David Bowie in Berlin: Cold War Inspiration and Classic Albums Exploration Tour
4.8
94 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
(94 Ratings)
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Ginabk5272ha
May 23, 2024
Proper insight into Bowie's Berlin. - Fantastic tour full of interesting anecdotes and plenty of music on route. Lots of quirky personal and slightly different info about Bowie, that made you think deeper about the man and the music, in Berlin and beyond. Lots of references to other artists, all delivered by a very well informed Dan, who guided us around with obvious enthusiasm. Never a dull moment! Sharing a drink in a cosy local bar near Bowie's apartment was a fitting way to end a thought provoking tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kaylq8079af
May 13, 2024
Very enjoyable and interesting tour - Thoroughly enjoyed our trip around Berlin with Ronen. We walked and travelled by bus and train to get to all the areas of Berlin that Bowie had frequented in his time there. Well put together tour with lots of information and using music and photographs to add some ‘sound and vision’. It was so interesting to see the places that had inspired the songs created whilst in this intriguing city. We would definitely recommend for all Bowie fans.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jayne_g
May 3, 2024
Great for David Bowie fans. - Very entertaining and enjoyable tour visiting all the places associated with Bowie in Berlin. Our tour guide Lee was very knowledgeable and obviously a fan of Bowie. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
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
Sroem
May 21, 2024
Recommended! - Tour was done by Dan. A lot of knowledge of Bowie, also delivered in an appealing way. Tour shows important places of Bowie and with sound fragments in the background the music comes to life.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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June 2024
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