David Bowie in Berlin: Cold War Inspiration and Classic Albums Exploration Tour
4.8
91 Ratings
Berlin
Explore how the Cold War influenced David Bowie's iconic Berlin albums on a 3-hour guided tour. Follow in the footsteps of Bowie and discover the historical sites that inspired his music.
Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

When David Bowie moved to Berlin in 1976, he found an island of Cold War angst,

cut off from its world, art and culture, dying with no hope of retribution. This tour takes you back to the decadent 1970’s city that inspired Bowie’s classic Berlin albums Low, Heroes and Lodger. Starting at Cold War West Berlin’s decadent heart, Zoo Station, we follow Bowie’s trail to the flat he shared with Iggy Pop, the clubs they partied in and the legendary Hansa recording studios where Bowie’s music reached its creative peak.

Sites visited on this tour usually include:

  • Bahnhof Zoo
  • former Dschungel Club
  • KaDeWe
  • Potsdamer Platz
  • Hansa Studios
  • Berlin Wall
  • Topographie of Terror
  • Bowie’s former home
  • Neues Ufer caf

Points of Interest

  • Schiffbauerdamm 8

  • Berlin

What's Included
  • Tour guide expertise provided by historian, professor, doctoral student, journalist, or published author
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Transportation to/from attractions: You will need to use public transport a few times, since the distances between some key sites would be too far to walk. If you will not have a few days visitor’s transit pass to Berlin already, we suggest that you purchase the day metro pass. If you cannot purchase it in advance, your guide will help you purchase it at the first metro station on the tour
Additional Information

Uncover how the Cold War era of the 1970s instigated the creation of Bowie’s renowned Berlin records. Embark on a 3-hour journey around Berlin, a city Bowie referred to as “isolated from its world, art and culture, perishing with no chance of recompense,” guided by an expert. Trace Bowie’s footsteps to the building he lived in with Iggy Pop, and saunter past Hansa Studios, the birthplace of Bowie’s peak creativity. Additionally, learn about Bowie’s peculiar bond with his chosen dystopia fuelled by Cold War anxiety.

Location
Schiffbauerdamm 8
Schiffbauerdamm
Please meet your guide in front of Ständige Vertretung, a memorabilia-filled cafe. Schiffbauerdamm 8, 10117 Berlin.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(91 Ratings)
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Helen_h
Dec 13, 2023
Bowie in Berlin - Ronen was a fabulous guide - very knowledgeable, extremely enthusiastic and he made Bowie’s life in Berlin come alive. We would do this again and recommend this tour to anybody!
Review provided by Viator
Richhh9955lm
Nov 13, 2023
Great Bowie and Berlin Tour - Great tour. Out tour guide Dan was very informative. Highly recommend to any Bowie fans or even tourists to learn more about Berlin
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daisylou7
Nov 9, 2023
Bowie Tour - Was a great experience and Dan our guide was very knowledgeable. We saw so much of Berlin that we wouldn’t otherwise have seen
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Damien_v
Nov 4, 2023
Worth every step - Rachael was a terrific guide and her history knowledge set some great context for the time in Berlin!
Review provided by Viator
Simon
Oct 31, 2023
An excellent tour of Bowie’s Berlin - Dan was an excellent guide on this very thorough tour of Berlin, taking in all the important Bowie-related locations and cultural references in the city. It gave us a real sense of what Berlin was like when Bowie was here, what brought him here and why it’s continues to be such an inspirational city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Phil_s
Oct 24, 2023
Awesome. Memorable. Special. - What a wonderful tour! Very knowledgeable and engaging guide - and I was lucky enough to be accompanied by an Australian couple, who were huge Bowie fans and had many stories to tell to make it a truly memorable experience 😎
Review provided by Viator
Nell_k
Oct 19, 2023
A highlight of our Berlin vacation - Dan is awesome and went above and beyond to make it a great experience. He really brought the Berlin Bowie loved to life. We ended up having a private tour, which was really fun. He also showed care for our interests and questions.
Review provided by Viator
Elliebk5334zm
Oct 16, 2023
David Bowie walking tour - This tour was everything and more! We were so lucky to get Dan as our tour guide and he made us feel so welcome! Really looked after us, his knowledge was extensive and his humour was spot on! Even ended up having a drink after the tour which was so lovely! We booked this for my birthday present and honestly Dan just made it so special, thank you Dan! Definitely will be doing it all again when we next come to Berlin as it was just THAT amazing ❤️
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Renee_c
Oct 7, 2023
Bowie in Berlin - Dan was great!! He's done a lot of research and has put together an informative and fun tour. We consider ourselves pretty big Bowie fans and still learned many things about him. If you love the man and want to walk in the footsteps of a genius, take this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Katibeec
Sep 10, 2023
Not just for Bowie fans - Really enjoyed this; Dan was a superb guide who led us across the city with music (by Bowie, of course, but also influences, collaborators, and others) playing from his portable speakers. We learnt about why Bowie came to Berlin, his cultural inspirations including Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, and how “Heroes” sounds like it does… and loads more. We learnt things about the city that would be interesting to any one, Bowie fan or not. One of the best things, for us at least, was that Dan mentioned in passing a 100-year-old cinema, the Babylon, which still plays silent movies with a live orchestra - which was how we ended up seeing Fritz Lang’s Metropolis that Saturday night at that lovely old cinema with a superb live orchestra. Thanks Dan!!
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