Where It All Began: Berlin’s Queer & Trans History Tour

Berlin is the birthplace of the modern LGBTQIA+ rights movement. Before Stonewall, this city was home to the world’s first queer activists, pioneering trans identities, and a thriving lesbian and gay nightlife scene.

On this immersive multimedia walking tour, you’ll discover over a century of queer and trans history, brought to life through 200+ historical photos, videos, personal quotes, and interactive quiz questions. Plus, with Augmented Reality (AR) Mixies, you can take selfies with historic queer figures!

Led by a queer activist, social scientist, and certified sex educator, this one-of-a-kind guided experience takes you through the streets where LGBTQIA+ rights were born, exploring activism, oppression, resilience, and nightlife in Berlin’s queer past.

🎟️ Book now and walk through history!

What You'll Experience

🏳️‍🌈 The Birth of the LGBTQIA+ Movement
Discover where Karl Heinrich Ulrichs and Magnus Hirschfeld laid the foundation for global queer activism.

⚧️ The First Trans Identities & Gender-Affirming Surgeries
Learn about the first gender-affirming surgeries, early trans and non-binary identities, and how the Nazis tried to erase this history.

⚢ Lesbian Nightlife & Feminist Movements
Step into the lesbian cabarets and activist spaces of 1920s Berlin and uncover hidden stories of resistance.

🎭 Berlin’s 1920s Queer Nightlife
From underground drag clubs to cabarets, discover why Berlin was the world’s queer capital before Nazi oppression.

🕯️ LGBTQIA+ Life Under the Nazis
Understand Hitler’s contradictory stance on homosexuality, the persecution of LGBTQIA+ people, and the underground resistance that survived.

🏥 The Aids Crisis & Queer Activism in Divided Berlin
Find out how Berlin’s queer community fought for survival, how SchwuZ nightclub became an activist hub, and why the Berlin Wall was called "the condom of the GDR."

🎶 Queer Berlin’s Influence on Global Nightlife & Pride
Explore how LGBTQIA+ culture shaped Berlin’s legendary club scene, from Chez Romy Haag to Berghain, and how today’s Pride events, Dyke March, and Folsom Europe* continue this legacy.

📜 Not just a walking tour—an interactive journey through queer history!

Why Join This Tour?

✔️ The tour is focusing on queer—incl. trans—history
✔️ Led by a queer activist, social scientist & sex educator
✔️ A fully immersive multimedia experience with 200+ historical visuals
✔️ Take Mixies: Augmented Reality selfies with historic queer figures

🔥 Join the tour and uncover Berlin’s queer past like never before!

"This was the best walking (or any kind) tour I've ever done! Jeff was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic about queer history - his passion for the subject is infectious!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Polly (USA)

"Basically as a gay, trans man with ten years experience in Berlin myself, I learned countless things I never knew before and have never felt so immersed in Berlin's queer life, past and present. I only wish I could give the tour 6 stars! Don't miss this tour!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Elliot (Germany)

Event Details

📍 Meeting & End Point: Nollendorfplatz

📅 Duration: 3.5 hours

🗣️ Language: English (German upon request)

👥 Who It’s For: LGBTQIA+ travelers, queer history enthusiasts, feminist & trans history lovers, Berlin locals, and allies

✨ Perfect for solo travelers, couples, and groups! Whether you’re visiting Berlin for the first time or a local looking to rediscover the city’s rich queer past, this tour will provide a deep dive into 100+ years of LGBTQIA+ history, activism, and nightlife—all brought to life with engaging stories and multimedia elements.

🎟️ Spots are limited – reserve your place today!

"It is our duty, both as queer folks and as allies, to keep alive the memory of those who came before us and paved the way for what the community is like today. And Jeff does exactly that, by introducing us to the hidden gems of queer life here, in Berlin. We were extremely impressed by his knowledge, and it was obvious how much research he put into making this tour as authentic and informative as possible. The tour was extremely well structured, seeing that he was so passionate about the subject, and there were also quiz questions included, which made the experience even more immersing. Overall, we highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the queer and trans history of Berlin, as we trust Jeff in making your experience here as enjoyable as he did with us."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dana (USA)

"An absolute must. Jeff is an incredibly knowledgeable and respectful guide and this tour was one of the highlights of my solo Berlin trip. Jeff has managed to curate an incredible amount of info to put into 3 hours (that flew by!) and I guarantee that you will learn so much, even if you consider yourself pretty well versed in queer history. Everyone in our group was interested, animated, and focused on every story, video, and landmark - sign of an excellent conversation leader/educator!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Elliott (Denmark)

Inclusions

✔ Guided walking tour led by a queer activist & gender scholar

✔ Augmented Reality (AR) elements to bring history to life

✔ Mixies: Take fun, personalized photos with Augmented Reality elements for lasting memories

✔ 200+ rare historical photos, videos, and archival materials

✔ Insider tips on Berlin’s modern queer nightlife and events

What To Bring

• Comfortable shoes for walking outdoors
• Water, sunscreen, or umbrella, depending on the weather
• Your camera or smartphone for great photos
• A positive attitude and a willingness to dive into Berlin’s queer history!

🗣️ Language

Public tours (which you can book on this page) are conducted in English. I also offer private tours in German. For details on booking a private tour, please check the section below.

👥 Private Tours

If you’d like to book a private tour exclusively for your group, I offer tours in both English and German. Please send an inquiry to service@berlinguide.de to arrange your tour.

💰 Private Tour Pricing

• Up to 9 participants – €250
• 10-14 participants – €300
• 15-19 participants – €350
• 20+ participants – €400

ℹ️ General Information

• Minimum age: 18 years
• Weather conditions: The tour may be canceled in case of extreme weather (e.g., heavy rain or storms) or if the minimum number of participants is not met. If this happens, you will receive a full refund.

♿ Accessibility Information

I strive to make this tour as accessible as possible. If you have specific needs, please reach out to me in advance at service@berlinguide.de, and I will do my best to accommodate you.

🎥 Videos include subtitles in German, English, or both.

🚶‍♂️ Wheelchair accessible route, but some paths may be bumpy. Accessible toilets are available upon request.

👀 For guests with visual disabilities, I can describe all visual materials.

🔊 Sensory stimulation: Some parts of the tour take place in areas with high sensory input (e.g., bright lights, loud noises).

😷 Health & safety: If needed, I can arrange mandatory mask usage indoors to ensure a safe experience for all participants.

⚠️ Content Notes

This tour includes discussions of historical and social topics that may be sensitive or triggering for some participants. Subjects covered include:

• Antisemitism, racism (including sexualized racism), homophobia, transphobia, and queerphobia
• BDSM, kinks, fetishes, and sex work
• Drugs, HIV/AIDS, and the Aids crisis
• Nazi Germany and (mass) murder
• Nudity
• Poverty
• Sex, sexism, and sexual abuse
• (Sexualized) violence, violence against children, and suicide

If you have concerns about any of these topics, please feel free to contact me before booking.

Average rating on Google:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5.0 / 5 stars

Average rating on TripAdvisor:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

5.0 / 5 stars