Unter den Linden: Berlin’s Boulevard of Power and Prestige
Stroll along Berlin’s grandest boulevard and uncover the dramatic rise of Prussia—from a small kingdom to a European powerhouse. Follow the footsteps of kings, generals, and great thinkers, marvel at stunning architecture, and discover how power, war, and culture shaped this historic avenue.
Price + VAT 19%:
25,00 € regular
20,00 € discounted
Tour in a nutshell
No other street tells Berlin’s story of power and ambition quite like Unter den Linden. Once the heart of Prussian royalty, this boulevard was a showcase of royal splendour, military strength, and cultural grandeur. On this walking tour, we trace Prussia’s journey from a minor state in the 17th century to a ruling force in Europe. We explore impressive monuments that demonstrated its military might, but also step into a world of philosophers, artists, and visionaries who turned this street into a cultural hub.
Beyond the grand landmarks of Unter den Linden, we also venture into its shaded side streets, where we uncover the great minds of a revolutionary era and explore the story of the rulers who fled as foreign armies closed in. In the heart of Berlin, we see how Prussian royals and citizens transformed the city over two remarkable centuries, laying the foundations of the capital we know today.
Meeting Point
At the “Reconstruction of the Sanchi Gate” (“Rekonstruktion des Sanchi-Tores”) in front of the Humboldt Forum. Look for our guide with the orange umbrella!
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Need To Know Before You Go
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
Group Size: Maximum 15 participants (larger groups on request; only bookable as a private tour)
Pets: Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome, provided they do not disturb the group. Service animals are always allowed.
Want to know more?
At the dawn of the modern age, Berlin was little more than an island fortress on the Spree river. But after a devastating religious war, the ruling Hohenzollern family transformed it into the capital of Prussia, a rising power in Europe. Lining their new boulevard with linden trees, they set the stage for centuries of royal splendour, military ambition, and cultural flourishing.
Walking down Unter den Linden, we see how each ruler shaped the city in stone. The first Prussian king commissioned imposing baroque palaces, while his successors built guardhouses and an imposing city wall. We stand before statues of Prussian generals, uncovering how these military figures who helped defeat Napoleon were later reinterpreted by both the Nazi regime and East German dictatorship for their own ideological narratives.
But Unter den Linden was more than a royal and military stage—it was a hub of artistic and intellectual life. We step into the Friedrichswerdersche Kirche, an often overlooked church, to admire a sculptural masterpiece dedicated to a beloved queen. Nearby, we visit the site of Frederick the Great’s cultural forum, where the philosopher-king nurtured intellectuals and artists. At the Sing-Akademie, we explore the lasting legacy of Heinrich Heine and Felix Mendelssohn, two giants of German cultural life, and discover how this once-vibrant musical hub resonated with the sounds of a new era.
By the late 19th century, as Prussia conquered its neighbours and unified Germany, Berlin became an imperial capital. We trace this transformation to its dramatic climax, standing by what is left of a destroyed national monument, where echoes of Prussia’s past still resonate in the Berlin of today.