BerlinThe City That Split Overnight
Cold War Berlin. A wall went up in one night in 1961 and came down in one night in 1989. Collect the clues, then work out how it fell.
Ages 12+. This walk talks about people who died at the Wall.
Start the Berlin walkThe stops
- Brandenburg Gate: For 28 years, nobody could walk through this gate. It stood in the death strip, between two walls.
- Potsdamer Platz: In the 1920s this was one of the busiest squares in Europe. By the 1970s it was an empty field full of rabbits.
- Checkpoint Charlie: Honest warning: today this is Berlin’s biggest tourist trap, with actors in uniform and souvenir stalls. But in October 1961, American and Soviet tanks faced each other here for 16 hours.
- Palace of Tears: East Berliners called this building the Palace of Tears. It’s where families said goodbye.
- Berlin Wall Memorial: In August 1961 the border ran along the front of these houses. People jumped from their windows to reach the pavement on the western side.
Questions about the Berlin walk
Where does the Berlin walk start?
Starts at Brandenburg Gate. You can also pick a starting point near you, for example: Hauptbahnhof (main station), Alexanderplatz, Kreuzberg.
How long is the Berlin walk?
The full walk has 5 stops and is 3.4 km + 2 S-Bahn stops. The shorter route has 3 stops and is 2.1 km.
Which stops are on the Berlin walk?
Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, Checkpoint Charlie, Palace of Tears, Berlin Wall Memorial.
Who is the Berlin walk for?
Ages 12+. This walk talks about people who died at the Wall.
What if it rains in Berlin?
Rainy? Tränenpalast and the Bernauer Straße visitor centre are indoors and free. Spend longer there.
Are there any safety tips for the Berlin walk?
Safety first: put your phone down when you cross a street. Turn on auto-play and just listen.