Berlin Byways is a track that debuted in Mario Kart Tour as the premiere track of the Berlin Tour. As its name implies, it's set in Berlin, Germany's capital city.
However, unlike some other city courses, its second variant would be the first to release; which is usually done by the first variant. Despite this, the first variant would still go on to be featured in the Metropolitan Tour afterwards, and the third would later come in the Anniversary Tour.
This course then reappears in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of Wave 3 of the Booster Course Pass DLC, as the first track in the Moon Cup.
Layout[]
Mario Kart Tour[]
Berlin Byways 1[]
The race starts out facing away from the Brandenburg Gate, and right next to the Berlin Cathedral. Shortly after the start, players take a near 180 degree right turn toward the Berlin Wall, where Whomps are present and act as obstacles, as getting hit by one will crush you. After another right turn, you are sent to an area where you can drive either besides or under the Oberbaum Bridge, though driving under the bridge will grant you a few Dash Panels. All players then take a right, then a left toward the Schiller Monument. You have the the choice to go either on the right or left side of the monument, though players meet up again shortly after. Players will then go through the Tiergarten, where they will go down a windy path which leads them straight down into Straße des 17. Juni, the long road behind the Brandenburg Gate. Thwomps are present at the Brandenburg Gate, and will crush you if you're not careful. After going under the Brandenburg Gate, you are sent slightly to the left toward the Finish Line.
This variant is technically the second variant released, being released on the 15th of June 2022 for the Metropolitan Tour.
Berlin Byways 2[]
At the start, racers are now facing the Brandenburg Gate, as opposed to the first variant. After starting, racers are sent slightly right toward the Brandenburg Gate, where there are three interchanging glider ramps. You then glide or drive down Straße des 17. Juni, where if you are gliding you might be able to trick off many stationary cars. Afterwards, you take a 270 degree turn around the Berlin Victory Column, where you then proceed to take a few windy turns toward a train station, in which its exterior is based on the Berlin Hauptbahnhof. Once inside, players have the option to go on the rails, on the platform, or they can go inside a Berlin S-Bahn trainset train, where there is an Item Box present. Players will then travel outside onto a stone pathway towards the Berlin Cathedral, where after taking a left turn, one half of the pathway dips into the ground, allowing for some tricks to be made at the beginning and the ending of that portion. After the windy pathway, players take a right turn toward the finish line, thus ending the lap.
This variant is technically the first variant released, being released on the 13th of January 2021 for the Berlin Tour.
Berlin Byways 3[]
In this variant, the start is now in the middle of Straße des 17. Juni, and players are now facing the Berlin Victory Column. There is also moving traffic in this variant, which serves as a slight obstacle. You start out by bypassing the Berlin Victory Column, and going left down the south exit into a new route, where the Tempodrom can be seen. Players then take a hard right and drive past the Berlin Zoo, which then proceeds into a section with a few paths split by planters, where the Charlottenburg Palace can be seen in the distance. Afterwards, players bypass the Berlin Victory Column once again, before taking the north exit and heading down a small portion of Berlin Byways 2. Shortly after that, racers are then sent into a right turn, right down into Scheidemannstraße, a portion of road that is slightly underground. Finally, you will then take a few slight turns before heading back up to ground level, where players will bypass the Brandenburg Gate, while taking a very hard right toward the finish.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]
Berlin Byways returns in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as part of the Booster Course Pass DLC. The course received a major visual overhaul, and many of the routes from different variants were combined in order to create one massive course. Although unlike some other city courses in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, this course doesn't directly follow its variants from Tour; instead they are mixed and matched with others. Also, many shortcuts in the original were altered allowing them to be possible in this game.
The race starts out much like Berlin Byways 2, with you facing southwest, towards the Brandenburg Gate. You are then sent slightly to the right, and you proceed under the Brandenburg Gate, though there are no glider ramps present. You then go over a Dash Panel into moving traffic, which now moves throughout every lap and is also found in more sections. After that, you then travel down Straße des 17. Juni towards the Berlin Victory Monument, all before going right around most of the roundabout, and then proceeding toward the train station. The Item Box inside the train is now a Double Item Box, making it a bigger risk-reward factor. Players will then go down the windy stone pathway all before heading toward the finish line to start the second lap.
The second lap is combination of Berlin Byways 3 and some parts of Berlin Byways 1. Shortly after passing the finish line, a Glider ramp will appear just before the Brandenburg Gate, meaning you now have the option to glide over the traffic on the Straße des 17. Juni road. Soon after that, players are sent left down the path of Berlin Byways 3, where they take the south exit at the roundabout first and follow the same route through the windy turns into the Scheidemannstraße, and eventually end up next to the Brandenburg Gate, though instead of heading right, you keep going straight, heading south through a Dash Panel into a route never seen in any previous variant. After a long straightaway, you take a right turn into the Tiergarten, where it plays out much like Berlin Byways 1, with you having to navigate through the park and having to avoid the Thwomps under the Brandenburg Gate. Shortly afterwards, the second lap comes to a close, with the third and final lap beginning in the opposite direction of the previous laps.
The third lap plays out just like Berlin Byways 1, with you having to avoid Whomps at the Berlin Wall, which now leave cracks in the pavement. Players will then go through or beside the Oberbaum Bridge, before taking a few turns toward the Schiller Monument, where the two alternate paths are kept intact. You then go through the Tiergarten, and down Straße des 17. Juni, and through the Brandenburg Gate, where the Thwomps are still present, with the race coming to an end shortly after.
Variants each lap takes from[]
| Lap | Variant |
|---|---|
| 1 | Berlin Byways 2 |
| 2 | Combination of Berlin Byways 3 & 1 |
| 3 | Berlin Byways 1 |
Shortcuts[]
- There are multiple off-road shortcuts on the first half of the second lap, use a mushroom through them to save some time.
- There is a substantial off-road shortcut you could do in the Tiergarten section, taking the shortcut will cut straight through the turn into Straße des 17. Juni, and will save a lot of time if done correctly.
- Just after the start of lap three, there is an off-road shortcut you could take just before the Berlin Wall, use a mushroom to blast through it and save some time.
Staff Ghosts[]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]
| Character | Recorder | Time | Vehicle Combination | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Tires | Glider | |||
| 150cc | |||||
|
Nin★Sophia | 2:11.001 | 
|
|
|
| 200cc | |||||
|
Nin★Skip | 1:35.467 |  |
 |
 |
Gallery[]
Mario Kart Tour[]
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[]
.png "Berlin Byways Icon (8 Deluxe).png (147 KB)"){kind=icon}
Trivia![]
- Berlin Byways is one of two city tracks to have variants given the wrong number, as the first two variants have their numbers swapped (Berlin Byways 2 is technically the first route released, while Berlin Byways 1 would be released later.). This would later occur with the last two variants of Los Angeles Laps (Los Angeles Laps 3 came before Los Angeles Laps 2.).
- This is the third time the racers cross the starting line in the opposite direction at least once in the Booster Course Pass, as after the racers finish the first lap, they take Berlin Byways 3 and then get back to the starting line using the final segment of Berlin Byways 1. This was done in Paris Promenade (where the final lap ended this way starting with Paris Promenade 2 in reverse and continuing backwards down either Paris Promenade 1 or Paris Promenade 3) and Sydney Sprint (where the second lap starts with Sydney Sprint 3 and ends with Sydney Sprint 2), and would later be repeated in DS Peach Gardens, Bangkok Rush, Singapore Speedway, and Athens Dash.
- Unlike most tracks, which have something significant for them on the right side of the icon, Berlin Byways' icon in the Booster Course Pass shows the Brandenburg Gate in the middle.
- The music of the course is based on Germany's techno and classical routes, with one half of the tune being techno music and the other half of the music being classical music.
- Additionally, the second half of the sound track, the orchestral portion, bears some resemblance to Deutschlandlied, the national anthem of Germany.
- Berlin Byways is the second city course in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass to have multiple paths, roads or exits that haven't been used in Mario Kart Tour, as after the racers go through Berlin Byways 3 and come back to the Brandenburg Gate, there is a path leading south that leads to the Schiller Monument, and they drive south down it and turn right into the Tiergarten to conclude the lap.
- The first is London Loop, as the racers can choose to take the path to the south of the Leadenhall Market instead of driving through it on the first lap.
Current track:
Berlin Byways 1 Berlin Byways 2 Berlin Byways 3 |
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Previous track:
Wii Maple Treeway |
1st reappearance:
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe |
Next track:
DS Peach Gardens |
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