A Brief Overview of the City of Berlin

Berlin has seen more transformations in the last century than Bob Dylan. For far too many people, Berlin conjures up visions of World War II or the stereotypical lederhosen, but in truth, Berlin is a thriving metropolis of the twenty-first century with plenty to offer visitors. Visitors sometimes find themselves overwhelmed by the struggle between Old and New Berlin, so this brief guide seeks to set out several must-see places that are within walking distance of one another. The new Hautbahnhof (major railway station), located near the German parliament building, is likely to be your starting point (Reichstag).

There is a long queue to climb up to the glass cupola of the building, which gives an excellent "starter" perspective of the city while you get over your jet lag. Before heading to the Brandenburger Tor, you may observe the monument atop it. Michael Jackson's baby-dangling antics have lately made the Adlon Hotel more renowned than its posh clientele and the fact that Queen Elizabeth II owns a portion of it.

On a nice day, this is a nice place to unwind with a coffee or a quick dinner.Berlin is known for its sausages and döner kebabs, which were introduced to Germany by the country's large Turkish population. Walking down Unter den Linden toward the Fernsehturm and Alexanderplatz is the next logical step after a Döner and some photos. You may wait in a big queue again at the tower to glimpse the city from the top of the 368-meter tower. The city's tallest restaurant, which rotates 360 degrees every 30 minutes, is accessible only after reaching the summit.

Quality stores and cafés can be found everywhere around Unter den Linden, including the enormous Dusmann Kulturkaufhaus (a book, music, and media store). In the vicinity of the historic Museuminsel (literally: Museum island-actually a peninsula), Unter den Linden crosses with Friedrichstrasse. A journey to Berlin isn't complete without seeing the precious antiques of the Pergamon Museum, which is located there. It's a great place to learn about classics since there are free audio guides accessible in a variety of languages. If you're looking for a relaxing way to spend a day, consider taking one of the numerous boat cruises available in the Museuminsel area.

On Oranienburger Strasse, the Tacheles art complex is a popular hangout. Bars, galleries, theaters, and a movie theater have sprung up within what was once an anarchistic squatter's haven. During the day, the galleries of the many local artists who are present here are open to the public, and visitors are welcome to peruse or buy from them.

Berlin has seen more transformations in the last century than Bob Dylan. For far too many people, Berlin conjures up visions of World War II or the stereotypical lederhosen, but in truth, Berlin is a thriving metropolis of the twenty-first century with plenty to offer visitors. Visitors sometimes find themselves overwhelmed by the struggle between Old and New Berlin, so this brief guide seeks to set out several must-see places that are within walking distance of one another. The new Hautbahnhof (major railway station), located near the German parliament building, is likely to be your starting point (Reichstag).

There is a long queue to climb up to the glass cupola of the building, which gives an excellent "starter" perspective of the city while you get over your jet lag. Before heading to the Brandenburger Tor, you may observe the monument atop it. Michael Jackson's baby-dangling antics have lately made the Adlon Hotel more renowned than its posh clientele and the fact that Queen Elizabeth II owns a portion of it.

On a nice day, this is a nice spot to relax and have a coffee or a fast dinner - Berlin is known for its sausages and döner kebabs, which the country's large Turkish minority brought with them. Walking down Unter den Linden toward the Fernsehturm and Alexanderplatz is the next logical step after a Döner and some photos. You may wait in a big queue again at the tower to glimpse the city from the top of the 368-meter tower. The city's tallest restaurant, which rotates 360 degrees every 30 minutes, is accessible only after reaching the summit.

Quality stores and cafés can be found everywhere around Unter den Linden, including the enormous Dusmann Kulturkaufhaus (a book, music, and media store). In the vicinity of the historic Museuminsel (literally: Museum island - tually a peninsula), Unter den Linden crosses with Friedrichstrasse. A journey to Berlin isn't complete without seeing the precious antiques of the Pergamon Museum, which is located there. It's a great place to learn about classics since there are free audio guides accessible in a variety of languages. If you're looking for a relaxing way to spend a day, consider taking one of the numerous boat cruises available in the Museuminsel area.

On Oranienburger Strasse, the Tacheles art complex is a popular hangout. Bars, galleries, theaters, and a movie theater have sprung up within what was once an anarchistic squatter's haven. During the day, the galleries of the many local artists on show here are open to the public for browsing and purchasing.