Berlin in 7 Days

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Berlin in 7 days

Berlin, 7 Days

Table of contents:Guide Description 2

Itinerary Overview 3

Daily Itineraries 5

Berlin Snapshot 26

http://www.nileguide.com/destination/berlin/trips/berlin-in-7-days/2175

Guide Description

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AUTHOR NOTE: This one week trip to Berlin will give you aflavour of what the German capital has to offer. From crystal clearlakes and beaches to history and a town steeped in culture, tosweaty techno clubs to cocktails and German beer by the river -there is something for everyone in Berlin.

Itinerary Overview things to do

restaurants

hotels

nightlife

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Day 1 - Berlin

MauerparkPark on no man's land

Sushi Bar KySmall but sweet

FernsehturmBig Brother is watching you!

Stasi-AusstellungBig brother is watching you!

Café ZapataCult café in Tacheles

Kaffee BurgerCafé for thespians

Lux 11A home away from home

Day 2 - Berlin

Berliner Mauer DokumentationszentrumBerlin Wall memorial

OrlandoRed wine and revolution

East Side GalleryArt on the Berlin Wall

Bar 25Outdoor club by the river

Berliner Prater GartenBerlin's oldest beer garden

Simon-Dach-StraßeBooming nightlife

CassiopeiaBar, frieluftkino, skatehall, club, outdoor area


Day 3 - Berlin

Strandbad MüggelseeNostalgic lakeside atmosphere

Müggelsee Terrassen RübezahlDine by the water

Hackescher MarktThe lure of the East


Day 4 - Berlin

MariannenplatzConglomeration of Fun

Morena BarKreuzberg's breakfast club

LandwehrkanalPerfect for a Sunday afternoon stroll

Görlitzer ParkMulti-ethnic meeting place

Karl-Marx-AlleeMonumental socialist boulevard

MorgenlandMulticultural & stress-free

AnkerklauseFashionably unfashionable

Itinerary Overview things to do

restaurants

hotels

nightlife

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Day 5 - Berlin

FriedrichstraßeThree Historic Kilometers

ReichstagGermany's old and new parliament

Holocaust MemorialMemorial for Murdered Jews of Europe

Topographie des TerrorsFormer Gestapo headquarters

Die EinsViews over the river and Reichstag

Treptower ParkRiverside park with Soviet memorial and observatory

Sowjetisches Ehrenmal im TreptowerParkBombastic Soviet war memorial

Babylon Berlin: MitteMovies & more

Winters Hotel Berlin MitteCentral, modern hotel …

Day 6 - Berlin

PotsdamJewel in the crown

Großer WannseeForests and lakes, oh my!

Il CasolareAuthentic pizza

Wiener BlutForget Austria

Rosi'sCombine clubbing and art


Day 7 - Berlin

MuseumsinselEast & West History Collide

AlexanderplatzBerlin's windswept heart

TiergartenIdyllic inner-city park

Zoologischer Garten BerlinOver a thousand different species

FreischwimmerDine on the water

Spindler KlattLounge with a view

Watergate ClubThrobbing hot club


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Day 1 - BerlinQUICK NOTE

contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)fax: +49 (0)30 2500 2424(Touristen Information)http://www.mauerpark.de/

location:Eberswalder StrasseBerlin Berlin 10437

hours:Call for details

1 Mauerpark

DESCRIPTION: You want second hand vintage gems of times past, digested with a roastedBratwurst sausage and washed down with a Berliner Pilsner beer? At Mauer Park you got it!Every Sunday the park plays host to the biggest Trodel or junk market in town. Here you will findeverything from 1950s furniture to sheep skin rugs and unique artists' prints and photos. Thepark runs along the site of the former Berlin Wall and therefore also attracts many a guitar playinghippie, the sun loving barbecue gangs and all sorts of folk from the cities nooks and crannies, whocelebrate a freedom truly unique to Berlin in this Prenzlauer Berg grassy park. © NileGuide

contact:tel: 49 30 4405 8969http://www.sushiky.de/

location:Oderberger Straße 40Berlin 10435

hours:Daily 5p-midnight

2 Sushi Bar Ky

DESCRIPTION: This inconspicuous looking place in Prenzlauer Berg's Oderberger Straße is fairlysmall, but what is lacking in space is certainly made up for in quality. The sushi chef prepares hisgoodies on the premises, and customers can watch him from one of the eight bar stools whichare strewn across the room. But most people aren't lucky enough to get a seat here, as word hasobviously got out that Ky has some of the best (and most affordable) sushi in town. The decor isplain, but is augmented by the broad smiles of the team behind the bar. © wcities.com

Day 1 - continued...

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 242 3333fax: +49 (0)30 242 5922http://www.berlinerfernsehturm.de/

location:Panoramastraße 1ABerlin Berlin 10178

hours:Mar-Oct: 9a-midnight, Nov-Feb: 10a-midnight

3 Fernsehturm

DESCRIPTION: The Fernsehturm or TV tower, was built in1965-69 as a mark of East German technological finesse. Itstands at 368m and was aimed to prove Soviet advancementto the West Germans. The bland concrete tower is toppedby a mirrored glass orb, which houses a cafe and is adornedwith various satellites and antennas. The huge DDR disco ballcaused some disappointment to the secular communists aswhen it is hit by the sun reflects a huge cross shaped light off itsmirrored surface, that can be seen across the city centre. Thetower acts as a central orientation point and will help guide youaround the city. © NileGuide

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 2241 7470

location:Mauerstraße 38Berlin Berlin 10117


4 Stasi-Ausstellung

DESCRIPTION: The notorious East German security police, the Stasi, used to secretly collect the"smells" of undesired people so as to be able to track them down with sniffer dogs later. Fantasy?Fiction? Not in the slightest. Big Brother is watching you! The lengths that the Stasi went to tocontrol all aspects of life in East Germany were never too great. While some exhibits make youlaugh, others are truly horrifying. And although not spectacular, the exhibition will give you aninsight into another unhappy chapter of German history. free © wcities.com

contact:tel: 49 30 281 6109fax: 49 30 281 6109http://www.cafe-zapata.de/

location:Oranienburger Straße 54-56aBerlin 10117

hours:Tu-F 10a-3p

5 Café Zapata

DESCRIPTION: Located on the ground floor of Tacheles, the legendary squat-turned-culturalcentre, Zapata is a weird, wonderful and way-out establishment typical of Berlin's alternative scene.Decorated with metal and barbed wire, tins and trash art, it is all fairly surreal. Snacks such as areavailable all day, as is a decent selection of beer. The place really gets going in the evening whenhundreds of people gather to chat, flirt and dance. Don't miss the beer garden in the summer. ©wcities.com

contact:tel: 49 30 2804 6495fax: 49 30 2804 6808http://www.kaffeeburger.de

location:Torstraße 60Berlin 10119

hours:Su-Th 7p onwards, F 8ponwards, Sa 9p onwards

6 Kaffee Burger

DESCRIPTION: The influence of the nearby Volksbühnetheater can be clearly felt in Kaffee Burger. Here you canlisten to little-known local authors reading from their latestpublications. There are also concerts, films, lectures, theaterperformances and African peanut butter soup. If you do notenjoy these thespian frolicks, just retreat to the quiet section atthe front of the bar or out into the garden. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 62 9010(Design Hotels BerlinOffice) / +1 800 37468357(Reservations)fax: +49 (0)30 6290 1100(Design Hotels Berlin Office)http://www.designhotels.com/matrix_engine/content.php

location:ROSA LUXEMBURG STR9-13Berlin Berlin 10178

7 Lux 11

DESCRIPTION: Located about 10 kilometers from the airport,Lux 11 lies in one of the trendiest districts of Mitte. Opened in2005, it is a hotel that spells style and elegance. It fuses historicarchitecture along with modern designs. All 72 apartments areequipped with a kitchenette, an internet connection, LCD-TVs,DVD players and fax machines. Try out the services of the in-house spa, and if you are too busy to cook, visit the on-siterestaurant, which whips up some very lip-smacking dishes. ©wcities.com

more photos on Hotels.com

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 464 1030fax: +49 (0)30 4606 9740http://www.berliner-mauer-dokumentationszentrum.de

location:Bernauer Straße 111Berlin Berlin 13355

hours:W-Su 10a-5p

1 Berliner MauerDokumentationszentrum

DESCRIPTION: If you're looking for remnants of the BerlinWall, you may have to search for a long time. There is little leftof this Cold War relic in present-day Berlin, due to a populardesire among Germans to eliminate all traces of their previousdivision. Just a handful of sites are left, one of which is therecently erected memorial at Bernauer Straße, the scene ofsome of the most spectacular and tragic escape attempts.What you will see here is, in fact, a reconstruction of the originalWall. Two walls run parallel to one another down the street,and in the middle, a strip of no man's land. This serves as apotent reminder of what many Germans regard as a symbolof totalitarian evil. The museum itself documents the history ofthe Wall in a series of moving and disturbing photographs. ©wcities.com

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contact:tel: 49 930 624 1767

location:Weserstraße 5Berlin 12047

2 Orlando

DESCRIPTION: This restaurant is named after its owner, Señor Orlando Mardones. Orlando servesChilean specialities, such as empanadas filled with beef, onions, olives and raisins and pastelde choclo, a sweetcorn soufflé, as well as Mexican dishes like burritos, enchiladas, nachos andexquisite crab enchiladas. For those of you wanting just a small bite to accompany your wine, trythe pan con pebre, white bread with a hot coriander sauce. The Olga Benario art gallery is locatedon the same premises. © wcities.com


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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 251 7159fax: +49 (0)30 2529 9831http://www.eastsidegallery.com

location:MühlenstrasseBerlin Berlin 10243


3 East Side Gallery

DESCRIPTION: The biggest outdoor gallery in the world, theEast Side Gallery runs along the largest remaining section ofthe Berlin Wall, constructed by the Soviets in 1961 to divideEast from West Berlin. When the Iron Curtain fell in 1989many parts of the wall were destroyed as the city of Berlin wasreunited following the end of the Cold War. 160 internationalartists were invited to paint giant murals along the wall that runsalong the River Spree in the eastern district of Freidrichshain.The East Side Gallery has remained untouched for the last 20years, however its future is uncertain. Restoration is plannedhowever regeneration of the area may threaten this politicallandmark. © NileGuide

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contact:tel: +49 30 2758 3209http://www.bar25.de/

location:Holzmarktstraße 25Berlin 10243

hours:Tu to Sa from 04:00 PM to00:00 AM,Su from 12:00 AMto 12:00 AM

4 Bar 25

DESCRIPTION: Outdoor club by the river with occasional livemusic.

Photo courtesy of Bar 25

contact:tel: 49 30 448 5688fax: 49 30 4434 0904http://www.pratergarten.de

location:Kastanienallee 7-9Berlin 10435

hours:M-Sa 6p onwards, Su noononwards

5 Berliner Prater Garten

DESCRIPTION: The original Prater is in Vienna, yet the Berlinversion is equally lively and immensely popular. Berlin's oldestbeer garden serves up rustic German food which you can diginto in the loveliest of surroundings. The complex also hasan open-air stage which is used by the Volksbühne, one ofBerlin's most inventive theatre companies. This place offersinexpensive beer, so come by and enjoy the long summer dayswith some drinks with friends. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/wohnen/stadterneuerung/de/warschauer/simondachstrasse.shtml

location:Simon-Dach-StraßeBerlin Berlin 10245

6 Simon-Dach-Straße

DESCRIPTION: Friedrichshain's answer to Mitte's Oranienburger Straße, Simon-Dach-Straße ishome to a vast variety of pubs, cafés, bars and restaurants, the most popular being the legendaryAstro Bar. Many of the bars here are fairly new additions to the nightlife scene yet Simon-Dach-Straße has already become extremely popular with students and other young Berliners and iswithout doubt one of the liveliest places in the eastern part of town. During the warmer months, thepavements on both sides of the street are lined with benches and tables which join together to formone huge bar. The street is fairly narrow and in summertime the trees meet in the middle of thestreet to form a natural rooftop. © wcities.com


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hours:24 hrs

contact:tel: +49 30 4738 5949www.cassiopeia-berlin.de

location:Revaler StrasseBerlin 10245

7 Cassiopeia

DESCRIPTION: Cassiopeia, located in the center ofFriedrichshain is a 4,000 meter facility, that features clublounges, an exhibition area, a beer garden, Berlin's highestclimbing tower and an indoor skate park. The clubs are bookedmainly for big events, festivals and concerts like the Fete dela Musique and Blockparty which draws in the crowds. Theconcerts performed here feature different genres of musicranging from hip-hop to funk and rock to hardcore. Thismulti-faceted venue always has something up it's sleeve andpromises a pleasurable time always. © wcities.com

Cassiopeia



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contact:tel: +49 30 9 0120http://www.berlin.de/badegewaesser/detail/mueggelstrand.html

location:Fürstenwalder Damm 838Berlin Berlin 12589


1 Strandbad Müggelsee

DESCRIPTION: Built in the early '30s near Rahnsdorf, this is not Berlin's most central swimmingpool, but an excursion to Müggelsee, the largest lake in the close vicinity of the German capital,is very worthwhile. Lean back in wicker beach chairs and watch the distant boats pass by, whilechildren build their sandcastles and youngsters play volleyball. © wcities.com

contact:tel: 49 030 65661688 11fax: 49 030 65661688 14http://www.mueggelseeterrassen.de/

location:Müggelheimer Damm 143Berlin 12559

hours:Sep-Apr: M-Su 11:30a-6p;May-Aug: M-Sa 11:30a-10p,Su 11:30a-8p

2 Müggelsee Terrassen Rübezahl

DESCRIPTION: Located on the scenic Grosser Müggelsee, this restaurant and beer garden is agreat place to rest your feet after a walk around the lake. On warm days, you can drink and dineoutside on the deck and enjoy the view of the water; and when the weather is inclement, you canwarm up in the elegant indoor dining room. The fare is mainly comprised of traditional Germandishes, with a wide selection of starters and entrees to choose from. And you can't forget about thewine and beer selection -- a perfect accompaniment to any schnitzel or wurst! © wcities.com


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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)http://www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/s-bahnhof-hackescher-markt/index.php

location:Oranienburger StreetBerlin Berlin 10178


3 Hackescher Markt

DESCRIPTION: A great place for wining and dinning onyour first evening in Berlin. Hackescher Markt sits in thethriving centre of Berlin's Mitte district. Packed with über coolboutiques, cafes and galleries this is the perfect place fromwhich to start exploring the historical centre of Berlin. Dailytours of the city leave from outside the Hackescher Markt trainstation and be sure to check out the craft market here everyThursday and Saturday. © NileGuide

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contact:tel: +49 30 24 0210http://www.berlin.de/ba-friedrichshain-kreuzberg/verwaltung/org/quartiersmanagement/mariannenplatz.html

location:MariannenplatzBerlin DE 10997

1 Mariannenplatz

DESCRIPTION: Named for Marianne, Princess of Netherlands, this part of the city combinesculture, history, and modern day fun. The platz is surrounded by shops and restaurants and streetperformers entertain outside. When the weather is nice, free live concerts occur on an outdoorstage and the Street Football World Cup is always a violent treat. No visit to Berlin would becomplete without an excursion of Marrianenplatz. © wcities.com

contact:tel: 49 30 2437 5331http://www.morena-berlin.de/

location:Wienerstrasse 60Berlin 10999

hours:Su to Sa from 09:00 AM to03:00 AM

2 Morena Bar

DESCRIPTION: Nights in Berlin are long and it is no surprise that dozens of cafés choose to servebreakfast until late into the afternoon. Situated near Görlitzer Park, Morena Bar is an institution forthose who find early starts a bit of a challenge. The breakfasts are generous and tasty and will fillyou up regardless of whether you go for the continental or Anglo-Saxon incarnation. In the eveningthe café transforms into a trendy neon-blue hangout for Kreuzberg's party people. © wcities.com


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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)fax: +49 (0)30 2500 2424(Touristen Information)http://www.berlin.de/ba-charlottenburg-wilmersdorf/bezirk/lexikon/landwehrkanal.html

location:Tiergarten / KreuzbergBerlin Berlin 10961 - 10785

3 Landwehrkanal

DESCRIPTION: The Landwehrkanal was completed in1850 after five years of construction. Designed by masterlandscape architect Lenné (also responsible for the Tiergartenand Pfaueninsel), the 12km canal was built on the ordersof King Friedrich Wilhelm IV, who wished to link Berlin witha new industrial area in Köpenick. But the building of thecanal was also part of a larger scheme—to fight the dramaticunemployment which plagued Prussia at the time. The canalis the perfect place for a Sunday afternoon stroll. Windingthrough the city, it is lined with trees and parks, and a cyclepath follows its route. There are plenty of pleasant cafés alongthe way (particularly at Paul-Licke-Ufer) where you can stop forrefreshments. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 611 7424http://www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/goumlrlitzer-park/index.php

location:Görlitzer Straße 1-2Berlin Berlin 10999

4 Görlitzer Park

DESCRIPTION: Once the site of one of Berlin's main railway stations, the whole area was reducedto rubble during the War and remained that way until being transformed into a park during the1980s. The eighties weren't known for their beautiful landscape gardens, as is clear from thisexample, but Görlitzer Park is full of life and is a popular weekend retreat for Kreuzberg's multi-ethnic community, when it becomes a football field, a dance floor, a picnic spot and meeting placefor families and friends.The only architectural feature worthy of mention is the Pamukkal Turkishfountain. Built in 1998, the fountain has recently been turned off due to technical problems. Typical!© wcities.com

contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)fax: +49 (0)30 2500 2424(Touristen Information)http://www.berlin.de/orte/sehenswuerdigkeiten/karl-marx-allee/index.php

location:Karl-Marx-AlleeBerlin Berlin 10243

5 Karl-Marx-Allee

DESCRIPTION: After the War, both the Eastern and Westernsectors of Berlin began a massive reconstruction programmeto repair the damage inflicted by war. In 1959, East Berlin'smayor, Friedrich Ebert, laid the foundation stone for a flagshipbuilding project—a monumental boulevard called Stalinallee.The street, named after the great Russian dictator, wasto contain spacious apartments for workers, as well as atourist hotel and an enormous cinema, known today as theInternational. Stalinallee immediately gained notoriety as thescene of a bloody revolt on 17th June 1953, when builders andconstruction workers demonstrated against the government.The rebellion was quashed with tanks and resulted in enormousloss of life. Renamed Karl-Marx-Allee after Stalin's deathin 1961, the boulevard is just as impressive today as theday it was completed. Lined with monumental eight-storeybuildings in the wedding cake style popular at the time, it is alsoextremely broad—for a reason. The street needed to be wideenough to hold thousands of goose-stepping soldiers, tanksand other military vehicles for East Germany's annual May Dayparade. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: 49 30 611 3291

location:Skalitzer Straße 35Berlin 10999

hours:M-F 9a onwards, Sa-Su 10aonwards

6 Morgenland

DESCRIPTION: This is a simple but good bar-cum-cafe. All possiblesubcultures and nationalities stop by to be part of the relaxed atmospherefound at Morgenland. Warm apricot colored walls and the responsiveservice add to the stress-free experience. Recommended bar snacks arethe Maistaler in a cream sauce, as well as the sumptuous breakfasts.Beer, wine and hot beverages are quite inexpensive. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: 49 30 693 5649http://www.ankerklause.de/

location:Kottbusser Damm 104Berlin 10967

hours:Tu to Su from 10:00 AM to04:00 AM,Mo from 04:00 PMto 04:00 AM

7 Ankerklause

DESCRIPTION: Once the ticket office for the sightseeing boatswhich sailed down the Landwehrkanal canal, Ankerklause isnow one of Berlin's most happening bars. The interior reflectsthe 'anti-fashion' concept of the nineties, but this seems to godown well with the punters, who start to pour in as early asmidday after a visit to the nearby market. The atmosphere isvery Kreuzberg. © wcities.com Ankerklause



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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)http://www.friedrichstrasse.de/

location:Von dem nordlichen Teil derMitte bis Hallesches Tor imKreuzbergBerlin Berlin 10117

hours:24 hrs

1 Friedrichstraße

DESCRIPTION: Friedrichstraße is Berlin's answer to theChamps Elysées, Oxford Street or Fifth Avenue, a vibrantmelting pot where history, culture, entertainment and fashionmeet. Before the fall of the Wall, the southern section ofFriedrichstraße was located in the West, and the northernpart in the East. Beginning at Mehringplatz in Kreuzberg,the three kilometer-long street leads through the heart of thecity centre, past the former border crossing at CheckpointCharlie, to Oranienburger Tor, unified Berlin's pulsating nightlifedistrict. Historically, the area around Stadtmitte undergroundstation used to be Berlin's premier shopping district. Thecrossroads at Leipziger Straße were lined with swankyboutiques before wartime bombs left their deadly mark. Thenew shopping district is now centred around FranzösischeStraße underground station, and includes the fabulous GaleriesLafayette, the exclusive Quartier 206 and the awe-inspiringFriedrichstadtpassagen shopping mall - three of Berlin'snew architectural highlights. The northern section of thestreet leads into theatre town. A magnet for theatre-goerssince the 19th century, visitors still pour into places like theFriedrichstadtpalast, Berliner Ensemble, Deutsches Theaterand Kammerspiele. Have fun! © wcities.com

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 2270fax: +49 (0)30 2273 6878http://www.bundestag.de/

location:Platz der Republik 1Berlin Berlin 11011


2 Reichstag

DESCRIPTION: The Reichstag building, completed in 1894,represents the heart of German politics and has been a witnessto the country's troubled past. From an attempted communistcoup and Nazi empowerment, to the DDR, when the buildingstood on the edge of the Iron Curtain. The roof of the Reichstagsports a huge glass dome designed by British architect SirNorman Foster, from which spectacular views out across theever changing city of Berlin can be seen. Directly opposite theReichstag is the forest canopy of the Tierpark, divided by theformer Siegesallee (Avenue of Victory) which was dismantledafter the fall of Hitler. The Tierpark was the former huntingground of the Prussian princes and of Kaiser Wilhelm II. ©NileGuide

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 200 7660 / +49(0)30 2639 4336fax: +49 (0)30 20 0766 x20 /+49 (0)30 2639 4321http://www.holocaust-mahnmal.de/en

location:Cora-Berliner-Straße 1Berlin Berlin 10117

hours:Oct-Mar Tu-Su 10a-7p, Apr-Sep Tu-Su 10a-8p

3 Holocaust Memorial

DESCRIPTION: Standing in the centre of Berlin, just fiveminutes walk away from the Reichstag the huge Memorial tothe Murdered Jews of Europe stands as a remembrance ofthe darkest time of European history. The Holocaust Memorialconsists of 2,711 concrete blocks of different heights andsizes, laid along uneven ground and covers 19,000m2. Anexhibition showing the history of the Holocaust lies underneaththe memorial and is open 7 days a week. The memorial wasdesigned by architect Peter Eisenman and built in 1999. ©NileGuide

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 2548 6703fax: +49 (0)30 262 7156http://www.topographie.de

location:Niederkirchnerstrasse 8Berlin Berlin 10963

hours:Oct-Apr: daily 10a-6p, May-Sep: daily 10a-10p

4 Topographie des Terrors

DESCRIPTION: Not much is left of the Gestapo's formerheadquarters in Wilhelmstrabe. Severely damaged by wartimebombing raids, the remaining buildings were torn down shortlyafter the end of the War. The Allied authorities wanted all tracesof Germany's evil past to be destroyed as swiftly as possible.Excavations in the early 1980's brought the foundations tolight-a long wall covered with pale white tiles-and a makeshiftmuseum was immediately established on the wasteland closeto Hitler's bunker. The Topography of Terror stands besidethe Jewish Museum and the Holocaust Memorial (still in theplanning phase) as one of Berlin's most important memorials tothe darkest chapter of German history. Admission is free. ©wcities.com

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contact:tel: 49 30 2248 9888fax: 49 30 2248 9890http://www.gastro-lloyd.de/die-eins/

location:Wilhelmstraße 67aBerlin 10117

hours:Daily 9a-1a

5 Die Eins

DESCRIPTION: Located on the banks of the River Spree in the heart of the new governmentquarter, Die Eins is particularly popular with government officials, as well as with the staff of theARD television studio (the German public service broadcaster), which is situated in the samebuilding. The terrace offers pleasant views over the river and the imposing Reichstag parliamentbuilding. In the morning, guests can choose from a variety of different breakfasts. The daytimemenu includes crunchy salads, delicious pastas and other home-made specialties. And in theevening, thirsty visitors can enjoy a refreshing cocktail at the bar. © wcities.com

contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/umwelt/berlin_move/en/laufstrecken/laufstrecke6.shtml

location:PuschkinalleeBerlin Berlin


6 Treptower Park

DESCRIPTION: Treptower Park lines the banks of the riverSpree to the south east of the city centre and was created byJohann Gustav Meyer in 1876. Nowadays the park offers adiverse selection of outdoor fun with BBQ boat rides, ping-pong tables and grassy river side sunbathing areas. Locatedin the former East German district of Treptow, a grand sovietmemorial was erected in the park in 1947, dedicated to the5000 soviet soldiers, killed in action, who are buried there. Anabandoned fun park with a big wheel and miniature train set liesto the south of the park just past the Insel der Jugend, or islandof youth, a popular place for outdoor summer parties and theBerliners favourite summer past time – grilling. © NileGuide

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/umwelt/stadtgruen/friedhoefe_begraebnisstaetten/de/sowjet_ehrenmale/treptowerpark/index.shtml

location:PuschkinalleeBerlin Berlin


7 Sowjetisches Ehrenmal imTreptower Park

DESCRIPTION: This imposing communist monument wasbuilt in memory of the 20,000 Soviet soldiers who died duringthe battle for Berlin in 1945. It took 1,200 workers over threeyears to build (1946-9) and is constructed from the granitewhich had been previously ordered by the Nazis for their ownvictory monuments. Located in leafy Treptower Park, the sheersize of the memorial is striking. A broad path leads to theenormous entrance portal, sculpted with lines of grim facedSoviet soldiers. Spread out before you is a 200m-long walkway,decorated with friezes depicting the Red Army's heroic struggleand culminating with a gigantic statue of a sword-wieldingSoviet soldier, standing stoically on a plinth bearing friezes ofcheerful peasants and workers. The memorial is impressive atany time of year, but is particularly imposing in the winter, whenthe snow absorbs all sound, lending the area a surreal, awe-striking atmosphere. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: 49 30 242 5969fax: 49 30 2472 7800http://www.babylonberlin.de

location:Rosa-Luxemburg-Strasse 30Berlin 10178

hours:Vary

8 Babylon Berlin: Mitte

DESCRIPTION: This Cineplex has 6 screens for your viewingpleasure. For a more enjoyable experience, sit back and relaxwith popcorn and a soda from the refreshment stand. For filmtimes, ticket prices and further information please see theirwebsite. © wcities.com

Babylon Berlin: Mitte

contact:tel: 30-319 86 180

location:Hedemannstraße 11-12Berlin Berlin 10969

9 Winters Hotel Berlin Mitte

DESCRIPTION: Central, modern hotel set inside the historicformer foreign ministry, located 300 meters from CheckpointCharlie and 80 meters from Friedrichstrasse.Guestrooms have modern decor and furnishings and allinclude satellite television, high-speed Internet ports and safes.Wireless Internet access is available in public areas of thehotel and the 24-hour front desk staff can assist with bookings.

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)http://www.potsdam.de/cms/beitrag/10000948/33994/

location:PotsdamPotsdam Brandenburg

hours:24 hrs

1 Potsdam

DESCRIPTION: Only half an hour S-Bahn ride from Berlin,the magnificent baroque city of Potsdam is a magnet forday-trippers and a must for visitors with time on their hands.Located to the south-west of Berlin, Potsdam was founded in993 and became the seat of the Prussian royal family in the18th century. It is now the capital of the state of Brandenburg.The grandiose baroque palace and landscape gardens ofSanssouci belong in the same league as other magnificentEuropean royal residences like Versailles and Windsor Castle.To see everything the grounds have to offer will take the greaterpart of a day. Other architectural highlights the city has to offerinclude Nikolaikirche church, Cecilienhof and the historic Dutchquarter. Potsdam is also known for its film industry, in particularthe Babelsberg Film Studios where classic German films likeThe Blue Angel were filmed. The Film Museum is definitelyworth a visit, even for children who don't know who MarleneDietrich is! And that's not all. Potsdam has much more to offervisitors—there are dozens of atmospheric cafés, riversidevillas and beautiful streets in the historic city centre which areperfectly suited to a leisurely stroll. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)http://translate.google.com/translate

location:WannseebadwegBerlin Berlin 14219


2 Großer Wannsee

DESCRIPTION: Not many people associate Berlin withdensely foliaged forests and crystal clear lakes. Yet the cityis richly endowed with both, particularly in the south-west,where several idyllic lakes - of which Wannsee is the largest- stud Grunewald Forest like glistening emeralds. A popularsummertime destination for day-trippers, sun-worshipersgather at Strandbad Wannsee, Europe's largest inland beach,while water sport fanatics and hobby sailors take to the water.Several boats offer cruises on the lake and surrounding watersand there are also ferries to Peacock Island, potsdam andSpandau. © wcities.com

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location:Grimmstraße 30Berlin

3 Il Casolare

DESCRIPTION: Il Casolareis known for it's authenticity in its menu, ambiance and its charminghospitality that make this restaurant and pizzeria truly Italian.

contact:tel: 49 30 618 9023http://www.wiener-blut.de/cont.html

location:Wiener Straße 14Berlin 10999

hours:M-F 6p onwards, Sa 3ponwards, Su 4p onwards

4 Wiener Blut

DESCRIPTION: Despite its name, this bar actually has nothingto do with the Viennese lifestyle. It used to be one of themany pubs in the Kreuzberg district that never closed, offeringcheap beer and table football. Then it was modernized andtransformed into a modern lounge-bar with gleaming silverplates covering the walls and red leather sofas. However, theold green color of the walls shines through the new stylingoccasionally, so you can see what it used to be like. Most of thecustomers come from the neighbourhood, and the beer is ascheap as ever. © wcities.com

Photo courtesy of Wiener Blut

contact:http://www.rosis-berlin.de/

location:Revalerstrasse 29Berlin 10245

5 Rosi's

DESCRIPTION: This high-energy dance club books the hottestin both local and international DJ talent. Nearly every night ofthe week, you'll find throngs of youngsters here grinding andgyrating to the sounds of deep beats and thumping bass. Seewebsite for event schedule and more. © wcities.com

Rosi's


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contact:tel: 30-319 86 180




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contact:tel: +49 30 266 2987fax: +49 30 266 2161http://www.museumsinsel-berlin.de/

location:Am Lustgarten 1Berlin Berlin 10117

1 Museumsinsel

DESCRIPTION: An ambitious "masterplan" for theMuseumsinsel is projected to be complete by 2015. Massiverenovation is taking place. A plan also exists for combining thetwo archaeological museums that reside on opposite sidesof the divide created by the befallen Berlin wall. When all iscompleted, visitors can browse the collections of archeologicalartifacts and muse at the unique architecture of the five mainbuildings that make up the complex. No need to wait until 2015to enjoy the museum's treasures as the Museumsinsel will beopen during reconstruction. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touriten Information)http://www.stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/staedtebau-projekte/alexanderplatz/index_en.shtml

location:AlexanderplatzBerlin Berlin 10178

hours:24 hours

2 Alexanderplatz

DESCRIPTION: Alexanderplatz is a central Berlin squarebased in the district of Mitte, boxed in by department stores,the new Alexa shopping complex, high-rise hotels and buses,trams and trains running all over the city. Formerly seen asthe centre of East Berlin, the soviets built their famous TVtower in Alexanderplatz in 1965-69, which stands a lofty 368mabove the streets below. A popular destination for tourists whowant to shop, eat Bratwurst and get a feel for inner city Berlin.Alexanderplatz also offers a great orientation point from whichto explore the city. © NileGuide

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 25 0025(Touristen Information)

location:Strasse des 17 JuniBerlin Berlin 10117


3 Tiergarten

DESCRIPTION: Stretching from the Brandenburg Gate inthe east to Zoo Station in the west, Tiergarten park is oneof Europe's largest and most beautiful inner-city parks.Originally conceived as a hunting ground for Prussian kings,the Tiergarten was transformed into an romantic landscapegarden in the early 18th century by Peter Joseph Lenné, whodesigned a series of winding paths, lakes, bridges, sculpturesand flower beds. The park was devastated in the Second WorldWar and during subsequent winters. Replanted in the fifties, theTiergarten is now as beautiful as it ever was and very popularwith locals and visitors alike. © wcities.com

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contact:tel: +49 (0)30 2 5401 x0fax: +49 (0)30 2 5401 x255http://www.zoo-berlin.de

location:Hardenbergplatz 8Berlin Berlin 10787

hours:Summer: Daily 9a-6:30p,Winter: Daily 9a-5p

4 Zoologischer Garten Berlin

DESCRIPTION: Zoologischer Garten The Zoological Garten,is one of the worlds largest zoos and home to the famousBerlin polar bear, Knut! Knut was famously hand reared by zookeeper, Thomas Dörflein, after his mother Tosca rejected himin 2006. The fluffy bear cub attracted millions of tourists fromaround the world and has since grown into a healthy 2.5m tall,210kg adult bear. Zoologischer Garten is one of Germany'sfirst zoos and was opened in 1844. Visitors can either enterthe zoo through the exotically-designed Elephant Gate besidethe aquarium or through the Lion Gate directly opposite theZoologischer Garten train station. © NileGuide

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contact:tel: +49 30 6107 4309fax: +49 30 6951 6735www.freischwimmer-berlin.de

location:Vor dem Schlesichen Tor 2aBerlin 10997

5 Freischwimmer

DESCRIPTION: Freischwimmer is a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful, open air wooden pavilionin the water. The menu is short and sweet, and you will feel as though you're dining in an exoticlagoon.

contact:tel: 49 30 695 66 775fax: 49 30 695 182 75http://www.spindlerklatt.com

location:Köpenicker Strasse 16/17Berlin 10997

hours:Lounge: Daily from 6p;Restaurant: Daily from 8p

6 Spindler Klatt

DESCRIPTION: Modern lines and expansive lounge space make this restaurant and bar one of themost popular party spots in the area. The restaurant is decorated in muted black and white, withlarge sofa cushions bordering the eating area, allowing guests a place to relax with friends beforeand after a meal. The event space is open and wide with dim lighting, creating a great ambiancefor live performances. If the weather is good, there is an outdoor deck area filled with even morelounge chairs -- not to mention a great view over the water. © wcities.com


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contact:tel: 49 0 30 612 80 396http://www.water-gate.de/program/index.html

location:Falckensteinstr.49Berlin-Kreuzberg 10997

7 Watergate Club

DESCRIPTION: If you like to go clubbing you'll enjoy this Berlinhotspot, featuring some of the most well-known and celebratedDJs in the world. The club is ultra-hip and chic, with someunique touches to the decor like a plate-glass floor/ceiling for alook-see at the party above or below. The layout of the interioris modern, but minimalist, perhaps to not detract from all thehuman eye candy. © wcities.com Watergate Club

contact:tel: 30-319 86 180




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Berlin Snapshot

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Local InfoBerlin is a city of contrasts andcontradictions, full of excitement andforever evolving. Perhaps the latter pointis the most poignant. The old and newGerman capital is in a constant state offlux, always"becoming" something withouthaving ever"been." This phenomenon hasaccelerated since the fall of the Wall, andefforts are now concentrated on turningBerlin into a international metropolis.For the past few decades, Berlin hasbeen undergoing major rebuilding andplanning efforts, which are visible in thenew cityscape around Potsdamer Platz andthe eastern city center. But there is also arebuilding process taking place less visibly-in the hearts and minds of Berliners.

The city is made up of 23 different districts,each with its own unique character. Thefollowing summary will help to give you anoverview of this fascinating city and provideyou with a guide to what you can do in eachparticular district and what you can expectto find there.

Mitte

Let's begin in Mitte, Berlin's most centraldistrict which literally meansthe center.The site of the first settlement in the MiddleAges, Mitte contains some of the city'soldest buildings such as Marienkirche andNikolaikirche in the Nikolaiviertel, as wellas many of Berlin's grandest buildings,strung out like pearls along the magnificentboulevard Unter den Linden. Stretchingfrom Museum Island(Museuminsel withthe Alte Nationalgalerie and the PergamonMuseum) past the imposing Berliner Domand the lovely fountains and evergreensof the Lustgarten, past the splendid CrownPrince's Palace, Humboldt Universityand the State Opera House, the historicboulevard is crowned by the emblem of theold and new capital- the Brandenburg Gate.

Although it contains many of Berlin'sarchitectural showpieces, Mitte is also anurban mishmash full of holes, imperfectionsand blemishes. The site of the former RoyalPalace(pulled down in the 1950s) is nowa rather open space, dominated by one ofGermany's most controversial buildings,the Palast der Republik(to be torn downcompletely in Spring 2009). Along with theTV Tower on Alexanderplatz, the formerEast German parliament is one of the city

center's few remaining symbols of theGDR era. Just a decade ago, Mitte wasscattered with drab socialist high-rises.Many of these have now been replaced bycapitalist temples of consumerism, suchas the postmodern Volkswagen Showroomon Unter den Linden and the futuristicglass department store Galeries Lafayetteon Friedrichstraße. Other buildings, suchas Hotel Adlon on Pariser Platz, havebeen rebuilt in the classic style of the early1900s.

A stone's throw north of the River Spree,the face of Mitte changes once again. Thisis the Mitte of bars, restaurants, cafés andclubs- the heart of Berlin's buzzing nightlifescene. It is also the district of alternativegalleries and artistic experimentation. Inthe years after the fall of the Wall, a uniquesubculture sprang up in the area aroundHackescher Markt and OranienburgerStraße. Art collectives and squatters movedinto the empty, run-down buildings andbrought new, alternative impulses to thearea, symbolized today by the Tachelescultural center or the Acud theater. Thisspontaneous, makeshift charm is graduallydisappearing, but that's another story.

Prenzlauer Berg

Let's stay east of the former border,although nowadays it's almost impossibleto see where the Wall used to be, due tothe major construction work taking placeon both sides. The district to the north-eastof Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, used to be thecenter of alternative culture and politicalresistance in the GDR. But it has sincebeen flooded by wealthy West Germans,eager to settle in the charming turn-of-the-century houses around Kollwitzplatz. As inMitte, alternative culture is now becomingmore and more established(for example, inthe Kulturbrauerei, which is now home to amulti-screen cinema complex). PrenzlauerBerg is no longer an insider tip, but still hassome of Berlin's best bars, restaurants andclubs.

Friedrichshain

Friedrichshain, the district to the south ofPrenzlauer Berg, has now taken over themantle as the last outpost of indigenous,alternative Berlin culture. A bit run downin places, this was the last area to becleared of squatters and is still the focalpoint for Berlin's left-wing anarchist scene.

Architecturally speaking, Friedrichshainis an intriguing mixture of concretesocialist high-rises, monumental Stalin-era mammoths(along Karl-Marx-Allee)and stylish, late-nineteenth century townhouses. The area around Simon-Dach-Straße is heaving with alternative bars,cafés and clubs and is a popular spot withstudents.

Kreuzberg

Crossing the River Spree on theOberbaumbrücke, we reach the legendaryKreuzberg district. Situated next to the Wallin former West Berlin, Kreuzberg becameinfamous during the 1960s and 1970s asthe center of West Germany's anarchistscene- a haven for squatters, hippies,punks and left-wing intellectuals. Althoughany remaining anarchists have longsince fled to neighboring Friedrichshain,Kreuzberg is still the venue for violentdemonstrations every 1st of May- inevitablyaccompanied by pitched battles with thepolice. A safer bet is to visit the annualCarnival of Cultures, Germany's biggestmulticultural street festival, which takesplace here every summer. Kreuzberg ishome to many immigrants, including some200,000 Turks. Some of this Oriental flaircan be experienced in the area aroundKottbusser Tor and Oranienstraße, whichalso has numerous alternative bars andcafés.

Potsdamer Platz

Heading up Friedrichstraße, past the ruinsof Anhalter Bahnhof(an old train station)and the Martin Gropius Building, we leaveKreuzberg and enter the Tiergarten districtat Potsdamer Platz. For many years a hugeconstruction site, Potsdamer Platz is nowcomplete. Boasting an enormous shoppingcenter- the Arkaden- entertainmentcomplexes such as the Cinemaxx andthe Sony-Center, a casino and a musicaltheater venue, Potsdamer Platz is a magnetfor tourists and locals alike.

Tiergarten

The real highlight of the district, however,is the sublime Tiergarten park, a refugefor nature-lovers, joggers and sunbathers.Full of ponds, grottoes and dotted withsculptures, Tiergarten park is crownedin the middle by the golden Siegessäulevictory monument. Until 2006, millions ofyoung people descended on Tiergarten

Berlin Snapshot continued

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once a year, for the Love Parade, ahedonistic feast of music and dancefor techno fans from all over the world.However, this highly popular institutionhad to be re-located to the Rhineland fororganizational reasons.

The north side of the park is the nervecenter of political power. Lined up oneafter the other are the newly-constructedministries, the monumental Reichstagparliamentary building and the equallymonumental Chancellor's Office, all in closerange to the controversial Jewish Memorialconsisting of numerous concrete blocks.Only the palatial Schloss Bellevue, seat ofthe German President, exudes some of thecalm of the surrounding park.

Schöneberg

Schöneberg, a scenic nineteenth centurybourgeois quarter, is a popular place togo for an afternoon coffee, an eveningcocktail or a bit of night-time partying. Thecafés and bars around Winterfeldtplatz arealways full, particularly after the market onSaturday afternoons. On the other hand,the streets around Nollendorfplatz andMotzstraße- home to Berlin's gay scene-are at their busiest(and most colorful) in theearly morning hours.

Charlottenburg

It's high time to discover Berlin's"second"city center, the triangle between Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Wittenbergplatz andAdenauerplatz which makes up thecenter of western Berlin. Most of thisarea, which celebrated its heyday backin the Golden Twenties, lies in theCharlottenburg district. Its main artery isKurfürstendamm, affectionately known byBerliners as"Ku'damm." This used to beone of Europe's finest and most elegantboulevards until it was reduced to rubbleduring the Second World War. It regainedsome of its flair in the seventies andeighties and is still a good place to see andbe seen, but it seems to be losing out in thepopularity stakes to Unter den Linden andFriedrichstraße in eastern Berlin, which nowattract more attention and more investment.

The Memorial Church on Breitscheidplatz,however, is still brimming with camera-wielding tourists. Ku'damm's side-streetsstill bristle with theaters and hotels, suchas the Kempinski, Savoy or Steigenberger-with boutiques, sushi bars and art galleries.The area around Savignyplatz is a great

place to go for a bite to eat or for a late-night cocktail, while the food hall on the topfloor of KaDeWe department store is a feastfor the senses.

Charlottenburg's crowning glory is themagnificent Schloss Charlottenburg royalpalace, featuring dozens of opulentlydecorated rooms and chambers, as wellas the lush Royal Gardens, the perfectplace for a relaxing Sunday afternoonstroll. Several world-class museums- theEgyptian Museum, Bröhan Museum andthe Berggruen Collection- are locatedclose to the palace. Further south, theFunkturm, a smaller copy of the EiffelTower, towers over the Exhibition Centerand the International Congress Center,offering great views over western Berlin.Well, we've now covered the inner city,so what do the remaining districts have tooffer?

Wilmersdorf

The southwest of the city is the place wherewealthy Berliners live. Largely sparedduring the War, there are hundreds ofbeautiful villas in Grunewald, part of theWilmersdorf district and around Dahlem inZehlendorf, which is also home to Berlin'sFree University. The area around LakeWannsee is a particularly popular spot withBerlin's high-society- perfect for mooringthe yacht at the bottom of the garden!

Steglitz

Steglitz is friendly, green and clean andhas two major attractions: the spectacularBotanical Gardens and some wonderfulshopping facilities around Schloßstraße.

Wedding and Neukölln

More down-to-earth are the working-class districts of Wedding in the north andNeukölln in the south, which is sometimesreferred to as the"Berlin Bronx." Althoughthey both have a reputation of beingghettos for the poor, unemployed and otherdown-and-outs, they are not as bad as theyare made out to be. In fact, they are livelyplaces with an earthy proletarian flair, aplace to meet"real" Berliners.

Eastern Districts

The eastern districts, on the otherhand, can't escape from the shadowof Communist East Germany, eventhough much has changed here sincethe fall of the Wall. Most of the gray

concrete towers in places like Lichtenberg,Weißensee, Treptow, Hohenschönhausenor Marzahn have been repainted in friendlypastel colors and now boast the largestentertainment complexes and the mostmodern shopping malls in the region.There's plenty to discover here, such as theworld's second biggest Jewish Cemetery inWeißensee or the monumental Soviet WarMemorial in Treptower Park.

Parks, Forests& Lakes

Berlin is a city full of green oases,like Volkspark Friedrichshain andVolkspark Humboldthain, Hasenheideand Jungfernheide, Rehberge and BritzerGardens. Berlin's many rivers and canals-such as the beautiful Landwehrkanal areflanked on both sides by broad, leafy parksand meander through the city like ribbons ofgreen and blue.

The icing on the cake is the wonderfulvariety of lakes and forests in the suburbs.Joggers and horseback-riders shareplaces like the Grunewald Forest, LakeSchlachtensee, and the Krumme Lanke.Also very popular are Tegeler Forest,Tegeler See(Lake Tegeler) and theMüggelsee(Lake Müggel) with wildboar, foxes and deer. Indeed, you wouldhardly ever need to leave the city limits-if it weren't for even more idyllic lakesand forests in the surrounding region ofBrandenburg.© wcities.com

HistoryBerlin is in good shape- and that'sdespite,notbecause, of its 800-year long history.

Back in 1300, the two neighboringtrading towns of Berlin and Coelln joinedforces centering in the district nowcalledMitte(meaning"center"). All butdestroyed by the Thirty Years War, theyoung city soon invited in its first batchof immigrants to make up for the loss inpopulation: French Protestants, persecutedin their home country and looking forreligious freedom were a welcome additionto Berlin's workforce. Their influence canbe seen today in the area around theFranzösischer Dom(French Cathedral) or inthe Berlin dialect, speakers of which still calla sidewalk atrottoir.

It then fell on the Prussian"Soldier King,"Frederick William I, to develop the city. In


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1709, he made Berlin the capital, and hisson, Frederick the Great, strengthenedPrussia's role as a major player in Europe.At this time, the Prussian court was acradle of enlightenment, frequently visitedby the philosopher Voltaire. The King'sappreciation of the humanities paved theway for a new era of classicist architecture,and fantastic buildings such as the ornateKonzerthaus and the imposing AltesMuseum were erected. Berlin's love affairwith the arts is reflected in the fact that thecity still boasts three opera houses- theDeutsche Oper, Staatsoper, and KomischeOper.

The Napoleonic occupation of Berlin in1806 was met with fervent patriotismand produced a powerful liberal reformmovement. However, the bourgeoisrevolution of 1848 was short-lived, andWilliam I became emperor of the SecondGerman Reich in 1871, with Berlin as itscapital.

Berlin boomed during the Founding Yearsat the end of the 19th century. Industrialgiant Siemens built a modern undergroundsystem capable of transporting hundreds ofthousands of people every day. Scientistssuch as Robert Koch led the world inresearch and development, while artistslike Gerhard Hauptmann and WassilyKandinsky paved new ground in the arts.

All this was cut short by the First WorldWar. After the war, Berlin became the focusof the failed 1918/19 revolution and wenton to become the capital of Germany's firstfragile democracy, the Weimar Republic, inthe 1920s. The city assumed the status ofa glamorous arts and entertainment center,while at the same time being an industrialpowerhouse. At the time, artists such asBrecht, Gropius and Feininger forgeda legacy that left a lasting impressionthroughout Europe.

Berlin remained the capital of Germanyduring the Nazi era. Hitler even envisionedthe city as"Germania," the capital of aglobal empire, and began to leave hismegalomaniac mark on the architectureand the infrastructure of the city. Berlinerssuffered under Nazi rule, especially thepersecuted left-wing movements and, ofcourse, the large Jewish community. Morethan 60,000 Berlin Jews, nearly half of thecity's population, died in the Holocaust.Thousands more fled the country. Jewish

cultural life has only recently known arevival(in the Scheuenviertel).

At the end of World War II, Berlin wasreduced to little more than a pile of rubble,its population halved. The PotsdamAgreement divided the city into foursectors, each of which was ruled byone of the Allies- the USA, the USSR,Britain and France. All too soon Berlinbecame the focus and symbol of Cold Waranimosities(and the preferred location forspy movies). While the German DemocraticRepublic proclaimed East Berlin its capital,the three western sectors remained underAllied supervision until 1990. On both sidesof the Wall — erected in 1961 to stop EastBerliners from fleeing, Berlin continuedto spearhead reform movements, suchas the peace movement in the West andopposition to the one-party regime in theEast. Thirty five years later, during his 1998visit to Berlin, US President Clinton wouldmake a point of echoing John F. Kennedy'sfamous words,"Ich bin ein Berliner"("I am aBerliner").

The fall of the Wall in 1989 wasn't entirelyunexpected. Level-headed politicians onboth sides of the Iron Curtain had beenworking towards a cautious reconciliationsince the early 1970s, but few expected theWall to fall overnight. An entire generationhad grown up knowing Berlin only as adivided city.

Nowadays, Berlin is once again the capitalof a democratic state, yet unification is verymuch a work in progress.© wcities.com

Hotel InsightsWhatever your budget and whatever yourtaste, the choice of places to stay in Berlinis vast. From astronomically expensiveestablishments boasting every conceivableluxury to basic backpackers' hostels; frommammoth international hotel chains tosmall, family-run boarding houses, this cityhas it all.

Changing Appeal

Much has changed in the decade sincereunification. Many of Berlin's major hotelsare now situated in the eastern part of thecity, such as the legendary Hotel Adlon nextto the Brandenburg Gate or the wonderfulFour Seasons on Gendarmenmarkt. Manyof West Berlin's traditional flagships such

as the Kempinski or InterContinental arenow struggling to hold their own againstthe young upstarts from the east. In fact, itisn't just the hotels that are suffering. Thewhole of the western part of town seemsto have lost its attraction in recent years.Both tourists and locals now tend to headeast for shopping, wining and dining, orsightseeing.

At the opposite end of the price scale,another kind of a revolution has takenplace. Since Berlin's first backpackers'hostel, Fabrik in Kreuzberg, openedin 1995, similar establishments havemushroomed all over the city. Backpackersnow flood to places like Circus. Berlin'straditional youth hostels, such as theextremely central Jugendgästehaus Berlin,are equally inexpensive but have a slightlymoth-eaten image in comparison to thetrendy new backpackers places.

Berlin is a city of two centers, and thisis reflected in the concentration ofaccommodation aroundKurfürstendammin the western city center andUnter denLinden in the eastern center.

Charlottenburg Most hotels in the westerncity center are located on Kurfürstendammitself or in the quieter side-streets justoff the main strip. Many of the majorhotels can be found on the upper endof"Ku'damm" between Uhlandstraße andthe Memorial Church, such as Kempinskiand Steigenberger on Los-Angeles-Platz,or the Savoy on Fasanenstraße. Cheaperaccommodation can be found in a numberof modern, medium-sized establishmentssuch as Hollywood Media or the ConceptHotel. If you're looking for somethingslightly smaller yet equally extravagant,try Bleibtreu or Hecker's. Other moreintimate and inexpensive alternatives inthe western center are Hotel California andHotel Augusta.

The area between Breitscheidplatzand Lützowplatz is home to severaldeluxe hotels: The Palace and theInterContinental, as well as theSchweizerhof, the Grand Hotel Esplanadeand Hotel Berlin, one of the largest hotels intown.

Mitte

On the other side of the BrandenburgGate- in Berlin's historic eastern citycenter there are several more deluxeestablishments vying for potential clients:


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The Westin Grand Berlin, the HiltonBerlin Hotel, the Four Seasons and theMaritim proArte Hotel Berlin. With theexception of the Hotel Adlon, none aresituated directly on Unter den Linden, butin the atmospheric Friedrichstadt quarternear Gendarmenmarkt. Another placeworthy of mention is the Hotel Agon onAlexanderplatz.

In all the above-mentioned areas, you'llfind that you have to pay a bit extra for theprivilege of being so centrally located. Butif you don't need your lodgings to be totallycentral, there are plenty of places that offergreat value for the money that are slightlyout of the city center. Public transport inBerlin is very reliable and runs throughoutthe night, so it's generally no problem ifyou're staying in a hotel slightly furtherafield. In fact, it can often be a relief to getaway from the hustle and bustle of thetourist areas and immerse yourself in thereal Berlin. Located next to the ExhibitionCenter are a couple of more affordableoptions. For example, the D:O:M:I:C:I:L:,the Kanthotel or the Ibis as well as family-run pensions host guests during majortrade shows at the Messe. That means thatprices can increase dramatically at certaintimes of the year. Schöneberg, Kreuzberg,Wilmersdorf& Tiergarten

The Western residential districts ofSchöneberg, Kreuzberg, Wilmersdorfand Tiergarten all have a wide range ofplaces to stay, catering to all tastes andall budgets. And it's not always the casethat the classy neighborhoods are full ofluxurious lodgings and that less well-offdistricts are full of dingy dives. Thus you'llcome across the moderately priced HotelSt. Michaels-Heim in the heart of exclusiveGrunewald, the pricey Park Consul(withprivate golf facilities) in working-classMoabit and the elegant turn-of-the-centuryHotel Riehmers Hofgarten in multiculturalKreuzberg.

Prenzlauer Berg& Friedrichshain

On the other hand, the Eastern residentialdistricts still only have a limited choice ofmedium-sized hotels, with the Park Innin Prenzlauer Berg and Upstalsboom inFriedrichshain being two rare examples.There are however, plenty of smaller hotelsand guesthouses to choose from, such asHotel Greifswald near Kollwitzplatz.

Lodging Near the Airports

Last but not least, a large number ofhotels are congregated around Berlin'sthree airports. The Dorint Budget HotelTegel, Mercure Tempelhof Airport and theenormous Estrel(1,125 rooms) not far fromSchönefeld airport in Neukölln, are the mostprominent examples.© wcities.com

Restaurants InsightsBefore the fall of the Wall, eating in Berlinwas regarded as a minor sideline to themore important matter of drinking. Guestswanting to sample a"typical Berlin dish"could easily be dissuaded by the meremention of such alleged delicacies as pig'sear with yellow peas. A liquid diet wasdefinitely the safer option.

Fortunately, Berlin's gastronomic landscapehas since changed beyond recognition.Gourmets are now spoiled for choice asmore and more first class restaurants opentheir doors to the public. Great food canalso be found in many cafés, which offera selection of national and internationaldishes at reasonable prices. Budgettravelers are well catered to by hundredsof Imbiss fast food restaurants- once therealm of the greasy sausage- but nowbrimming with Asian and Middle Easterndelights for just a few Euros.

Charlottenburg

Chic and up-market. The best restaurantsand cafés in the western city centerare found in the side-streets betweenKurfürstendamm and Kantstraße as well asin the area around leafy Savignyplatz.

Gourmets with a deep wallet should paya visit to Ana e Bruno for exquisite Italian,while those on a normal budget couldtry the legendary pizzas at XXII Apostel.Otherwise head to Tai Ji for some greatChinese, to Le Canard for fantastic Frenchor to Hitit for Turkish delights with anOriental flair. Celebrity spotters will be intheir element at Paris Bar, a French bistrobetter known for its well-heeled clientèleand late-night cocktails than for its food.

Fans of the traditional Berlin Currywurstsausage couldn't do any better than atthe Imbiss stand at Amtsgerichtplatz inKantstraße. The queues are always long,but it's well worth the wait! Good bets for alazy Sunday brunch are Restaurant 31 andPasticceria e Rosticceria Italiana. And, if

you're looking for a bit of pre-Wall flair, popinto Zwiebelfisch, Diener or Dicke Wirtin-traditional Berlin pubs that haven't changedin years.

Friedrichshain

A popular hang-out for students and youngBerliners. Friedrichshain is the last bastionof Berlin's"alternative" subculture and isthe best district to explore if you're lookingfor hip bars, cool cafés and undergroundclubs. Most are centered around Simon-Dach-Straße, Boxhagener Platz andSchreinerstraße. But at the rate that newplaces are opening up, it won't be longbefore Friedrichshain loses its insider feel.

Check out the spacey Astro Bar, thecocktail lounge next door to Dachkammer,and finish off the evening in Tagung, apopular bar-cum-club intriguingly decoratedwith East German political memorabilia. Ifyou can still handle breakfast after a longnight on the town, Leander and Apothekehave a good selection at knock-downprices.

Kreuzberg

For conservative radicals. Once a havenfor punks and anarchists, Kreuzberg hascertainly evolved since the fall of the Wall.While you can still savor some of thatold revolutionary flavor in a number ofbars around Oranienstraße and WienerStraße, southern Kreuzberg(aroundBergmannstraße) is now dominated by chiccafés and exclusive restaurants.

Riehmers Hofgarten, Altes Zollhaus andMedici serve up some of the best"neuedeutsche Küche" in town, while places likeAustria and Jolesh are good bets for moretraditional fare. Francophiles should headfor Le Cochon Bourgeois, while lovers ofMediterranean cuisine should pay a visit toSale e Tabacchi. Kreuzberg is also hometo thousands of Turkish immigrants. Sowhen in Rome... the Imbiss stand next toSchlesisches Tor U-Bahn station is widelyreputed to have the bestdöner kebabs thisside of Istanbul.

Many of Berlin's most scenic cafés aresituated on the banks of the canal at Paul-Lincke-Ufer, the perfect place for a lazySunday afternoon brunch. Sit down, relaxand watch the world go by from the gardensof Café am Ufer or Café Übersee, or waituntil night falls and mingle with Kreuzberg'syoung generation in Ankerklause.


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If you're looking for a taste of legendaryhard-core Kreuzberg, check out the likes ofMadonna or Intertank. Roses is a popularspot among the gay crowd. Slightly softer,but still very"Kreuzberg" are Morena andWiener Blut, both of which are highlyrecommended. If you're the more traditionaltype, pay a visit to Yorckschlösschen, arustic pub with hearty local fare and livejazz on Sundays. And when it comes totradition, there's nothing like Golgatha'sbeer garden on a warm summer evening.

Mitte

The undisputed center of Berlin nightlife,packed with bars, cafés, restaurants andclubs. While tourists now outnumberlocals in many of the establishmentsaround Oranienburger Straße, at leastyou won't have to search for long untilyou find a place that you like. From thesleek Café Orange to the wacky CaféZapata in Stachelschweine KabarettTheater, the Oranienburger Straße striphas something for everyone. But if youwant to avoid the masses and fancy a bitof local flair, try Café Ici or Hackbarth's innearby Auguststraße. Alternatively, head forMittendrin in Sophienstraße.

The area around Hackesche Höfe isequally busy. Popular lunchtime venuesare Café Hackescher Hof and Yosoy tapasbar, evening favorites include the SouthAmerican restaurant-bar Brazil, while night-owls flock to Cocktailbar Baal or SageClub. Gourmets can savor the finest newinternational cuisine at Borchardt and Vauwhile fans of hearty German food will be intheir element at Stäv, Volksgaststätte or ZurLetzten Instanz, said to be Berlin's oldestrestaurant.

Prenzlauer Berg

The fashionable, up-and-coming district.Particularly during the warm summermonths, beautiful, tree-lined Kollwitzplatzacts as a magnet for tourists who descendin droves on the atmospheric cafés andrestaurants that adorn the quaint nineteenthcentury square.

Locals, on the other hand, prefer to meetat cafés such Anita Wronski and SowohlAls Auch, or at late-night bars like LuxusBar. If you wish to drink in a smoke-freeatmosphere, check out Cafe Mia. Prater isalso a popular destination with a fantasticbeer garden.

There's good food aplenty to be had inPrenzlauer Berg: check out the breakfastbuffet at Li(bi)do or Schall& Rauch, thegreat antipasti at Il Pane e le Rose, thespicy curries at Mao Thai, the heartyRussian dishes and live folk music atPasternak or the Kurdish specialtiesconsumed on traditional floor cushions atMiro. For those looking for a quick snack:Zarskes Gaststätte.

Schöneberg

Plenty to do here. Many of the cafés andbars near Winterfeldtplatz and Goltzstraßesprung up in the 1980s, when Schönebergwasthe place to go out in West Berlin.Check out cult favorites such as Café Mand Mutter; try one of the superb cocktailsat Green Door.

Schöneberg is also the focal point ofBerlin's vibrant gay community, withcountless gay bars and clubs locatedaround Motzstraße and Fuggerstraße. Lenzdie Bar is popular in the early evening,Tom's Bar, Hafen, Connection or Beginelater on.

When it comes to eating in Schöneberg,you're spoiled for choice. Many Berlinerscome from far afield to breakfast in styleat places such as Tomasa, April andMontevideo. Gourmets should headstraight to Bamberger Reiter or Fischer'sRestaurant for classic and modern Germandishes and an enormous selection of wines.Otherwise, try Cheban for great Lebanese,Storch for traditional Alsace cuisine andBaharat or Habibi if you're in the mood for aquick falafel.

Tiergarten

Pricey and not particularly exciting, thesouthern part of Tiergarten is a popularhaunt for businessmen, politicians andvisitors staying in the hotels aroundLützowplatz. Hotel bars and restaurantsnaturally dominate the gastronomicscene, the highlight being Harry's NewYork Bar in the Grand Hotel Esplanade.Guests looking to venture out of the hotelin the evening could try the wonderfulMediterranean cuisine on offer at AmKarlsbad. Alternatively, wine and dine withBerlin's high-society in Paris-Moskau, a firstclass restaurant with a sumptuous summerterrace, and finish off the evening with acocktail in the Bar am Lützowplatz, Berlin'shigh temple of drinking.

If you're here on a warm summer evening,take a stroll through the idyllic Tiergartenpark to Café am Neuen See- one ofBerlin's most attractive beer gardens-or to the popular Schleusen Krug on theLandwehrkanal. A real Berlin institution isCafé Einstein, an exquisite coffee housewith original 1920s flair- perfect for arelaxing brunch or an afternoon coffeebreak.

Wilmersdorf

This area caters to a young and affluentcrowd. The cafés and restaurants aroundLudwigkirchplatz heave with studentsduring weekends. See and be seen inplaces like Café Solo or Manzinis, head toJimmy's Diner for dinner and finish off theevening with a cocktail in the earthy BerlinBar. If you're just looking for somewhere torelax during the day, try the glorious Caféim Literaturhaus, a peaceful oasis just astone's throw from Ku'damm.© wcities.com

Nightlife InsightsFamous throughout the world as a Meccafor culture and entertainment, many peoplewould claim that Berlin is itself little morethan one big entertainment complex.Yet, there are some special places in thisentertainment nirvana, the best of which weshall list here.

Cinema

Berlin boasts over 100 cinemas, fromultra-modern multi-screen complexesto traditional film theaters such as theUFA Palast. A particularly atmosphericestablishment is the Soviet-styleInternational on Karl-Marx-Allee. For moreobscure films try the Acud, where youwon't be disturbed by hundreds of popcorn-junkies. And don't worry if your Germanisn't up to par, as places like the Odeonand Babylon Kino feature the latest flicksfor English speakers, whereas the CinémaParis features movies for the French crowd.

Comedy

Well, if you can take some heavy satire,Berlin Mitte is the place to be. From thelegendary Distel to the Chamäleon'slate night shows in the HackeschesHof Theater. Charlottenburg alsohas plenty to offer, with its traditional


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Wühlmäuse,Stachelschweine and the morecomedy-oriented Bar jeder Vernunft.

Theater

Theater in Berlin can mean a lot ofdifferent things, such as controversialcontemporary Anglo-American drama attheBaracke or a light comedy with massappeal on Ku'damm(Komödie& Theateram Kurfürstendamm). While directorFrank Castorf heckles the audience at theVolksbühne am Rosa Luxemburg Platz,veteran Claus Peymann reinterprets Brechtat the Berliner Ensemble. Internationalavant-garde dance troupes step it up at theHebbel Theater, acrobats and magiciansput a spell on the Wintergarten, while theGrips-Theater interacts with its youngaudience. Anglophiles should check out theEnglish Theater Berlin(not opera, but fringetheater).

Music

Berlin is also a great place for musiclovers. Even though David Bowie andIggy Pop are long gone, Marilyn Mansonis still supposed to enjoy some absintharound the corner. Top addresses includeKreuzberg's Junction Bar or Bebop forjazz, the Sage Club for Afro-beats and hip-hop and the SO 36 for alternative/punk/rock. Big gigs take place at the Arena andColumbiahalle. Classical aficionados haveto make the painful choice between threeopera houses- or simply head straight tothe Philharmonie to listen to the world-famous Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alternative Culture

All of the above too middle-of-the-road foryou? Check out the innumerable centers ofalternative culture that Berlin is famous for.The UFA-Fabrik, for example, is the placeto be in summer, while the Kulturbrauereiis good for alternative theater, art andconcerts. A kaleidoscope of modernChinese art, salsa parties or readings bywriters from developing countries are on theagenda at the Haus der Kulturen der Welt,while the Pfefferberg concentrates on theyounger, hipper, multi-cultural clientele ofreggae and rai concerts.

Clubs

It's getting late and you want to moveyour dancing feet? The clubs aroundRosenthaler Platz have the remedy! Someare tucked away in backyards and haveirregular opening hours, others are hard to

find for lack of a name over the door, butall are open until dawn. The Sophienclubquenches the pop, soul and Latin thirst; fortechno, head to Friedrichshain's Berghainor to Tresor's new location on KöpenickerStraße. Berlin counts numerous nightclubs.Further options include the Watergate Clubor the Pulp Mansion.

Other Options

Confused or undecided? The PotsdamerPlatz offers- after shopping in the US-styleArkaden- many entertainment options,including a casino, a 3D IMAX MovieTheater, a musical theater, the Theateram Potsdamer Platz and a multi-screencinema, the Cinemaxx. But if you're lookingfor something more typical, you'll alwaysfind plenty to do in the two streets that evenBerliners love to confuse,Oranienstraßein Kreuzberg and Oranienburger Straßein Mitte, each with a mix of restaurants,shops, bars, cafés, movie theaters andmusic venues that will guarantee a greatevening out.© wcities.com

Things to Do InsightsMost cities only have one center, butBerlin has two. Although East and WestBerlin have successfully interwoven toform a more-or-less homogeneous city,city planners are still trying to cope withthe"problem" of two centers.

Brandenburg Gate

For those in Berlin for the first time, a strolldown Unter den Linden, Berlin's mostprestigious boulevard, is a must. Begin atthe Brandenburg Gate, situated on PariserPlatz, which was once the border of Eastand West Berlin. Today Brandenburg Gateis a symbol of German reunification. Thisbroad, tree-lined avenue contains many ofBerlin's historic landmarks, including theMax Liebermann Haus. Near the Reichstag,home of the German government, andthe Brandenburg Gate, lies a huge field ofconcrete blocks. The Holocaust Memorial,formally known as the Monument tothe Murdered Jews in Europe, providesinformation about the Jews who were underthe wrath of Nazi forces. For an in-depthlook into 2000 years of Jewish history, paya visit to the Jewish Museum. Also, nearbyon niederkirchnerstraße is the Topographiedes Terrors, which features an exhibitionrecounting the history of Nazi crimes.

Restaurants are mostly located inside thehotels in this area, yet plenty of food standsprovide visitors with refreshments andsnacks.

Friedrichstraße

Friedrichstraße was the focal point ofBerlin's thriving nightlife during the"GoldenTwenties," but now has become filled withritzy shopping malls like Galeries Lafayette.Behind the Friedrichstadt-Passagen isGendarmenmarkt, one of Berlin's mostbeautiful squares, featuring the gracefulDeutscher Dom and Französischer Dom.Visit the popular Haus am CheckpointCharlie to learn about the history of theCold War. In addition, nearby is the siteof the Berliner Mauer(Berlin Wall), theformer symbol of a divided Europe thatendured four decades of uncompromisingand unrelenting politics of the Cold War era.Beginning at the former border-crossing onFriedrichstraße, the Tränenpalast(Palaceof Tears) conjures up memories of tearfulgoodbyes as Berlin's divided families bodefarewell after an all-too-brief visit. AlongEbertstraße, red stripes on the road markthe route of the Wall that many wouldprefer to forget. To see the longest andmost famous stretch of Wall, you'll need totake the S-Bahn to Ostbahnhof. This 1.3-kilometer(3/4 mile) long stretch of Wall waspainted by artists from all over the worldin 1990 and has now been turned into anopen-air exhibition known as the East SideGallery.

Museumsinsel

The beautiful Schlossbrücke, whichspans the River Spree, brings youtoMuseumsinsel(Museum Island), thenorthern part of the island in which severalrenowned museums occupy. The AltesMuseum, Alte Nationalgalerie, PergamonMuseum and Bodemuseum make up oneof Europe's most impressive art collections.After years of reconstruction, the NeuesMuseum will reopen in 2009 to the public.Next, walk back towards the main streetthrough the lovely Lustgarten, the formerroyal gardens once used by the Nazis andEast Germans for military marches, youcan't miss the enormous Berliner Domwhich rears up on your left. Built in 1905and modeled on St. Peter's Cathedral inRome, Berliner Dom was destroyed duringthe war and then painstakingly rebuilt overthe ensuing decades. Across the roadfrom the cathedral, you can still see the


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gloomy Palast der Republik, the formerEast German parliamentary chamber.It is supposed to be deconstructed byFebruary 2009. It was built on the site ofthe glorious 15th-century Berliner Schloß,the royal palace that was deemed unworthyof restoration and was demolished byEast German authorities in the 1950s.The only remnant of the original palace isthe triumphal arch-portal, which has beenincorporated into the State Council Buildingon the south side of Schlossplatz.

Nikolaiviertel& Alexanderplatz

Near the State Council Building youwill reach the Nikolaiviertel, the historicbirthplace of the city. Within this squareyou can tour around the Red City Hall,Alexanderplatz, an important railwaystation, and the famous Fernsehturm(TVTower). Tastefully revamped by EastGerman authorities for Berlin's 750thanniversary celebrations in 1987, thecenterpiece of this historic city quarter is the13th-century Nikolai Church. Nearby youcan also visit the Knoblauchhaus, an 18thcentury house, turned museum.

Kurfürstendamm

Starting from Berlin's oldest undergroundstation at Wittenberg Platz, head downTauentzienstraße, past the legendaryKaDeWe department store until you reachBreitscheidplatz, dominated by the ruins ofthe Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. Youmight enjoy a visit to Berlin Zoo, situatedbehind the Memorial Church. Continuedown Joachimstaler Straße and take aright onto Ku'damm, the smart shoppingboulevard that runs through the heart ofthe western center. If you're feeling hungry,turn right into Knesebeckstraße and followthe road until you hit Savignyplatz. TheDicke Wirtin offers typical Berlin cuisine,and Bohemian-types will like Zwiebelfischcafé.

Whether you travel by land or sea, you willexperience the city's historical significancewhile you venture through the modernlandscape of Berlin. Guided and boat toursoffers insider information, or you can alwayspick up a tour book, hop on a bus and seefor yourself.

Guided Tours

Insiders Walking and Bike Tours Berlin( +4930 692 3149/ http://www.insidertour.com/tours.php/) Unwrapping History( http://www.unwrapping-history.de/) Tour-the-

East( +49 30 4703 4747/ http://www.tour-the-east.com/)

Bus Tours

Berlin City Tour( +49 30 68 30 2641/ http://www.berlin-city-tour.de/)Berlin Sightseeing( +49 30 79 74 5600/ http://www.berlin-stadtrundfahrt-web.de/) Oldtimer Berlin( + 49 3021 90 21 88/ http://www.oldtimer-berlin.com/) BBS( http://www.bbsberlin.de/sightseeing_english_berlin_hotel_incoming/index.htm/)

A cheap alternative to an organized touris a trip on the no. 100 bus departing fromthe bus station at Zoologischer Garten.The bus passes many famous sights alongthe way, including the Memorial Church onKu'damm, the Victory Column and BellevuePalace in the Tiergarten, the Reichstagand Brandenburg Gate, the State Operaon Unter den Linden and the TV Towerat Alexanderplatz. Buses run every tenminutes.

Boat Tours

Reederei Winkler( +49 30 349 9595/ http://www.reedereiwinkler.de/)Berliner Seegler-Verband( http://www.segeln-in-koepenick.de/) BerlinerWassertaxi( +49 30 65 88 02 03/ http://www.berlinerwassertaxi.de/)© wcities.com

Travel TipsGetting There

Air

Currently three major airports serviceBerlin: The northwestern Airport Berlin-Tegel(TXL)(+49 1805 00 0186/ http://www.berlin-airport.de/); the southeasternAirport Berlin-Schönefeld(+49 1805 000186/ http://www.berlin-airport.de/); andthe central Airport Berlin-Tempelhof(+491805 00 0186/ http://www.berlin-airport.de/).The former Central Airport of theGDR(Schönefeld) is being expandedto become the Berlin BrandenburgInternational Airport. After it opens in2011, the downtown airports in Tegel andTempelhof will be closed.

Airport Berlin-Tegel

Air Berlin(+49 1805 737 800/ http://www.airberlin.com/) Air France(+49 1805830 830/ http://www.airfrance.com/)

Air Italy(+356 2364 5300/ http://www.airitaly.eu/) British Airways(+49 180 526 65 22/ http://www.ba.com/) Condor(+49180 5 767 757/ http://www11.condor.com/)Continental Airlines(+49 180 3 21 2610/ http://www.continental.com/) DeltaAirlines(+49 180 333 7880/ http://www.delta.com/) Eurowings(http://www.eurowings.de/) Finnair(+49 1803 34 66 24/ http://www.finnair.com/)Germania(+49 1805 737 100/ http://www.germania.aero/) Iberia(+49 180544 29 00/ http://www.iberia.com/de/) LTUInternational Airways(+49 30 4101 3601/http://www.ltu.de/) Lufthansa(+49 180 3 8038 03/ http://www.lufthansa.com/) SAS(+491805 117 002/ http://www.flysas.com/)Swiss International Air Lines(+49 304101 2764/ http://www.swiss.com/)TUIfly.com(+49 900 109 95 95/ http://www.tuifly.com/)

Airport Berlin-Schönefeld:

Aer Lingus(+49 89 552 533 53/ http://www.aerlingus.com/) Condor(+49 1805 767 757/ http://www.condor.com)/Easyjet(+49 900 1100 161/ http://www.easyjet.com/) Germanwings(+49 90019 19 100/ http://www.germanwings.com/)Icelandair(+49 69 29 99 78/ http://www.icelandair.de/) LTU InternationalAirways(+49 30 6091 3898/ http://www.ltu.de/) Norwegian(+47 815 21 815/http://www.norwegian.no/) Ryanair(+49900 116 0500/ http://www.ryanair.com/)Sky Airlines(+90 242 3108500/ http://www.skyairlines.net/) Transavia(+49 695 0985 446/ http://www.transavia.com/)

Airport Berlin-Tempelhof

Brussels Airlines(+49 30 6951 3850/ http://www.brusselsairlines.com/) InterSky(+49 306951 2686/ http://www.intersky.biz/) LGWLuftfahrt-Gesellschaft Walter(+49 30 69512681/ http://www.lgw.de/)

From the Airport

Airport Berlin-Tegel

Public Transport: It's easy to find publictransportation connections from Tegel tothe heart of the city: The buses 109 orexpress X9 will take you to ZoologischerGarten. From here you can connect bybus, U-Bahn(subway) or S-Bahn(tram) toanywhere in the city. Tickets are valid fortwo hours for all public transport. Stops arelocated outside of the terminal. For visitorsfrom Dresden, Leipzig, and Magdeburg, theairport offers a special shuttle service that


33

will take you to your destination and back.However, you have to book in advanceunderhttp://www.berlin-airport.de/.

Taxi: Taxis can be found at ground leveloutside of Terminal A and TerminalC. Companies include: Taxi-RufWürfelfunk"0800-Cabcall" AG:+49 800 22222 55 Quality Taxi:+49 800 26 300 00 FunkTaxi Berlin:+49 30 26 10 26 TaxiFunk BerlinGmbH:+49 30 44 33 22 Even though mosttaxi drivers speak English, it shouldn't beexpected

Car Rental: The car rental counter islocated near parking space P2. Avis(+49 304101-3148/ http://www.avis.de/) Budget(+4930 4101-3364/http://www.budget.de/)Europcar(+49 30 418520/ http://www.europcar.de/) Hertz(+49 30 4704674/http://www.hertz.de/) Nationalcar(+49 304101-3383/ http://www.nationalcar.de/)SIXT(+49 1805 252525/ http://www.sixt.de/)

Airport Berlin-Schönefeld

Public Transport: From the airport's trainstation(located 400 meters/0.2 milesnorth), you have easy access to thesubway(S9) that will take you to many ofthe downtown locations, such as Ostkreuz,Ostbahnhof, Alexanderplatz, HackescherMarkt, Hauptbahnhof, and ZoologischerGarten. If you want to reach Schöneberg,Charlottenburg, or the Westkreuz, S45will take you to these destinations. Awide range of buses depart from theairport(some of them even directly in frontof the terminals): X7, 162, 163, 171, 734,736, N60, N71

Taxi: Taxis are located either directlyoutside of the terminals or outside of thetrain station. For a list of companies andphone numbers, see above.

Train: At the train station, you have accessto the Deutsche Bahn(DB), which will takeyou to other German cities. However theIntercity Express(ICE) does not servicethis station, only the slower, regional train.Trains serving this station are RE7, RB22,and RB14. To reach other major German orEuropean cities by train, the nearest stop isOstbahnhof.

Car Rental: Avis(+49 30 6091-5710/http://www.avis.de/) Budget(+49 306091-5700/ http://www.budget.de/)Europcar(+49 30 6349160/ http://www.europcar.de/) Hertz(+49 306091-5730/ http://www.hertz.de/) E-Sixt(+491805 252525/ http://www.e-sixt.de/)

Airport Berlin-Tempelhof

Public Transport: Airport Berlin-Tempelhofis the most central airport of the city witheasy access to the subway U6 at thePlatzder Luftbrücke. From there it will takeyou about 15 minutes to reach the citycenter at Friedrichstraße from where youhave access to subway lines servingZoologischer Garten, Alexanderplatz,Ostbahnhof, Ostkreuz, and Westkreuz.Various bus stops are located outside of theairport where you have access to the 104and the 248.

Taxi: Taxis are located in front of the airportat thePlatz der Luftbrücke. For a list ofcompanies, see above.

Car Rental: Avis(+49 30 6951 2444 or+49 30 6581 2340/ http://www.avis.de/)Europcar(+49 30 6904 700/ http://www.europcar.de/) Hertz(+49 30 69819892/ http://www.hertz.de/) SIXT(+49 1805252525/ http://www.sixt.de/)

Since May 2006, the central stationBerlinHauptbahnhof is located in Berlin Mitte.From there, travelers are able to reachtheir final destination in Berlin by usingpublic transport for free if they have a validDeutsche Bahn(DB) train ticket. DeutscheBahn(http://www.bahn.de/) is Germany'snational railway, offering a comprehensiveservice to German and other Europeandestinations. Tickets are expensive if youpay full fare, but the DB does have a rangeof specials which make train travel moreeconomical. Schedules can be foundon their website. Special fares to watchout for include: Schönes WochenendeTicket(Happy Week-end Ticket): EUR33/35.On Saturdays or Sundays, unlimitedtravel for up to five adults on any regionaltrain in Germany. Brandenburg Ticket:EUR27/29. One day unlimited travel withinBerlin and Brandenburg for up to fiveadults. Brandenburg-Berlin Guten AbendTicket(Brandenburg-Berlin-Ticket Night):EUR21. It is valid from Monday to Sundayfor one day of your choice from 9a until 3aof the following day.

Bus The Central Bus Station(ZentralerOmnibusbahnhof(ZOB)), from which allintercity services depart, is located inthe west of city. From here you catchthe U2 atMesse Nord/ICC(directionVinetastraße/Pankow) to get to the citycenter. The following bus companieshave regular departures from the

ZOB to all major German& Europeancites: Berlinien Bus(+49 30 302 5361/http:// www.berlinienbus.de/) GulliversReisen GmbH(+49 30 89 0660/ http://www.gullivers.de/)

Car Berlin can be accessed bythe Autobahn, Straße des 17. Juni,Bismarckstraße, Tauentzienstraße,Potsdamer Straße and BrandenburgischeStraße.

Getting Around

Public Transport BerlinerVerkehrsbetriebe(http://www.bvg.de/)operates nine underground lines(U-Bahn),28 tram lines(S-Bahn), 163 bus lines andsix ferries. Single Tickets start at EUR2.10,Day Passes at EUR6.10 and 7-Day Cardsat EUR25.40. See the website for details.For information on public transportationvisit:(http://www.berliner-verkehr.de/traffic.htm/) Berlin Linien Bus(http://www.berlinlinienbus.de/)

Bike In comparison to other German cities,locals find the motorist/cyclist relationshipin Berlin rather hostile. For some, however,Berlin is bicycle heaven- wide streets,reserved(and respected) bike lanes. BicycleStation provides bike rentals and tours ofBerlin. For more information visit: PedalPower(http://pedalpower.de/).© wcities.com

Fun FactsBerlin State: Berlin Country: Germany

Berlin By The Numbers:

Population: 3.4 million(city), 4.9million(metropolitan) Average WinterTemperature:-6° C/ 31° F AverageSummer Temperature: 18° C/ 65° F MostPrecipitation: 100 mm/ 4 in Annual amountof taxes to be paid to own a dog: EUR150.

Quick Facts:

Time Zone: GMT+1(GMT+2 daylightsavings time); Central European Time(CET)Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz, German 2-pin-plug Country Dialing Code:+49 AreaCode: 30

Did You Know?

Musician David Bowie and Iggy Pop lived inBerlin during the 1970s. He once reportedlydescribed they city as"the greatest culturalextravaganza that one could imagine."


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Imported coffee was banned by FriedrichII in order to encourage sales of the localbeverage: beer!

© wcities.com

WeatherStatisticsJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec Temperature C Average High3481419222424191473 AverageMean115914171919151051 Average Low-1-1251013151411730 Temperature F Average High373947566671757566574438Average Mean333441485763666659514035 Average Low303035414955585852453732 Rainy Days10891089101087811 Rain Fall(cm)3.33.13.12.33.613.015.014.011.07.03.00.0 Rain Fall (in)1.31.21.20.91.41.91.91.61.41.11.31.4

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