Berlin

Germany’s reunited capital is fast becoming one of Europe’s hottest destinations, thanks to the creative and cultural cool that some people liken to New York in the Eighties. The legacy of its East-West divide can still be found in the architecture, monuments and flavour of the various districts.

Berlin only regained its status as capital of Germany following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. Since then it has once again evolved into a dramatic, sexy and creative city with hundreds of museums, art galleries, pubs, clubs and restaurants to give visitors a taste of life here, past and present.

Creative arts

Berlin has always been a hub for the creative arts from painting to opera, dance and theatre. It has more than 170 museums and collections that offer Egyptian artefacts, Bauhaus design and sculpture by artist Joseph Beuys. Galleries of note include the restored Old National Gallery on Museum Island and the New National Gallery housed in a building designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. There’s also a thriving art scene with hundreds of smaller galleries and a regular Biennale showcasing up-and-coming artists from around the world. Plus there are three major opera houses and the city is often nominated as film festival capital of Europe after Cannes and Venice.

Architecture

Berlin’s history is strongly reflected by its architecture. Founded in the 13th century, the neo-classical central district of Mitte owes much to Prussian architects such as Karl Friedrich Schinkel. During World War II much of inner Berlin was bomb-damaged and rebuilding led to a new wave of architecture. While efforts in the West concentrated on the Zoologischer Garten and the Kulturforum, in Soviet-ruled East Berlin the trend moved to industrial design. And, of course, the infamous Berlin Wall divided the two from 1961 until it was dismantled in 1989. After reunification, Berlin had the unique opportunity to reshape the heart of the city. Architectural highlights now include the asparagus-shaped Fernsehturm TV tower close to Alexanderplatz, Le Corbusier’s Unité d’habitation and the reformed Reichstag complete with glass dome designed by our very own Norman Foster.

Nightlife

Berlin really feels like a 24-hour city and thanks to relaxed licensing laws, dancing until dawn is not unusual. The nightlife is varied: chow down on German sausages, Turkish kebabs or sushi, party in a swanky club or find yourself listening to jazz in a decadent “ruin” that’s been commandeered for the night. As with most up-and-coming cities, regeneration is inevitable so visit before the cool underground venues disappear. Berlin is a vast city, though, so pick up local magazines such as Zitty and Tip to find out where the best clubs, bars, parties and live music are.