Geography With the unspoken motto of live and let live, Berlin of today is a high-spirited city of dynamic character, where travelers take part in the thrill of being a Berliner – if only for a day. The capital of Germany and of Länder, one of the nation’s 16 states, Berlin is also Germany’s largest city, with a total metropolitan population of 4.2 million people. Located in eastern Germany some 70 km from the border with Poland, the city lies between two plateaus and has access to the rivers Spree and Havel. With more bridges than Venice and a great many parks throughout, Berlin truly ranks among the world’s greenest cities. Tegel Airport, located to the north-west of the city, handles most major airlines and is the destination for each airBaltic flight to Berlin. Languages Wie geht's? (How are you?) German is the main language spoken in Berlin of a distinct Prussian and French influenced dialect. There are also a good number of French and Russian speakers, as these languages were taught prior to reunification in schools of the former sides. Although many locals are quite capable in English, if you plan to venture out of the main tourist areas, or want a little more out of your time, do learn a few German phrases, and see how many intriguing conversations will come your way. Ich bin ein Berliner! See and Do After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the city has taken off redefining many of its neighborhoods with care and great creativity. While you can still view the city’s older history in the medieval survivors of Alexander Platz, there are many diverse examples of architectural styles in the city to keep your eyes aglow. For art, the first stop destination from your hotel should be Museum Island where one can find the Pergamon-Museum, packed with artifacts of ancient Greece and the Middle-East, including the impressive, reconstructed Ishtar Gate of Babylon. See also the Alte Nationalgalerie for German paintings and the Bode Museum, housing a serious collection of Byzantine artwork. Next to Museum Island, tourists should stop in at the Berliner Dom for a quick climb to the top for a panorama of the city. Any trip to Berlin should rightly include a visit to the Reichstag, Germany’s Parliament building, with its awe-inspiring glass dome. Of note is the Jüdisches Museum (Jewish Museum), emblematic of the city’s on-the-table manner of coping with its history. For complete exploration of German history, be sure to check out Deutsches Historisches Museum. Pass by the Mauermuseum at Checkpoint Charlie, the infamous meeting point for spies and would-be traitors, and where one can still see a sign stating “You are leaving the American sector.” To see the remaining portion of the wall, make way to Mühlenstraße along the River Spree.
It’s a popular held notion that nobody parties harder than the Berliners. Nightlife is what Berlin seems to be built on these days, so don’t miss out and head to the centre to be transformed by the high octane charge of clubs in Mitte, Prenzlauer Berg, and Kreuzberg. No matter the time of year, there is always something outrageous, lively and full-on wild happening in Berlin, a city for the hip and young (or at least eternally young at heart.) |
