Berlin By Bike: 3 Top Tours to Discover Landmarks and Hidden Gems

Berlin is known for its rich history, vibrant art scene and picturesque scenery. It's also a very bikeable city, boasting an extensive network of dedicated bike lanes and flat terrain ideal for getting around without being a cardio-crack. In fact, Berlin is considered one of the most bike-friendly cities in Germany, with a lively cycling culture embraced by both locals and visitors. Bike-sharing providers and bike rental stations rent two-wheelers for as little as €10 per day. Many hotels also have bicycles for their guests to use, often for free. 

So if you're asking yourself 'Where can I ride my bike in Berlin', the short answer is: anywhere you like! To provide you with some inspiration, we've curated this trio of thrilling bike tours that will take you on unforgettable journeys through the city's neighbourhoods and scenic trails.

The sun had yet to rise above the horizon when, on 13 August 1961, workers began construction of the Berlin Wall, which would encircle West Berlin and divide the city for the next 28 years. Today, the 160km-long Berlin Wall Trail traces the entire course of this poignant symbol of the Cold War. Don’t have enough time or stamina to tackle the entire route? Here's a crash course in Wall history that checks off some of the best related landmarks, historic vestiges and memorials in a mere 8 kilometres. 

Your starting point is Checkpoint Charlie, the infamous border crossing where Soviet and American tanks faced each other in October 1961, nearly triggering World War III. Cycle past a Wall segment on Zimmerstrasse and the preserved border watchtower on Erna-Berger-Strasse to arrive at Potsdamer Platz, a bustling city quarter built in the 1990s on empty border terrain known as the “death strip”. 

Ahead looms the majestic Brandenburg Gate, where images of jubilant people from East and West celebrating and embracing one another were broadcast worldwide following the Wall’s collapse in 1989. North of the gate, on the Spree River behind the Reichstag, seven white crosses honour those who lost their lives attempting to cross the barrier. Follow the river to the Tränenpalast (Palace of Tears), a 1960s border-crossing pavilion turned free museum unravelling the origins of Germany’s division and the construction of the Berlin Wall. 

Last but not least is the Berlin Wall Memorial, a free 1.4km-long indoor-outdoor exhibition along Bernauer Strasse. Its information panels, relics of border installations and escape tunnels, a Wall section and documentation centre will help put your just-gained impressions into context and sharpen your understanding of the Berlin Wall’s emotional impact and physical structure. Ponder it all over refreshments at Mauersegler beer garden in the Mauerpark.

Tränenpalast: Reichstagsufer 17, 10117 Berlin. Open 9am-7pm Tue-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat & Sun

Berlin Wall Memorial: Outdoor exhibit along Bernauer Strasse, open 8am-10pm daily. Documentation Centre, Bernauer Strasse 119, open 10am-6pm Tue-Sun

Mauersegler: Bernauer Strasse 63, 13355 Berlin, Beer garden open 2pm-2am daily May-Oct, Café open 9am-4pm daily year-round

Berlin boasts some of the world's finest street art, a testament to its rebellious and constantly evolving creative heartbeat. If you're looking for a fun adventure that lets you soak up Berlin's artistic pulse, we've got the perfect suggestion: a DIY street art bike tour covering 10 kilometres of urban masterpieces.

Kick off your artistic journey at the East Side Gallery, a 1.3-kilometre stretch of the Berlin Wall adorned with captivating paintings that range from whimsical to deeply moving. Top selfie spot: Dimitri Vrubel's Fraternal Kiss, an iconic mural depicting the "socialist liplock" between Soviet and East German leaders Leonid Brezhnev and Erich Honecker.

Gritty-hip Kreuzberg across the enchanting Oberbaumbrücke bridge delivers a treasure trove of urban art. Explore its streets and alleys to encounter awe-inspiring works like Victor Ash's monumental Astronaut/Cosmonaut, ROA's haunting Nature Morte, and the mischievous Yellow Man by Os Gemeos.

Returning across the Spree River, park your bicycle and delve into the vibrant world of the RAW Gelände off Warschauer Strasse. This former train repair station turned socio-cultural hub is adorned with eclectic art. Don’t miss the gallery at Urban Spree, conveniently accompanied by a beer garden.

You’re now in the heart of hipster-central Friedrichshain, another haven for street art. Keep your eyes peeled for standout pieces like MTO's There's No Such Thing as Bad Publicity and El Bocho's Eyes in the Big City, and Monkey as Art Critic. A great place to wrap up your tour is on lively Boxhagener Platz, ringed by cafes and restaurants. 

East Side Gallery: Mühlenstrasse between Ostbahnhof and Oberbaumbrücke, 10243 Berlin. Open 24 hours

RAW Gelände: Revaler Strasse 99, 10245 Berlin. Grounds open 24 hours

Mural directory: 

• Astronaut/Kosmonaut, Mariannenstrasse 8, 10999 Berlin
• Nature Morte, Oranienstrasse 2, 10997 Berlin
• Yellow Man, Oppelner Strasse 3, 10997 Berlin
• There’s no such Thing as Bad Publicity, Warschauer Strasse 48, 10243 Berlin
• Eyes in the Big City, Lasdehner Strasse 7, 10243 Berlin
• Monkey as Art Critic, Gabriel-Max-Strasse 6, 10245 Berlin

Good to know:

• If you can’t tell a stencil from a paste-up, consider signing up for a guided street art tour/workshop offered by Alternative Berlin Tours.
• Check out whimsical and thought-provoking street art at Urban Nation (Bülowstrasse 7, 10783 Berlin, open 10am-6pm Tue & Wed, noon-8pm Thu-Sun).

Ditch the city hustle and hit the nature trail on this breezy 15-km adventure along Berlin's iconic Spree River. Perfect for families and those craving a break from sensory overload, this easy journey takes you from the vibrant Treptower Park to Köpenick, one of Berlin’s most historic and charismatic boroughs. 

Saddle up at the tour-boat harbour below Elsenbrücke bridge and pedal along the western riverbank. Cruise past docked vessels, historic beer gardens like Haus Zenner and Eierhäuschen, an idyllic island and an abandoned amusement park. Cool factor: a pintsized ferry will whisk you across the water to the other riverbank. 

Before you know it, you’ll find yourself enveloped by the cooling canopy of the Wuhlheide urban forest. It’s like stepping into a secret oasis in the heart of the bustling capital. Stop to take selfies with miniature replicas of famous landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate at the Modellpark Brandenburg, or check out the family-geared activities at FEZ leisure centre. 

Arriving in Köpenick, it’s best to park your wheels and get lost in the cobblestoned lanes of the old town. Grab some ice cream at Kavlak Eismanufaktur and be sure to swing by the Rathaus (town hall) with its whimsical turrets and towers. Art enthusiasts should not miss the Museum of Decorative Arts at Schloss Köpenick, a gorgeous baroque palace sitting pretty on an island. 

The S-Bahn (S3, city rail) will take you back to the city centre in about 20 minutes.

Haus Zenner: Alt-Treptow 15, 12435 Berlin. Open noon-7pm Mon-Wed, noon-8pm Thu, noon-9pm Fri-Sun May-Oct (weather permitting)

Eierhäuschen: Kiehnwerderallee 2, 12437 Berlin. Open noon-8pm

Modellpark Brandenburg: An der Wuhlheide 81, 12459 Berlin. Open 10am-6pm Apr-Sep, 10am-5pm Oct

Kavlak Eismanufaktur: Alt-Köpenick 32, 12555 Berlin. Open 1pm-7pm Mon, 11am-7pm Tue-Sun

Rathaus Köpenick: Alt-Köpenick 21, 12555 Berlin

Museum of Decorative Arts @ Schloss Köpenick: Schlossinsel 1, 12557 Berlin. Open 11am-6pm Tue-Sun

Have we whet your appetite for exploring Berlin by bike? This is just a small sampling of the many fabulous tours around the German capital. Whether you're keen on history, culture or art, there's a bike tour that's perfect for you, so get out there!