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Bucket list experience:

Last updated: 15 December, 2022

These fascinating guided tours explore Berlin’s vast underground network of bunkers, tunnels and vaults going back to the 19th century. There are 5 different tours to choose from. The most popular outings focus on shelters used during the Third Reich and Cold War; another follows tunnels used to escape under the Wall.

Displays include World War II weaponry and uniforms, an Enigma encryption machine, murals painted by the SS chauffeurs’ pool and facilities to prolong survival in the event of nuclear attack.

Price from: £13
Minimum age: 7
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around

Getting there & doing it

Take the U-Bahn or S-Bahn to Gesundbrunnen station.

You can buy tickets online – though you can purchase only up to 30 days in advance – or at the bookshop at the south entrance of Gesundbrunnen U-Bahn station.

There are five tours to choose from (although Tour F is for groups only), and they last 90 minutes (Tour M lasts 120 minutes). Tours depart from the southern entrance hall of the subway station Gesundbrunnen (exit direction to Humboldthain Park, Brunnenstrsse), next to the ticket office.

Take some warm clothing for these tours – it can get pretty dank and chilly in the depths, even in summer.

When to do it

It’s open all year round, seven days a week.

Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Honigmond Garden Hotel

Berlin, Germany[2 miles]

Lovely small hotel exuding 19th-century charm, with a great location near Berlin’s top attractions and trendy Mitte, with an Eden-like garden.

Official star rating:

Hotel Amano

Berlin, Germany[2.4 miles]

The gorgeously understated Amano offers a soothing, affordable designer option in uber-trendy Mitte.

Official star rating:

Casa Camper

Berlin, Germany[2.6 miles]

A quirky chic boutique hotel that blends simple luxury and hip Spanish design in a killer Mitte location. In the heart of the city’s buzz.

Official star rating:

Lux 11 Berlin-Mitte

Berlin, Germany[2.9 miles]

A superb apartment hotel, with 72 self-contained luxury apartments, conveniently located for Berlin best attractions, bars and shopping.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Berlin

Germany

Europe’s hippest capital boasts non-stop nightlife, cutting-edge fashion, cosmopolitan eats and museum treasures galore.

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Pergamon Museum

Berlin, Germany[3 miles]

A tour de force of treasures amassed by German archaeologists. The superb site pulls together three previous museums covering Islamic art, classical antiquities and the ancient Near East.

Best for ages: 18+ | £12

Old National Gallery

Berlin, Germany[3.1 miles]

This gallery showcases one of the world’s largest collections of 19th-century sculpture and paintings, with additional collections of neoclassical, Romantic, Impressionist and early Modernist artwork.

Best for ages: 18+ | £10

New Museum

Berlin, Germany[3.1 miles]

Museum Island’s Neues Museum houses prehistoric and early historic collections, notably an excellent Egyptian Collection – including the famous bust of Queen Nefertiti.

Best for ages: 18+ | £10

The Reichstag

Berlin, Germany[3.4 miles]

Berlin’s stunning parliament building, boasting an astonishing glass dome designed by Norman Foster. Go inside and peer down on a live parliament session.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free

Other worthwhile experiences near this experience if you have time or interest..

People wandering around the Mauerpark flea market in Mauerpark in Berlin.
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Mauerpark Flea Market

Berlin, Germany[1 miles]

Every Sunday, Mauerpark public park is the venue for this popular Sunday flea market, attracting locals and tourists alike with its eclectic mix of vintage clothing, antiques, and unique treasures. Street performers, musicians, and food vendors adding to the vibrant ambiance.

Best for ages: 8+ | Free | 1 day

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Giant T-Rex fossil on display inside the Berlin Natural History Museum of Berlin
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Natural History Museum, Berlin

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Berlin’s Museum für Naturkunde, dedicated to exploring the wonders of the natural world, houses exhibits that encompass geology, palaeontology, zoology, and botany. Its extensive collection of specimens spans millions of years, and includes dinosaur skeletons, ancient fossils, intricate minerals, taxidermy displays of animals from around the globe, and an impressive array of plant specimens.

Best for ages: 4+ | £6

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Art galleries of Mitte

Berlin, Germany[2.4 miles]

Join the culture crowd and explore over 600 private galleries clustered in Mitte’s artistic heart, with art from students to masters, struggling to world-famous.

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