Berlin is not only the capital of Germany, it’s a symbol of the world’s recent history.

And if Berlin is best known for its historical associations as the German capital, it is also renowned for its internationality and tolerance, for its lively nightlife, for its many cafes, clubs, and bars, for its street art, and for its numerous museums, palaces, and other sites of cultural interest.

Although badly damaged in the final years of World War II and broken apart during the Cold War, Berlin has reconstructed itself greatly, especially with the reunification push after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

It is now possible to see representatives of many different historic periods in a short time, from a few surviving medieval buildings near Alexanderplatz, to the ultramodern glass and steel structures in Potsdamer Platz.

Because of its tumultuous history, Berlin remains a city with many distinctive neighborhoods. Berlin is proud of the alternative lifestyles that thrive in this avant-garde culture, and creativity is applauded.

WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO IN BERLIN

Taking a metro and walking around is by far the best option to get the real Berlin feeling.

The Mitte and surrounding districts are sufficiently compact to allow a number of excellent walking tours through its history-filled streets.

You'll see amazing things you would otherwise miss. Some of the more popular districts worth visiting are Prenzlauer Berg, Mitte, and Friedrichshain in the former east, and Charlottenburg, Kreuzberg, Tiergarten, and Schoeneberg in the former west.

Each of these districts is completely different from the next, evident in everything from attitudes to architecture.

A trip to Berlin is not complete without seeing a few, if not all, of the following sights: the Reichstag, The German Parliament building, near the Brandenburg gate, Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche church, Unter den Linden, Museum Island, Staatsoper, Kurfürstendamm, Potsdamer Platz, and Gendarmenmarkt, the Berlin Wall Memorial with the nearby Check-Point Charlie, one of the gates linking Berlin East and West during the cold war, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

A leisurely and scenic way to get from one end of the city to the other is by travelling by boat along the Spree River. Most only operate from March through October.

Just out of Berlin, Potsdam is the capital of the surrounding federal state of Brandenburg, and makes a perfect day trip. Especially the park of Sanssouci, a world heritage site with its great famous palaces, is worth a visit. You can get there with the suburban rail line S7.

GETTING THERE

Berlin, located in the heart of Europe, is easily accessible by all means of public transports.

By private car, a wide range of highways connect the city to all destinations in Germany and Europe.

Three airports service Berlin, the main one is Tegel, 10 km west of the city. Schönefeld airport is serviced mainly by low cost carriers, in the southeast of the city, about a 30 minute by car or shuttle from the city center of Berlin.

The S-Bahn suburban train lines S9 and S45, and Airport Express Trains run downtown, with a free shuttle bus transporting passengers from Schönefeld airport to the station every 10 minutes.

The smallest of the airports, Tempelhof, is located in the south of the city,of Berlin along the Underground line 6. Shuttle services are available from all airports to Berlin and viceversa.

Berlin has several train stations linking the city nationwide and to Europe. Most of the lines reach and depart from the new central station, the Hauptbahnhof, located right in the city center.

GETTING AROUND

Berlin is far larger than Paris, but thankfully public transportation goes everywhere, it is easy to use and pretty inexpensive.

Berlin's public transportation is a mix of underground lines and urban and suburban railways buses, trams, and ferries.

The city of Berlin is divided into three zones (A, B, and C), and tickets can be purchased according to transportation needs. The most commonly purchased fare is for Zones A and B which covers the entire city of Berlin. Late-night bus service is available.

While walking is still one of the more preferable ways to see the city, many people choose to rent a bike to save time. However, before peddling along the boulevards, it's wise to plan the route that will cover all the areas you wish to see to avoid wasting time getting lost.

BERLIN USEFUL INFORMATION

Language: German
Currency: Euro
Electricity: 220 Volts AC
Area Code: +49 (Germany) 030 (Berlin, drop the 0 if calling from abroad).
Emergency Codes: Ambulance 112, Fire 112, Police 110
Time Zone: GMT +1
Main Tourist Office: There are few info points scattered around the city, called Berlin Infostores, the main ones at the central train station (Hauptbahnhof) and at the Brandenburger Gate.