What you will see

Introduction & Nudism in Berlin

• Welcome & Tour Overview – Meet your guide, Jeff, a sociologist and certified sex educator, who will set the stage for your journey through Berlin’s radical history of sex, science, and freedom. • Nudism (FKK) & the Body Culture Movement – Learn how Berlin played a key role in the rise of nudism, from the 19th century to today’s lakes and parks.

The Birth of Sexual Science: Pioneers & Progress

• Magnus Hirschfeld & The Institute for Sexual Science – Visit the site of the world’s first institute dedicated to studying sexuality, where groundbreaking research on desire, relationships, contraception, and gender identity was conducted. • Early Sexual Studies & Innovations – Explore topics like the invention of the rubber condom, early research on Viagra precursors, and advancements in sexual health. • The First Gender Affirmation Surgeries – Learn about Dora Richter, Lili Elbe, and Karl M. Baer, who underwent pioneering gender-affirming surgeries in Germany. • The Institute’s Destruction by the Nazis – Understand why Hirschfeld’s research was seen as a threat, leading to his books being burnt by the Nazis.

The Nazi Era: Control, Persecution & Contradictions

• Hitler’s Sexual Policies – Explore how the Nazi regime censored sex while paradoxically tolerating certain sexual behaviors among their own. • The Night of the Long Knives – The role of Ernst Röhm and how the Nazi crackdown on perceived sexual “deviance” led to purges. • LGBTQIA+ Persecution in Concentration Camps – The reality of the Pink Triangle prisoners and the fate of sexual minorities under Nazi rule.

Sex Work, Fetishes & Underground Culture in the 1920s

• Prostitution & Berlin’s Red-Light Scene – How Berlin became infamous for its thriving and diverse sex industry. • The Rise of Fetish & Kink – The city's hidden world of fetish culture long before today’s club scene.

Lesbian Nightlife in the 1920s

• The Secret Lesbian Clubs of Berlin – Visit locations tied to Berlin’s thriving lesbian scene, including the famous Toppkeller. • The Lavender Song & Claire Waldoff – How music and performance became a way of self-expression. • Josephine Baker & Race in Berlin’s Nightlife – The impact of Baker’s performances and how racial politics played into Berlin’s erotic entertainment.

Christopher Isherwood & Gay Berlin

• Christopher Isherwood’s Memoirs & Inspiration for Cabaret – Walk through locations that inspired the famous musical and novel.

The Eldorado Club: Berlin’s Legendary Drag & Sex Club

• The Eldorado Club – Step into the world of 1920s drag and performance culture, one of the most famous clubs of its time. • Ernst Röhm & The Eldorado – Learn about the Nazi Röhm’s presence in the club before his downfall. • Vogue’s Search for Berlin’s Most Beautiful Woman – How a journalist from US Vogue discovered a drag queen at Eldorado, who was later named Berlin’s most beautiful woman in the magazine.

Sexuality in Berlin During the Cold War

• West vs. East Berlin: Two Approaches to Sexuality – The stark differences in attitudes toward sex, relationships, and gender roles. • The Sexual Revolution & the Berlin Wall – How the 1960s and 70s transformed attitudes toward sexuality. • Nudism (FKK) in the GDR – Why East Germany embraced public nudism while restricting sexual freedoms in other ways. • The Aids Crises – Why the Wall of Berlin was referred to as the condom of the GDR and how a conservative politician saved thousands of lives.

Berlin’s Modern Sex Scene: From Berghain to Fetish Festivals

• Berghain & the No-Photo Policy – The origins of Berlin’s most famous nightclub, why its door policy is legendary, and how its culture is rooted in Berlin’s radical sexual past. • KitKat Club, Insomnia & the Underground Scene – How Berlin’s clubbing culture blends electronic music with sex-positivity. • Folsom Europe – The world’s largest fetish festival, right here in Berlin.

Know before you go

• 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 sexual history!

Tour Language

Public tours (available for booking on this page) are conducted in English. If you prefer a private tour in German, please check the Private Tours section below for booking details.

Private Tours

For a private tour tailored to your group (available in English or German), please contact me via email at service@berlinguide.de.

Private Tour Pricing:

• up to 9 people: 350€

• 10–14 people: 450€

• 15–19 people: 550€

• 20+ people: 650€

These prices apply to standard private group bookings.

For companies, team events, commercial productions, or highly customized requests, tailored pricing may apply.

Reduced rates for NGOs, grassroots initiatives, academic contexts, and journalists may be available on request where appropriate.

General Information

• Minimum age: 18+

• Tour cancellations: In case of extreme weather conditions (e.g., heavy rain, storms) or if the minimum number of participants is not met, the tour will be canceled, and you will receive a full refund.

Accessibility Information

• Subtitles: All videos have English, German, or both languages available.

• Wheelchair accessibility: The tour is wheelchair accessible, though some paths may be bumpy. Accessible toilets can be arranged upon request.

• Visual accessibility: I can provide detailed descriptions of all visual materials for guests with visual disabilities.

• Sensory considerations: Some parts of the tour take place in high-stimulation environments with strong sensory input.

• Health accommodations: Your safety is a priority. If needed, mandatory mask use indoors can be arranged for a secure and comfortable experience.

If you have specific accessibility needs, please email me in advance at service@berlinguide.de, and I will customize the tour to ensure an inclusive and enjoyable experience.

Content Notes

This tour covers sensitive and potentially triggering topics, including but not limited to:

• Historical & societal issues: Antisemitism, homophobia/queerphobia, transphobia, racism (including sexualized racism), poverty, and sexism.

• Sexual & adult themes: BDSM, kinks, fetishes, sex work, nudity, sex, and sexual violence.

• Health & safety topics: HIV/AIDS, drugs, human trafficking, and suicide.

• Historical violence: Nazi Germany, (mass) murder, violence (physical, psychological, and sexualized), and child abuse.

• Animal welfare: Discussions may include references to animal cruelty.

If you have concerns about any of these topics, feel free to contact me at service@berlinguide.de before booking.

📩 Ready to Book?

Join me on this one-of-a-kind journey through Berlin’s untold history of sex, science, and society!

Wheelchair accessible

Animals or pets allowed

Public transportation nearby

Minimum age: 18.

Guide speaks: English.

Berlin Uncensored: A History of Sex & Freedom

About this experience

What is included

Not included

What you will see

Introduction & Nudism in Berlin

The Birth of Sexual Science: Pioneers & Progress

The Nazi Era: Control, Persecution & Contradictions

Sex Work, Fetishes & Underground Culture in the 1920s

Lesbian Nightlife in the 1920s

Christopher Isherwood & Gay Berlin

The Eldorado Club: Berlin’s Legendary Drag & Sex Club

Sexuality in Berlin During the Cold War

Berlin’s Modern Sex Scene: From Berghain to Fetish Festivals

Choose your option

Standard

Berlin city card holder

Sex Educator / LGBTQIA+ Activist / Sex Worker

Cancellation and terms

Where to meet

Know before you go