Bowie's Berlin Tour: Cold War Music Inspiration

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: 24 hours
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…

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…

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
4.9
(107 Ratings)
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Expedition362323
Sep 20, 2024
Do it! David Bowie tour - Lovely! Excellent and Knowledgeable Guide. A walking David Bowie Wikipedia. A musical experience along Bowie's favorite places in Berlin.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kenneth_z
Sep 19, 2024
Lee and Bowie - Lee, our guide, performed expert-Lee, spouted his knowledge effortless-Lee and helped us to appreciate Bowie complete-Lee
Review provided by Viator
Diane_d
Sep 15, 2024
Fantastic slice of Music History during Bowie’s Berlin Era - We thoroughly enjoyed our Bowie in Berlin Tour with Lee Evans. Lee has a great sense of humor and brought keen insights into what inspired Bowie during his highly productive creative renewal period in Berlin. Lee infused the tour with relevant Bowie music, local history & culture and kept the tour moving at a steady pace while juggling late arrivals and changing train schedules. We highly recommend this tour if you seek a deeper understanding of Bowie’s favorite Berlin haunts and inspirations.
Review provided by Viator
Wendy_t
Aug 25, 2024
Bowie - What an amazing experience. I’m a mad Bowie fan but learnt so much from our guide Lee. I would highly recommend it. Thank you xx
Review provided by Viator
Daniel_h
Aug 10, 2024
Berlin through Bowie’s eyes - A really fascinating journey into this period of Bowie’s life in the context of Berlin’s rich and tumultuous history. We learned so much from our wonderfully kind and knowledgeable guide, Rachel.
Review provided by Viator
Mjca14
Aug 3, 2024
Spectacular Sound and Vision in Berlin - We should have guessed that the tall man standing in the middle of the street blasting out Heroes loudly on his iPad was our David Bowie in Berlin walking tour guide, but we were so flustered by being late thanks to a major festival taking place that weekend in Berlin and focusing on parking our Lime scooters, that we assumed he was just another Berlin character. Lee is indeed another Berlin character having lived in the City for several decades but a likeable, informative and knowledgeable one who is a historian by trade but also an expert on Bowie's life in Berlin. The result was a tour that combines a slice of history during a unique era, Bowie's unique time in Berlin with his friend Jimmy alias Iggy Pop and a unique tour of the City. We cannot recommend it highly enough for it encompasses the Berlin wall, German Expressionism in art and theatre, music history, for Bowie made history at the Berlin wall, and the historical music studio where Bowie recorded Heroes. The tour started with Bertold Brecht and a restaurant that Iggy and Bowie ate at regularly in East Berlin on day visits from the West and finished at Bowie's apartment in the Turkish quarter of Berlin where his life was thoroughly more domestic. Throughout the tour - on foot and on the metro - the sound of music is threaded through on Lee's iPad which still lingers with us thanks to Lee's tour playlist on Spotify. We started with listening to Heroes and we wended up meeting a tour hero of an alternative kind.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Safari53982243596
Jul 19, 2024
Great Bowie tour - This Bowie trip was an excellent experience and great way of exploring parts of Berlin. Dan was very knowledgeable about his subject and had organised the route in a thoughtful way to incorporate other features of relevant history too. He is a friendly guide, prompt but relaxed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anita_w
Jul 7, 2024
Bowie and Berlin: Wow!! - Traveling around the city, but not stopping at the usual tourist destinations gets you straight to the heart and soul of Berlin. This tour really is about understanding Berlin, its history and culture, and the aspect of its connection to David Bowie just makes it all the easier for fans of his to understand this wonderful city.
Review provided by Viator
Rachel_l
Jun 17, 2024
Great Tour - Loved hearing the backstories and going to the house where he lived and the bar next door. Our guide was knowledgeable and well prepared
Review provided by Viator
Olga_m
Jun 2, 2024
Unforgettable experience for Bowie’s fans - Dan made this experience really special and the 3 hours flew by in a second. He took us through David Bowie’s Berlin while sharing relevant background information that completed the picture. I loved strolling through Berlin listening to Dan’s stories and music he played in between stops. Thank you so much for this unforgettable tour!
Review provided by Viator
From $115
up to 8 guests
1 Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).