Introduction
Berlin, capital of unified Germany and a city that can easily claim to have the most eventful history from the day of its foundation around 900 years ago. After a long cycle of construction and destruction, from evolving highest forms of culture to the lowest form of humanity, Berlin has seen it all. The long years of Cold War that separated it in two worlds are gone and a refreshing change is visible everywhere. This is a city that bares its wares to the visitors on different stages of their interaction. Today, Berlin undoubtedly is a city of the future and most of the city architecture you would encounter here have not seen more than 50 years. It is a remarkable feat of man's endeavour to recreate from the ruins a place within a short span of time that is as happening as any other place in the world can be.

What to do
Apart from regular sightseeing, shopping, and dining, the river cruising is a beautiful experience. Neighbourhood of Berlin offers some interesting glimpses in the glorious (or whatever you call it) history of Berlin. Berlin has very comfortable cycling tracks and moving around in the city on your pace should sound good to you.

City at a Glance

Latitude 52° 27' N Longitude 13° 18' E Area 890.77 Sq Km Population 3,445,033 Language German Religion Christianity

History
Unlike most other large city of Europe, Berlin do not have a long history to boast off. But, it has a history that changed the shape of the world and that is not a mean achievement. The city was founded at a place named Cöllin around Spree River south of Museumsinsel. The new city merged with Collin in 1432. The city saw its first brush with dynastic rule when Elector Friedrich II established Hohenzollem Dynasty that ruled here till 1918. Berlin's first encounter with wars was during Thirty-Years War when when its population declined considerably. The city rose again in 17th century when Friedrich I made Berlin his capital and all round development of the city begin. The city grew manifold in the 19th century fuelled by Industrial Revolution and wealth generated by large German conglomerates. At the end of 19th century, Germany had became most industrialised nation of the world, but two continuous World Wars ruined the city and most of the city landscape today is built on the ruins of devastation caused by these wars. The Potsdam Conference in 1945 divided the city under USA, UK, France, and then USSR to be later divided into two one administered by Western powers called West Berlin and other administered by communists with the help of USSR called East Berlin. A wall between two parts of the city was constructed in 1961 that disrupted any contacts left between these two parts. Two Berlins could be reunified only in 1990 when the wall was hacked to pieces and last remnants of communist era was settled to dust. Today, Berlin Wall is hardly visible though the scars still remain.

Weather and Best Season to Visit
Weather varies widely and you should be ready to face any type of climate. There is no specific seasons. May to October is the most reliable season with least variations in the climatic conditions. This is also the peak season when accommodation is most in demand.

Attractions
Brandenburg Gate
Brandenburg Gate is perhaps the most known landmark of Berlin. It was constructed in 1788-91 by C.G. Langhans as a symbol of peace. Additions were made in the future making it the most powerful symbol of Prussian might. The gate remained inaccessible to general public from 1961 to 1989 after its reconstruction in 1961. Since 1991, after restoration, the gate is still standing in its glory.

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche on Breitscheidplatz
This is perhaps most famous structure in Berlin along with Brandenburg Gate. The church was constructed in 1895 to remind of the first German Emperor. It was damaged badly in a 1943 air raid and new structure along with the ruins was built and opened in 1961 for the public. The inner portion of this octagonal building is quite impressive when sunlight streams through the blue windows from the charters.

Checkpoint Charlie Museum
The watch tower was built by the allied forces after construction of Berlin Wall. Now no remains of this tower is left which in the Cold War era, one of the most important pressure points. The museum has many items such as instruments used to escape from the East Berlin by the people and like. A portion of Berlin Wall has been preserved nearby that is decorated by the local artists.

Dahlem Museums
The complex houses collections of objects from outside Europe like Museum of Indian Art, Museum of East Asian Art (closed for modernisation), and Museum of European Cultures.

Museumsinsel (Museum Island)
Mitte or Museumsinsel has first and oldest museum complex of Berlin dating back to 1830. Presently the complex houses these museums Atles Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie - Picture Gallery, Bode Museum, Neus Museum, and Pergamon Museum.

IMPORTANT FESTIVALS AND EXHIBITIONS
Berlin is a city that soulfully believe in enjoying every minute of life they live. Plenty of events and outdoor activities marks Berlin psyche. Some of the events that you as a traveller to the city should also enjoy are Berlin International Summer Carnival-The Carnival of Cultures in June, Lesbian and Gay Street Party in June, Gay Pride Day in June, Love Parade in July, Classic Open Air (Berlin Gendarmenmarkt) in July, Christmas Fairs during November and December, and Shopping Weekends during November and December. Berlin Film Festival is a big celebration of whatever happening in the world of films from around the world. It is held every year in the month of February.

PLACES NEARBY
Potsdam
The closest and most famous day trip just beyond the Southwestern tip of Berlin. Potsdam is the capital of Brandenburg state and famous for its grandiose collection of palaces and outbuildings in Park Sanssouci. Major attractions are St-Nikolaikirche, Altes Rathaus, Yorck- and Wilhelm-Raab-Straße, The Holländisches Viertel ('Dutch Quarter'), Filmmuseum, Sanssouci ('Without Cares'), Marmorpalais ('Marble Palace'), and Schloß Cecilienhof.

Babelsberg
If the films define your passion then don't miss out on Babelsberg on the prosaic east bank of Potsdam. The main site here include Brauhausburg (former state parliament building), Telegrafenberg ('Telegraph Hill'), and Filmpark-Babelsberg (the Babelsberg Film Studios).

AFTER HOURS
Drinking and nightclubbing are the central form of entertainment in Berlin not only today but from quite long in the past. The nightlife in this city is dynamic with most of the restaurants closes by 11 to 12 pm and night-clubs opening till 2 to 4 am in the morning. Security is minimal and not required too giving the night birds a free time without any disturbance. You can choose from an array of specialised clubs like Techno, house, trance, drum 'n' bass, hip hop, kitchy electronica, African, R&B/soul, blaxploitation, biker, neo-rockabilly, headbanger, gothic, neo-grunge, industrial, neo-wave, post punk, lounge-core and Latin scenes.

SHOPPING
The city of Berlin may not offer to you the best of shopping options but it is still more than a match for the big shoppers abilities. You can shop from the nouveau-ritzy consumer Quartiers of Friedrichstrasse, Potsdamer Platz, or Ku'Damm, to the boutique neighbourhoods of hipster Mitte, chic Charlottenburg or from the cash rich Schöneberg, Berlin has it all.

WHERE TO STAY
Berlin, being the venue of many international trade fairs, film exhibitions, and other cultural activities, faces accommodation crunch most of the times. Most of the accommodation options are available around Kurfürstendamm (Ku'damm), in the Western Berlin. East Berlin do not have the same standard of hotels or other visitors facilities and frequented mainly by the Germans in the far flung areas who want to experience this area. Grunewald and Charlottenburg also have some fine accommodation options.

WHERE TO EAT
Berlin prides itself on its ability to serve quality food on reasonable rates. You can have a great dinner in a good restaurant and at a cost that would be certainly lesser than other large cities of Europe. The restaurants here serve a good variety of local cuisine such as Berliner Schlachteplatte (cold plate), pigs' trotters cooked with sauerkraut and pea puree, Eisbein (pickled knuckle of pork with sauerkraut), Venison, wildfowl, wild boar, carp, trout, and a great variety of sausages.

TRAVEL INFORMATION
Air Travel Resources
There are three International city airports (Tegel, Tempelhof, and Schöfeld) in Berlin that connect it with almost all parts of the world. Access to city centre from these airports is easy with good network of city transportation system.

Land and Water
Berlin is connected to multiple destinations in Europe through trains. City has quite a good number of railway stations that integrate it with city's public transport system. If you are coming from destinations in Western Europe such as Amsterdam and Hamburg, you would be arriving at Zoo Station. If you are arriving from eastern destinations like Vienna, Prague, or Budapest, your station would be Lichtenberg.

Local Transport
Berlin has an accessible and well-integrated public transport system run by Berlin's Transport Authority (BVG). You require only one ticket to hop from bus to underground or U-Bahn to surface rail (S-Bahn) to trams. Cycling is easy and safe in Berlin and there are plenty of cycle lanes around Tiergarten park area.

TRAVEL RESOURCES
Tourist Office
Europa-Center
Entrance Budapester Straße

Brandenburger Tor
Pariser Platz
South wing

Postal Address

Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH
Am Karlsbad 11
D-10785 Berlin
Tel: ++49 - 1805 - 75

Banks
Emergency - 030/31-00-31

Ambulance - 112

Bank and Money Exchange
American Express
Bayreutherstrasse 37-38
Tel: 030/2149830; U-Bahn: Wittenbergplatz

Alte Potsdamer Strasse 7
Tel: 030/25297474; U-Bahn: Hüttenweg

Am Borsigturm 2
Tel: 030/43402060; U-Bahn: Borischverger

Friedrichstrasse 172
Tel. 030/2017400; U-bahn: Friedrichstrasse

Deutsche Bank
Wittenbergplatz (U-Bahn: Wittenbergplatz)

Dresdner Bank
Kurfürstendamm 237 (U-Bahn: Kurfürstendamm).