Berlin

People often expect Berlin to be a concrete jungle. But post-wall, times have changed and nowadays nothing could be further from the truth. In the West super-modern buildings provide a backdrop for a dynamic and cosmopolitan city that is distinctly new millennium in outlook. The East meanwhile is a model of twenty-first century urban development - the gray Communist concrete has been replaced with gleaming new structures that look to the city's future rather than dwelling on the past.

Most of the city's vibrancy comes from the Berliners themselves. The population has grabbed the new post-wall opportunities with both hands and it makes Berlin an extremely exciting and lively place to visit. It is as if the city is making up for lost time and in the bars and excellent restaurants you'll find the Berliners are a far cry from the staid German stereotype that is propagated throughout Europe.

Sights And Attractions

With two distinct sides to its character and a wealth of history, both ancient and modern, Berlin is one of the most interesting city destinations in Europe. Visit The Reichstag, and ascend the Germans parliamentary house, which was transformed with the addition of a distinctive glass dome, famously to symbolize the new transparency in German politics. A more immediately appealing aspect of this symbolic structure is the fantastic views of the city the dome affords. It's worth arriving either early in the morning or late in the evening, as queues tend to be long and tedious in the middle of the day. Brandenburg Gate

The grand Brandenburg Gate was the setting for some of the most stunning scenes of the 1989 revolution when it was opened as a symbol of the new united city. It had lain in no-man's land between East and West since the Berlin Wall was first erected in 1961.

Charlottenburg was built as a summer residence by Frederick III in the 1690s for his wife Sophie Charlotte, and extended after he became the first Prussian king, Schloss Charlottenburg is easily the most opulent building in Berlin. Badly damaged during the war, the palace has been meticulously restored, its lavish interior a reminder of the extravagance of the Prussian Crown. Behind the palace, the extensive grounds, areas of which are laid out as formal gardens, are well worth a couple of hours' exploration.

Popular German Sightseeing Tours

Shopping

The West's Kurfürstendamm (Ku'damm) shopping district is still statistically the number one destination for shoppers in the city, but has noticeably suffered as a result of the Friedrichst Kurf Rstendamm rasse renaissance. However the Ku'damm is beginning to strike back with its own designer stores mixed with larger modern retail outlets (the Niketown mega store on Tauentzienstrasse was the first in Europe). The Ku'damm area also has a higher percentage of high street stalwarts than the exclusive Friedrichstrasse while the small side streets hide designer boutiques and specialist stores. In terms of department stores, good options in the city are Karstadt (Wilmerdorfer Strasse 118), Kaufhof (Alexander Platz 9) and Wertheim (Kurfürstendamm 231).

Food

Local favorites are drawn from all over the nation and include Königsberger Klopse (veal and pork meatballs draped in a cream sauce) as well a Thueringer Bratwurst s the ubiquitous sausage which ranges from the Thuringer Bratwurst all the way from the south of Germany, through to Berlin's own spicy curry-soaked Currywurst. The other ubiquitous snack is the Turkish Döner, kebabs which can be found at street stalls around the city.

Location

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Hotels

View the 95 hotels listed in Berlin, Germany