Berlin Trabi Tour
Checkpoint Charlie, the Wall – it’s difficult to imagine that just two decades ago Berlin was a major Cold War battlefront. Patrolling the lines was an East German car called the Trabant. Built between 1957 and 1990, the Trabi was a vehicle that epitomized life under Soviet rule. With hardly any production changes in its history, it used a unique gearbox and an engine reliant on gravity to deliver fluids to the right places. Famous for its choking exhaust, it could hit a top speed of 112 km/hr and seat four comfortably (provided circulation in your legs was a non-issue). Today you can tour around a quirky city at the wheel of this quirky little relic of the past. Good luck with the stick shift.
Length of Trip : 1 hour 15 minutes - 2 hours 30 minutes
Cost :
Prices range from US$44-110 per person depending on the tour. Children under 15 ride free.
Best time to go : Open year-round
Wheelchair friendly : Contact operator to make arrangements
Family friendly : Yes
Where to eat :
Papilles Bistro
Marjellchen
Official Site :
Trabi Safari
Where to Stay :
Budget: Check In Hostel
Mid-Level: Arte Luise
High-End: Bleibtreu
When staying in Berlin, we recommend the Swissotel Berlin.
Getting There :
Book ahead, and meet your guide at TrabiWorld, located Zimmerstraße 97, 10117, Berlin.
Note from Robin :
As a symbol of popular culture, Trabi’s have appeared in everything from U2 videos to just about every East German Cold War spy movie. You'll drive in convoy with your tour guide piping in over the radio. The cars are brightly coloured, and the exterior is a kind of resin. Even car folks will appreciate the unusual mechanics. All drivers must have a drivers license. Eac Trabis can take up to four people, and there is an opportunity to swap drivers. The average East German would have to wait around 13 years before they could acquire a Trabant or Trabi. You can just book ahead!
PRESENTED BY FORD OF CANADA
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It’s a rare occasion when the name of a car aligns so perfectly with what I’ve used it for. Whether rocketing along the notorious Trans-Labrador Highway, or cruising among the mountainous candy of one of the world’s most beautiful drives, the Ford Escape has indeed lived up to its name. It has stood up to some pretty epic challenges, and that includes taking a 6-month baby on a 30-day cross-country book tour. Compact yet spacious, powerful yet fuel efficient, and loaded with features you’ll soon wonder how you did without, the Ford Escape more than lives up to its moniker. – Robin Esrock |