Berlin is the capital city of Germany and the largest city in Germany and the largest city between Paris and Moskau.
It is in a near-constant state of reinvention and reconstruction since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and any guidebook you've got will be out of date by next year. Though much of Berlin's buildings were damaged during the final years of World War II, it is still a city known for its interesting architecture which spans many different historic periods. Also, because the city was divided for so many years, it doesn't have one true city center. The city center West is around bustling Kurfuerstendamm avenue, the city center East around Alexanderplatz and the new business center Potsdamer Platz inbetween West and East Berlin. There are many neighborhoods in Berlin, each with its own style and central area.
It is in a near-constant state of reinvention and reconstruction since the fall of the Berlin Wall, and any guidebook you've got will be out of date by next year. Though much of Berlin's buildings were damaged during the final years of World War II, it is still a city known for its interesting architecture which spans many different historic periods. Also, because the city was divided for so many years, it doesn't have one true city center. The city center West is around bustling Kurfuerstendamm avenue, the city center East around Alexanderplatz and the new business center Potsdamer Platz inbetween West and East Berlin. There are many neighborhoods in Berlin, each with its own style and central area.
No trip to Berlin would be complete without a look at what's left of the Berlin Wall. The entire span of where the Wall once stood is marked by a row of bricks in the pavement, and makes for an interesting walk. You'll see how haphazardly the city was divided. You can see a few remaining parts of the wall which still stand east of the city center along the River Spree (1,3 km of original Berlin Wall called the East Side Gallery). There is also the Berlin Wall Memorial to those who died in their attempts to escape from East Berlin and of course the Postdamer Platz (once split it two by the Wall) and the Brandenburg Gate which has served as the backdrop for several important speeches (including John F. Kennedy's Ich bin ein Berliner speech and Ronald Reagan's Mr. Gorbachov, tear down this wall speech).
If you can handle long lines (or if you get lucky and don't find one), climb to the top of the glass dome atop the Reichstag (the German parliament building) for a wonderful city view. For other views from above, the Fernsehturm is the tallest structure in Germany and has a rotating cafe at the top; or get your exercise by climbing the 224 steps to the top of the Siegessäule (Victory Column) with its golden statue of the goodess Victoria on top. A Berlin river cruise is very recommandable. The best way to receive a nice overview of the exciting und unique metropolis Berlin is a large 4 hour driven Berlin city sightseeing tour.
Berlin has no shortage of historical sites and museums to see. Among the more important are the Museum at Checkpoint Charlie (a fascinating look at the years when the city was divided, including the many successful and unsuccessful attempts to escape from East Germany, in the same building since before the Wall came down), Story of Berlin (documents the city's history), Jewish Museum by Daniel Libeskind (notable for its architecture as well as its contents), Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (relatively new, covering an entire city block with an underground museum), and Pergamonmuseum (extensive collection of ancient Greek, ancient Middle-Eastern and Islamic art and sculpture including the "Altar of
Pergamon", the "Ischta Gate of Babylon").
The fashionable KuDamm (Kurfuerstendamm), once the heart of West Berlin, is still where you'll find the city's best and biggest shops. Even if you don't buy anything, a trip through the multi-storey Kaufhaus des Westens (or KaDeWe, as it's called locally), the largest department store on the European Continent, can be fun - be sure to check out the top floor and wonder what it would be like if every mall's food court looked like that (1,5 times the size of Harrods Food Halls in London). The KuDamm is also home to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a constant reminder that this bustling and lively city was once at the center of a long and bloody war.
Berlin today is known for its happening nightlife scene, cafes, clubs and bars for meeting and greeting, and a friendly and cosmopolitan population that might even speak better English than you do!
Search for just the perfect bed in Berlin - whether it's a Berlin Hotel or a hostel. There are now more than 90.000 hotel beds in Berlin and prices are very competetive. Berlin was 2007 destination No. 3 in Europe after London and Paris.
