21/3/24
Lisa+Mike
London
We were fortunate enough to have been referred to Bernd for our tour in Berlin. With only a day to visit, it was important we make the most of it. Bernd is adept at combining his vast historical knowledge with personal stories that bring the past to life. He is extremely flexible and attentive to the specific interests of his clients. We had scheduled a 4-6 hour tour, but extended it to nearly 8 hours, due to his highly engaging, informative, and personalized approach. Over the years, we have had many private tours and this was by far one of the best we have ever experienced!
22/3/24
Beverly + Vincent
New York. N.Y.
Thank you for an amazing day in Berlin. Your knowledge and passion for the city is apparent in the wonderful tour we had with you. So many interesting places and stories you shared. You made the city come alive with not only your historical knowledge, but your own personal experience living and working there. We were rivited with all of your anecdotes . This was for sure the best way to see and learn about your city. We appreciate your thoughtfulness in putting together a meaningful and memorable day.
23/10/23
Lisa+David
San Francisco, California
We could not have asked for a better guide to Berlin! We knew we were in good hands when Bernd offered to research where my father and grandparents lived and worked before fleeing the Nazis, and he personalized our tour to accommodate our interests. He also guided us through the iconic sights of the city, where past and present are evident at every turn in ways that Bernd dynamically brings to life.
Bernd’s insights and his deep and broad knowledge of Berlin’s history and culture are informed by his studies and writings, but also by his personal experiences living in the city before and after the fall of the Berlin wall.
Bernd is personable, professional, and passionate about the city he loves. I wholeheartedly recommend him – your experience in Berlin will be unforgettably enriched with Bernd as your guide!
21/8/23
Lauren
Marblehead, MA
We toured Berlin with Bernd and it was a wonderful day. He tailored the tour to our interests, which were Berlin in the 20s and the Cold War era. Bernd shared with us a love of the show Babylon Berlin and so he showed us a few locations that were important in the show, which was very fun for us. He also had personal anecdotes from his life that gave the history of Berlin a real resonance that you wouldn’t often find in a larger group tour. He was incredibly knowledgeable and patient with our many questions. He clearly loves his city and is happy to show it to others. We would book with him again in a heartbeat, in fact, we plan to.
3+4/9/23
Jan + Lisa
New York
Thank you for the excellent 2-day experience. Your tour captured the essence of both East and West Berlin for us, including the varied history, the beauty and the stories of this city. We are thrilled to have visited Berlin, and over the moon that you were our tour guide. We loved how you wove together your own family story with the various stops along our route.
31/8/23
Nancy
Washington D.C.
When I booked the tour with Bernd, I stated my interest in World War II and Cold War history. He delivered! He is a history scholar providing an interesting and engaging tour of Berlin. He was a university student when the East German border collapsed, and his personal experience adds authentic drama to the remarkable story. I highly recommend this tour.
24+25/7/23
Judy+Janice
Chicago+Sanibel, Florida
The best way to visit a city is to have a guide who is a witty, intelligent historian whose energy, enthusiasm and knowledge is imparted in every step taken. Bernd Gutberlet is just that guide. Bernd is a treasure of a find and one learns and witnesses all the while being thoroughly delighted to be in Bernd’s company. He is the BEST guide and traveling companion. He is resourceful and spontaneous as well as being a delightfully caring and observant person. We walked Berlin and Potsdam, two incredibly fulfilling and enriching days, with Bernd. We have definitely been the recipients of the best a guide has to offer and highly recommend any tour curated by Bernd.
10/7/23
Yulia, John, Lisa, Kaity & Brian
New York City
Our trip to Berlin was an unforgettable experience, largely thanks to the outstanding tour guide, who took us on an enlightening journey through the city’s captivating history. Bernd ensured we got a comprehensive tour that gave us a deeper understanding of the city’s evolution over the centuries. His passion for Berlin’s rich past and his charismatic storytelling abilities truly set him apart as an exceptional guide.
Our favorite part about the tour was the fact that Bernd weaved in personal stories around major historical events in Berlin. He effortlessly transported us back in time, making history come alive through his narratives. The personal touch he brought to the tour made it a truly immersive and emotional experience.
Moreover, Bernd’s warmth and approachability made the tour feel like a journey with an old friend. He was answering all our endless questions and engaged in meaningful discussions about the city’s history and its impact on the world today.
In conclusion, Bernd’s guided tour of Berlin was an exceptional experience that left a lasting impression on all of us. My husband, who is not a history buff, is now inspired to learn more about Berlin’s history on his own! If you want to experience Berlin in a meaningful and fun way, book with Bernd as your guide. It will undoubtedly be a journey you will cherish for a lifetime.
15/7/23
Barbara, Peg+Luke
Madison, Wisconsin
We booked a 5 hour tour and were so impressed with the breadth of Bernd’s knowledge about Berlin and Germany. It was this combination of historical knowledge along with his personal stories of living in divided Berlin and Germany that made our grandson exclaim that Bernd was the best guide he had ever met (despite having traveled broadly and having already been studying in Berlin for over a month). We so enjoyed our time with him and he accommodated all of our needs. Do yourself a favor: book with Bernd today.
22+23/6/23
Jeff+Emily
New York City
We can’t thank you enough. It was a fantastic experience for us. Your depth of knowledge of history and personal story made it incredibly impactful and memorable.
13-15/6/23
Jane, Cyndie, Tim+Jim
St Louis + Philadelphia
Thank you Bernd for three spectacular tours. Focusing on a particular theme each day (Pre & WWII Berlin, Potsdam and the Communist Era in Berlin) allowed us to better appreciate several aspects of Berlin’s past. It is amazing how such a large metropolitan area can feel comfortable and walkable. Your suggestions on eating spots and other things to do, ensured our enjoyment of the city. Knowing your background assured us that you were not just exaggerating to keep the tours interesting. I don’t think we will ever forget Fredrick the Great’s kitchen! We left the city eager to return and learn more about a vibrant, entertaining city. Thanks again.
6/7/22
Christophe+Michelle
California
We had the pleasure of having Bernd as our personal guide in Berlin. It was our first visit to Berlin and we wanted someone who could really bring the city and its history to life for us. Bernd definitely fulfilled that and more. He was extremely professional and showed tremendous depth in his knowledge of Berlin. He tailored the tour to our needs and paced the day meticulously to make sure that we really got to know Berlin without feeling overwhelmed. We loved our conversations with Bernd as well. It was time well spent. Thank you, Bernd!
4/7/22
Bryony, Sebastian+Sarah
USA
I can’t thank you enough for the incredible tour you gave us of Berlin. Your depth of knowledge about the city’s history was incredible and you made history come alive with your personal stories. It was the absolute highlight of our trip! We will be sure to recommend you to anyone we know who is heading to Berlin in the future.
20/11/21
John, Beth+Terry
USA
Thank you for such a great tour! We enjoyed ourselves so much and have not stopped talking about you and your stories ever since. Your knowledge of Berlin’s past and contemporary history was truly amazing especially with you being able to personalize things with your own experiences. Thank you again for sharing your day with us. We look forward to meeting with you again.
23+23/9/21
Larry+Jennifer
New York City
The two days we spent with you were the best days of any trip we’ve had, and we’ve had quite a few. Depth of knowledge is important, but delivering it in a compassionate, thoughtful way, rich in context, insight and perspective is extremely special and you provided that and more to us in our time together. Especially fascinating were your explanations of the complex relationship between East and West Berlin and, moreover, between West Berlin and West Germany. You shared eye-opening insights with us just about on every block in every neighborhood we visited. Thank you for being you and for treating us so well. You really made our visit super special.
20/09/19
Paul+Rosamund
London
Many thanks for a great day and for your company. It was so full of interesting facts and such an in depth explanation of Potsdam and the surrounds. We so enjoyed the post tour discussion at the hotel and without doubt gave us a deep insight into post war Germany – it was both moving and instructional.
5+6/10/19
Stephen+Bruce
New York City
Our tours with you were absolute highlights. You’re the best.
09/05/19
Joseph+Marilyn
We wanted to thank you for making our visit to Potsdam so meaningful.
11+112/05/19
Pat+Dennys
Michigan
Thanks again for making our Berlin experience so enlightening and wonderful.
21/11/19
Stacy+Ross
Connecticut
Thank you so much for such an insightful day in Berlin!
Everyone had such a good time. You were incredible and so knowledgeable, we learned a lot. We will definitely pass your contact on to any friends coming to Berlin.
06/05/19
Joe+Judi
We appreciate the start we had with you in Berlin. You started us off just right and we had little difficulty on our travels thru Germany, Czech Republic and Poland. We recommend you highly.
29/06/19
Richard+Merry, Paul+Mary
We have not quit talking about you and how invaluable you were to us in appreciating Berlin and most especially your personal stories of your family and you. It made it so memorable
02/09/19
David+Marla
Miami
David and I want to thank you again for a wonderful day. It was a pleasure spending the day with you and your tour was extraordinary.
14+15/11/19
Liz, Jacki+Dan
Del Mar, California
Thank you so much for being a wonderful guide to us for the past two days! We thoroughly enjoyed every minute and think you are outstanding! You are extremely knowledgeable as well as compassionate with a very insightful pulse on the state of German affairs past and present. We could have listened to you for several more days and are very appreciative of the time you gave us.
15+16/09/19
Susan
Australia
Bernd was an excellent guide creating a vivid and memorable journey around Berlin and Potsdam. He brought the history alive and talked about the culture of the East and West that is still affecting the people today. We learned so much and thoroughly enjoyed our time with him, spending just the right amount of time at each location. Bernd’s knowledge about history is exceptional; his love for the city and kindness is first rate! Bernd is very personable and friendly. Thank you for being our guide.
27/12/19
Lee
Los Angeles
Thanks again for a wonderful day! We so enjoyed meeting you and loved the tour to Potsdam!!!
15/04/19
Alan+Gayle
Salt Lake City
We want to thank you again for an enjoyable and informative tour of Berlin. We both thoroughly enjoyed our day.
26/06/19
Alicia
Sydney
Thank you for a fabulous day. We both really enjoyed it. Your tour was engaging, informative and most interesting was your personal perspectives. We will certainly recommend you to our friends who visit Berlin.
27+28/10/2018
Dena
Los Angeles
The Briens and The Schechters just spent two truly delightful days with Bernd. We walked and talked and learned a great deal and every moment was worthwhile. We all appreciated Bernd’s first hand tales of the two Germanys, his depth of historical knowledge and his approach and manner. We have already recommended him to our travel agent.
04/10/2018
Mike + Bret
New York City
A long overdue thank you for an exceptional day in Berlin. Our time with you was more than we even expected. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing as much as we did, but beyond that, valued your unique perspective throughout. AND, we went to Noto on Saturday night – it lived up to your great recommendation and review.
17/10/19
Michelle+Barbara
Florida
I want to thank so much for the excellent tour of Berlin. We very much enjoyed our time with you, You knowledge of the history and culture as well as your prospective having lived through the Berlin Wall period was very interesting to learn about and a great twist on a normal tour. Your knowledge was obvious and not read from a script like many tours. Your love for the city was likewise obvious. I will highly recommend your services to anyone wanting a first class guide for a tour of Berlin.
27+28/07/2018
Carla + Billy
San Francisco
My husband and I had three days in Berlin and wanted to make the most of it. Bernd planned a day in Berlin and a half day in Potsdam for us to explore, and in particular, understand a complicated history. Bernd’s breadth of knowledge along with his personal perspective kept us enthralled. Hearing a first-hand account of Berlin’s occupation, the Wall coming down, and of the reunification of a city and a country with all its challenges and joys was truly a unique experience.
Bernd’s English is perfect! He is easy to listen to and easy to be around. He was prompt, courteous, and professional. His knowledge along with his anecdotal stories, both current and historical, made our time with him very special, indeed. I cannot recommend him highly enough!
19/04/2018
Jerry
Boston
Bernd provided six of us with a stimulating, educational, cultural tour of Potsdam. Bernd’s enthusiasm for his work was evident in every aspect of our day together. He is so knowledgeable about the history as well as the contemporary issues in Berlin and Potsdam. We traveled by public transit - easy as can be. We walked through Potsdam and relived the history through Bernd’s comments and stories. We had the most delicious lunch at the Dragon Pagoda on the grounds of the castle - don’t miss this! We finished our day with the best gelato in the Dutch section of Potsdam. All in all, a marvelous day with a new friend - Bernd is great!
24+25/08/2018
Sonia, Juan and Evelyn
Las Vegas
Berlin was the highlight of our Eastern Europe tour and you certainly made it very special. I can not begin to tell you how grateful we are for that memorable, one-of-a-kind private tour. The one that stood out to me was the personal experience you shared with us during the Cold War, you made everything that we witnessed on our tour so real with your own personal life story. It’s unbelievable. You were so kind and humble and a great server that you gave us your whole attention the days that you guided us. You are not only very knowledgeable, you know the history of Berlin , and the way you designed our tour was so organized, very informative, intellectual and very educational.
Thank you very much. We will contact you again the next time we visit Berlin. We need to go back. We fell in love with your city.
17+18 09/2018
Carole and Michael Fleisher
New York City
Our experience with Bernd was wonderful. Not only does he have a terrific grasp of Berlin history from Medieval times to the present, his experience as a Berliner since his student days gives him a unique and personal perspective on the turbulent changes in Berlin during the 20th century, especially post WW 11, the division of the city and the fall of the Berlin wall.
Since he is a Berliner, he knows the neighborhoods and told us wonderful anecdotes from all of them. It is rare to have a tour guide as open about his own personal experiences and we greatly appreciated how warm and forthright he is.
In addition, he was extremely helpful teaching us how to navigate the transit system, suggest other sights that were of interest to us but could not be covered in the two days, as well as recommend restaurants.
We highly recommend him and would be eager to engage him again on our next visit!
07/03/2018
The Schuster’s
Boston
Thank you Bernd! We all had a lovely day with you. John thinks you should be the voice on audio books. You are gracious, informed, and delightful to spend time with.
25/06/2017
Jan + Craig, Jeff + Beth
USA
All of us want to say thank you for what was truly an outstanding day of touring. Your historical and personal insights into the past, present and prospective future of Germany enlightened all of us and we haven’t stopped talking about our day!
8+11/03/2018
Stephen
Canada
We spent two days with Bernd, Berlin and Potsdam. Both tours were excellent. Bernd was exceptionally conscientious about communicating with us beforehand in order to to customize the tours to our tastes, abilities and knowledge levels. Personally, I had done some reading and research on Berlin before I came and found that Bernd could fill in many gaps and add a layer of history that added vastly to my understanding of the city and its Prussian history. Bernd gets my highest recommendation both as a student of history and a Berliner who has an understanding of and enthusiasm for the city.
17/05/2017
Scott + Ron
Florida
We’ve travelled throughout the world and worked with many private tour guides. Rarely, do we work with a tour guide like you. It was obvious from first communications, you’re a true professional and sincerely care about the quality of your tours. We customized our tour and you delivered exactly what we discussed. We appreciate your vast knowledge of Potsdam and the well-organized day. Truthfully, we did not want the day to end! You far exceeded our expectations and rank at the top of the tour guides we worked with.
10+11/06/2017
Tim
Boston
I had pretty high expectations about the benefits of our tours, which you far exceeded. Because of our time with you, we were able to get a much deeper and broader understanding of and appreciation for Berlin. We hope to come back, and will contact you if we do. And we will strongly recommend you to any friends traveling to Berlin.
2+3/09/2017
Dianna
Charlotte, NC
We had a terrific time and the balance of our Germany excursions. We can’t thank you enough for taking the time to help us rediscover such a beautiful and cultural city. It made our limited time well spent along with your expert knowledge for the various parts of the city. You made our trip to Berlin extra special!!!
26/05/2017
Monique
New York
Thank you for your interesting and insightful tour of Berlin! We had a good time, learned a tremendous amount and only wish that we had had more time with you.
30/08/2017
Robyn
Denver, Colorado
We had a great time yesterday. You are an amazing guide and a gift for lucky tourists like us!! Thank you again. Come visit us in Colorado!
19/11/2016
Sam
Melbourne, Australia
It was by far the best day of our travels overseas.
24-27/11/2016
Carrie
Arkansas
You were a highlight of the trip. You have amazing knowledge and enhanced our understanding of the strengths and struggles of Berlin and Germany.
15+16/7/2016
Jodi+Craig
New York
Our time touring Berlin with Bernd was the highlight of our stay in Germany. He was well-informed of course, but also provided a unique perspective having lived in Berlin before and after the Wall came down. With his encyclopedic knowledge of German history and culture over the last 2 centuries, Bernd was able to design two days of touring that exceeded our every expectation.
23/9/2016
The Ellis'
California
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with you. You really tailored the tour to WWII sites and background that we requested. Of all our tours in Europe to date I enjoyed yours the most. Our boys enjoyed it as well since you were able to mix in sites that captured their attention as well. I am definitely going to recommend you to anyone I know traveling to Berlin in the future.
27/6/2016
Tyler Goldberg
Austin, Texas
I cannot thank you enough for your thoughtful, interesting, and informative tour of Potsdam. My family was extremely with your planning of the trip from the minute you picked us up at our hotel until delivering us back 9 hours later. We learned so much about the history of Germany and you made it extremely fun to learn about the history with the stories you gave us…that only a historian like yourself would know. I certainly recognized the extra steps you took to make our tour great such as pre-arranging our transfers, finding a perfect restaurant for lunch, and finding little known spots that are historically significant, but off the regular tourists path!
I would strongly recommend your services to travelers to Berlin seeking a well-planned tour with private guide that has a great and personal understanding of Germany’s history. Having lived in Berlin during the fall of the Wall, you can speak with great understanding and appreciation about Germany’s history. Our only regret is that we did not have more time after a full 9 hours to spend with you!
07/06/2015
Mikaella
Cyprus
We had a fantastic tour with Berndt, he was extremely knowledgeable, charismatic and a great communicator. Berlin is daunting (in a good sense) and without Bernd’s guidance, it would have been a real challenge to get a feel of the place. Before our arrival, he emailed us with some great recommendations of restaurants, bars and areas we could visit. During our walking tour, he seamlessly took us from past to present with a lot of insider info and an objective outlook. An amazing city to visit with Bernd’s tour being an absolute highlight!
03/09/2015
Daniel Flamberg
USA
Bernd Gutberlet is a world-class guide. Knowledgeable, approachable, and very easy to be with, he infuses his tours with his personal experiences. A historian, by profession, he not only shares events and dates but is skilled at conveying a broader context. Easily jumping from the present to the past, Bernd has a sweeping command of history, politics, culture, media, psychology, literature, art and geography. Our six hours together was a joyful mix of walking tour, graduate seminar and a great first date.
01/07/2015
Eric
Seattle, Washington, USA
The one-on-one tour I took with Bernd was the best tour I’ve ever taken. Bernd is incredibly knowledgable and I can’t wait to get back to Berlin for another tour.
09/08/2015
Julie
USA
My sons and I all learned so much from you about Berlin, its people, and its history. Your tour was both enlightening and inspiring. We recommend your tour most highly to all of our friends who visit Berlin!
07/06/2015
Sophocles Ioannou
Cyprus
The level of detail, your knowledge and way of interacting and scoping the whole tour were simply not just an enjoyable but an unforgettable memory. Far from your typical mass-made tours, I would not only recommend you but encourage anyone who is looking for the „real“ Berlin experience to look you up.
18/03/2015
Lori & Jared Barnett
Kansas City
The tour was amazing!! Thank you so very much!!! Jared can’t stop talking about the tour and your vast amount of knowledge. After our first two days of Berlin, we felt a void but you brought Berlin alive for us. Of all of our guides, you were the best. Thanks for all of the information.
14/02/2015
Marion und Daniel
aus Berlin
Die Tour über Berlin als Hauptstadt des Kalten Krieges hat uns beiden großen Spaß gemacht und wir haben viel dabei gelernt. Chapeau!
23 | 07 | 2014
Beatrice und Werner Christen
aus Zürich
Wir waren letzten Samstag in Berlin und durften Sie/dich als Privat-Reiseführer erleben. Wir möchten uns nochmals ganz herzlich für die ganz spezielle Trabi-Tour, die wir sehr genossen haben, und die nicht zuletzt dank Ihren/deinen ausführlichen Erklärungen und persönlichen Geschichten für uns zu einem ganz besonderen Erlebnis geworden ist.
Sie haben mit Ihrem/deinem Engagement die besondere Note, die man von einer solchen Tour erwartet, in unseren Berlin-Aufenthalt gebracht – wir werden die Trabi-Tour noch lange in Erinnerung behalten.
09 | 10 | 2014
Chris
Washington D.C.
I don’t know how to thank you for one of the most amazing days ever. In a few short hours, you accomplished what would have taken me days, weeks, or even months to learn on my own!
I can’t tell you how excited and energized I felt to learn about Berlin—to “decode” the city—through your eyes and your experiences. … The full impact of everything that you shared with me emerged slowly over the course of the days that followed.
22 | 09 | 2014
Frank, Jane, Mary and Jaan,
Connecticut
Thank you for the wonderful tour you gave us around Berlin. I speak for all of us when I say that your tour was one of the highlights of the trip. It was interesting seeing sections of the city that most tourists do not see.
It was particularly interesting hearing your description of events the day the wall fell. Berlin is obviously a beautiful and important city and you are fortunate to be one of its historians.
09 | 06 | 2014
Susanne Hobein
aus Kassel
Heute komme ich endlich mal dazu, Dir – auch im Namen meiner Freundin Gabi – recht herzlich für die super schöne Sightseeing-Tour am Samstag zu danken. Wir hatten einen riesen Spaß!
Wir haben am Samstag Abend übrigens Deinem Tipp Folge geleistet und waren in „Clärchens Ballhaus“. Ich kann nur sagen: EIN SUPER TIPP VON DIR!!!! Wir haben Stunden auf der Tanzfläche verbracht und fanden es dort wirklich super schön. Also Bernd, nochmals vielen vielen Dank … und wenn wir das nächste Mal in Berlin sind … dann buchen wir Dich wieder … einen anderen Guide wollen wir nicht… ;-))
06 | 06 | 2014
Stephanie
aus Essen
Super Guide, der Bernd!
Immer wieder!
27 | 05 | 2014
Dr. Staib
aus Reutlingen
Herzlichen Dank für Ihre tolle Führung und ihre freundliche und überaus kompetente Art!
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