­Amos came to Berlin in search of his German roots over four years ago. He is currently a graduate student at Berlin’s prestigious Humboldt University; the same university that his grandfather studied at before being forced to flee Germany in 1933. Amos leads the Famous Walk tour and the Potsdam tour, and specialises in Jewish Berlin and Berlin during the Third Reich. In addition, if you have any questions regarding Berlin’s notorious nightlife, Amos is your guy.

Barnaby came to Insider from London, where he gained an MSc in Politics and, before that, did lots of vertical growing. Having been in love with Berlin since his first visit a decade ago, Barnaby moved to the city in 2004, and splits his time between making music and raving about Berlin with the deepest voice in Germany. He has an infectious enthusiasm for the city's history, and has built up a glowing reputation for giving memorable tours since 2005. He leads the Famous Insider, Cold War and Third Reich tours. ­

­

­Originally from London, Ben is a qualified architect who sought Berlin out due to its reputation for being the world's most important city for modern architecture. Ben has since developed into an all-round expert on the city, but most particularly on its incredible buildings: from Bauhaus design to Nazi architecture to the new and innovative structures so integral to the construction of Berlin as Germany’s modern capital city. Any design enthusiasts will receive excellent detailed information and insights.

­Brian’s worldwide reputation as Insider tour guide extraordinaire precedes him! Brian is an international jetsetter-cum-Artistic Director of Edmonton Opera, who freelance directs operas and musicals all over the world, when he's not right here in his beloved Berlin. His passion for Berlin is truly infectious: you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you certainly won’t forget a tour with Brian!

Colin first came to Berlin in 2007 on the March of Rememberance and Hope. During his four years at  Concordia University studying Modern European History he volunteered much of his time working for the Holocaust Memorial Museum. He chose to move to Berlin to research his graduate application, which will focus on the relationship between urban landscapes and public memory. Colin currently gives outstanding tours of the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. Aside from that he's an avid cyclist and a keen socialiser.

David is our multilingual talent. His 4-hour walks in English through Berlin will leave you longing for more and should you need to practise your Spanish, French, Swedish or German on the way, he’s your man. He left his homeland Sweden more than 11 years ago, moved to London out of curiosity, to Barcelona by chance, to Santiago de Chile because of a woman and finally to Berlin, after falling in love with the city itself. After 4 years in the capital he joined the Insider team to share his enthusiasm and fascination for the history and culture of the city he loves. A Famous Walk with David is entertaining, dynamic and most of all sparkling with historical knowledge.

­Derek: A graduate of modern history and former guide and authority on Dachau Memorial Concentration Camp, Derek leads the Famous Walk, the Third Reich and Sachsenhausen tours. Such is his love for the city of Berlin, that Derek, an intrepid traveller, has finally put down roots.  Take advantage of our multi-tasking wonder, you'll be glad you did.

Heidi was born to show you around. With a genuine passion and intrigue in her surroundings, as well as a good natured and lively personality, she can help you to understand how Berlin fits together and how to make the most out of your time here. A Welsh-Israeli, Heidi had been guiding the inquisitive and fascinated through the world's treasures, from Dublin to Beijing, for 5 years. 3 years ago she settled in Berlin, fascinated by such an exciting, vibrant and dynamic city, that has born witness to many major and important historical moments. An informed and professional guide, Heidi will entertain and inform you.

­Years of inflammatory oratory at Speakers' Corner, a weekly radio show and a famed dedication to radical political change make Heiko a well-known London character. Being half-German, he has always divided his time between Berlin and London and it is his highly individual take on the city and its history that makes him a favourite with tourists. Heiko’s tours are peppered with jokes, songs and poems, which bring history vividly to life and provide an unparalleled Insider perspective of the city.

­Iñaki left his native Barcelona for Berlin in 2006 on a European student exchange programme. His stay in Berlin has, however, outlasted the year-long programme and he hasn’t brought himself to leave the city yet. Iñaki appreciates Berlin for its laidback lifestyle and high quality of life, as well as for the sense of immersion in European history it offers. A history buff since his studies at a German school in Spain, his interests lie most particularly in the Third Reich period.

Iñaki se fue de Barcelona en el año 2006 con rumbo a Berlin, para realizar un programa europeo de intercambio universitario. Su estancia en Berlin duró más de lo previsto, y a dia de hoy no ha sido capaz de abandonar la ciudad. Lo que más le enamoró de la ciudad fue su estilo de vida, asi como la calidad de vida que ofrece, como también la sensación al pasear por la ciudad y de tener la sensación de ver constantemente la historia europea moderna. Apasionado de la historia desde muy joven, sus estudios en un colegio alemán provocaron que en seguida se apasionase con todo lo referente al Tercer Reich

 

In addition to his Czech nationality and his Swedish upbringing, Jakub is a true Berliner at heart. He fell in love with this fantastic city and its eccentric population immediately. A former photojournalist, now a student of Fine Art Photography, he honed his already fluent English while studying at Glasgow University. A voracious researcher of Third Reich history and Berlin's development throughout the ages Jakub goes far beyond the peripheral delving into the core of the subject on hand. He leads our Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial and Famous Walk tours to great acclaim. When not touring or being the model scholar Jakub can be found roaming Berlin's eclectic counterculture scene debating the merits of this city's prolific contemporary art movement.

­Originally from Sweden, Jessica graduated from the University College of Dance in Stockholm. After dancing up a storm in New York for seven years she found herself missing Europe. It was rumours of a very diverse Berlin, full of art and history, that brought her here in 2005. Jessica’s passion for history and performance art, together with her natural enthusiasm and love for this city, make for a tour full of insider knowledge and humour.

Jessica has lived in Australia, the United States, Colombia, Guatemala, Russia, the UK, the Netherlands and Germany. Pinpointing her nationality is no easy task! With a BA in International Studies & Politics and an MA in Migration & Ethnic Studies Jessica settled in Berlin in 2003. She has a passion for grass-roots politics and is especially interested in 20th Century political movements. Jessica has been sharing both her love of Berlin and its rich history with visitors from around the world since 2006. She leads our Famous Walk and Sachsenhausen tours to great acclaim.

­Jessy’s appetite for knowledge and performance means that she couldn’t be happier than when walking tourists through Berlin’s history!  Originally from the Rocky-Mountain West of the USA, Jessy’s personal exploration of the history of Berlin and Germany began at any early age with novels concerning the Holocaust and kept on expanding from there, eventually landing her in Germany's capital city itself. Her tour guiding complements her foremost vocation as a contemporary dance teacher and performer. Jessy has been living and exploring in her beloved Berlin since 2003.

­Born in Cali, Colombia, Jorge has been resident in Berlin for two years and has made his home in the multicultural district of Kreuzberg. After studying economics and philosophy, a burgeoning passion for history came to the fore, leading him to attend a course of lectures about European economic history. His abiding interest in German history and culture is reflected in his informative and enjoyable tours of Berlin and Potsdam.

Nacido en Cali, Colombia, vive desde hace dos años en el multicultural barrio de Kreuzberg en Berlín. Tras estudiar economía y filosofís, su pasión por la historia lo llevó a dar clases de historia económica europea. Ahora, su gran interés en la historia y cultura alemanas acompaña todos sus tours en Berlín y Potsdam.

­Hailing from Scotland and a journalist by profession, Kenny visited Berlin several years ago and, like many others before him, he fell in love with the city. Kenny now writes fiction, has published short stories, and we’re hoping to see his first novel in bookstores soon. A glance at our online guestbook will confirm that Kenny is an extremely accomplished tour guide. A formidable historian, he provides what we consider to be one of the world's best and most detailed oral narratives of Europe's epic history in relation to Germany. He guides the Famous Walk and the 3rd Reich Tour.

­A native Italian who grew up in Milan, Laura specialised in the study of Latin American and English Literature. While at university she also worked as a tour guide around the beautiful lakes of Italy’s Lombardy region. She went on to spend six years in Spain, working for an important multinational company. It was her passion for history, art, cinema and culture that made her decide to return to the big city. For her, Berlin was the natural choice, being a city that encourages new challenges and projects. A tour with Laura, a sociable and enthusiastic guide, will allow you to discover for yourself this exciting and charming capital city!

Italiana nativa formada en Milán, donde se especializa en Filología Hispanoamericana e Inglesa, mientras trabaja como guía turística en los lagos lombardos. Se traslada a España, donde vive en Tarragona por seis años, empleada en una importante multinacional. Apasionada de la historia y del arte, del cine y cultura en general decide entonces volver a la gran ciudad. Berlín es ideal para empezar con nuevos retos y proyectos. Así ahora comparte su pasión como guía turística con la dedicación por la costura y la música. Muy sociable y con mucha predisposición para la atención al cliente te hará descubrir una ciudad vibrante y nueva, transmitiéndote su entusiasmo hacia esta fascinante y atípica capital!

­After completing her Master’s in Art History with an emphasis on cultural politics, Maisie began working for the BBC and other London radio stations. Resident in Berlin for the last four years, her intimate knowledge of the city and of neighbouring Potsdam makes her a formidable guide, who is able to talk for hours on practically any aspect of her adopted city. Beyond her enthusiasm for modern Berlin’s dynamic arts and architecture scene, her interest lies chiefly in the political, domestic, and artistic reality of life in the former GDR. Maisie, who recently produced a radio documentary based on interviews with the GDR’s strictly state-monitored cassette DJs, combines her tour guiding with the production of television and radio documentaries.

Originally from London, Michael became addicted to the history of ‘the definitive 20th century city’ - Berlin, while studying Politics & History there for six years. This complimented with two years training as an actor ensures Michael strikes just the right balance between strong presentation, relevant information and gripping narrative. A keen and accomplished mountaineer when not pounding Berlin's pavements he leads our Famous Walk, Third Reich Berlin, Cold War and Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial tours. Tours with Michael can run over time – you have been warned!

­Originally from New Zealand, Mike has lived in Berlin for six years and intends to stay for many more, having set up home here with his German wife and young daughter. He studied European History and Tourism, and plans to continue his history studies here in Berlin as the perfect complement to his meticulously researched Third Reich, Cold War and Famous Walk tours. Mike is one of Berlin's most popular guides due to his contagious enthusiasm and phenomenal ability to convey history with compassion and excitement.

Nadav, a postgraduate student of German politics and history, has been guiding in Berlin since he came to the city in 2001. He is a real history buff, specializing in military history and West Germany in the 1970s. Nadav , who is originally from Israel and whose family comes from Germany (some of them even managed to survive in Nazi Germany) is your first address for Berlin's Jewish and World War II history; but he also has plenty of tips on Berlin's best ice-cream parlours and chocolatiers!

­A proud native of England’s premier city of music and football, Manchester, Neil decided to call Berlin his home three years ago after travelling Europe at the age of eighteen and becoming enamoured with this liberal city. His enthusiasm for the city makes itself felt on his tours: our resident Bike Tour guide, Neil also leads the Famous Walk and Third Reich tours. In his spare time he loves to paint and to wander around the numerous galleries the city has to offer. He also likes to take advantage of Berlin’s infamous clubbing scene and will be able to give you up-to-the-minute advice on where to go to experience Berlin nightlife at its best!

Scotsman, soldier, diplomat. After graduating from Sandhurst Nigel served all over the world from Ft. Hood Texas to Iraq, was made an MBE for service in the First Gulf war and was a covert intelligence gathering agent behind the Iron Curtain in communist East Germany. In the 1980s he also interpreted for Hitler's Deputy Rudolf Hess in Spandau Prison, Berlin. Nigel has appeared in documentaries on many TV channels round the world, including the "No Reservations" series with the legendary Anthony Bourdain. One of the most respected military historians in Europe, his colourful past is reflected in his magnificent Insider tours.

Ophir, a composer of contemporary classical music, undergoing his PhD in the University of Southampton is Insiders highest authority on Berlin’s booming cultural life.  Being born in Washington D.C, growing up in Israel and living in Holland and the UK before arriving in Berlin had not only complimented Ophir’s natural knack for languages, but also his passion for history and cultural studies. Ophir’s rich and varied background assures a unique and specialized view of Berlin that is not always flattering, yet is certainly exciting, critical, moving and full of love to this city he adores.

­Originally, Pen came to Berlin for three days. Three days turned into three weeks... three months... three years... Now she's married a German and there's no going back! Pen has always been a history buff and after moving here she became ever more fascinated with the ramifications German history held for the world we live in today. With a background in both the performing arts and social sciences, her tours combine academic knowledge with a unique insight into Europe's most dynamic cultural hotspot. Her enthusiasm and accessible presentation of Berlin's remarkable history make her one of our most popular guides on both the Famous Walk and the Sachsenhausen Memorial Tour. If she had a euro for every time someone said they wished she had been their history teacher at school or university, she would be rich by now!

Pilar was born in Barcelona but is of Andalusian origin. She has a degree in Tourism and is a gifted story teller. Her passion for different languages and cultures led her to Berlin. A city she immediately fell in love with. She is an authority, not only on Berlin's history, but also on this city's evolution, and the reasons why it became the fascinating city it is today. With her infectious enthusiasm Pilar leads our Viva Berlín tour to great acclaim. Pilar is very well informed on Berlin's vibrant cultural life, so if you need any tips do not hesitate to ask!

Pilar nació en Barcelona pero tiene sangre andaluza. Es diplomada en turismo y tiene un don para contar la historia. Junto a su pasión por los idiomas y las culturas, el destino de Pilar la llevó hasta Berlín, una ciudad de la que se enamoró de inmediato. Pilar es una autoridad, no sólo en la historia de Berlín, sino también en la evolución de esta ciudad, y las razones por las que se convirtió en la fascinante ciudad que es hoy en día. Con su contagioso entusiasmo Pilar conduce nuestro tour Viva Berlin con gran éxito. Está bien informada sobre la cultural y vibrante vida de Berlín, así que si necesitan algún consejo en ese ámbito, Pilar es a quien tienen que preguntar!

­Renate, our Spanish-speaking German guide, has lived in Berlin for more than twenty years and has first-hand experience of the Berlin Wall and Cold War, giving her an ‘Insider’ perspective few guides can match. After working as an engineer in the publishing business for many years, she decided to apply her in-depth knowledge of historical and modern Berlin as well as her Spanish language skills to a new line of work: guiding our Spanish-speaking customers around Berlin! A real city girl, she has also lived and worked in Madrid, which has further enriched the Spanish-German dynamic of her tours.

Renate, nuestra única guía alemana que habla español, vive en Berlín desde hace más de veinte años, viviendo de primera mano la guerra fría y la caída del muro en Berlín. Después de trabajar muchos años como ingeniera en el mercado de la publicación, decidió aplicar sus conocimientos sobre la histórica y moderna Berlín para una nueva meta. Una auténtica chica de ciudad, que vivió y trabajó también en Madrid. Está encantada de trabajar para Insider Tours, enseñando su ciudad favorita a los visitantes. ¡Su entusiasmo y su amor por Berlín la convierten en una guía ideal!

­Our extroverted and dedicated Pub Crawl co-ordinator and main guide! Born in a little village in former West Germany located next to the border with East Germany (make sure you ask her about the footballs she used to lose to the East German border guards!), she soon outgrew the place and moved to Frankfurt, where she studied social sciences. When Frankfurt became too small for her too, she moved on to the expanses of Russia, where she spent a year working in women’s refuges. After that, Estonia, for Baltic Studies and continuation of her work in women’s refuges. At the beginning of 2004, she finally arrived in her new hometown, Berlin, where she's been working on our Pub Crawl ever since. She has numerous passions: women’s rights, music, reading and writing and, of course, partying!

A postgraduate student and lecturer at the Humboldt University, Tamar came to study in Berlin some seven years ago and found herself reluctant to leave this vibrant city with its wealth of cultural and historical sites. Much of Berlin’s history has a personal significance for Tamar, since her family lived in Germany for centuries before being forced to flee the country when the Nazis came to power. Tamar specialises in religion and society, and she can boast a truly intimate knowledge of Berlin’s Jewish history. Yet another unique and truly impressive guide Insider Tours is proud to present. ­

­Half-Egyptian, half-German, Tarek was born in New York, where he went on to study art history and architecture at NYU and Columbia and Parsons. He first visited Berlin at the age of fifteen and after sampling its nightlife he knew he would ultimately have to return. Convinced it was true that “Berlin is the new New York”, he decamped for Berlin and undertook internships at the German Historical Museum and the Deutsche Guggenheim Berlin in 1998. Currently employed by one of the most important architecture firms in the city, Tarek is an expert on both historical buildings and cutting-edge architecture, as well as on Berlin’s plethora of museums and galleries.