War history as you go. Guides make their money from your tips, so remember to do so before you disperse. The tour is available in English, German and Spanish and booking first online is recommended.

Berlin is both a tourist city and a home for thousands of people from within Germany and from abroad, resulting in a mishmash of creativity and pocketed subculture. Alternative Berlin Tours offers tip-based tours with passionate and informative guides on a range of interesting cultural and artistic facets, that go beyond the regular tourist circuit.

Some of the incredible worlds you can be exposed to on an Alternative Tour include Berlin’s artist squats and multi-cultural neighbourhoods, street art, community farm or art projects, skateparks, daytime raves and flea markets. Tours run daily at 11am, 1pm and 3pm and last for three hours. No booking is needed, just show up to the meeting point at Alexanderplatz.

The Berlin Concentration Camp Memorial Tour tour offered by Free Berlin Tours takes visitors on a trip through Germany’s tragic past. This tour takes place just outside of the city at Sachsenhausen, the first camp ever built and where 50,000 people were murdered under the brutal Nazi regime. The tour is given in English and is suitable for both school groups and individuals.

Every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 11am, an opportunity awaits to to join a free bike tour of Berlin. The Free Berlin Bike tour offered by Original Berlin Tours is a great way to check out the city’s most famous landmarks. The tours are very sociable, so if you’re travelling Berlin alone, they’re a great way to meet other travellers. Bring your own bike or rent one there for €10 (US$11.91).

If you like to drink and meet other people from around the world who enjoy a similar outlook, then a free pub crawl of Berlin’s most debauched drinking holes is for you. The city is known for its non-stop night time activities, so getting on a free tour that takes you to the heart of hedonistic Berlin is part of the experience. If you’re staying at a hostel, there will no doubt be a pub crawl offered at the front desk.