Guided Tours Through Modern Berlin

No matter what hour, Berlin's chic Mitte district, a centralized borough, pulses with people. By day, travelers flock to galleries, boutiques, and historical sites. At night, the streets flood with dance-club crawlers. Towering above the round-the-clock revelry is the Leonardo Royal Hotel Alexanderplatz, which, like its eclectic surroundings, accommodates all manner of travel agendas, from restful retreats to sightseeing-filled getaways. Inside, plush, modern beds face flat-screen TVs in the classic rooms. Downstairs in the lounge, neon purple lighting glows above geometric wall displays and modern fuchsia furniture, and the sleek dining room of the Vitruv restaurant provides a daily continental breakfast of organic produce, fruits, and assorted meats and cereals. After guests settle into the hotel, they can embark upon the Group IST's tours, which begin as European representatives distribute information packets and visitors curate their own customized itineraries and translate their secret handshakes into German. These organized or self-guided tours lay the foundation for the immersive, three-day educational experience, and popular routes include a walk through the flower- and statue-smattered gardens of Tiergarten or a survey of the Prussian architecture and political monuments that line Unter den Linden, a main boulevard. The first day of touring commences with a group walking tour of the historical Mitte District, beginning at the Brandenburg Gate, a triumphant colonnade that was surrounded by the Berlin Wall for 30 years. Today, the neoclassical landmark stands as the symbol of the city's reunification, crowned by a statue of the winged goddess of peace. While narrating the city's volatile history, English-speaking guides point out the Reichstag capital building, the German parliament building, and site of the infamous fire set by the Nazis in 1933. The tour culminates in a visit to Museum Island on Spree River, where the Neues Museum exhibits the iconic bust of Queen Nefertiti and the Pergamon Museum houses the colossal Pergamon Altar.

Day two unfolds with an optional morning excursion or with leisurely time alone, then transports travelers into Berlin's countercultural scene—graffiti art, squats, and shops that ripened before the fall of the Berlin Wall and evolved further East, continuing to clash with corporate culture to this day. Visitors can elect to participate in one of several themed tours on their third and final day. During the Curator tour of the Sammlung Hoffmann Museum, guides illuminate the turbulent modern history of Berlin through the Hoffman family's private collection of contemporary art and through interpretive juggling. Evenings allow travelers to unwind with a choice of excursions or further self-exploration.

About redeem-with-another-Groupon options:

The redeem-with-another-Groupon options are valid only in conjunction with a second Groupon, allowing you to combine your Groupon with a friend's for a two-person trip without putting the entire cost on a single credit card. Hotel stays are based on double occupancy, so single travelers should purchase the one-person option to get the full package.