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!

🏳️‍🌈 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!

✔️ 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)

📍 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)

✔ 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

• 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!

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.

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 [email protected] to arrange your tour.

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

• 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.

I strive to make this tour as accessible as possible. If you have specific needs, please reach out to me in advance at [email protected], 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.

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) M**der
• 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.

5.0 / 5 stars

5.0 / 5 stars

Info: Our tour begins at Karl-Heinrich-Ulrichs-Straße 1, named after the man often called the world’s first gay rights activist. Karl Heinrich Ulrichs was one of the earliest people to publicly advocate for the decriminalization of homosexuality, defining queer identities long before the word “homosexual” even existed. His ideas laid the foundation for modern LGBTQIA+ movements worldwide.

Info: At Nollendorfplatz, the heart of Berlin’s LGBTQIA+ history, we uncover the stories of Adolf Brand and right-wing gay activists, the complex role of Ernst Röhm and openly gay Nazis, and how Hitler’s stance on homosexuality led to mass persecution. We also explore The Night of the Long Knives, when Röhm and many other queer individuals within the Nazi party were executed. This stop sheds light on LGBTQIA+ persecution in Nazi concentration camps, where people were forced to wear the pink triangle, and the resilience of those who resisted oppression.

Info: This stop focuses on lesbian life in 1920s Berlin, a thriving yet often overlooked part of queer history. We visit the site of Toppkeller, a famous lesbian bar, and explore how spaces like these provided community and safety for queer women. We also discuss the cultural impact of Claire Waldoff, a lesbian cabaret singer whose songs became anthems of defiance, and Josephine Baker, the bisexual performer who became a sex symbol for all genders.

Info: At this location, we explore the homosexual department of the Berlin police force, a surprising yet significant aspect of LGBTQIA+ history. This stop also highlights gay male life in 1920s Berlin, featuring the story of Christopher Isherwood, whose writings about his experiences in Berlin inspired the famous Cabaret musical and film. We also discuss his relationship with Heinz Neddermeyer and their escape from Nazi Germany as queer refugees.

Info: Magnus Hirschfeld’s groundbreaking work in LGBTQIA+ activism is at the center of this stop. We discover his Institute for Sexual Science, as well as the Scientific-Humanitarian Committee, the world’s first organization dedicated to queer rights and gender studies. We explore his theories on sexual intermediaries, the concept of Berlin’s third gender, and the world’s first gender-affirming surgeries performed on Dora Richter, Lili Elbe, and Karl M. Baer. We also discuss the fight against Paragraph 175, which criminalized homosexuality, and the destruction of the Institute by the Nazis, a devastating loss for queer history.

Info: This location was once home to Eldorado, one of Berlin’s most famous drag bars of the 1920s. Eldorado was a hotspot for gender-nonconforming people, queer performers, and even high-profile Nazis like Ernst Röhm, who paradoxically frequented the club while being part of a regime that later persecuted LGBTQIA+ people.

Info: At this stop, we discuss post-war LGBTQIA+ activism in Berlin. We explore Homosexuelle Aktion West-Berlin, one of the first queer rights organizations after WWII, and the founding of SchwuZ, one of Berlin’s most iconic queer clubs. We also highlight the life of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a trans woman who preserved Berlin’s queer history and created safe spaces for the community in East Berlin.

Info: This stop highlights West Berlin’s trans community in the 1970s and 1980s, exploring the impact of Chez Romy Haag, a legendary trans-led nightclub that revolutionized Berlin’s nightlife. This club was a space where gender-diverse people could exist freely, setting the stage for the city’s vibrant queer club culture today.

Info: Here, we examine the Aids crisis in Berlin, how it affected the divided city, and how the queer community organized to fight for survival. We discuss the activism of Rita Süssmuth, one of the few politicians advocating for Aids awareness, and how the Berlin Wall was metaphorically called the "condom of the GDR", highlighting the stark differences in how East and West Berlin handled the crisis.

Info: Our final stop takes us into the world of queer nightlife and activism today. We explore the Metropol club, its role in the early gay community and techno scene, and its connection to today’s world-famous Berghain and Lab.Oratory. We also discuss SO36’s legendary queer nights, Folsom Europe (Europe’s biggest fetish festival), Kreuzberg Pride, the Dyke March, and the ongoing fight for an affordable city led by the radical Tuntenhaus squat.

Host or Publisher Jeff Mannes | ORGYSMIC – The Sex Blog