Bike Tour 2: Alternative Berlin (english / private)

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation Summary: Cancellation possible 48 hours before the tour start
Min Age: 1
Max Age: 88
Group Size: unlimited
Accessibility: Child seat / Ebikes and Tandem suitable for guests with reduce mobility.

Get a feeling for the city’s famous image by exploring the hip districts Kreuzberg & Friedrichshain. We’ll show you how the former borderland got converted in many ways, how alternative subculture clashes big business, how Turkish Berliners meet young creatives, squatters & party people. A great combination of panoramic paths along the waterfront, Eastside Gallery & through colourful neighboorhoods!

What is Included: - a 3-hour bike tour
- a bicycle with a basket
- helmets available on request
- weather-dependent: rain capes
- and of course, a knowledgeable and entertaining guide
What is not Included: - refreshment
Itinerary: - Berlin’s historical city-centre at the junction between then & now
- Ride through Brandenburg Gate & the modern government district
- World Heritage Museum Island Eastern pride: the TV-Tower Berlin
- Cathedral & Palace reconstruction Postcard motifs
- The site of Hitler’s bunker
- World famous Checkpoint Charlie
- The impressive Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
- Personal insights & stories about the city of contrasts
Highlights: The FREE-BERLIN-CONCECPT: The guide can design his tour freely. Route plan may differ. Also you are sincerely invited to drop some wishes.
Check in Details: Please be at the location 15 min before the tour start.
What to Bring: We recommand to bring a bottle of water.
Special Requirements: Our tours are designed for everyone. This means the tour is suitable for all age groups and fitness levels. To give you an idea: a tour lasts three hours. During this time, about 15 km are covered.
Extras: For an additional fee, we are happy to provide eBikes. Just choose the corresponding price category.
FAQs: Why should I discover Berlin by bike?

If you join a tour or simply go on your own: There is no better way to explore the German capital than by bike. Berlin is vast, quite flat and offers a good cycling infrastructure. Don't waste your time by walking or getting intro traffic jams with a bus. Breathe fresh air instead and enjoy quiet side streets, cycle paths or beautiful passages along the waterfronts to connect the many centres of the city quicker. You'll be surprised how green the German capital is and how enjoyable to discover it from a different angle. Speaking of our tours, you can rely on our carefully chosen routes and entertaining guides, who will make your visit to Berlin unforgettable.

Do I need to bring a bike for a tour?
Of course not! We offer a large selection of easy-running bikes in all sizes at our meeting point & bike rental. You are going to pick it right before your tour starts. The bikes are constantly checked and maintained by experienced mechanics. Anyway you can bring your own bike to participate and save 5 €.

Do I have to book in advance? And how long in advance?
Booking in for a daily public tour in advance is not a must, but highly recommended. The number of participants is limited and a prior booking helps us to organize the different tours. To reserve spontaneously often works, but to do it one or two days in advance would be ideal.

Can I cancel my booking, e.g. in case of bad weather?
Bookings for daily public tours can be cancelled until 48 hours before the tour starts. Basically our tours have failed rarily due to bad weather. Showers are usually short-lived and if we are unlucky, we can shelter for a moment or stop at a nice café. Additionally, the guide will provide rain ponchos. If you've booked a tour which can not take place (due to an official weather warning e. g.), we will do everything not to waste your time. We can move the tour to another date or alternatively do a walking tour (umbrellas are available in sufficient numbers). To react spontaneously it's quite helpful to get your mobile telephone number.

What about payment? Can I pay by card?
Daily public tours can be paid online during the booking process by Credit or Debit Card, PayPal or bank transfer. If you signed up via phone or E-Mail, you can pay upon arrival via card or PayPal.

Are food / toilet breaks included?
Our daily public tours are planned to done without a break. Eating something in advance would be helpful. If you have booked a private group tour, of course we can arrange short breaks though. Regarding toilets we have to admit Berlin doesn't offer many public ones, unfortunately. But as we don't want you to explode, our guides will know where to stop, if neccessary.

How exhausting is a tour?
To be honest: Yes, a bike tour requires some activity from your side. But it's still much less tiring than a walking tour. With our smooth-running bikes we can carry out the tour at a relaxing pace. Not to forget that we will stop at sites of interest every 5 to 10 minutes. In the end you'll feel better than before. Promise!

Do I have to wear a helmet?
Not necessarily. It's up to you. Helmets are not mandatory, but naturally they increase safety. We will provide them for free on request.

Are the tours suitable for kids?
Without a question, bike tours in Berlin are a joyful experience for families. The kids should have some practice though. The tours 1 and 3 are suitable for all ages. Due to their contents the other tours are rather recommended for passengers, who are at least 16 years old. Participating for younger ones is possible though.

What kind of bikes do you offer?
We offer a large selection of bikes in all general sizes (wheel-size between 20 and 28 inches). Our bike fleet is checked and maintained regularly by a team of experienced mechanics. The average age of our bikes is one to two years. If you've got special needs like kids bikes or trailer bikes or a child seat, we kindly ask you to let us know in advance. Thank you!

Do the bikes have a basket for my luggage?
Yes, they do. The baskets in the bag offer the chance to carry small bags, water bottles or jackets e. g. All bigger items you can store safely in our office during your tour.

What does the name 'Free Berlin' stand for? The bike tours aren't really for free...
We don't want to mislead you: Most of our tour guides have grown up in a divided or post Cold-War-Berlin. They have witnessed what it means to live here. Since then, Berlin has a worldwide reputation for being a tolerant, libertarian and free city. When we were searching for an appropriate name we came up with 'Free Berlin'. It's simple, catchy and understandable for everyone. Additionally it is perfectly describing, what you'll get to feel on our tours.

What are your opening hours? How long is your tour season?
During the season between March and November generally we are open daily from 10:30 - 18:00 hours. But rentals can start earlier on request. Calls, which come in when we are closed, we will list and answer as soon as possible. You can always write a short mail, too. During Winter we are not open permanently. Nevertheless it's still possible to contact us or do a tour on request.

I've fallen in love with a tour guide and would like to see him/her again. What should I do?
Well... Our guides all look dazzling and are bursting with charm. It's only natural to fall head over heels with him or her. So, if you are single and interested in one of our tour guides, do not be shy and let us know! We will forward your request then discreetly to your guide.