Recently Viewed
Berlin Sightseeing Taxi Tour: Personalized City Tour in Comfort SUV
5.0
4 Ratings
Berlin
Experience a personalized and comfortable sightseeing tour of Berlin in a luxury SUV with a local guide. Explore the city's historic center, government district, and trendy neighborhoods at your own pace.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Brandenburg Gate - Originally just a city gate, it was expanded shortly after the French Revolution. The Elector used it to travel west from the castle to his private hunting grounds, now the zoo. The gate’s meaning changed after the Napoleonic occupation around 1805 when Napoleon took the Quadriga to Paris. It was returned triumphantly after the Allies defeated France, now crowned with an eagle and cross as a symbol of victory. During the city’s division, the war-torn surroundings were cleared, and the gate stood isolated, inaccessible from the west due to the wall and separated from the east by fences. It became a symbol of German reunification after the fall of the wall.
- Reichstag Building - A grand Wilhelmine building, once criticized as a booth or monkey house, was built outside the city. It gained historical significance when Red Army soldiers raised their flag on it as a victory sign. For decades, it was largely unnoticed in West Berlin, just 5 meters from the wall, and couldn’t be used for official Bundestag meetings without East Berlin’s reprimand. In the 1990s, it was gutted and redesigned for the reunified Bundestag. The Reichstag dome, initially planned as a simple roof, now symbolizes the new Berlin.
- Bundeskanzleramt der Bundesregierung - An eco-colossal building with 36 meters in height, ten floors, and 500 office rooms for over 300 employees. The White House could fit inside it eight times. Only palaces for state presidents are larger. The chancellor’s office is in the top left corner, with an official apartment above that she doesn’t use due to impracticality.
- Paul-Lobe-Haus - Known as the motor of the parliament, this building hosts all parliamentary work except final speeches, which are held in Parliament. Discussions and votes occur in committees within the 200-meter-long building on three floors. The glass design allows visibility from the outside, except for the EU and secret committee meetings in the largest rotunda facing the Spree.
- Berlin Friedrichstrasse Station - During the Berlin Wall era, this was the only station for travel from East to West Berlin, including the Paris Moscow Express. It was also a site for escape attempts, often unsuccessful. The station was filled with barriers and customs checkpoints, with Stasi observation walks. The nearby Palace of Tears was where East Berliners bid farewell to their relatives, often permanently.
- Unter den Linden - Berlin’s first grand boulevard, initially a bridle path from Berlin Palace to the hunting grounds, now Tiergarten. It was expanded into a boulevard as the city grew westward. The debate over planting walnut or linden trees ended with linden trees prevailing. Today, it features important buildings like the State Library, Humboldt University, and the State Opera, along with cozy cafés.
- Pariser Platz - If Berlin were an apartment, this would be the showpiece room. The surrounding buildings were destroyed by war and demolition, leaving only the Brandenburg Gate. It was isolated by the wall and fences. After the wall fell, the area was rebuilt with modernized versions of the original buildings, including the Liebermann House, the Academy of Arts, and the French and American embassies.
- Russian Embassy - After the war, the Soviet Union built the largest foreign representation in Europe here, showcasing their dominance. Unlike other buildings on Unter den Linden, it features an inner courtyard. Stalin’s preferences influenced its design, though it’s unclear if he ever visited. It includes amenities like a swimming pool and ballrooms and is still used by the successor states of the USSR.
- Gendarmenmarkt - Often called Berlin’s most beautiful square, it features the concert hall, formerly a playhouse, flanked by the German and French cathedrals. The German Cathedral now houses a museum of parliamentary history, while the French Cathedral is still used for services and includes a Huguenot museum. The square was empty during GDR times but is now a vibrant cultural site.
- Bebelplatz - The Forum Fridericianum includes the Royal Court Library, St. Hedwig’s Cathedral, the State Opera, and Humboldt University. The square features a glass window in the floor marking the site of the 1933 Nazi book burnings. The Humboldt University building was originally a palace for Friedrich II’s brother and later became the nucleus of the university.
- Neue Wache - Once a spectacle for the changing of the guard, it now houses a pieta by Käthe Kollwitz, mourning her son who died in World War I. It serves as a memorial for all war and terror victims, with wreath-laying ceremonies held here, especially on Memorial Day in November.
- Kronprinzenpalais - Often overlooked, these buildings were homes for crown princes and princesses. The Kronprinzessinnenpalais, near the State Opera, was used as an opera café and is now an exhibition space. The Kronprinzenpalais is used by the administration for the reconstruction of the City Palace/Humboldt Forum.
- Deutsches Historisches Museum - Located in the former armory, it houses war equipment and captured enemy artifacts. It became a military history museum during GDR times and was later renovated to become a central museum of German history. The building’s frescoes, featuring replicas of dying warriors’ death masks, are particularly striking.
- Stadtschloss Berlin - Rebuilt as the Humboldt Forum, it stood as a parking lot for decades after the war. The original palace was an icon of North German Baroque, demolished despite criticism. It has been reconstructed in detail, including the Schlueter courtyard. The roof terrace offers a fantastic view.
- Berliner Dom - My favorite Berlin landmark, the cathedral is not as old as it appears, being only about 115 years old. Despite its external grandeur, it hides much beauty inside, from the dome to the crypt. It symbolizes Berlin’s history of destruction and rebuilding, shining almost in its old splendor today.
- Museum Island - A UNESCO-protected peninsula in the Spree River, home to five world-famous museums. It began with the Old Museum for Berlin Palace paintings, followed by the New Museum for early historical art and ancient Egypt, including Nefertiti. The Old National Gallery, Bode Museum, and Pergamon Museum complete the collection.
- Hackescher Markt - A favorite spot on my tours, it contrasts with Berlin’s grand buildings. The area around Hackesche Höfe offers a glimpse of old Berlin, with buildings from the 19th century. The ensemble was preserved and restored after reunification, now housing studios, factories, and residential spaces.
- Stiftung Neue Synagoge Berlin - Centrum Judaicum - This area, once a Jewish neighborhood, also features Protestant and Catholic sites. The New Synagogue, built in the 1860s, reflects the Jewish community’s confidence. It includes a 3000-member hall, a victim of bombings, and a small Huguenot museum.
- Alexanderplatz - Known for its television tower and modern buildings, it was originally called Ochsenplatz. It was redesigned in the GDR era to reflect socialist ideals, with plenty of space and modern buildings like the House of Tourism and the House of Electrical Engineering.
- Rotes Rathaus - Named for its red bricks, not the mayor’s party. It housed the East Berlin magistrate during the division, while the West Berlin mayor was in Schöneberg Town Hall. Built in the 1870s, it soon became too small, leading to the construction of the Town House. The oldest town hall was on the Long Bridge, now the Town Hall Bridge.
- Nicholas Quarter - A recommended tour spot, it offers a glimpse of old Berlin with reconstructed buildings from the 1980s. The Nikolaikirche, the oldest church in Berlin, is now a city museum. The area features typical Berlin restaurants and the original Garlic House, showcasing Biedermeier-style family life.
- Mühlendammbrücke - The oldest crossing in Berlin, it connected two settlements on either side of the Spree. The bridge featured mills powered by the river. A small lock was built in the 19th century, later replaced by a modern double chamber lock in the 1930s.
- Hausvogteiplatz - Once a Jewish clothing district, it now features restored buildings and modern living spaces. Named after an old prison, it developed as a hub for Jewish tailors in the 19th century. Art installations commemorate this history.
- The Holocaust Memorial - Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe - A must-visit for those interested in recent history. The field of 2711 stelae, designed by Peter Eisenmann, symbolizes the confusion and insecurity of Jews in Nazi Germany. More information is available in the underground museum.
- Potsdam’s Gardens - Once a desolate wasteland during the wall era, it was redeveloped by Sony and Mercedes into a vibrant quarter with entertainment, shopping, offices, and upper-segment apartments. It includes the Berlinale Palace, Film Museum, Lego Museum, and various cafés and bars.
What's Included
- Questions answered via email
- On-board WiFi access
- Comfortable in-vehicle air conditioning
- Convenient city pickup from your location
- Included parking fees
- Transfer from/to BER airport
What's Not Included
- Snacks
- Entrance fees
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Experience a unique treat as a local resident who has called Berlin home for over two decades, drives you around the city in your personal sport utility vehicle (SUV). Expect personalized attention and a wealth of knowledge complemented with lively stories! You’ll be collected directly from the airport (Welcome Tour) or your lodging place in Berlin (Farewell Tour), followed by your personalized sightseeing of Berlin. Your experiences are custom-tailored: You’re in control of what you want to see or skip! The 1-hour tour highlights Berlin’s historical city center and traces of former Eastern Berlin. The 2-hour tour gives you a panoramic view of the entire city, encompassing both the east and west sides, including the government district. The 3-hour excursion includes a brief interlude with a scenic view, followed by a tour of a popular area like Kreuzberg or Friedrichshain. Your journey concludes either at your accommodations (Welcome Tour) or BER Airport (Farewell Tour). Experience Berlin privately and comfortably with our SightSeeingTaxi.
- Baby car seat (MaxiCosy) available on request
- Wheelchair-accessible means: The guest can slide onto a seat in the car with help (middle to high seating position). The foldable wheelchair can be transported in the rear. Attention, note the luggage restrictions on welcome/farewell tours (only 3 medium-sized suitcases plus a foldable wheelchair possible)
- Stroller: The cradle must be removable and the frame foldable. Calculate reduced space for additional suitcases!
- Companion animals: using dogs as an example: up to medium-sized dogs can lie on the floor in the rear, large ones only in the back (caution, then no luggage possible there because of the risk of accidents). According to the Taxi Act, seating areas are taboo for animals unless they are in a suitable transport box (e.g. cats).
- Further questions are gladly answered by e-mail to GAT-Productions
Location
Brandenburg Gate
Pariser Platz
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(4 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Maxkillinger
Mar 5, 2023
Amazing tour - Gunter was fantastic from coordinating on my flight arrival so he could pick me up at the airport to the entire pace and value of the tour. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Esther138
Dec 5, 2022
Great tour - We only had one day for a tour and Gunter's taxi tour was a perfect way to see the city within a short timeframe. Very knowledgable about every corner of the city. Thank you for the great tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
More activities from this operator
