Private Taxi Tour City East & West History and Architecture 3-4h

In contrast to bus trips, with an individual sightseeing taxi tour you have the opportunity to stop almost everywhere – be it for a photo shoot, be it for a snack or break, be it for a coffee. Or for a longer tour to take a closer look at an object or to have it explained to you (Berlin Cathedral, Hackesche Höfe, Brandenburg Gate, Gendarmenmarkt, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, KaDeWe are recommended, for example). Depending on your interests and preferences! And in contrast to a tour, you don’t just see a tiny section of our city, City East, the former center and City West, the former West Berlin! So combine the best of walking and bus tours in an Auto City Tour, just like I always do privately with friends and family. And enjoy the luxury of being picked up personally from your accommodation in the S-Bahn ring. And all in a real Berlin luxury taxi SUV!

Not so many people can remember this name, it goes back to an SPD politician who was very committed to workers. Much better known is the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which we will see from the other side again later. Many believe that the name refers to the memory of the war, but what is meant is Wilhelm I, to whom his grandson and his Hohenzollern family erected a memorial. Therefore, all the faces of the Holy Family and the disciples in the entrance of the preserved portal somewhat resemble the Prussian kings and emperors. Originally, the plan was to completely clear the war-torn place, including the remains of the church. There was resistance to this, so at least the tower and the west portal were preserved. The church tower and the actual church hall were built around the outside in a modern style based on designs by Egon Eiermann. Allegedly called lipstick and powder compact by the Berliners.

This zoo is not only one of the oldest in Germany, it also has the largest population of animals and species (around 16,000 animals of 1,600 different species). The foundation goes back to King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who could not do much with the animal population on the Pfaueninsel of his predecessors (from peacocks to bears to other rare animals). So he had the animals moved near Berlin and sacrificed part of his private hunting grounds, the zoo. The buildings were also erected in the manner and style of the respective countries of origin of the animals, which is still nice to look at despite the war damage. Of course, Berlin also has a second zoo, but that is the zoo around Friedrichsfelde Palace, due to the division of the city. Today both belong together. From the outside, the large elephant gate with the monkey enclosure behind and the lion gate at the Zoo station are particularly striking.

It looks a bit strange from the outside, a bit poured over everything in the confectioner’s style and is also not that old: the theater of the west. So called because it was built in what was then the new west of Berlin (and only later, so to speak, happened to be in West Berlin). At the beginning of the 20th century it was trendy to move out of the much too densely built-up city center (called Mitte) with all its marches and parades to the green west, where there was still space for large villas with gardens. The theater, today used as a musical theater, is reminiscent of this splendor and even contains an imperial box inside.

Here we pan over from Kantstrasse (which in its longer course turns into an interesting Chinese quarter, goes back to the students from the imperial era at the Technical University) to the famous Kurfürstendamm, in Berlin lovingly and ironically to the Ku’damm abbreviated.

Here we get a small impression of the western splendor boulevard. In reality it is much longer, almost 5 km to Halensee. Erected on the model of the Champs Élysées in Paris, which Bismarck had made a great impression on after the German victory over France (even the candelabras remind of it). Only today it is no longer adorned by magnificent villas, not even by entertainment bars, cafes and many cinemas, as in the times of George Grosz and Erich Kästner, but has mutated into a shopping mile with chic boutiques (further west, from Versace over Bulgari and Dolce Gabbana can be found here) and modern flagship stores like here from Apple and Tesla. As a result, the chic boulevard is now lonely and deserted at night.

Here again the Memorial Church, this time from the other side. The new building is also worth a visit, not only does everything appear in a mysterious blue light through the many thousands of glass stones specially made in France. It’s surprisingly quiet inside too, considering the noise of this very crowded place. This is due to the special construction of a double wall with 2 m of soundproofing air in between. Unfortunately, the concrete structure is very fragile because it is fragile and exposed to all traffic emissions. That is why one of the buildings is seldom without scaffolding. Immediately behind it the tower of the European Center, together with the low-rise building, it is the oldest shopping center in Berlin, recently 50 years old. Originally even with an ice rink in the middle, but that was later sacrificed to optimize space. Berlin is now nationwide mall capital: we already have more than 70 and more are in the pipeline.

After Breitscheidplatz we reach the Tauentzien, named after a general from the battle against Napoleon, like all other streets straight ahead. Perceived by many as a continuation or the beginning of the Ku’damm; From a whim of history, Ku’damm is actually missing 9 house numbers. Also flanked by many shops, but mostly those with affordable prices. Apart from the deluxe department store at the end of the street, the KaDeWe, with its 60,000 m² largest single department store in continental Europe. There is every conceivable luxury there, especially up on the gourmet floor, from sipping champagne to eating oysters, the finest types of chocolate and even more types of bread and cheese, everything your heart desires is offered there. Still denigrated by some as “Fressetage” … Definitely visit!

It was once the most beautiful place, at least in West Berlin. In view of the rather insignificant 1950s buildings there is not much left, but the subway station still stands out in the middle, crowned by a truly beautiful building. Several lines cross here, so that in the early 20th century it was decided to connect them with a common train station. Nevertheless, the Berlin subway can of course not stand up to comparison with the Moscow one, for example, it is really old (not quite as old as the Londoner, but roughly like the one from Paris). And coming from Nollendorfplatz, the former workers’ railway disappears underground here. The formerly independent and very wealthy city of Charlottenburg did not want to do this to itself that a stinking train (at that time still) snorted past the beautiful villas.We will see in a moment how it back up towards Nollendorfplatz (and that was Schöneberg or Berlin) got.

The Urania is actually an association that wanted to make science clear to a large audience in the late 19th century. We still feel obliged to this task with slide presentations, panel discussions, etc. In front of it a strange arch, which strives towards the sky, it represents a certain degree (of a circle), a gift from France for the 750th anniversary of Berlin (and France was an occupying power in 2 districts). The former largest hotel in West Berlin is located on Lützowplatz, which is why it is simply called Berlin. And in the middle? The big void, the extra-wide green strip reminds us that Berlin should one day become a car-friendly city. With elevated routes for through traffic. Like today in Bangkok or Mexico City. And luckily not here …

Formerly an electoral hunting ground, and because there was also a fence around it so that the animals couldn’t run away (and, conversely, the farmers from the surrounding villages couldn’t hunt them), it soon had its name: the zoo. But Friedrich II, later called the Great, didn’t like the hunt, banished the fence and for the first time allowed the Berliners to enter the private royal hunting grounds. In keeping with his time, he had part of it redesigned into a baroque garden. Later kings preferred the English landscape garden, and this is where the Prussian architect and gardener Peter Lenné excelled. He had the Schafgraben expanded into the Landwehr Canal, thus draining the swampy part of the zoo and creating landscapes, lakes and lines of sight. It has basically stayed that way until today, only World War II had a devastating effect. Soon almost no trees were standing upright, and potatoes were being grown in front of the Reichstag. But then the reforestation came with Allied help.

The former congress hall was a gift from the Americans to Berliners, de facto West Berliners in the 1950s. And the spectacular design with the curved roof soon led to the nickname “Pregnant Oyster”. Incidentally, one of the few that are actually in use in Berlin (there are now a few congress halls). But the building was probably so ahead of its time that the statics couldn’t withstand it, the roof collapsed in 1980 and even buried a journalist under itself. But the pregnant oyster was rebuilt true to the original and has been operating as the “House of World Cultures” ever since. Especially non-European artists have a venue here, often combined with cozy concerts on the roof terrace facing the Spree on summer nights. The Teddy Awards of the Berlinale were also given here at times. In the meantime, congresses took place in the “new” ICC at the radio tower, but that was 1979, and this has been waiting for a renovation for a long time.

Today the seat of the Federal President, the small castle was built for the youngest brother Friedrich II: August Ferdinand. And because from there it had a beautiful view of the much larger Charlottenburg Palace (and at times the seat of Fr. II), it had its name gone. That view is long gone, after the war it was pretty battered and was somewhat prepared for the temporary presence of the West German Federal Presidents in Berlin. What always led to protests from East Berlin, they considered West Berlin to be a neutral bloc between the two German states. Although they themselves had a president at Schönhausen Palace (Otto Grotewohl). But only Roman Herzog, the first Federal President after reunification, really lived in the castle, but found it rather small, cold and impractical. So it was completely rebuilt again as the sole Berlin official seat – next to the Villa Hammerschmidt in Bonn.

Originally erected in front of the Reichstag, it was a lot shorter, our victory column. It contained only 3 drums, on them gilded captured cannons of the opponents: Danes, Austrians and French in the so-called German Wars of Unification, at the end of which the German Empire was proclaimed in the Palace of Versailles. No wonder that the French in particular were angry and wanted to have the thing blown up after the war. But the British refused, she was in their occupation sector. And they also had the forest around it reforested. The Victory Column was shipped here by Hitler, whom it disrupted while building his giant people’s hall between the Reichstag and today’s main train station. Then he added another drum to it for the next victory – but as we know, thank God that turned out differently.

Magnificent Wilhelminian building, even if criticized by it as a chat room or monkey house. Therefore also built outside and away from the city. Historically valuable, after all, the Red Army soldiers placed their flag on the building as a symbol of victory. Even if the famous photo of it is only reproduced. Then for decades it was largely ignored in the so-called free West Berlin – only 5 m away from the Wall, it was not allowed to be used for official Bundestag sessions. If so, to elect the Federal President, for example, a reprimand from East Berlin followed immediately. Completely gutted in the nineties and completely redesigned for the reunified Bundestag with now over 700 members. Not to forget the iconographic wrapping action by the artist Christo. The Reichstag dome, put on new glass after the architect had only planned a kind of gas station roof at this point, it now represents the new Berlin.

This building is the so-called engine of parliament; all parliamentary work takes place here. In Parliament, only the closing speeches are held; the actual discussion and voting takes place in the committees. There is plenty of opportunity for this in every bulge in the over 200 m long building on three floors. And as a glass parliament you can even see it from the outside. Only the EU and secret committees sit in the largest rotunda facing the Spree above the two restaurants – and cannot be seen from outside.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Specialized infant seats are available
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Child seat for toddlers from six months to three years available, as well as a booster seat for older children. A baby seat can be brought on request (MaxiCosy)
• Wheelchair-friendly transport means: the guest rushes into the raised passenger seat and the wheelchair is taken in the rear

• English 3-4h with airport
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  With transfer from/to the airport: With this option, the transfer from/to BER Airport incl. Welcome or Farewell Tour
  Pickup included
• German 3-4h with airport
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  With transfer from/to the airport: With this option, the transfer from/to BER Airport incl. Welcome or Farewell Tour
  Pickup included
• German 3-4h with city pickup
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  Pick-up / 3-4 exits: Pick-up from your accommodation in the Berlin S-Bahn ring
  All exits or tours are individually arranged by e-mail
  Taxi: Part of the package price is a taxi ride according to the tariff (7% VAT), the rest city tour fee (19% VAT)
  Duration: 4 hours: Pick up approx. 10-15 min
  Possible for longer duration mark-up

  SightseeingTaxi Tour East–West: Depending on your wishes and possibilities (traffic, construction sites, etc.), the route can be individually and planned or spontaneously adapted
  Taxi Luxury SUV Toyota RAV3: raised seating position for better visibility, leather seats, not visible from outside
  German (native language): Therefore there is a discount on the tour (about 10 € per person)
  Pickup included

• Engl. 3-4h with City Pick-up
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  Pick-up / 3-4 exits: Pick up from your accommodation in the Berlin S-Bahn ring
  All exits or tours can be arranged individually by email
  Taxi: Part of the package price is a taxi ride according to the tariff (7% VAT), the rest city tour fee (19% VAT)
  Duration: 4 hours: Pick up approx. 10-15 min
  Possible for longer duration mark-up
  Hour optional with restaurant visit
  SightseeingTaxi Tour East–West: Deviations possible (even after traffic/closures), order can change individually and previously or spontaneously agreed
  Taxi Luxury SUV Toyota RAV4: raised seating position for good visibility, leather seats, not visible from the outside
  Native German speakers: I speak good and fluent English, but I am not perfect and have a German accent
  Pickup included

• Both the taxi ride according to the tariff (7% VAT) and the city tour (19% VAT) are included.
• Pick-up from your desired location (hotel, apartment…) in the city

• tickets
• Pick-up from BER airport or outside the S-Bahn ring only for an extra charge (Berlin taxi tariff)

Trending Berlin Nearby Tours Likely To Sell Out

Further questions will be happy to be answered by the organizer GAT-Productions via email:
info(at)gatproductions.com
The flat rate includes both the taxi ride according to the Berlin tariff (7% VAT) and the fee for the city tour (19% VAT).

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by Gunter Bauer GAT-Productions.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Berlin.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• This Tour is Rated 5 Stars based on 36 valid reviews on VIATOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 4 Travelers is accepted for booking.