Last year when we were in Rome we took a walking tour on our arrival day to get an overview of the city and found it very helpful. We'd like to find something like this in Berlin. Our flight arrives at 11:20 so I'm guessing that it'll be 2:00 or so before we'll be ready to do a tour. Any suggestions?

I took the Insider walking tour in Frankfurt and thought it was good. I'm sure the one in Berlin should be equal to the Frankfurt tour. The tour is quite reasonably priced and no need to book in advance - just show up. There's one at 2:00.

http://www.insidertour.com/

Berlin is a huge town - I'd consider taking the hop on hop off sightseeing buses that circulate around town and give commentary en route.

Bus #100 is a regular public bus that goes by many famous sights as does the main S-Bahn line running thru the heart of Berlin - by the Reichstag, Museum Island, etc.

Both of those look like good options, thanks!

There is a free walking tour that leaves from the TI near the Brandenburg gate. We did it several years ago so I forget the official name, but I'm sure you could google around to find it. Our situation was very similar to yours... We did it the afternoon of arrival and found it to be a good orientation.

Another option is a bike tour, such as Fat Tire. But even if you don't do a formal bike tour, I recommend that you at least rent bikes on your own one day and bike around the city or over to Charlottenburg palace. Berlin is very flat, and you get a very different perspective of a city on a bike. Have fun!

Insider tours in Berlin are one of the highest rated, but there are other highly rated tours too, like the Original Berlin tours, or Gablingers. Check Trip Advisor, read the reviews of the top-rated tours and see which ones match your schedule.

The free tours aren't really free, as you are expected to tip, and they will remind you of this several times during the tour. If you don't tip, the guide loses money. They take a photo of the group at the beginning of the tour, and the guide has to pay a fee for each person that begins the tour. I believe it is about 3.50 per person.

We are going to go with Original Berlin Tours on Friday (assuming we can stand the weather). Check back for a TR!