Why Should You Explore Berlin with a Free Walking Tour?
Are you an eloquent traveler preparing your next journey to Berlin and contemplating how to spend your valuable time in this great and creative city? Fear not, for your answer has arrived; a free walking tour is what you need! This is a blog post that walks through hidden places of Berlin and tell why a free walking tour is the best choice for this city.
What is a Free Walking Tour?
A free walking tour is a paid service which is provided by a friendly and often very enthusiastic civilian staff with the aim to acquaint the guests with the sights and treasures of the given city. These city tours are mostly done on foot, and this makes the visitor appreciate the feel of the city and have closer looks at some of the facilities, structures and attractions within the city.
Why Choose a Free Walking Tour in Berlin?
- Cost-Effective: Free walking tours do not charge you any fee hence do not need a ticket. Instead, it involves tips which will make people pay for the services offered by the tour guides depending on the amount they wish to pay or the amount they can afford to pay. This makes it an apt choice for persons who are concerned with the cost implications of traveling.
- Expert Guides: The local tour guides fully understand Berlin’s history and culture and the constructed buildings. They will offer interesting contents and added value since you might not come across with those details on your own. As a result, you will get more information about the city and the peculiarities of its development.
- Beyond the mainstream: Unlike some other travel sites like Brandenburg Gate and Berlin Wall that are major attractions for any traveler, there are other places that he might not know tour companies offer to take a traveler to a different area of Berlin during a free walking Tour. Here it is possible to explore the view the locals take of their city, off-the-beaten-path places and attractions that are not mentioned in the usual tourist guidebooks.
- Free walking tours are lively as it enables you to ask questions, to have discussions and even share your own experiences with the rest of the group. This makes it even more personalized and therefore, your visit to Berlin is enhanced in a way that is quite special.
How to Choose the Right Free Walking Tour?
As there are many free walking tour offers in Berlin, you might be in a dilemma when deciding which one to take. The following are some of the factors to consider:
1. Reviews and Recommendations
Search conducted an online survey and tried to know the reviews of the previous participants. Check whether the latter has to do with tours’ overall performance or with individual guides’ performance, and if the latter can be considered rather positive.
2. Tour Duration
One should take time and make sure that the size of the tour offered is within the scheduled time. It should also be mentioned that most of walking tours in Berlin take 2-3 hours on average, but there are also shorter and longer ones.
3. Language Options
If you have a weak English-speaking skills, get into the tours that offer language choices in your language. Some of the free walking tour companies in Berlin are also known to offer the services in one language or even more.
4. Meeting Point and Starting Time
It is very important to have the correct information in regard to the meeting point and of course the time a tour starts. It is advisable for you to get to the location a little early in order not to lose the tour.
Exploring Berlin’s Secret Corners
While you are on the free for the walking tour, you will get the chance to visit Berlin’s hidden gems.
1. Kreuzberg
Kreuzberg is a colourful area, which can be described as multicultural area with street art, delicious food and late night bars. They will guide you through some of the small streets and will tell you where it is best to feel the spirit of the locals.
2. Prenzlauer Berg
It gives the visitors a particular feeling of the non-mainstream side of Berlin and its peculiarities. It has a picturesque character with its terra cotta clutch of barracks, restored houses, as well as cafes which have become a haven to artists and intellectuals. Prepare to get acquainted with its parks, as well as explore its past.
3. East Side Gallery
The East Side Gallery is an interesting art structure that stands as a wall installation based on a part of the Berlin Wall. This is true in the so-called Murals, where artwork painted by different artists are displayed, making it one of the most rails worthy place in Berlin to take an Instagram.
4. Hackesche Höfe
The Hackesche Höfe are an archaic complex of four courtyards, lined with shops, cafes, and theatres, which are located in Mitte district. Visit this offbeat place covered by your tour guide with help of which you will discover its history as industrial and cultural center.
Conclusion
So, signing up for a free walking tour, not only you are going to enrich your knowledge about Berlin, its history and obscure neighborhoods but also save your money. The local guide always strives to make everything as alive as possible, so during the tour, you will be able to immerse yourself to the true Berlin. Well put on your best pair of walking shoes, grab a tour and be prepared for the best times of your life.
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