Karl Marx To The Wall Walk

Overview

The walk begins at the Red Town Hall, the Rotes Rathaus, in Mitte, where the guide waits with a yellow umbrella. From there it traces communist and socialist history from the late 19th century onward: Marx and Engels, the revolution led by Luxemburg and Liebknecht, the Cold War and the Berlin Wall, and leftwing movements in the present day. The stated aim is a broad historical picture of these ideas in Germany and Europe, before and after WWII.

It runs in English and lasts 2 hours 45 minutes. There is no pickup: travellers make their own way to the meeting point. The walk is listed on GuruWalk, run by Walkative! Tours, and works on the free, pay what you want model, with guests paying the guide what they felt the walk was worth at the end.

Who it suits is straightforward from the facts: an English speaker with an interest in political history who can stand and walk for close to three hours in central Mitte. Reviewers described an interesting tour that taught them a lot about the communist history of Berlin and showed some less familiar sites.

Itinerary

1. Meet at the Red Town HallThe group meets in front of the Rotes Rathaus in Mitte. The guide carries a yellow umbrella.
2. Nineteenth-century rootsThe walk opens with Marx and Engels and the socialist and communist movements that grew from the end of the 19th century.
3. Revolution and its aftermathIt continues through the revolution led by Luxemburg and Liebknecht and the consequences that followed in Germany and Europe.
4. Cold War and the WallThe route then covers the Cold War years and the Berlin Wall as the dividing line of the era.
5. Leftwing movements todayThe walk brings the story up to the present day, ending with leftwing movements in Berlin and beyond.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the GuruWalk listing and from what reviewers said will help you prepare for this walk.

• Meeting point. Meet in front of the Red Town Hall, the Rotes Rathaus, in Mitte. The guide is identifiable by a yellow umbrella. There is no pickup or hotel collection.
• Pace and duration. The walk lasts 2 hours 45 minutes, so wear comfortable shoes and expect to be on your feet for most of it.
• Language. The walk runs in English. Travellers who prefer another language should look at the other walks on this site rather than this one.
• Less familiar sites. Reviewers said the walk showed some less familiar sites alongside the better-known history.
• Weather. Berlin conditions vary, and the GuruWalk listing gives no indoor alternative.
• Payment. Booking is free and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end. Reserve your spot through the walk's own page on GuruWalk.

Common issues. No food, drink or entry fees are mentioned as included, so budget for anything you want along the way. The GuruWalk page gives no information on accessibility, group size or cancellation policy, and those details are best checked on GuruWalk before reserving.

Common Questions Before You Reserve