An Advertising Feature
Berlin is a city defined by its past looking towards the future. Twenty years on from the fall of the wall and reunification, Berlin is an international centre for style, art and culture. It still shows its scars but they create an atmosphere unlike any other city in the world. Unusually for national capitals, it is also very affordable which makes it a great destination for cheap travel.
strong>City of Culture
The real fascination of Berlin comes from the mix of culture. Top museums and galleries sit side-by-side with über-trendy bars and cool clubs. Whatever your preference, Berlin doesn’t disappoint. Go to a grand opera before catching the U-Bahn (Berlin’s underground rail network) to a guerrilla techno club, all in one evening. Berlin is a remarkable city with eclectic tastes, so while indulgent at times, it’s still likely to suit a wide range of travellers.
Berlin has always had a reputation for being a fashionable and trendy place. From the decadent pre-war Weimar Republic to the divided, edgy chic that attracted musicians in the 1970s, it has often been ‘the place to be’.
The city is blessed with an abundance of space, meaning there are plenty of places to live and rent is cheap. Young, creative people are drawn to the city from all over the world because of its affordability and legendary tolerance. This lean towards creativity and experimentation gives Berlin its edge.
Walk Through History
The city is divided into distinct areas, each with its own feel and atmosphere. Kreuzberg, with its effortlessly cool characters and bustling bars is the place to go for younger visitors. But it is Mitte, the oldest and most central borough, which has the monopoly on fascinating sites. You can visit the Brandenburg gate, the physical and metaphorical point where democracy faced down communism. Checkpoint Charlie is possibly the most famous border crossing in history, where the few who were allowed to cross the wall did so.
Also in Mitte are Museum Island and the Reichstag, home of the German parliament and famously burned down by the Nazi party in 1933, which led to them seizing power. Walk from here to Alexanderplatz, home of the TV Tower, and the former centre of Soviet Berlin. Everywhere you turn in Berlin history stares at you in the face. It was one of the major focal points of the 20th century and you can’t help getting caught up in its past. Visit the East Side Gallery to see a part of the Berlin Wall that still remains and imagine what it must have been like to live in a city that was split in two almost overnight.
With so much to see in Berlin it is easy to build up an appetite. Sample one of the many varieties of wurst (sausages) and wash it down with a legendary German beer. After a busy day you might feel like going to bed, yet it’s nighttime when Berlin really comes alive. The bars, cafes and clubs are full all night in a city that seemingly never sleeps.
