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Third Reich Berlin: Hitler and WWII Walking Tour

4.93,615 reviewsBrandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor)

  • 3 hours
  • Free cancellation up to 24h before
  • Guided in English
  • Instant confirmation

Highlights

Embark on a captivating, easy-paced walking tour through Berlin, exploring the pivotal sites tied to the rise and fall of the Nazi regime. Led by an expert local guide, this relaxed and immersive experience offers unique perspectives on one of the darkest chapters in modern history. Stand above Hitler’s bunker and visit the Soviet War Memorial, a powerful reminder of the brutal final battle for Berlin. Walk along Wilhelmstrasse, where Nazi leaders planned military campaigns and the subjugation of millions across Europe, and see the Reichstag building, where the 1933 fire helped pave the way for the destruction of German democracy. Visit Hermann Göring’s former Air Ministry, Joseph Goebbels’ propaganda headquarters, and other key Nazi sites that played a central role in the regime’s operations. This award-winning tour provides a deeper understanding of Berlin’s role during World War II, exploring both the city’s tragic past and the lasting legacy that continues to shape Berlin today.

Inclusions

What's included

  • Local Expert Guide
  • 3-hour walking tour

What's not

  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Itinerary

  1. Begin your 3-hour Third Reich walking tour at Friedrichstrasse Train Station, where you’ll get an overview of the key historical sites you’ll explore. Visit the site of Hitler’s bunker, the Soviet War Memorial, and Wilhelmstrasse, where Nazi leaders planned their military conquests. Discover the Reichstag, where the 1933 fire helped dismantle democracy, and learn about the lives of Berliners during air raids and life under dictatorship. Explore Hermann Göring’s former Air Ministry, Goebbels’ propaganda HQ, and other significant Nazi sites, gaining insight into Berlin’s dark past and the resilience of its people.

    15 min

  2. "Trains to Life, Trains to Death" is a powerful and moving memorial that tells the story of the deportation of Jews from Berlin to Nazi concentration camps during World War II. This poignant site honors the victims who were forcibly taken from their homes and sent on trains to their deaths, symbolizing the cruelty and inhumanity of the Nazi regime. The memorial is dedicated to remembering those who suffered and perished, serving as a reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust and the importance of preserving history to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.

    10 min

  3. The Reichstag building is a key symbol of Berlin’s turbulent history. In 1933, a fire ravaged the Reichstag, and the Nazis used it as a pretext to consolidate power, suspending civil liberties and paving the way for their dictatorship. This event played a crucial role in dismantling Germany’s democracy. In 1945, during the final days of World War II, the Soviet flag was raised over the Reichstag after the intense Battle of Berlin, marking the symbolic fall of Nazi Germany. The building now stands as a testament to both the rise and defeat of the Nazi regime and the resilience of those who fought against it.

    15 min

  4. The Soviet War Memorial in Tiergarten is a striking tribute to the Soviet soldiers who fought and died in the Battle of Berlin in 1945. Located in the heart of Berlin, it commemorates the sacrifices made by the Red Army in the final stages of World War II. The memorial features a large statue of a Soviet soldier holding a flag, standing over two fallen Nazi soldiers, symbolizing the defeat of Nazism. Surrounded by a solemn, military cemetery, the site is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and the pivotal role the Soviet Union played in the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.

    15 min

  5. The Brandenburg Gate, one of Berlin's most iconic landmarks, played a significant role during the Nazi era. After Hitler's rise to power, the gate became a symbol of Nazi propaganda, representing the regime's authority and militaristic ideals. The Nazis often used it for rallies and as a backdrop for their grandiose displays of power. During the Third Reich, the gate was adorned with swastikas and was a key site for the regime’s public events. Today, the Brandenburg Gate stands as a symbol of Germany’s reunification, yet its Nazi-era history remains an important reminder of the dark chapter in Berlin’s past.

    10 min

  6. The Akademie der Künste (Academy of Arts) in Berlin was closely tied to the Nazi regime, particularly through the influence of Albert Speer, Hitler's chief architect and Minister of Armaments. Speer played a key role in shaping the architectural vision of the Third Reich, promoting monumental, neoclassical designs that reflected Nazi ideals of power and authority. Though not directly involved with the Akademie, Speer's architectural influence extended to many of the regime's projects, including those associated with the Academy. After the war, the Akademie underwent a reckoning with its Nazi past, much like other institutions in Berlin, grappling with the legacy of Speer’s influence and the broader complicity of the arts in supporting Nazi propaganda. Today, the Akademie stands as a place for contemporary arts, but its historical ties to the Nazi period are part of the broader discussion on Berlin’s complex past.

    10 min

  7. Is a poignant and solemn tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. It consists of a field of 2,711 concrete slabs of varying heights, creating a powerful and disorienting effect as visitors navigate through the undulating pathways. The memorial serves as a somber reminder of the atrocities committed against the Jewish people and invites reflection on the impact of such historical tragedies.

    10 min

  8. Stand above the location of where Hitler spent the last days of WW2, the site of Hitler's Bunkers, location of Hitler's old Reich Chancellory, which was built by Albert Speer

    10 min

  9. Wilhelmstrasse was a central hub for the Nazi regime in Berlin, home to several key government buildings, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Reich Chancellery, and the Ministry of Propaganda. The street housed offices of high-ranking Nazi officials such as Joseph Goebbels and played a crucial role in the administration of the regime, including military strategies and the persecution of Jews and other marginalized groups. It was here that important decisions were made that shaped the course of the war and the regime's oppressive policies. After the war, much of Wilhelmstrasse was destroyed or repurposed, but its dark legacy as a symbol of Nazi power remains embedded in the history of Berlin. Today, traces of this past can still be seen amidst the area’s modern redevelopment.

    15 min

  10. Hermann Goering's former Air Ministry, known as the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, was one of the most important buildings in Nazi Berlin. Located on Wilhelmstrasse, it housed the offices of the Luftwaffe, the Nazi air force, and was a symbol of Göring's power as the head of the Luftwaffe and Hitler's second-in-command. The building's grand design reflected the regime's ambition and authority, and it played a key role in the administration of Nazi military and air operations throughout the war. After the war, the building was largely repurposed, but its association with the regime’s militaristic and oppressive actions remains significant.

    10 min

  11. The Topography of Terror is a museum and memorial located on the site of the former SS and Gestapo headquarters in Berlin. It focuses on the role of these organizations in enforcing Nazi repression, persecution, and the Holocaust. The museum features exhibitions with photographs, documents, and accounts that highlight the brutality of the SS and Gestapo, showing how they implemented state-sponsored terror. Built on the original site, it serves as a stark reminder of the horrors of the Third Reich and educates visitors on the Nazi regime's violent legacy.

    10 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

4.9

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Ratings come from 3,560 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

  • 5Amazing Tour

    Wow! Ben was amazing- so much history. He showed us many important sites and he brought history to life.. very knowledgeable.

    Catherine_Ivia Viator

  • 5Outstanding

    Outstanding tour, Emma was absolutely fantastic. Full of energy and was able to add some humour into what was a sad subject. I would recommend booking up. So much see and covered within 3 hours

    Steve_Bvia Viator

  • 5Mikey was our guide , he...

    Mikey was our guide , he was very knowledgeable. The tour was fascinating . We learnt so much . Would recommend.

    Sarah_pvia Viator

  • 53rd Reich tour

    Really good value for money. Our guide Emma was excellent and very accommodating. She had so much knowledge and we learnt so much more than if we were walking around on our own.

    Tina_Mvia Viator

  • 5Nazi buildings in Berlin.

    Very well presented and in chronological order making it easy to understand. Ben did a great job in discussing the situation from the populations point of view not just one side or the other’s.

    John_Tvia Viator

  • 5Best way to start a Berlin Visit

    A great tour with Ru - very informative and knowledgable with a great sense of humour. A fab way to get your bearings and learn useful historical facts. Super value for money too!

    mn004via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

Meeting point
Meeting point: outside FRIEDRICHSTRASSE TRAIN STATION, on the square beside the 'Traenenpalast' (Palace of Tears), Reichstagufer 17, 10117 Berlin.
Pickup
Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
Ticket type
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group size
Up to 25 travellers
Operated by
Insider Tour Berlin
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Please arrive at the meeting point 15 minutes before the tour starting time

How it compares in Berlin

  • Its from-price is 88% below the median of the 287 city tours we list in Berlin.
  • Its length is typical for the group.
  • By number of reviews it ranks 3 of 287.
  • The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Berlin

Berlin is Germany's creative, open-minded capital, where landmarks of a turbulent history stand among art, green parks and legendary nightlife.

The Brandenburg Gate is the city's symbol, close to the glass-domed Reichstag and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Fragments of the Berlin Wall survive, most strikingly at the East Side Gallery, a long stretch covered in murals, and at the Bernauer Strasse memorial, while Checkpoint Charlie marks the most famous former crossing point.

Top-ranked sights in Berlin: Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor), Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial), Checkpoint Charlie.

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