Berlin Overview

Berlin, a city that until November 1989 was divided by the politics of the Cold War, encapsulates 20th century European history. But with a rich history dating back to 1247, and over 80 galleries, it is much more than just a symbol of the Iron Curtain.

Districts

Berlin is a city of contrasts and contradictions, full of excitement and forever evolving. For the past decade, Berlin has been undergoing a major rebuilding process which is visible in the new cityscape around Potsdamer Platz and the eastern city centre. But there is also a rebuilding 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...

Mitte is Berlin's most central district, which literally means 'the centre'. The site of the first settlement in the Middle Ages, Mitte contains some of the city's oldest buildings such as Marienkirche and Nikolaikirche in the Nikolaiviertel, as well as many of Berlin's grandest buildings, strung out like pearls along the magnificent boulevard Unter den Linden.

The district to the north-east of Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, used to be the centre of alternative culture and political resistance in the GDR. But it has since been flooded by wealthy West Germans, keen to settle in the charming turn-of-the-century houses around Kollwitzplatz.

Friedrichshain, the district to the south of Prenzlauer Berg, has now taken over the mantle as the last outpost of indigenous, alternative Berlin culture.

Across the River Spree at Oberbaumbrücke bridge is the legendary Kreuzberg district. Situated next to the Wall in former West Berlin, Kreuzberg became infamous during the 1960s and 1970s as the centre of West Germany's anarchist scene - a haven for squatters, hippies, punks and left-wing intellectuals.

Heading up Friedrichstraße, past the ruins of Anhalter Bahnhof station and the Martin Gropius Building, is the Tiergarten district at Potsdamer Platz, a magnet for tourists and locals alike. The real highlight of the district, however, is the sublime Tiergarten park, a refuge for nature-lovers, joggers and sunbathers. The north side of the park is the nerve centre of political power. Lined up one after the other are the newly-constructed ministries, the monumental Reichstag parliamentary building and the equally monumental Chancellor's Office. Only the palatial Schloss Bellevue, seat of the German President, exudes some of the calm of the surrounding park.

Schöneberg, a scenic nineteenth century bourgeois quarter, is a popular place to go for an afternoon coffee, an evening cocktail or a bit of night-time partying.

The triangle between Ernst-Reuter-Platz, Wittenbergplatz and Adenauerplatz makes up Berlin's 'second' city centre, the centre of western Berlin. Most of this area, which celebrated its heyday back in the Golden Twenties, lies in the Charlottenburg district. It's main artery is Kurfürstendamm, affectionately known by Berliners as 'Ku'damm'.

The south-west of the city is the place where wealthy Berliners live. Largely spared during the War, there are hundreds of beautiful villas in Grunewald, part of the Wilmersdorf district and around Dahlem in Zehlendorf, which is also home to Berlin's Free University.

Steglitz is friendly, green and clean and has two major attractions: the spectacular Botanical Gardens and some wonderful shopping facilities around Schloßstraße.

More down-to-earth are the working-class districts of Wedding in the north and Neukölln in the south, lively places with an earthy proletarian flair, a place to meet 'real' Berliners.

The eastern districts, on the other hand, can't escape from the shadow of Communist East Germany, even though much has changed here since the fall of the Wall. Most of the grey concrete towers in places like Lichtenberg, Weißensee, Treptow, Hohenschönhausen or Marzahn have been repainted in friendly pastel colours and now boast the largest entertainment complexes and the most modern shopping malls in the region. There's plenty to discover here, such as the world's second biggest Jewish Cemetery in Weißensee or the monumental Soviet War Memorial in Treptower Park.

Entertainment, Dining and Drinking

Famous throughout the world as a Mecca for culture and entertainment, many people would claim that Berlin is itself little more than one big entertainment complex. Yet there are also some special places and spaces in this entertainment nirvana waiting for you to explore.

Berlin's bars and restaurants have much more to offer than just sausages, sauerkraut and beer. The German capital has become a cultural and culinary melting pot, a place where East meets West and where ancient traditions mix with modern experimentation. The city offers a vast array of international gastronomic delights, catering to all palates and budgets. With over 12,000 restaurants, bars and cafés, you can be sure you won't have to travel far for your next treat! Gourmets are now spoilt for choice as more and more first class restaurants open their doors to the public.

Great food can also be found in many cafés, which offer a selection of national and international dishes at reasonable prices.

Berlin's bars have enjoyed a legendary status ever since the 'Golden Twenties' when swinging Berlin was the most happening city in the world. Neither wartime bombs nor the building of the Wall could alter Berlin's well-deserved reputation as a paradise for drinkers and night-owls. From sophisticated cocktail lounges to dingy drinking dens, from rustic pubs with battered wooden stools to ultra-modern, glass and chrome institutions - Berlin has it all. There's just one thing missing - an official closing time.

Beer is the popular choice at many bars, the local matadors being Schultheiss and Berliner Kindl. Other popular brands are Becks, Warsteiner and Jever, yet you really can't go wrong whichever beer you choose.

Where To Stay

Whatever your budget and whatever your taste - the choice of places to stay in Berlin is vast. From astronomically expensive establishments boasting every conceivable luxury through to basic backpackers' hostels, and from mammoth international hotel chains through to small, family-run boarding houses, this city has it all.

Much has changed in the decade since reunification. Many of Berlin's major hotels are now situated in the eastern part of the city, while many of West Berlin's traditional flagships are now struggling to hold their own against the young upstarts from the east.

At the opposite end of the price scale, another kind of a revolution has taken place. Since Berlin's first backpackers' hostel opened in 1995, similar establishments have mushroomed all over the city.

Berlin by the Numbers

Elevation: 157 feet
Average Annual Days with Rainfall: 225 days
Average January Temperature: 31 degrees F
Average July Temperature: 65 degrees F

Time Zone: GMT+1 (daylight savings GMT+2)
Country Dialing Code: 49
Area Code: 30

Population: 3.5 million
Ethnic Mix: 91.5% German, 2.4% Turk, other 6.1% ( Serbs, Croats, Italians, Russians, Greeks, Poles, Spaniards, Albanians )

Did You Know?

Berlin always makes history. It was the site of the 1936 Olympics, the last one held until after World War II. At this Olympics, U.S. runner Jesse Owens won a gold medal, infuriating Adolf Hitler because he could not accept that an African-American man bested the Nazi/Aryan athletes.

Orientation/Geography

Berlin is dually the largest city and the capital of Germany, located in the heart of the country. Germany is east of Belgium and the Netherlands, west of Poland and north of Austria.

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