Working as a certified Berlin guide for over 30 years I'm very happy to share with you my experience as a contemporary witness of life in the divided city, the amazing fall of the wall and all the changes that took and take place here in Berlin, this fantastic city with a fabulous variety of sights, museums, art galleries, shops, clubs and pubs.

I studied in Berlin, Rome, Paris and Washington, graduated in art history, german history and literature, and published two books, one of them about the turkish immigrants in Berlin. Since I started to work as a certified guide in the late 80s it's a big pleasure to meet people from all over the world here in Berlin.

I can offer you a program aimed at your individual interests and needs and accompany you to unusual places for an unusually normal price. You have the choice between a general overview or a theme orientated exploration of the city.

Either by bus, limousine, public transport, taxi, by bicycle or to foot: You determine the form of transport. Wether for two hours or more, a day or a week, there are plenty of things to discover.

A visit to Potsdam is also worthwhile. This small city with its quaint historical city center also offers an array of beautiful parks and royal palaces that belong to the UNESCO world cultural heritage.
Excursions outside of Berlin are also on the agenda, for example a visit to the huge lift lock in Niederfinow, or to the royal palace in Rheinsberg or to the Spreeforest, a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

An insight into the extraordinary steer you towards the ideas behind the obvious.
Always competent and always witty.

Graduated in art history, german history and literature
Official guide-license for
Memorial Concentration Camp Sachsenhausen
Park Sanssouci
Member of the Bundesverband der Gästeführer Deutschlands (BVGD, Federal Association of Guides in Germany)
Owner of the EU-standardized BVGD-Certificate DIN EN
Member of the Association of Berlin Guides, Verband der Berliner Stadtführer, Berlin Guide e.V.
Editor and writer of several books/articles about Berlin topics

I don't drive but I can hire a licensed driver for you.

At the entrance of the Pei-Annex of the German Historical Museum

With members of the Crew of Space Shuttle Mission STS-134

Summer in the "Mauerpark" (former wall area)

It's still amazing to me how decades ago the wall came down. I'm very happy that I experienced this historical moment.

We can focus on this past and the previous history to understand the historical dimensions. World War II and Cold War had not only a tremendous impact on the city but are necessary to understand why Berlin is at it is. We'll manage to see the main important sights of this past focusing on the historical city center.

Berlin changed and is still changing. As a person that likes multiple perspectives and continuously updates the understanding of things I love to customize also a walking tour that is focusing on new trends in Architecture and Urban Planning, Food and Fashion, Art and Street Art, Immigration, and Diversity.

If you are looking for more unknown areas, off the beaten path, or if you would like to have a closer look at Berliner's daily life I would be happy to propose other itineraries, too. Feel free to ask me about details.

Berlin: The flexible guided tour with a contemporary witness - seven hours

A great experience is a visit to the fantastic museums on Berlin's so-called Museum Island, part of the World Cultural Heritage and one of my favourite places in the city.

The development of all the museums here reflects new ideas in philosophy, science and politics since the early 19th century. Objects from the Near East, like the Nefertiti bust and the Ishtar Gate, are the most famous ones in the Pergamon Museum and the Neues Museum. It's interesting to know their significance. The cultural heritage is so rich!

At the same time, today players in the cultural world started to discuss the role of colonialism and questions of restitution. I'm happy to share my thoughts on this with you.

Germany is known for its romantic movement in the arts. A big amount of the most famous paintings of this time, mostly by Caspar David Friedrich, are on display to admire in the nearby Old National Gallery. We would have enough time to visit this museum, too, if we focus on the main three/four objects in the other museum

Berlin Art and Culture Tour: With an art historian!

Living here since I was a young student in the mid-eighties (with short breaks staying in Italy, Romania and USA) I love to share my personal memories with you and describe the special circumstances staying in the divided city, the glorious moment of the fall of the Wall and the none too easy transition to unification. Berlin is a unique place in Germany and I really want that you get a feel of it.

The presence is not understandable without the past. The worst part in german history is of course the Nationalsocialist Dictatorship. We'll visit the most important areas connected to this time of persecution and murdering.

As a german historian I felt the need to concentrate my studies on this epoch. I won't overload you with numbers and dates. My goal is that you get an idea of what happened when and most important why. Complex structures and processes define the past as the presence. Making it comprehensive without oversimplifying is my objective.

Tour guide in Berlin Hilke G.

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