The city of Berlin is a city that enjoys a deep and intriguing history. However, few people realize that it has a lively nightlife. Berlin offers a multitude of clubs, bars, museums, palaces, and much more to entertain and delight any traveler. Though many parts of Berlin were badly damaged during World War II, these areas were reconstructed during the years following the war. The city now offers visitors a rewarding and fascinating visit that they will never forget.

There are three major airports serving Berlin. These include Tegel International, Schonefeld, and Tempelhof. Buses are available from all three of these airports. However, Schonefeld also offers the S-Bahn – the S9 line will take you to Berlin city center. Schonefeld also offers train services at similar cost.

Berlin is such a large city that it’s critical visitors should try to understand the public transportation system before they visit. Thankfully, the Berlin transportation system is very efficient and easy to use. The U-Bahn is Berlin’s subway system – it’s a zoned system. Fares discounts are available through Tageskarte day cards (zones A & B), or the Berlin WelcomeCard, which offers unlimited travel in zones A and B. The S-Bahn run very often and it is one of the fastest and easiest methods to get around Berlin. For more information, call S-Bahn at (0 30) 29 74 33 33.

The underground subway system is called the U-Bahn and it is also very easy to use. All U-Bahn stations offer electronic signs that provide the time of the next train, and the direction the train is headed. The U-Bahn provides extremely efficient transportation throughout greater Berlin.

Buses are slower than the U-Bahn or the S-Bahn; however they provide access to just about every location in Berlin. There are additionally express buses that don’t stop at every station – these are a faster solution to get across the city a little more quickly. Fares are reasonable and the bus networks are very easy to use and navigate. Also consider taking a ride on the 100, which leaves from Zoo Station – on this unique route, you can tour most of historic Berlin from a fun double-decker tour bus.

Finally bicycling is certainly another fantastic way to experience Berlin. The city offers a number of bicycle paths, and bicycles are a very popular method of transportation for residents. Bicycle rentals are available, and guided bike tours are offered as well.

Where to go Shopping in Berlin

Berlin offers some of the best shopping opportunities in the world, including bustling shopping districts, very posh and upscale boutiques, and intriguing and elegant shopping. For the shopper with a variety of interests and a love for bargains – this city has it all.

Some examples of the best Berlin shopping areas include Ku’Damm, which is filled with high-end specialty stores. The Tauentzienstrasse and intersecting Marburger, Ranke, and Nurnberger offer a variety of stores specializing in German fashions. This area includes the amazing Europa Center, Berlin’s major indoor shopping center – complete with 75 shops, restaurants, and cafes.

And while in this area, no shopper should miss experiencing KaDeWe – the biggest department store in continental Europe.

Another great shopping area in Berlin is Uhland-Passage at Uhlandstrasse 170, which is an upscale market offering the finest boutiques and big-name stores. This area includes Bleibtreustrasse, where shoppers will browse trendy and avant-garde boutiques selling haute-couture clothing. Additionally, Kempinski Plaza features posh and exclusive boutiques.

Moving along to another great shopping area – the Berliner Zinnfiguren at 88 Knesebeckstrasse is a famous shopping place for collectors. Believe it or not, this shop offers over 10,000 pewter figurines of soldiers from the many imperial armies. It also has a large inventory of military historical collectibles and books.

For shoppers who crave the shopping mall experience, Potsdamer Platz Arcades provides visitors with over 100 stores on three levels that where shoppers enjoy a wide selection of retail shopping choices. Restaurants and cafes are available to relax at after your shopping spree, and cinemas are available as well.

Finally, Friedrichstrasse is an exclusive shopping opportunity at Quartier 206 in Berline Mitte. This street has a large assortment of quality products from international designers in an art deco environment. Quartier 207 is home to the Galeries Lafayette, a spectacular building. Quartier 205 houses a large array of stores and a great full food court with international menus to select from.

Time to Visit Berlin!

Aside from being the capital of Germany, Berlin is also the largest city in Germany. It is a city that is, today, diverse and cosmopolitan. This is a beautiful city where east meets west in a metropolis that has seen both hard times and good times. Berlin is a unique city that provides an abundance of exciting opportunities for visitors to enjoy. A trip to Berlin is absolutely certain to include entertainment, recreation and shopping experiences that will never be forgotten

Berlin is a city that has a very deep history, a beautiful architectural appeal, and a great deal to offer visitors and shoppers. The political and cultural developments of the 19th and 20th centuries have transformed this cityscape into an exciting and promising city ready to offer visitors the absolute best experience Germany has to offer.

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From our base in Rostock, we decided to take the train down to Berlin on a day trip. Compared to the UK, travelling by train in Germany is luxury. It would appear the German’s consider the train to be a service rather than a business where the shareholders are the highest priority…but enough of that.

As we were travelling on a Sunday, we were able to take advantage of a special weekend ticket (Schones-Wochenende-Ticket.). For 37EUR, up to 5 people could travel on 2nd class from Rostock to Berlin return on any of the direct trains plus travel in Berlin on the S-Bahn (city trains) was also included. The 250km (150miles) trip too around 2 hours 40 minutes on a fast, comfortable train.

As our time in Berlin was limited, I did what I always advise people to do when they want to see as much of a city as possible in a short space of time – we took a city tour by bus. The Berlin City Tour was one of a number of tour options we had and this one suited us perfectly as they had a stop at the Berlin Haptbahnhof (Main Station). The Berlin City Tour has a single route with 6 hop on/hop off points around the city taking in all the main sights of Berlin. The complete loop takes around 1 hour 45 minutes with short stops at the Brandenburg Gate, Alexandraplatz and the shopping street of Tauentzienstrasse. The tour commentary was provided in German and English by a guide sitting at the front of the bus.

Angel, Tiergaten

Most people know Berlin as the Capital of the Third Reich under Adolf Hitler and more recently as a city divided into East and West by the Cold War. However, the history of Berlin dates back to 1237 and there are a number of sculptures and landmarks in the city to mark its’ 750th anniversary.  Berlin is also the place where President Kennedy addressed the crowds in 1963 and made his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” quote in a speech were he was underlining the US support for West Germany. Today, there is a Kennedy Museum located a few metres away from the Brandenburg gate. More recently, Barack Obama addressed a crowd of around 200,000 people in Berlin from the Angel in the Tiergarten.

Between 1933 and 1945, the Nazi’s Gestapo Headquarters were set up on Prinz-Albrehct-Strasse just one block away from Checkpoint Charlie. Part of the original Berlin Wall still stands here. The original buildings were partly destroyed during World War II and were finally demolished in 1956. Since 1997, a permanent exhibitions has been in place called the “Topography of Terror”. Across the road (and the former Berlin Wall) is the building where Herman Goering’s Air Defence Ministry conducted their operations, including the Battle of Britain.

Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin

As the section of the Berlin Wall ends, you will see a double line of bricks along the pavement and road. This line marks where the Berlin Wall used to stand and there are plaques at regular intervals that read “Berliner Mauer 1961 – 1989”. If you want a brief taste of the old East, it is possible to hire an old East German Trabant car for a short time and take part in a Trabant Safari around Berlin. One block along from the “Topography of Terror” exhibition is Checkpoint Charlie, the iconic crossing point of the East/West Berlin border. After the end of World War II, control of Berlin was given to the Allied Forces. The British, French and Americans controlled West Berlin while the Soviets control the East. In 1961 as the Cold War intensified, the people of Berlin woke up to find the Soviets were ringing West Berlin with miles and miles of barbed wire. Over time, the wall was strengthen and fortified dividing the city. However, West Berliners were still permitted to cross into the East (and back again) and foreign nationals could also cross the border. Checkpoint Charlie was one of the crossing points and it was here in late 1961 that tanks from America and the Soviet Union were involved in a stand-off that some feared could have resulted in World War III.

In 1989, as the era of Communism was coming to an end, Berlin was the city where one of the main symbols of the oppressive regime finally fell as the Berlin Wall was opened allowing people in the East to freely travel to the West of the city. Since reunification, Berlin has once again been restored as the capital city of Germany and there is plenty of rebuilding and restoration work underway throughout the city.

A visit to Berlin is part of the itinerary on a number of the Battlefield tours or you may prefer to visit Berlin for a city break. These can both be arranged with Explorer Travel 0208 816 8789.

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From our base in Rostock, we decided to take the train down to Berlin on a day trip. Compared to the UK, travelling by train in Germany is luxury. It would appear the German’s consider the train to be a service rather than a business where the shareholders are the highest priority…but enough of that.

Berlin, city in northeastern Germany, capital of a united Germany from 1871 to 1945 and again since 1990. It lies on the flatlands of the North German Plain at the confluence of several rivers and amid many lakes. The city’s slight elevation made it a site for human settlement even in prehistoric times. Berlin has a population of about 3,454,200 (1992 estimate) and an area of approximately 889 sq km (343 sq mi).

After World War II (1939-1945) Berlin, badly damaged during the war, was situated within the German Democratic Republic (GDR; also known as East Germany). The city was subsequently partitioned into East Berlin and West Berlin. The divided city not only symbolized the collapse of the German Empire, of which it was the capital, but also became a focus of Cold War tensions between the Communist nations led by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and the group of Western nations led by the United States. The Berlin Wall, a barrier separating East and West Berlin built by the East Germans in 1961, blocked free access in both directions until November 1989; during the time it stood, at least 80 people died attempting to cross from East to West Berlin. By the time Germany was unified in October 1990, much of the wall had been torn down. A few small segments remain as memorials.

Economy

Following the division of the city of Berlin in 1949, the economies of the two halves of the city were integrated into the economies of the two newly separated republics of Germany.

The economy of East Berlin was totally integrated with that of East Germany and also benefited from a steady stream of visitors from West Berlin and West Germany. East Berlin was the hub of East Germany’s commercial, financial, and transportation systems, and, although it comprised less than one-half of the former unified city, it was also a huge manufacturing center. Among its principal manufactures were steel and rubber goods, electrical and transportation equipment, chemicals, and processed food. The Spree River, which is connected by waterways with the Baltic Sea, widened in East Berlin to form a major inland harbor. An airport at Schönefeld, just south of the city, served both East and West Berlin.

Much of West Berlin’s industrial capacity was destroyed in World War II, and its economy suffered again during 1948 and 1949, when the USSR blockaded the area in an attempt to drive out the Western powers. Beginning in the 1950s, however, West Berlin’s economy was revitalized with a great deal of assistance from West Germany and from the United States, which provided support under the European Recovery Program (Marshall Plan). The city soon became an important manufacturing center, producing electrical and electronic equipment and substantial quantities of machinery, metal, textiles, clothing, chemicals, printed materials, and processed food. The city also developed as a center for international finance, for research and science, and for the important West German film industry. It was linked to West Germany by highways, canal systems, a railroad, and airplane services, which used Tegel, Tempelhof, and Gatow airports in West Berlin and Schönefeld airport in nearby East Germany.

With the destruction of the Berlin Wall in 1989 the two halves of the city were once again physically integrated. Their economic integration became official in July 1990. East Berlin underwent a greater economic upheaval, with many formerly state-owned businesses succumbing to privatization.

While reunification (Die Wende, or “the change”) allowed many families and friends long separated by the Berlin Wall to reunite, it also brought with it numerous economic and social problems. Berlin has been forced to deal with housing shortages, strikes and demonstrations, unemployment, and increases in crime and right-wing violence against foreigners. Unification costs in Germany have led to increased taxes, reduced government subsidies, and cuts in social services.

Points of Interest

The imposing Brandenburg Gate (1788-1791), inspired by the Propylaea of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, is located at the western end of Unter den Linden, a famous boulevard in Berlin that extends east to Museum Island, in the Spree River; the Brandenburg Gate was closed to free access until December 1989. On or near the boulevard are the classical-style State Opera House (1743); the State Library (1774-1780); the baroque Arsenal building (1695-1706; designed by Andreas Schlüter), now housing a historical museum; Saint Hedwig’s Cathedral (1747-1773); the Gothic Church of Saint Nicholas (late 14th-early 15th century); the French Cathedral of the Platz der Akademie area, the heart of the French quarter in the 17th century; and the University of Berlin (1810), whose faculty has included 27 Nobel Prize winners and philosopher G. W. F. Hegel. Well-known streets crossing Unter den Linden are the Friedrichstrasse and the Wilhelmstrasse, on which once stood the Reichschancery of Adolf Hitler.

Berlin’s most famous boulevard is the Kurfürstendamm, which is lined with fashionable hotels, restaurants, shops, and movie theaters. At the boulevard’s eastern end is a ruined tower, all that remains of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (1891-1895; destroyed during World War II), maintained as a reminder of the destructiveness of war. Adjacent to the ruins are a polygonal church and its separate campanile (1959-1961). Branching from the Kurfürstendamm is the Tauentzienstrasse, a major shopping street and the site of the Europa Center (1963-1965): a 22-story complex of restaurants, shops, offices, cinemas, a planetarium, and an ice-skating rink. To the northeast is the Tiergarten park, largest of Berlin’s nearly 50 parks, which extends about 3 km (about 2 mi) to the Brandenburg Gate. In the Tiergarten are the large, modern Congress Hall (1957); the Reichstag building (1884-1894), once the seat of the German parliament, which was gutted by fire in 1933 and again damaged at the end of World War II, but which has since been largely restored; the Berlin Zoological Garden, the largest and one of the oldest in the world; and an aquarium. Near the Tiergarten is the Kulturform complex, including the Museum of Applied Arts; the Bauhaus Archives and Museum, commemorating the Bauhaus school of architecture and design (1919-1933); the Musical Instrument Museum; the National Library; the New National Gallery (1968), designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, housing a collection of 20th-century art; and the striking Philharmonie Concert Hall (1963), an asymmetrical structure that serves as the home of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

Southeast of the Tiergarten is Oranienburger Strasse and environs, the heart of prewar Berlin’s Jewish district. Revitalization of the area has included restoration of the New Synagogue (1866), which was badly damaged on Kristallnacht (see Holocaust) and by bombing. The synagogue is now a center for the study and preservation of Jewish culture. The area is also known for its art galleries, cafés, bars, and artists’ studios. Berlin’s oldest Jewish cemetery is nearby.

Museum Island, in eastern Berlin, is the site of the Pergamon Museum (1930), with a fine collection of Greco-Roman and Asian art; the Bode Museum, with displays of ancient Egyptian and Byzantine art; and the National Gallery (1866-1876), with exhibitions of 19th-century painting.

On the eastern bank of the Spree is Alexanderplatz, a large square with restaurants and stores; nearby are the Television Tower (365 m/1197 ft) and Red Town Hall. A statue facing the eastern entrance to the town hall commemorates the Trummerfrauen (Rubble Women), thousands of women of all ages who cleared up vast quantities of rubble left in Berlin after World War II.

Forests and farmland cover nearly one-third of Berlin. In the southwestern part of the city is the vast Grunewald forest, which contains a great deal of woodland and the large Wannsee, formed by the Havel River, as well as a Renaissance-style hunting lodge (principally mid-16th century, with 18th-century additions), the large Olympic Stadium (built for the 1936 Olympic Games), and a broadcasting tower (1924-1926) measuring 138 m (453 ft) high. Other points of interest include Charlottenburg Palace (begun 1695), which houses the Museum of Decorative Arts, and the neoclassical Humboldt.

In the Dahlem district of western Berlin, near the Grunewald, are a group of famous institutions, which include the Painting Gallery, with displays of European painting from the 13th to the 16th century; the Ethnological Museum; the Sculpture Gallery; museums of Indian, Islamic, and East Asian art; and the German Folklore Museum. North of the Dahlem district is the Bridge Museum, displaying 20th-century German Expressionist art by Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, and others. Other museums in the city include a museum of Greek and Roman antiquities; the Bröhan Museum, with Art Deco and Jugendstil collections displayed in period settings; and the Egyptian Museum, which contains a world-famous bust of Nefertiti, queen of Egypt in the 14th century BC.

Besides the University of Berlin, institutions of higher education include the Bruno Leuschner College of Economics (1950); the Hanns Eisler College of Music (1950); the Free University of Berlin (1948), founded mainly by professors and students dissatisfied with conditions at the University of Berlin in East Berlin; and the Technical University of Berlin (1879). Additional cultural facilities include museums of Berlin and German history, the Comic Opera, and the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, home of the Berliner Ensemble, noted for productions of plays by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht, its founder. Also located in Berlin are the German Film and Television Academy (1966) and the College of the Arts (1975). Additional performing-arts facilities include the German Opera and the Hebbel Theater. The city is the site of an annual film festival and numerous other festivals. Berlin hosts the annual Grüne Woche, Germany’s largest agricultural fair.

In Berlin’s northern suburb of Sachsenhausen is the site of one of the first concentration camps in Germany, built in 1936; the site is now a memorial. After the war Soviet secret police used the camp to house war criminals, former Nazis and military officers, and opponents of the occupying regime. The camp was closed in March 1950. In 1992 arsonists set fire to the camp museum during a wave of attacks against foreign asylum-seekers.

Berlin has an efficient integrated system of subways, elevated train lines, buses (including all-night service), and trams.

European Metropolis

In 1871 Berlin became the capital of the unified German Empire. During the following decades the city grew into a major industrial center, specializing in machinery, electrical goods, and textiles. Culturally, Berlin won worldwide fame for its excellent theaters, concerts, and exhibitions; commercially, it benefited from a wide network of railroads converging at the city. Extensive construction of factories and commercial buildings attracted thousands of workers, most of whom were housed in large tracts of shoddy tenements.

After World War I (1914-1918) Berlin’s adjacent communities were incorporated into the city, increasing its population to 3,850,000. Berlin suffered economic setbacks during the troubled Weimar Republic (1919-1933), but the wealth of its theatrical, musical, and other cultural offerings remained unrivaled.

During the restrictive Nazi years (see National Socialism), Berlin’s cultural life lost much of its prestige. An ambitious building program, by which German dictator Adolf Hitler aimed to make the city the world’s foremost capital, was architecturally uninspired and never completed. In 1936 the city was host to the Olympic Games. During World War II large parts of Berlin were destroyed by air raids and, toward the end of the war, by artillery fire and street fighting. By 1945, about 50,000 prewar buildings had been destroyed, many were in ruins, and the city contained some 75 million cu m (101,250,000 cu yd) of rubble. Berlin’s population was 2,800,000, down from its prewar 4,400,000.

National Capital

When Germany reunified in October 1990, a reunited Berlin once again became the national capital. The seat of the federal government was scheduled to shift from Bonn to Berlin by the year 2000, although the Bundesrat (federal council) and eight federal ministries will remain in Bonn. Renovation of the Reichstag building is under way to accommodate the Bundestag (lower house of parliament); the surrounding area will house federal government offices. South of the Reichstag, Potsdamerplatz is scheduled for major development, including a $2-billion office complex to open in 1998. In September 1994 French, British, and U.S. troops formally left Berlin. Following the departure of Russian troops the month before, the event marked the end of an occupation that had lasted for nearly 50 years.

After the unification of Germany in 1990, subsidies once provided by the German government ended, forcing the Berlin government to make extensive cuts in its budget in the mid-1990s. Public service jobs were trimmed, and costs for social services increased. Angry postal and construction workers went on strike, and children and teachers protested the cuts in education and services. In addition, expenditures by the government increased as it helped rebuild East Berlin to bring it up to the standards of West Berlin

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The city of Berlin is rich in history and culture, and many first time visitors are captivated by its charm and beauty. From the warmth of the people to the vibrant nightlife, this world class city is a must see for any serious traveler.

First time visitors will of course want to make the most of their time in Berlin, and there are a number of great tours designed to help first time travelers get acquainted with this wonderful destination.

Guided tours can be a great way for first time visitors to get acquainted with any new city, and Berlin offers some of the finest tours available. From walking tours focusing on the history of the city to motor coach tours designed to help travelers get the lay of the land, tours of Berlin are a wonderful way to learn about the city, meet travelers from around the world and have lots of fun.

English speaking visitors to Berlin will be happy to know that there are a wealth of tours available in their native tongue. Whether their German is passable or nonexistent, these visitors will be able to find their way around and learn about the city.

Walking tours are always a big hit in Berlin, due in part to the fact that the city is so compact. With so many famous attractions in so small an area, a walking tour of the city is a great way to enjoy its rich history and cultural traditions. Visitors to Berlin will also be happy to know that Berlin is not nearly as crowded as some other European capitals. The smaller crowds make walking in Berlin a real delight for history buffs and other visitors alike.

Visitors who prefer a go it alone tour can opt for one of the many self guided walking tours designed for first time visitors to Berlin. These guides can be ordered before leaving home, or they can be purchased in Berlin at a number of hotels and tourist bureaus. For a more hands on approach there are a number of excellent guided walking tours of the city, perfect for getting acquainted with the city and its people.

History buffs will find Berlin a delight, so it is only natural for tours of the city to focus on its long and storied history. Some of the most popular tours of Berlin focus on such famous sights as the Berlin Wall, the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie and the Reichstag. Other tours go into further depth, including such locales as Hitler’s bunker, the World War II cemeteries, and the Holocaust Memorial.

Bicycles are another popular way to explore this small and compact city, and there are many bike tours available to both first timers and repeat visitors. Residents of Berlin are quite accustomed to traveling and commuting by bike, and there are many bicycle rental businesses that cater to tourists. Renting a bike is a great way to explore this famous city, and there are a number of guided bike tours available as well.

No matter how you explore this wonderful city, Berlin is a delight for the senses and a historian’s dream. Whether on foot, on a bicycle, or via the city’s excellent public transportation, there is plenty to see and do in this wonderful German city.

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