Berlin is a city of rapid growth, where innovation and diversity have fused together to create a young and vibrant culture. You’ve only to join a walking tour to discover examples of jaw-dropping street art, or evidence of a music scene that has drawn the likes of David Bowie and Iggy Pop as one-time residents. The city is also one of Europe’s major startup capitals, with new enterprises opening every week.
That being said, landmarks of eras gone by remain among the city’s biggest attractions. The historic Reichstag wows visitors with its gleaming glass dome, while sections of the graffitied Berlin Wall, which divided the city for almost three decades, still stand in Potsdamer Platz. The iconic Brandenburg Gate has become a symbol of reunification since the wall fell in 1989, and is undoubtedly one of the highlights of any visit.
In summer, it tends to be hot enough to explore the city outdoors, or enjoy a spot of sunbathing in Tiergarten Park.
In winter, visitors flock to Germany’s capital to see glittering Christmas Markets like Berliner Weihnachtszeit, which is set up annually behind Alexanderplatz. Wrap up warm and stroll from stall to stall, buying festive souvenirs and mugs of hot Glühwein in this storybook setting.