Explore Berlin’s creative side through the courtyards, passageways and hidden addresses of Spandauer Vorstadt. This tour traces the transformation of a once working-class neighbourhood that has become one of the city’s main hubs for Berlin’s art and creative scene.
Experience the energy of contemporary Berlin while discovering traces of the capital’s turbulent past.
We recommend taking this tour in the afternoon, when the places featured are open and the neighbourhood is at its liveliest.
A side of Berlin away from the main tourist routes
Discover narrow streets, courtyards, passageways and discreet addresses frequented by Berliners but often overlooked by visitors.
Understand the city’s recent transformations
Creativity, gentrification and new forms of urban living offer an insight into contemporary Berlin.
Immerse yourself in the local cultural scene
Galleries, independent shops and cultural initiatives showcase the vitality of Berlin’s creative scene.
About the trendy, arty & secret Berlin Tour
This private tour takes you into the heart of Spandauer Vorstadt, one of Berlin’s liveliest and most creative neighbourhoods.
Once a working-class district with a large Jewish community, much of which was persecuted during the Second World War, the area was later bordered by the Berlin Wall. Since reunification, it has gradually reinvented itself.
As you explore its passageways and courtyards, you will discover how artists, creatives and cultural entrepreneurs moved into spaces that had been left vacant during the 1990s.
The neighbourhood is a particularly good illustration of Berlin’s attraction to alternative initiatives, independent galleries and innovative projects combining culture, craftsmanship and food.
Today, this creative energy comes with new challenges: rising property prices, higher rents and gentrification. Exploring this neighbourhood therefore also provides an opportunity to understand some of the more recent chapters in Berlin’s history.
Practical information
We recommend taking this tour in the afternoon, when the places featured are open and the neighbourhood is at its liveliest.
Prices for a 3-hour private tour:
- €250 for 1 to 5 participants
- €300 for 6 to 10 participants
- €330 for 11 to 15 participants
- €350 for 16 to 20 participants
- More than 20 participants: please contact us for a quote
Children aged 10 to 15 count as half a participant. For example, a family of 4 adults and 2 children will pay the rate for 5 participants.
Children under 10 are not counted in the number of participants and are very welcome.
Please contact us for a personalised quote.
The tour starts near Hackescher Markt.
The tour ends near Oranienburger Straße station.
Meeting and end points may be changed if necessary.
The exact meeting point will be specified in your tour confirmation email.
Approximately 3 kilometres.
The tour takes place entirely on foot.
Our standard tour lasts 3 hours.
We can also arrange a shorter or longer tour according to your preferences.
The tour is private.
Your guide is entirely at your disposal, whether you are travelling alone, as a couple or in a group of up to 10 people.
We recommend limiting groups to 15 participants per guide in order to ensure the quality of the tour.
For larger groups, several guides can accompany you. We can also provide an audio headset system if required.
Typical tour itinerary
Three highlights of the trendy, arty & secret Berlin tour:
Hackesche Höfe courtyards: although now well known to visitors, these interconnected courtyards still hide a number of interesting addresses for food, art and shopping.
Auguststrasse: home to several artistic and cultural spaces, some of them tucked away in inner courtyards.
Monbijoupark: the area around this riverside park is particularly pleasant. Nearby, you can also discover some of the more or less daring renovations of historic buildings.
Topics covered curing the tour
- The history of this former Berlin’s Jewish district and the destruction caused by the Second World War
- Berlin in the 1990s: newfound freedom, squats and artists
- The architecture of inner courtyards during the industrial era
- Gentrification and social change
- Berlin’s independent art galleries
- Our recommendations for interesting shops and restaurants
Who Is this tour for?
This tour is designed for curious travellers who want to discover a contemporary and lively side of Berlin beyond the city’s historic monuments.
It is particularly suited to anyone interested in art, urban culture and architecture, as well as travellers who want to understand the city’s recent social and cultural changes.
The tour is suitable for individual travellers, families and organised groups, including associations, school groups from secondary school level upwards, and companies.
Your guides
Luca
Laurence
Laetitia
Thomas
Our team is made up of professional guides who have been living and working in Berlin for many years.
More about our team
Your questions about our tour
No, this tour is entirely on foot.
The tour will go ahead in rainy weather. However, we may decide to cancel the tour in the event of severe weather conditions that could affect your safety.
We recommend checking the weather forecast and dressing accordingly.
Nous vous recommandons de porter des chaussures confortables et de prendre une bouteille ou une gourde d’eau.
Consultez les prévisions météo pour être équipé.e au mieux.
En hiver, selon les températures, n’hésitez pas à protéger vos extrémités et à adopter la technique de l’oignon : gants, bonnet, grosses chaussettes, écharpe, tee-shirt thermique, collants sous le pantalon, gros pull…
Du soleil ? N’oubliez pas la crème solaire et les lunettes de soleil.
De la pluie ? Un parapluie solide.
We recommend this tour for children aged 7 and over.
Your guide will adapt their explanations to the participants’ level of knowledge and adjust the pace of the tour so that everyone, young and old, can fully enjoy the experience.
This tour includes a few flights of steps and cobbled streets. Please feel free to contact us before booking so that we can advise you and adapt the itinerary if necessary.
Yes, we can adapt the duration and itinerary to suit your requirements and interests. It is also possible to combine several themes in a single tour.
There are many good reasons to book a private tour:
- Your guide’s undivided attention and personalised advice for the rest of your stay
- A tour tailored to your wishes and needs
- Complete flexibility in terms of pace, itinerary and topics covered
Unfortunately, we only offer private tours. We do not offer public group tours.
We recommend booking your tour as early as possible to ensure that a guide is available at your preferred date and time.
Tours must be booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Depending on when you book your tour, you can pay by bank transfer or online by credit card.
The available payment options will be confirmed during the booking process.
