City tour: experience Berlin’s old town in a completely different light on a full moon tour

The Stadtmuseum has come up with a completely different kind of city tour. Once a month, right on time for the full moon, you can now experience the Nikolaiviertel and the surrounding area by moonlight. We took part in the first event for an hour and a half walk through old Berlin.

At the starting point on Nikolaikirchplatz, guide Tobi Allers first told the story of Berlin’s founding and explained the history of the Nikolaikirche up to its current use as a museum. On our way to the Ephraim-Palais, we talked about the Knoblauch family, as well as Veitel Heine Ephraim and many other merchants who helped shape the development of the city and contributed to Berlin’s growing prosperity through trade.

Standing in front of the Ephraim-Palais, you not only have a beautiful view down Poststrasse, it is also a good place to learn more about the destruction during the Second World War. The Ephraim-Palais itself was dismantled in the 1930s and the façade and other parts were stored in a depot in Wedding and survived the war. The Ephraim-Palais was then rebuilt from 1985 to 1987.

Here on Mühlendamm, we also learned a lot of interesting details about the archaeological excavations that took place here in 2019 and 2020. The roadworks on Mühlendamm and Molkenmarkt also offered a unique opportunity to discover relics from 800 years of the city’s history that were hidden under the asphalt.

The walk then continues along the banks of the Spree to St. George – plenty of time to talk about the historical personalities of the Nikolai Quarter, including Heinrich Zille, to whom a museum is dedicated here in Propststrasse. The route then leads to the Rathausbrücke, where in the evening there are wonderfully romantic views of the Spree, Museum Island with the Humboldt Forum and Berlin Cathedral.

After a detour to the Gerichtslaube in Poststrasse, the tour ended with a walk through Eiergasse, Berlin’s shortest street, along Mühlendamm, past the Altes Stadthaus and on to the remains of the Franciscan monastery church.

This educational moonlit walk through old Berlin is so different from the daytime and a great alternative to a conventional city tour. The background noise of the big city seems even further away, creating an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. If you’re looking for an atmospheric evening break and want to learn a lot about Berlin’s history at the same time, this is the right place for you.

The dates for the next full moon tours are June 22 and July 21, both at 9 pm. Tickets cost €10, reduced €3 and can be booked here.