Let's see Berlin together! I was born and raised here, and have had a love for history since childhood. Continuous research on the history and current reality of Berlin and Germany, as well as on the history of art and architecture allow me to provide context and in-depth information.

WWII in all its aspects has been a strong focus in my recent guiding work, and I have done related fact checking for two books by an American and by a British historian.

I have also been guiding in the neighboring city of Potsdam for over 20 years, with a focus on the history of the extinct Kingdom of Prussia and its material and intangible cultural heritage.

Privately I keep up my passion for film and photography, and have been practicing Argentine Tango for over 10 years. I have visited Buenos Aires five times for extended stays.

Guiding found me as a calling at an early age. . . attending boarding school on a North Sea Island I had the idea and was allowed to conduct "Historical Island walks" on weekends already as a teenager.

I later started working as Berlin tour guide in the summer of 1995 at age 20, and have kept it up ever since. Briefly trained as a videographer and did my required service in the German army, but have been working full time as a freelance professional tour guide continously since 1999.

I have worked as local guide and live speaker for both domestic and international student groups, travel and corporate groups of all sizes, VIP clients as well as in the private tours segment, which is now my main focus. My presentations are mainly conducted as tours by private coach or limousine and as walking tours, but as I have recently taken up cycling regularly I will be happy to do tours by bicycle as well!

I have acquired a sound knowledge of German history, focusing primarily on 20th century history, but also on old Prussian history. I lived in Potsdam for a brief period in the early 1990ies - the magnificent second residence town with all its exquisite royal palaces and gardens.

I feel that the topics of the Nazi Dictatorship and the East German Communist dictatorship are very complex, but after many years of reflecting on them I believe I have found some answers regarding the "how" and "why". Sharing these with my international guests remains interesting and also challenging. I also learn from my guests and appreciate their reflections very much.

Other than my specialty to provide historical interest tours, I am a great movie fan. . . and enjoy creating dynamic tours and itineraries for the enjoyment and inspiration of my guests. My interest is to inform and to entertain, both at the same time. I am very keen on presenting well and to find the right balance between intense and also efficient sightseeing on the one hand and relaxed moments on the other hand - just the right mixture, and, of course, individually customized to your interest and taste. Do tell me what you like and I will adapt and improvise at a moment's notice. . . !

I find some aspects of Anglo-American culture and tradition greatly endearing and love interacting in English. I am absolutely fluent in that language. I also have a basic knowledge of French and of Spanish and my goal is to gain proficiency in these languages eventually.

I personally conduct about 220 tours per year in Berlin and Potsdam, ranging from short to full day tours or even touring on several days, including introductions to many important memorials and museums, as well as inside tours in some of them.

My experience with this job allows me to adapt my tours with ease and to perfectly navigate the city traffic good or bad, and also to organise sightseeing with utmost efficiency no matter how short the time available for a tour may be.

I mostly use professional drivers, but also occasionally act as driver guide with equal enjoyment. I hold the extra license legally required for that (for up to a maximum of 8 passengers).

More than 20 years of working as a full time professional tour guide - official guide licenses issued by the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg:

Berlin:
Charlottenburg Palace (Old Palace and New Wing)
Charlottenburg Palace Gardens
Pfaueninsel - Peacock Island
Glienicke Palace Gardens

Potsdam:
Neues Palais (in the Sanssouci Palace Gardens)
Sanssouci Palace Gardens (not for the Sanssouci palace interior - 40 min audio guide visit possible)
additional palaces
Neuer Garten

Special old guide license for Berlin Guide Association members for the main halls of the Pergamon Museum (introductory tours only)

Guide license for the Sachsenhausen Memorial

Extra license "Personenbeförderungsschein" to legally act as driver guide

As discussed we will focus the Berlin tour on 27 May a bit more on alternate sights that are still illuminating with regard to the city's history and fabric.
Enjoying the luxury of a private vehicle, you will get a sense of the amazing diversity of Berlin, driving through its multifold neighborhoods, exploring the contrasts between East and West Berlin. . .

On 29 May we will head out to visit Potsdam, the former Royal Prussian second town of residence, with its beautiful Sanssouci Palace and Palace Gardens, the Historic Rooms of the Potsdam Conference at the Cecilienhof Palace, the Babelsberg neighborhood and the historic town center.

Berlin alternate sights & Potsdam palaces & culture - Two Full-Day Chauffeured Private Tours

Visit the marvelous Charlottenburg Palace, named after the first Prussian Queen Sophie Charlotte, before continuing to the Versailles of Berlin - Potsdam. For some 250 years it enjoyed the status of second residence town for nine generations of Princes of Brandenburg and subsequent Kings of Prussia and German Emperors until 1918.
Let yourself be charmed by this exceptional array of architecture and gardens, including the "Sanssouci" Palace of the legendary Prussian king Frederick the Great and the "Cecilienhof" Palace which served as venue for the "Potsdam Conference" at the conclusion of WW 2, with Truman, Churchill and Stalin meeting there in the summer of 1945.

Enjoy the luxury of a private vehicle for the entire day.
I am a native Berliner, but lived in Potsdam for a spell in the early 1990ies.

Charlottenburg Palace, Royal Prussia and the Potsdam Conference - Full-Day Chauffeured Private Excursion

As a native Berliner and having acted as professional tour guide for over 25 years for many distinguished guests from around the globe, I will be able to customize your tour to perfectly match YOUR personal preferences. I am very keen on history, architecture and film. In every one of my tours I like to provide a spontaneous, interactive experience.

Enjoying the luxury of a private vehicle, you will get to see not only the famous sights of the city center, but also get a sense of the amazing diversity of Berlin, drive through its central park Tiergarten, on the historic boulevard Unter den Linden, on the communist parade street Karl Marx Avenue, on the lovely Kurfurstendamm. . .

We will stop for photos and short walks wherever you like! This is YOUR customized exclusive tour!

Berlin features a unique mixture of landmarks from the Prussian era, classic modern and contemporary architecture, lavish parks, gardens and city forests.

Provision of a private coach for larger groups is possible at extra cost.

Tour guide in Berlin Jan-Benedict (JB) W.

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