FAQ
Frequently asked questions for Original Berlin Walks
Does the tour still run in the rain? Can I bring my dog? Where is the meeting point?
Just click or tap on the questions below to see the answers.
Can’t find your answer? Get in touch!
How do I book a private tour?
It is possible to book a private tour on our book a private tour page. Just click the "book a private tour" button, answer a couple of questions, and we'll get back to you as quick as we can.
I have a Welcome Card All Inclusive, how can I register for a tour?
With a valid Welcome Card All Inclusive you can join most of our public tours for free. Please register here for your participation. We will then check availability and confirm your booking by e-mail.
When do your tours run?
You can see an overview of which tours are running on which days on our calendar page. Click here to see the calendar.
There is also a booking calendar on each of the individual tour pages. If a date is unavailable the tour is either not for sale that day, or it is fully booked.
All tours can of course also be booked with a private guide any day of the year, just get in touch!
Where are the meeting points for your tours?
Our meeting point information is included in your digital ticket when booking your tour.
Our public tours start outside Starbucks at Hackescher Markt.
Is there a minimum number of participants?
No, all public tours run every time.
I am at the meeting point but I can’t see anybody.
Our guides arrive 15 minutes before the tour starts. You can recognize them by their blue name badge. Please double-check your ticket to make sure you are at the correct place, and give us a call on our office mobile phone +49 (0)177 30 19 19 4 so we can help you out.
I am late for my tour. What do I do now?
If you are running 5-10 minutes late, please give us a call on our office mobile phone at +49 (0)177 30 19 19 4 so we can try and lead you to your group. While we will always try our best, there is no guarantee that you can catch up with the group, especially for day trips to Potsdam or the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial Site.
If you know in advance that you will be late, give us a call on our office mobile phone +49 (0)177 30 19 19 4 so we can evaluate what best to do. Sometimes re-scheduling is the better option.
Can I be picked up from my hotel?
All public tours start at the designated meeting point at Hackescher Markt.
If you book a private tour your guide can of course pick you up from your hotel if it is centrally located, and simply start the tour from there.
Do I have to pre-book or can I just show up?
The best way to guarantee your spot on a tour is to buy your tickets in advance on our website. Tour group sizes are limited, and are especially likely to sell out in Summer and over New Year’s Eve.
That said, you are of course welcome to buy a ticket on your phone at our meeting if you need to stay flexible.
If you want to book a tour for a school group, a corporate event etc, or you are generally interested in a private tour, advance booking is required. Fill in the form on our contact page or check our private tour page for more information.
Do I need to print out my online ticket?
No. You can show your ticket on your smartphone or tablet at the meeting point. If you can’t find it please kindly ask your guide to call the office and they will confirm your booking for you.
I have bought a ticket but can no longer join the tour. What now?
Tickets for our public tours can be cancelled or rescheduled up to 24 hours before the tour starts. We are happy to honour your ticket on another day, or at a later start time, if available. Let us know in advance when you would like to join the tour.
If the same tour is not available we will offer a similarly-priced tour on a different day.
The weather is bad. Is the tour still happening?
Our tours run in all weather. Please come prepared! In German there is a saying: “There is no such thing as bad weather, there is only bad clothing.”
How many people will be in the group?
The size of the groups varies and is very difficult to predict. However, our guides know how to manage tours of all sizes and we will always try to schedule a second guide if we anticipate a group larger than 20 people. If you are interested in a more intimate tour, please enquire about reserving a guide for a private tour.
How much walking is involved?
As Berlin is a very flat city the walking on our tours is not overly strenuous, however, a reasonable level of fitness is suggested as we do cover quite a lot of ground. The main sights Discover Berlin tour, for example, covers 4-5 km (about 3 miles) in about four hours. For more information on our other tours please contact the office. Bear in mind that we are very happy to arrange private tours with your own car and driver if you prefer.
Is there anything I need to bring along for the tour?
We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing. It’s always good to bring an umbrella along if it looks like rain, and sunscreen in the summertime. Also, you won’t regret bringing water and a snack along.
If you have any special needs on your tour then your guide will be happy to help.
Is there a break on the tour?
All of our public tours that are 3 hours or longer include a break and an opportunity to use the bathroom and purchase refreshments. Usually the break is about two hours in, but if you need something urgently just ask your guide and they'll be happy to help.
On a private tour, you can always set your own pace and can take as many breaks as you like.
Do we go inside any of the museums?
Unless stated otherwise we do not go inside of the museums and sights we see on our tours. As there is a lot of ground to cover, a visit to the museums would eat up too much time. That said, our guides will provide expert information about all the sites we cover, including the museums and the Reichstag, enhancing a private visit to them later on.
On private tours, we can include a museum visit on request or start / finish the tour there for a seamless tour experience.
Where do the tours end?
Our tours all end in central Berlin with a good connection to public transport to take you where you need to go. Our guides are available at the end of the tour to help you with directions.
Please note that our tours do not end at the same place they begin.
Are the tours wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair users are very welcome on our tours. Our Discover Berlin tour, in particular, is wheelchair-friendly. However, on some tours we make ample use of public transport and unfortunately, elevators in the subway stations are sometimes out of order. If you are interested in joining any of our public tours, please get in touch with the office in advance so we can inform our guides, or let you know if we expect any difficulties on the tour (e.g. mud, construction sites, cobbled streets etc.).
Unfortunately, for insurance reasons our guides are not allowed to assist with wheelchairs.
Bear in mind: we are always happy to arrange private tours! Our guides are happy to walk at your pace, or we can organize a motorised tour for your convenience.
Do the guides use microphones?
Although traffic and construction sites can produce significant ambient noise on the tours, our guides are very capable of making themselves heard even to large groups without the aid of microphones and whispering devices.
Are the tours suitable for babies and/or children?
All of our public tours are geared toward adults. Infants and children under 12 years of age are very welcome to join our tours for free (although they must always be accompanied by an adult). Feel free to bring strollers and baby carriages along, but bear in mind that you may have to carry them up and down stairs, since elevators in the subway stations are sometimes out of order. Unfortunately, for insurance reasons our guides are not allowed to assist.
While there is no graphic or lurid material presented on any of the tours, parents should be advised that there is some difficult content dealt with, especially on the Hitler’s Germany tour and the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial tour. The Queer Berlin tour does include sexual material.
Can I take my pet on the tour?
You are welcome to take pets along on the tours (as long as they are well-behaved). However, pets are not allowed on the tours of Potsdam and Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial, and not recommended on the East Berlin tour.
If your pet is disturbing the group then you will be asked to leave the tour and no refund will be provided.
I can’t find the tour I’m looking for. What should I do?
We are very happy to tailor a private tour to suit your specific interests. We have guides who are specialists in all sorts of areas related to Berlin and its history and who are able to pitch the tours to people of every age and interest level. Visit the book a private tour page, click the “Book a private tour” button, and fill out the form. We’re excited to make the perfect custom private Berlin tour just for you!
What vehicles do you use on private motorised tours?
For parties of up to six people, we generally use a roomy, air-conditioned Mercedes taxi minivan. It provides enough room for all our clients to be seated comfortably, plus your guide and the driver.
For larger groups, we will provide comfortable, air-conditioned coaches.
Whatever your needs, we can organise it for you.
What is your tipping policy?
There is no general rule for tipping, but all tips are of course greatly appreciated by our guides. Gratuities are up to you and should be based on your satisfaction with our service and the quality of the tour. You can find out more on the Original Berlin Walks blog here.
What is your cancellation policy?
Tickets for our public tours can be cancelled or rescheduled up to 24 hours before the tour starts. For more details and the cancellation policy for private tours, please see our terms and conditions.