City centre in one tour

The bike tour starts and ends near the Zoologischer Garten S-Bahn and U-Bahn station, where numerous regional trains stop as well. The pure riding time of this tour is one and a half hours. Along the way, you will see some of the most beautiful sights in the centre of Berlin, for which you should plan stops. 

Tour map

Breitscheidplatz 

At Breitscheidplatz, take a look at the famous Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, which consists of a historic tower stump and additions from the 1960s. 

Berlin Zoo

Continue towards Berlin Zoo, the most species-rich zoo in the world. Here live 17000 animals in 1600 species. In addition to the classic zoo with wild animals of all kinds, there is also the aquarium with fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects. On your bike tour you can take a look at the famous elephant gate at the entrance of the zoo.

Tiergarten

The Großer Tiergarten is the second largest park in Berlin after the Tempelhofer Freiheit. The Tiergarten dates back to 1527. After the Second World War, the trees in the park were almost completely cut down to obtain firewood and the park was turned into a large garden to feed West Berlin. Today, the Tiergarten is a popular recreational area.

Siegessäule

Continue on Hofjägerallee until you come to the Siegessäule (Victory Column) which stands in the middle of Großer Stern, a busy roundabout. The column is topped with an angel named "Victoria", but popularly called "Goldelse" by the Berliners. The column was erected in 1873 to commemorate the wars that led to German unification. 

Schloss Bellevue

As you ride along Spreeweg, you will see on the left the offices of the German President and then Schloss Bellevue, his official residence. Take a right onto John-Foster-Dulles-Allee just before the bridge over the Spree.

Haus der Kulturen der Welt

Ride along John-Foster-Dulles-Allee along the Spree and the northern edge of the Tiergarten until you come to the Haus der Kulturen der Welt. This extraordinary building was designed as a conference centre that opened in 1957 and earned the nickname of "Pregnant Oyster". Since 1989, the building has become a centre for the contemporary arts.

Government Quarter

Continue on John-Foster-Dulles-Allee until it curves to the left and joins up with Scheidemannstraße. To the left, about a block away, you can see the Bundeskanzleramt, where the German chancellor and her staff carry out their daily work. Stay on Scheidemannstraße and ride past Platz der Republik on your left.

Platz der Republik

The Platz der Republik is a large green space which has played an important role in German history. A protest rally with 300,000 participants against the Berlin Blockade was held here in 1948. During the years of German division, this square was at the edge of West Berlin near the Wall and served as a recreational space for the city's residents. Now it is right at the heart of the government quarter. 

Reichstag

The Reichstag building dates from 1894. Fierce battles took place here in the closing days of the Second World War, ending with the Red Army flying the Soviet flag on the building. Today, the Reichstag building has been restored with a new glass dome and is seat of the German Bundestag. Take a right onto Ebertstraße.

The Brandenburg Gate

In a few metres, you will see the north end of the Brandenburg Gate, the most famous landmark in Berlin. Built in 1791 as a city gate, it became a symbol of German division in the middle of the twentieth century and then a symbol of German unification after the Wall fell in 1989. Continue to ride south on Ebertstraße.

Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

At the next corner on the left stands the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (Holocaust Memorial) with its 2,711 concrete stelae. It's worth taking a break at this point and going into the monument. 

Friedrichstraße S-Bahn station

Now head towards the street "Unter den Linden", one of the most famous streets in Berlin. From here you can take another look at the Brandenburg Gate. Turn left into Neustädtische Kirchstraße and follow it until you are back at the Spree. There, turn right and ride along the Spree as you pass the bridge of the Friedrichstraße S-Bahn station. Shortly afterwards, you will pass the Tränenpalast, a famous former border crossing between East and West Berlin.

New Synagogue

Continue to follow the course of the Spree until you reach the Ebertbrücke bridge and cross it. At the Oranienburger Straße underground station and turn right into Oranienburger Straße. You will not be able to miss the New Synagogue. 

Museum Island

After a short time on Oranienburger Straße, turn right into Monbijoustraße. After a few minutes you will reach the Monbijou Bridge, one of the most beautiful panoramic points in Berlin. The bridge cuts across the top of Museum Island right in front of the main entrance to the Bode Museum. 

On the other side of the bank, continue left onto "Am Kupfergraben". You will pass the Pergamon Museum on your left. 

Humboldt Forum

After a short detour to the Neue Wache, you will find yourself in front of the Humboldt Forum. This was once the site of the Berlin City Palace and, in GDR times, the Palace of the Republic. On the opposite side you can also see the Berlin Cathedral and the Old Museum. The TV Tower is already in sight and you simply head in its direction.

Alexanderplatz

You will already see the TV tower on your right. On your way to it, take a look at the Neptune Fountain, which stood in front of the Berlin City Palace before the Second World War. 

Alexanderplatz, also called "Alex" by Berliners, is the most famous square in Berlin. Since 1969, the futuristic World Time Clock has been the most popular date spot on the Alex. To see it, drive towards Alexanderplatz station and through the subway to the other side. Beware: trams run here at regular intervals and you have to watch out for them. 

Rotes Rathaus

The building was built in 1869 - and served as the city hall. During the division of Germany, East Berlin's magistrate met here. Since 1991, it has been the official residence of the Berlin Senate and Governing Mayor. Stay on Rathausstraße and cross Spandauer Straße. Behind the small bridge over the Spree, the street is called "Schlossplatz".

Gendarmenmarkt

After the Spree bridge, the street is named Werderscher Markt and then Französische Straße in a couple of blocks. Ride straight for another block and take a left onto Markgrafenstraße. The Gendarmenmarkt will be about half a block down the street. Ride until you're at the centre of this symmetrical square.

Straight ahead you will see the Konzerthaus, designed by Karl Friedrich Schinkel as a royal theatre. It has been home to the Konzerthausorchester Berlin since 1994. On the right side of the square, you will see the Huguenot church called the Französischer Dom. And to the left is the German Protestant church called the Deutscher Dom. Ride behind the Deutscher Dom and take a right onto Mohrenstraße.

Potsdamer Platz

Then we go to Potsdamer Platz with the Sony Center.  The Sony Center's tent roof construction is meant to be reminiscent of Mount Fujiyama in Japan. Look out for it when you see it from a distance. From there, follow Bellevuestraße until you are back at the Tiergarten. Bellevuestraße meets a large intersection and becomes the car-free Bellevueallee on the park side.

From here you cycle criss-cross through the beautiful Tiergarten and along the water. You can finish your bike ride and catch your breath in the greenery before returning to Hofjägerallee and taking the same route as before to Zoologicher Garten station.