The Capital Of Tyranny
The Rise & Fall Of The Third Reich
…the former Nazi government quarter, the site of Adolf Hitler’s Führerbunker, the German Resistance Museum, the Olympic Stadium, the Haus der Wannsee Konferenz, the Gleis 17 memorial and much more…
Discover the history of the Third Reich beyond the pulp mythology – follow the path of Hitler’s Machtergriefung (rise to power); learn about the personal tragedies behind the catastrophic events; the dominant personalities within the Nazi party; and the courageous individuals who stood up against totalitarian rule.
Venture into the heart of the ‘Capital of Tyranny’ to explore what remains of Hitler’s grand project, Welthauptstadt Germania (World Capital Germania), and the so-called ‘Thousand Year Reich’.
There is an undeniable mythology surrounding the Third Reich; National Socialism grips the public imagination the world over. So, too, does it retain its hold on the collective memory of today’s Berliners. And how could it not?
The Second World War irrevocably changed the face of the city; a city which is tied up with Hitler’s plans for world domination like no other.
What is gone of Hitler’s regime lives on through memory; what remains stands as a testament to the necessity of confronting tyranny.
Although not the birthplace of National Socialism, Berlin would serve as the nerve-centre of Hitler’s regime following the Nazi seizure of power in 1933. Fitting now that the country’s present-day parliament convenes within walking distance of a collection of memorials established for the victims of National Socialism.
The current movement to confront the country’s past is best summarised as a respectful observation of uncomfortable history. Germany’s willingness to openly face these issues providing any serious student of European History the opportunity to study the factors and events that led to the country’s descent into totalitarian madness and genocidal dictatorship.
This Capital of Tyranny tour is an opportunity to address the many aspects of life in the Third Reich, while following the path of Hitler’s Machtergreifung (rise to power). Revisit the catastrophic events; the dominant personalities of the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler’s inner circle; and consider the acquiescence, either criminal or passive, that allowed National Socialism to flourish and maintain its hold on German society until the end.
From the former Nazi government district and the surviving former ministry buildings to the site of Adolf Hitler’s Führerbunker to discuss his final days. Beyond Berlin’s central Mitte district this tour also ventures west to the Olympic Stadium – site of the 1936 ‘Nazi Games’ and the Gleis 17 Deportation Station memorials before continuing to one of the most important sites in Holocaust history – the Haus der Wannsee Konferenz – where in 1942, Nazi functionaries met and coordinated the ‘Final Solution to the Jewish Question’.
“Matt far exceeded every expectation for our first time in Berlin! It honestly felt as if I had someone with their PhD in all things Berlin following us around! I would recommend him for anyone wanting a great experience in Berlin!”
Michael KopittkeThe Capital Of Tyranny Tour · August 2024
“Matt is extremely knowledgeable about the history of Berlin. Our tour was jam-packed with great sites, both in the can and walking. He was so friendly and approachable. Loved the tour! I would highly recommend Matt’s tour, especially for those who just have a day or two in Berlin!”
Stephen KarinaThe Battle Of Berlin Tour · August 2025
“Matthew is an experienced guide and from our first contact built a specific itinerary to meet my needs on Berlin . Large tablet of archive footage providing more contact information . Matthew assisted in solving some extra personal needs including booking train travel to my next City and other aspecs to make my stay in Berlin better .”
Angie FaccendaThe Battle Of Berlin Tour · September 2024
Good to know
- We also offer private walking-tour variations of all our famous private transportation tours.
- Get in touch for bigger group tours — we also offer bus tours for companies and schools.
- English-language tours with native English speakers — in other languages on request.
- Book directly with a local company — over 20 years' experience offering guided tours of Berlin.
The itinerary
Sites that can be included in this tour.
All of our private tours are carefully tailored to our clients wishes and expectations.
- The Reichstag/German Parliament
- Former Prussian/Nazi Government Quarter
- Site of Hitler’s New Reich Chancellery
- Site of the Führerbunker
- Former Nazi Propaganda & Public Enlightenment Ministry
- Georg Elser Memorial
- Former Nazi Airforce Ministry
- Former SS-Gestapo Headquarters
- Topography of Terror Museum
- Brandenburg Gate
- Former Charlottenburger Chaussee
- Site of the British Victory Parade and Allied Victory Parade in 1945
- Ruined Anhalter Bahnhof Diplomatic and Deportation Station
- Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
- Memorial to the Roma & Sinti
- Memorial to the Persecuted Homosexuals
- Soviet War Memorial in the Tiergarten
- Siegessaule (Victory Column)
- Japanese & Italian Embassies
- T4 Memorial for the Euthanasia Victims of National Socialism
- Bendlerblock/German Resistance Museum
- Ruined Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche
- Kufürstendamm
- Olympic Stadium (Site of the 1936 Nazi Games)
- Gleis 17 Deportation Memorial
- Haus der Wannsee Konferenz
Featured experiences
Deep-dives on the sites you'll explore.
Mythbusting Berlin
The myths we set straight on this tour.
We will not only examine the physical remnants of this era but also discuss the myths and realities of this period.
- Was the Nazi Party democratically elected?
- Are there any Nazi statues left in Berlin?
- Who was really responsible for the Reichstag fire?
- Why did the Nazis use the Swastika?
- What are the origins of the Nazi salute?
- Were the Nazi medical experiments useful?
- Was Adolf Hitler a drug addict?
- Were the Anglo-American air attacks on Berlin war crimes?
- What inspired the racial theories of Nazi Germany?
- Was Fanta invented by the Nazis?
- Was Adolf Hitler Jewish?
- Was Adolf Hitler gay?
- How did the Nazi concentration camps differ from the Soviet GULAG?
- Did Hugo Boss design the Nazi uniforms?
- Did the Nazi introduce Jägermeister?
- Have Adolf Hitler’s remains been DNA tested?
- Who really raised the Soviet flag on the Reichstag in 1945?
- Was Hitler inspired by the conquest of the Americas?
- Did Hitler escape to Argentina in 1945?
- Did the Nazis develop nuclear weapons?
- Why didn’t the British and Americans take Berlin in 1945?
- How many assassination attempts on Adolf Hitler were there?
- Did the Nazis invent decaf coffee?
- What was the relationship between Nazi Germany and the Vatican?
- Did any of the Rothschild family die in the Holocaust?
- Did Rudolf Hess commit suicide?
- Did Hitler invent the Volkswagen Beetle?
- Did the Spanish Flu pandemic help the Nazis take power?
- Was Henry Ford a Nazi?
- What happened to the Nazi gold?
- Who were the last Nazis on trial?
Go deeper
More on our history websites.
Before you book
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I book a private guided tour of Berlin?
Booking a tour via our website is simply a matter of navigating to the tour page and choosing the date you would like to tour and starting time via the calendar panel on the page. You will then be taken to a booking form, where you enter your personal details and can then choose your payment option. Once you complete your tour booking it will then enter our system as pending until confirmed on our side (this usually takes less than an hour depending when we see the booking request). Then within the next 24 hours we will contact your directly via the email you supply during the booking process to say hello and confirm the booking. If you have any special requests or requirements, please add them to your booking during the checkout process and we can finalise these details via email.
How do I pay for a tour?
You pay securely at the time of booking. When you pick your date and booking option on the tour page you’re taken straight to a secure checkout (processed by Stripe) that accepts all major credit and debit cards — VISA, Mastercard, Amex and more. Standard and Flexible bookings are paid in full at checkout; if you Reserve with a Deposit you pay half now and the balance 45 days before the tour. For bank transfer, agent invoicing or any other payment question, email info@berlinexperiences.com before booking and we’ll arrange it.
When do the tours start?
We find that as many of our clients are holidaying in Berlin that starting slowly in the morning for our Full Day Experiences is both recommended and most rewarding. A relaxing 10am start for our five/six hour tours also means that we can integrate a short coffee/snack break or lunch around 12:30pm. For the Half Day Experiences, we would also recommend the same – although along with the One Hour Experiences there is more flexibility due to the reduced length of the tours. When booking your tour, you will find the options for starting times in the booking window. If you don’t find the time you are looking for – get in touch(info@berlinexperiences.com) and we can work something out!
Where do the tours start?
For all of our Full Day Experiences, it is possible start and finish the tour at your hotel/accommodation. Depending on the location in the city and its distance from the areas we will be exploring, it may be more advisable to start at a centrally located landmark (within the Mitte district) such as the Brandenburg Gate or Museum Island. Our One Hour Experiences are designed with specific starting point and end points in mind – for each of these tours there is a train station nearby which is easy to reach for travellers wishing to arrive by public transportation. Check the description on the tour pages for these One Hour Experiences to see exactly where the meeting points are. For the Half Day Experiences, it may be possible in some cases (such as the Bitesize Berlin 3 Hour Private Van Tour) to start at your accommodation also. The other tours listed have specific starting points – be they the Berlin Brandenburg Airport for the Airport Transfer Tour or the Brandenburg Gate for the Berlin Explorer Tour.
Do you customise your tours?
While each of our tours have been designed to approach a certain historical theme or aspect of the city, we can always tailor your time in the city further. Berlin is not laid out chronologically, so when exploring it is only natural that we will pass landmarks and locations that are from different periods or are worth mentioning for certain events that have taken place there. If there is any aspect of Berlin’s history or theme that you would like to explore further we can always work on integrating relevant parts of the city into a tour you book – or suggest another tour that might be more relevant. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if there is something you would like to explore that you don’t see as part of our catalogue of tours. Send an email to info@berlinexperiences.com and we can discuss how to best make the most of your time in our extraordinary city.
What is your cancellation policy?
This depends on the booking option you choose at checkout. With a Standard booking (our best value) you can cancel within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, and up to 30 days before the tour for a 75% refund of the tour price; within 30 days of the tour, sales are final. A Flexible booking lets you cancel up to 14 days before the tour for a full refund of the Standard tour price (the Flexible premium itself is non-refundable). If you Reserve with a Deposit, the deposit that secures your date is non-refundable after the first 24 hours, and once the balance is paid the booking is confirmed and can no longer be cancelled. You can compare all three options, and their prices, on every tour’s booking calendar and on our Booking options & cancellations page. If you’d prefer to move your tour to another date rather than cancel, we’re always happy to help at no extra cost — just request a cancellation from your account or email info@berlinexperiences.com, and any approved refund is returned to your original payment method automatically. We always recommend travel insurance for unforeseen circumstances; your invoice can be used to claim from your insurer or card provider.
Can I book multiple tours?
Absolutely. You can do this either by booking tours individually through the booking platform we used or by adding tours to the shopping card system and booking multiple tours together.
Do you accept last minute bookings?
Due to the high number of tours we have booked during the high season (April-December), we have a one week limit on our booking platform. This means that you cannot automatically book any tour that would take place within the next 7 days through the platform. If you would like to book a last minute tour – just because we do not list availability on our booking platform does not mean that one of our guides is not available – do get in touch via email(info@berlinexperiences.com) and we will see what we can do!
Does Matt personally lead all of the Berlin Experiences tours?
I (Matt) endeavour to lead all the tours I offer, but depending on availability may already be booked with other clients. In which case, I have a team of the best professional guides in Berlin, all with years of experience and dedication to their work, that I work with. All are members of the Berlin Guides Association, an organisation known throughout the world for its guiding excellence. When you book you will receive a confirmation email within 24hrs to follow up on your booking and present which guides might be available and best suited for your tour/s.
Are all the suggested sights listed in your tours covered on every tour?
The sights listed in the itinerary sections of our tours are a general guide to what may be covered when booking those particular tours and not necessarily what we may be able to cover during that day. Particular factors such as official state visits, political demonstrations, reconstruction – and even the odd bomb disposal of Second World War ordnance – can shape & reshape our path through the city. We appreciate that every guest is different and approaches the city with different expectations and interests – and we tailor our tours accordingly. If you find something in particular that interests you then please do refer to this when contacting us so we can arrange your day accordingly.
Can you arrange an airport transfer for my day of arrival/departure?
Our professional drivers are also available for airport transfers – provided with either Mercedes Benz V-class or Volkswagen Caravelle vans. This service is for up to 4 people – including a moderate amount of baggage (one large bag and one small bag per person). You can book directly via the private BER airport transfer item in our booking platform. If you are looking for a private airport transfer and require a larger vehicle for a bigger group – get in touch via email(info@berlinexperiences.com).
I am having issues with the booking process/my card was rejected.
If you are having issues booking through our booking platform – please get in touch via email ASAP(info@berlinexperiences.com) so we can see what we can do to fix the problem. If you receive a particular error message that might be due to our booking system please do take screenshots (photos of your screen with the error) if possible. We also accept alternative forms of payment through bank transfer/Paypal or cash on the day for clients who would prefer these methods.
Do you charge VAT on your tours?
As we are based in Germany, we charge the official 19% VAT (sales tax) – already calculated as part of the cost of our tours and the price that you see when you pay. Additionally, we include the booking fee, guide fee, admin fee, driver and transportation costs (where applicable), and the mandatory German tourism insurances as part of the costs we present. We aim to be 100% transparent with our services – offering a fair price for a fantastic day’s exploration!
More
Other Full Day Experiences.
The Berlin History Tour
Private 6-hour van tour of Berlin's whole history in one day for up to 6 people. Starts at your hotel or anywhere in the city.
The Republic Of Fear
Private 6-hour van tour of East Berlin, the Stasi and life behind the Wall for up to 6 people. Starts at your hotel.
The Battle Of Berlin Tour
Private 6-hour van tour of the 1945 battlefield, from the outskirts to the Reichstag, for up to 6 people. Starts at your hotel.
The Royal Potsdam Tour
Private 6-hour day trip from Berlin to the palaces and parks of Potsdam for up to 6 people. Starts at your hotel in Berlin.
The Sachsenhausen Camp Tour
Private 5-hour van tour from Berlin to the Sachsenhausen Memorial for up to 6 people. Starts at your hotel in Berlin.
The Ravensbrück Camp Tour
Private 7-hour van tour from Berlin to Ravensbrück, the largest Nazi camp for women, for up to 6 people. Starts at your hotel.
The Warnemünde-Berlin Shore Excursion
Private 12-hour shore excursion from Warnemünde to Berlin and back for up to 6 people. Pickup at your ship, timed to its docking.
Step inside the story.
€1,000 · private · 6 Hours
Reserve The Capital Of Tyranny