Our exploration of Berlin will be begin by traveling back in time to when the city was divided by a wall. Following World War II, Berlin was divided into occupied sectors, but Berliners could travel freely anywhere within their city. On August 13, 1961, that abruptly changed. A wall was erected and even the subway system was divided into east and west. This morning we’ll see up close how East Germany strictly guarded, barricaded, and even booby-trapped certain stops, later known as Geisterbahnhöfe (Ghost stations), to prevent them from becoming escape portals to the West. As part of our tour, we'll walk through original-scale replicas of underground tunnels dug by East Berliners desperate to escape. We’ll hear stories about their daring efforts and sometimes devastating betrayals. But even during the dark times of division, Berliners kept dancing! In the afternoon after lunch, we’ll make our way to Clärchen’s Ballhaus. Founded in 1913, Clärchen’s has seen it all. Opened before World War I, it remains an operating dance hall, and for Berliners, it's a place that embodies the very essence of their city. After a very personal tour of this special place, we’ll set off to explore some of the quirky and unusual spots nearby and enjoy a delicious dinner together.

Today we’ll start with a visit to the former central radio broadcasting center of East Germany, a place built for perfect sound. The vast interiors of Berlin’s Funkhaus were built using marble from Hitler’s destroyed chancellery along with old-growth Russian timber (now among the rarest materials in the world). This unusual design created a perfect blend of modernism and functionality, with a nod to Soviet architectural traditions. Once employing thousands of staff, the complex lay almost entirely abandoned for decades. Together we’ll see learn about the rediscovery of the building’s incredible acoustic innovations by international recording artists such as Sting and Cecilia Bartoli. After lunch, we’ll return to the city center for an exclusive private tour of a large, above-ground concrete bunker that most cities would consider an eyesore. Originally built in 1942 as an air raid shelter, this historic structure has had many lives—a prisoner-of-war camp, a fruit storage facility, a hard-core techno club—but has now been transformed into a 32,000-square-foot exhibition space housing the personal art collection of the Boros family. 

Today we’ll travel by train about 50 minutes beyond the city limits to visit a massive abandoned hospital complex. Built in 1898 in response to skyrocketing rates of tuberculosis in Berlin, the grand architecture of the Beelitz Sanitorium will capture your attention. Afterwards, we’ll kick off our shoes and step into the neighboring barefoot park. Long before forest bathing and mindfulness caught on in the Western world, Germans looked to the healing powers of nature. We’ll walk along specially designed forest footpaths, over (blunted) shattered glass, acorns and stones; through knee-deep mud and murky cold water in an attempt to boost our health, German-style. Tonight we'll gain a unique glimpse into the city’s Cold War history and its current alternative subculture. We’ll be ascending to the top of Berlin’s highest hill (Teufelsberg), where we’ll be treated to a special after-dark tour of an abandoned NSA listening station. 

This morning will feel like a photographer’s eerie dream as we are guided through the empty halls, restaurants, and cellars of Tempelhof Airport. Built as an expression of Nazi ideology, Tempelhof is weighed down by a history of forced labor and war weapons production. However, due to the role it played during the Berlin Airlifts of 1948, it is also a symbol of the city’s freedom. Entirely shut down to aircraft since 2008, its runways and fields have been converted into a giant public park filled with Berliners on bikes, rollerblades, and picnic blankets. After our tour, the entire afternoon is yours to enjoy as you wish. Visit one of Berlin's 150 museums, ranging from world-class collections to private oddities like the David Hasselhof exhibit; do some strolling and shopping; or, if you’d like, continue with your guide to explore the gentrifying NeuKölln neighbourhood. There is no shortage of quirky art galleries, unique beer gardens, or historical sites to discover. In the evening, we’ll gather back together for a special farewell dinner.