Fancy partying in a bombed-out train depot? Or getting messy with the street artists? How about getting to know the local crazies a bit better? Then pop along to one of these free city tours, run by local lovers of Berlin, who will give you a unique and personal tour of the wonderful German city – but not the usual tourists sights – there are no big walls, shiny gates or boring museums here. The tours focus on the music, art, shops, skate parks, abandoned neighbourhoods and party spots that only the locals know about.

The tours start at 11am and 1pm every day, last for 3.5 hours and are completely free. Of course if you feel like buying your guides a few pints afterwards I’m sure they’d oblige!

These guys also run tours of the best bars (called the Anti-Pub Crawl); Street Art Workshops; the Real Berlin Experience, which looks at Berlin’s society from all angles (not just underground subculture), taking in the gay districts, the Turkish quarters and alternative music and art scenes; and a Twilight Tour, which is arguably the craziest tour in the city, and explores places hidden even from locals, such as abandoned sites, freakish exhibitions (including everything from body suspension expos to crude body art), meeting people on the outer rims of counter culture (hackers, left-wing hardliners and other unusual characters) as well as visiting notorious neighborhoods.

A really awesome way of getting to know the city beyond the usual tourist haunts, you’ll certainly come back with some unusual stories – and photos – to share with your friends.

I would like to note that I don’t work for Alternative Berlin, have not been paid to write this and have nothing to do with them – I just feel that this is a brilliant opportunity for anyone travelling to Berlin who wants to genuinely experience the city.

Alternative Berlin’s website