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Berlin Wall Cycle Path

Discover the history of the Berlin Wall by bike

Cycle tour
7 Days / 6 Nights
Self-Guided
Easy
from
799.00 GBP
Book now Book

Anticipate an extraordinary bike tour as you pedal along the tracks of recent German history. The Berlin Wall stands out as one of the most poignant structures of the 20th century, and the momentous fall of the wall on November 9th, 1989, sent ripples of excitement across the entire world. The dismantling of this border fortification, which had separated the city and its people for many decades, was a powerful testament to human determination and the desire for freedom. While only sections of the wall remain today, the old paths along the border are still intact, offering a unique route that the spectacular Wall cycle path follows.

Our daily stages on this tour have been intentionally kept short to ensure ample time for exploring the numerous points of historical significance along this iconic route. You'll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich history of the Berlin Wall, gaining a deeper understanding of the events and emotions that shaped this pivotal period in German and global history.

Details of the Berlin Wall Trail cycle tour

Look forward to an extraordinary cycling tour as you trace the footsteps of young German history. The Berlin Wall is undeniably one of the most poignant symbols of the 20th century, and its fall on November 9, 1989, sent shockwaves throughout the world.

The subsequent dismantling of the border fortifications, which had separated the city and its people for decades, was a deliberate action following the fall of communism. Today, only fragments of the Wall remain, but the old border paths remain intact, now constituting the spectacular Wall Cycle Route. The cycling stages have intentionally been kept short to allow ample time for exploring the numerous historical sights along this route.

Highlights of the Berlin Wall Cycle Route cycling holiday

  • Historical route: The Berlin Wall Cycle Trail follows the path of the former Berlin Wall, allowing cyclists to experience the history of the Cold War and the division of East and West Berlin.

  • Scenic, yet urban ride: Cyclists can enjoy picturesque routes that meander through both urban and natural landscapes, providing a diverse and scenic journey.

  • Cultural exploration: Along the trail, riders can explore various historical sites, museums, and memorials that offer insights into the events surrounding the Berlin Wall and its impact on the city and its people.

  • Informative signage: Informative signage along the trail provides context and historical details, enhancing the educational aspect of the ride.

  • Uniting past and present: The Berlin Wall Cycle Trail not only delves into the past but also showcases the reunified Berlin, emphasizing the city's resilience and progress since the wall's fall in 1989.

Berlin Wall Cycle Path
Easy
Cycle tour
7 Days / 6 Nights
Self-Guided
from
799.00 GBP
Book now Book

Itinerary

Visit Sanssouci Palace and marvel at the summer residence of Frederick the Great, the Russian Colony Alexandrowka, the Dutch Quarter, and the former Bohemian Weavers' Quarter. Explore the famous Babelsberg film park, enjoy a Potsdam excursion by boat, and explore the many parks that await your visit.

 

You'll start by cycling to the famous Glienicke Bridge, where the USA and the Soviet Union exchanged spies during the Cold War. After passing Cecilienhof Palace, where the Potsdam Conference decided on the division of Berlin and Germany into occupation zones in the summer of 1945, you'll continue cycling to Wannsee and then Sacrow. From Sacrow, you can take the ferry across the Wannsee to Kladow.

At Groß-Glienicker See, you will discover an original section of the Wall, and as you approach the gates of Spandau, you'll come across Fort Hahnenberg, which was built in 1888 to protect the armament centre of Spandau. Afterwards, you can look forward to exploring the citadel town of Spandau, which boasts a charming old town worth seeing.

In the morning, you will cycle through the Spandauer Forst, formerly a restricted area in the GDR, which was designated as a "Nature Reserve of European Importance" in 2000. Along the Nieder-Neuendorfer-Kanal, which is now almost overgrown, it's worth taking a detour to witness the enormous thousand-year-old oak trees. Continue your ride past the Laßzinsee lake until you reach the banks of the Havel River.

The Nieder Neuendorf border tower built in 1987 and now a listed building, served as a monitoring station for this section of the border during the GDR era and also acted as the command post for 18 other border watchtowers. Today, the tower houses a documentation centre on the division of Germany and the border installations. You can conclude your beautiful day of cycling in Hohen Neuendorf.

Today, the Wall Cycle Route takes you through the "Tegeler Fließtal" nature reserve, a rustic marshland. It is worth making a detour to Lübars, the only preserved village in Berlin's urban area. Along the disused tracks of the Heidekrautbahn and past the Märkisches Viertel district, cycle towards Berlin Mitte.

Discover the Börsebrücke and Bornholmer Straße, famous as the site of the first border opening on 9 November 1989, the Bernauer Straße memorial where, on 13 August 1961, refugees tried to escape from the houses on the border strip through the windows, and the Invalidenfriedhof, over which the Wall ran. Marvel at the new Berlin Central Station and the Parliament and Government Quarter. You will reach the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin's magnificent boulevard "Unter den Linden," and Potsdamer Platz - no man's land in GDR times. Overnight stay in the centre of Berlin.

Passing the "Stasi" headquarters, you cycle to Checkpoint Charlie on Friedrichstraße, which was one of the most famous Berlin border crossings between 1961 and 1990. The checkpoint was only allowed to be used by Allied military and embassy personnel, foreigners, employees of the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany, and GDR officials.

After only a few kilometres, you reach the Spree River with the East Side Gallery on Mühlenstraße, where in 1990 artists from all over the world painted the 1.3 km long remainder of the Hinterland Wall with impressive pictures. Over the Oberbaumbrücke (18th century), you cycle to the Landwehrkanal, Heidekampgraben, and Teltowkanal to Neukölln and Schönefeld.

On the southern edge of Berlin, the route leads via Gropiusstadt to Marienfelde, which, until 1990, served as a collection and transit camp offering help to over 1.3 million GDR refugees. Today, there is a memorial and a museum here. As soon as you get in the saddle, you'll enter a 110-hectare restricted military area where the US Army trained in armed house-to-house combat until the early 1990s.

Then, follow the beautiful Teltow Canal and the Königsweg to the former Dreilinden checkpoint. Cycle back to Potsdam along the shores of Lake Griebnitz.

Departure from Potsdam or spend extra nights in the city or surrounding region.

Route map and overview

Very relaxed cycling on mostly flat terrain around the city of Berlin and its surroundings. The Berlin Wall Trail is a new cycle route and is built to a high standard with detailed signage and good surfaces. Some areas away from the path might be on roads or have rougher surfaces.

Prices and dates

Accommodation in 3*** and 4**** hotels

Prices shown exclude bike hire

Hotel lists are available on request for all holidays

Prices per person in GBP

Services & Information

Further information about this cycling holiday.

Included:

  • Overnight stays in the advertised category
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfers
  • Well-prepared route guidance
  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (DE, EN)
  • GPS data available
  • Service hotline

Arrival / Parking / Departure:

  • Potsdam train station
  • Berlin Airport
  • Chargeable parking spaces or underground garages at the hotels, no reservation possible, payable on site.

Important information:

  • Visitor's tax, if due, not included in the tour price!
from
799.00 GBP
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