Warnemünde Shore Excursion: Private Tour of Berlin's World War II and Cold War Sites

Begin your private tour of Berlin upon pickup from the Warnemünde cruise port. Your private guide will tailor your shore excursion to your interests, ensuring a personalized experience – whether you are most intrigued by the history of WWII, the Cold War or both! Along the way, your guide will convey the city’s history, with particular attention to your area of focus.

Head to Berlin's Olympic Stadium Bell Tower, an approximate 2.5-hour drive by air-conditioned vehicle. You’ll enjoy fantastic views over the entire city, including the abandoned Teufelsberg spy station and a modern residence built by Le Corbusier. While you're there, visit Hitler's Langemarck Halle and the Maifeld – part of the army headquarters during the Cold War.

Next, drive along the east-west axis as you view the beautiful Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin’s only surviving royal residence. While crossing Tiergarten, stop for a photo op at the Victory Column, an iconic Franco-Prussian memorial. Afterward, visit the Reichstag, which served as Germany's seat of power over the ages. Spend time walking around Brandenburg Gate and the adjacent Pariser Platz, Berlin's most popular square.

If you’re interested in WWII history, visit monuments to those who opposed the regime or lost their lives during those treacherous times. If it’s the Cold War that grabs your interest, visit espionage points of the KGB and learn about secret Stasi operatives. Your guide may provide insight about the Jewish quarter, Museum Island, Bebel Platz and Gendarmenmarkt, and accompany you on a stroll along Unter den Linden, once the boulevard of the Prussian kings. While viewing the Palace Square, the famous Humbolt University and Friedrich Street, hear what life was like for Berlin's citizens and the changes the once-divided city has undergone.

When you arrive at Checkpoint Charlie, listen as your guide recounts the most important events of the Cold War. See the nearby café where spies secretly stationed themselves to keep an eye on who was crossing the border. Then, heading back along Wilhelm Street, visit many WWII landmarks of the Third Reich, including the former Gestapo and SS headquarters, Goering's Luftwaffe HQ, the Reich Chancellery, and the bunkers of Hitler and Goebbels.

Whenever you're ready for lunch (own expense), your guide will suggest a variety of options, such as a traditional German beer garden, depending on your preference. Further on, see the modern side of Berlin at Potsdamer Platz. Gaze up at the contemporary high-rise buildings and marvel that this area was once heavily armed with tank-traps and mines. Complete your private shore excursion at the longest section of the original Berlin Wall before you are chauffeured back to the cruise port.