Berlin Wall Trail: Discover the history of a divided city

The Berlin Wall divided Germany's present-day capital for 28 years. Today, you need a helping hand to explore its history. One of the best ways to track down what remains of the Berlin Wall is by bike.

Travelling along the Berlin Wall Trail, the traces of Cold War tensions are never too far away. Much of the trail runs on border patrol paths in the west (Zollwege) and their equivalents in the east (Kolonnenwege). You cycle through the city centre, past the museums, memorial sites and the last remaining watchtowers, and along the old border outside the city. This mix of nature and dramatic history means the Berlin Wall Trail offers the best of both worlds. It is a themed city tour and scenic route rolled into one. Terrain: signposted from beginning to end and largely traffic-free beyond the city limits. The cycle paths are mostly flat and asphalt; some sections are surfaced with crushed brick/stone or concrete from Cold War times. Scenery: city sights and sounds in the Berlin metropolitan area, followed by quieter, scenic stretches in leafy surroundings or by the water. Numerous sections where fragments of the wall remain or its history can be traced.

• Length: 160 kilometres, circular route
• Route info: mainly flat terrain, easily managed with children