Few places are as universally popular as Berlin, and it’s not difficult to understand why. The city has a very rich history whilst simultaneously containing the latest in art, fashion and architecture. The various parts of the city such as Tiergarten, Mitte, Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg all have their unique characters. Berlin succeeds in the feat of combining small town with city, historic with modern and hectic with meditative. Just open up your senses and embark on a journey of discovery.

Population:3.4 million

Tourist Information:
Tourist Office Brandenburg Gate
Address: Pariser Platz, south wing
Tel. +49-30-250 025

Bar am Lützowplatz
Here is the longest bar in Berlin (16 metres) with associated excesses such as champagne, whiskey and first-class cocktails. The clientele is just like the bar, charming and discrete.

Greenwich
Behind the almost invisible door there are crowds of chic Mitte inhabitants and young businessmen. Male models mix the cocktails. Subdued lighting. Gay friendly.

Würgeengel
The Würgeengel must be Berlin’s most charming bar. Artists and actors come here to enjoy a glass of red wine and a cigarillo at the mirror bar. The lighting is soft and the sound levels high. Italian snacks are served.

Victoria Bar
A luxurious addition to Berlin’s bar menu is the Victoria Bar. The Bar’s stylish interior with leather sofas, dark wood paneling and modern art has won awards. The loudspeakers bring jazz, soul and reggae to its customers.

103
103 is the place for Mitte’s more eccentric inhabitants, a place where they can gossip from early morning till late at night. On the menu you can find good coffee, club sandwiches and Caesar wraps. Perfect for a shopping break.

Nightlife
Since the 1980s, Berlin has been renowned for its electro scene. The tradition lives on and Berliners are dancing as never before. The great thing with clubs in Berlin is that they close when you feel like going home and not before.

Watergate
If a good techno DJ comes to town it’s here that you’ll find him or her. In smart premises with a view over the river you can dance yourself sweaty in one of Berlin’s most famous clubs.

Opening Hours:
Vary. The rule is: open late, close late. Department stores 10/11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Many shops are open till 7 p.m. weekdays and 4 p.m. weekends. Tip: In Berlin, the saying ”Cash is king” applies. Shopping with cards can be problematical.

Friedrichstrasse
The long Friedrichstrasse contains Galeries Lafayette with Escada, Boss and H+M. For the car lover there are the latest beauties from Peugeot, Volkswagen and Bugatti to admire (corner Unter den Linden). At number 90 there’s the city’s best bookshop; Dussmann, das Kulturkaufhaus, containing five floors of culture. Listen to your favourite artiste’s latest record or sit down in an armchair with a stack of books. On the top floor there’s literature in English and a leather sofa with a view on Friedrichstrasse.

Kurfürstendamm
If you’re looking for luxury then you’ve come to the right place. On the west side parade there are shops like Burberry, Max Mara and Tommy Hilfiger. But there’s also more reasonable priced fashion such as H+M and Zara, you can turn into Fasanenstrasse where you’ll find Gucci and Chanel and also jewellers including, of course, a Bulgari! At the beautiful Savignyplatz there are numerous bookshops specialising in art, design and fashion (Knesebeckstrasse). If you want to enhance your home you can turn into Kantstrasse where Stilwerk is waiting with its five floors and 58 shops of fittings and design. You can refresh yourself with the city’s best coffee at Café Einstein (Savignyplatz 11) or a cocktail at Gainsbourg (Savignyplatz 5).

Mitte
If you jump off the train at Hackescher Markt it’s difficult not to devote the rest of the day to shopping. The area is full of fresh fashion, vintage and exciting furniture shops. You can start with Hackescher Höfe and then stroll on to Neue Schönhauser Strasse and Alte Schönhauser Strasse. Here’s where you’ll find several of Berlin’s young designers. Don’t miss Fiona Bennett’s fantastic hats at Grosse Hamburger Str. 25. If your feet are hurting there is the Birkenstock Store on Neue Schönhauser Str. 19, (since you’re in the homeland of beautiful sandals, the price will be right). A little further on is Münzstrasse with its Adidas Store and American Apparel. If you’re hungry there’s sushi, enchiladas and Italian food close by.

KaDeWe
Europe’s biggest department store, KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens), will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary. It’s best known for its two upper floors where you can sip pink champagne or lose yourself in its immense selection of delicatessen.

Quartier 206
Friedrichstrasse’s pearl! Here you’ll find Gucci, La Perla and Yves Saint Laurent under one and the same roof. The founder Anne Maria Jagdfeld had a clear understanding of what she wanted the ideal shopping centre to look like. Have a coffee and enjoy the luxurious interior and black and white chequered Art Deco.

Galeries Lafayette
Berlin too has been enriched by one of the world’s best known French department stores. Four floors filled with perfumes, designer clothes, and scarves for 200 Euros. The delicatessen department is appreciated by Berliners.

Potzdamer Platz Arkaden
An American style shopping centre with lots of everything. You’ll find Mango, Esprit, H+M och Mandarina Duck. Italian ice-cream, sandwiches and coffee bars. Child friendly.

Reichstag
This awe-inspiring building houses the German parliament (Bundestag). Completely restyled by the British architect Lord Norman Foster, it is one of Berlin’s premier sights. The view from the gigantic glass cupola is magnificent and free of charge.

Museumsinsel
One of Berlin’s most beautiful places is this little island situated in the River Spree. On it stand no less than five historical museums. It has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1999. It’s also home to the grandiose Berliner Dom (cathedral).

Alexanderplatz and the TV-tower (Fernsehturm)
Here you can feel the atmosphere of the old East Berlin. For more colourful views you can ride to the top of the 368 metre high Fernsehturm. The view of Berlin in every direction can make you dizzy. You can enjoy coffee in the rotating restaurant.

Brandenburger Tor
Like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Brandenburg Gate is one of Berlin’s most important places. The 200 year old gate has a rich history and since the fall of the wall it has been a symbol of reunification. Many national celebrations are held here and every new year tens of thousands gather at the gate with their hands full of firecrackers and champagne.

Schloss Charlottenburg
Schloss Charlottenburg is a magnificent baroque castle built in 1701 (subsequently rebuilt and extended several times). There is a beautiful garden and several museums in the vicinity.

The Berlin Wall
The longest and best preserved part of the Berlin Wall is called the East Side Gallery. Situated beside the River Spree, it extends for 1300 metres. International artists have been allowed to cover it with colourful paintings.

Jewish Museum
Europe’s largest Jewish museum holds 2000 years of Jewish history. The museum’s original architecture makes up a big part of the experience. This is the city’s most talked about and emotive museum.

Neue Nationalgalerie
Here you’ll find cubism, surrealism and German expressionism including Dalí, Kandinsky and Miró as well as first class exhibitions from elsewhere. All are displayed in Mies van der Rohe’s sixties creation in steel and glass.

Pergamon Museum
One of Berlin’s premier museums, the Pergamon houses art and architecture from ancient Greece, Babylon, Rome and the Middle East. For this, we have to thank the meticulous German archaeologists who dug out and collected these treasures.

Martin-Gropius-Bau Museum
This famous building from 1881 shows exciting art and photography exhibitions from all over the world. Its atmospheric old world café is a nostalgic gem.

Vau
Vau is classed as an ”Edelküche” (noble kitchen) and has a Michelin star. Celebrity chef Kolja Kleeberg cooks with seasonal products and his philosophy is never to have more than three ingredients on the plate. Meinhard von Gerken is responsible for the architecture.

Austria
A mixture of an Austrian alpine hut and a cosy Parisian bistro. Booker prize winner Jeffrey Eugenides writes in his Middlesex: ”I don’t like anyone who doesn’t like Austria”. Serves unbelieveably large schnitzels.

Monsieur Vuong
Fittingly, one of Berlin’s best restaurants is situated on one of Berlin’s best streets. Enjoy crispy, fresh Vietnamese dishes and round your meal off with a cup of classic Vietnamese coffee or tea; beautiful colours, beautiful porcelain. Always full.

Kuchi
This famous sushi restaurant is situated in one of the most charming areas of West Berlin. Here boundaries are stretched without losing the classical Japanese tradition; exciting sauces, tempura and ginger tea.

Café Einstein Stammhaus
This fantastic villa contains the city’s oldest Viennese Coffeehouse. Everything from the delicious breakfast to the afternoon tea with the generous slice of apple strudel will warm your heart. Look out for the local branches, they’re not in the same league!

From the two international Berlin airports – Tegel and Schönefeld – it’s easy to get to the city. The JetExpressBus TXL goes from Tegel (€4.10, 30 min.) to Mitte. If you’re heading for Charlottenburg you can take the X9 or 109 buses (€2, 30 min.) A taxi to the city costs about €20.

Health:
In case of acute need of medical care: tel: +49-30-3100 31. For acute need of dental care: tel: +49-30-8900 4333. Otherwise there is Call a Doc: tel: 01804-2255 2362, (the telephone call costs a little extra).

Currency: Euro

Emergency Number: 112

Electricity: 230V AC, 50Hz

Language: German

Telephone: Country code: +49

Transport:
Tickets for the underground can be bought from travel information booths and from stations. They are valid for one trip and cost approximately €1. Bus tickets are bought from the driver. Travel cards for one to five days can be bought online at www.tmb.net.

Taxi Information:

Funk Taxi Berlin
Tel: +49-30-8000 261026