Would you let strangers from far-flung lands into your living room to cast their eyes over your most precious possessions and catch a glimpse of how you relax when your work day is done?
Living Room Tourism, which reminds us of what the Geffrye Museum in London does, is the hottest new trend in Berlin.
Stepping away from the German capital’s tourist magnets, there are the tours that will take you to authentic Berlin – locals’ apartments.
Here are some of the tour operators if you’re planning on visiting Berlin.
opendoorsberlin
Every Saturday, up to three different apartments and their residents can be visited – a student in Neukölln, an architect who lives in an old building in Prenzlauer Berg, and a painter somewhere in Wedding.
Over a cup of coffee, the Berliners will tell you about their day-to-day life and give some valuable insider tips for your stay in Berlin.
Berlinagenten
Tourists meet the occupants of trendy apartments, frankly bizarre artist residences or luxury penthouses and find out what makes Berliners so enthusiastic about their city.
Berlinagenten offers dozens of tours – photography, night club, creative scene, graffiti workshop, shopping – and its founder Henrik Tidefjärd was named by Forbes Magazine as one of the three most important guides on the planet!
Henrik is a cool hunter, often taking celebrities to the city’s coolest clubs. When Madonna wanted her daughter Lourdes to see Berlin last year, Henrik was entrusted with the task.
Home Opera
And now for something completely different, Home Opera. Living rooms morph into miniature opera houses and kitchens turn into bars.
Up to 50 guests will squeeze into an apartment while a soprano – accompanied by a pianist – sings the classics of Mozart or Verdi.
Adding to the excitement, visitors are told the location of the evening’s performance just before it starts. It’s a reasonably priced night – a donation of €30 is suggested.
(Featured image: Ariaski)
