Explore Berlin! Gate to East Europe, city of culture and capital of Germany. Directions of the sky are in Berlin still more significant than anywhere else: "Where the East really begins, or - where its over?" This is an issue that keeps even the locals always busy. A long time from 1961 to 1989 no compass was needed to determine where the East was over and the West began. Today, 19 years after the fall of the Wall, many of these differences disappeared. If you are at the Checkpoint Charlie, the former crossing of the Allies in the Friedrich Strasse, you will notice that in the former east Berlin luxurious office buildings and boutiques dominate. In the western part of the Friedrich Strasse is more sadness: Social Engineering and discounters dominate the view. The new, old capital of Berlin with around 3.4 million inhabitants is still in change: It is built, restored and renovated. Potsdamer Platz, in the mid-1990s Europe's biggest construction site, has already established itself as a new center. The outstanding tent roof construction of the Sony Center is now regarded as a top seesight of the city. The successful architecture of the new government district makes even skeptical inhabitants of Berlin proud. Looking from the dome of the Reichstag, you see in the south the Potsdamer Platz, in the north the monumental glass roof of the new central station the largest in Europe, in the west the Federal Chancellery. Speaking of the Reichstag dome: while in other capitals, the common people are banded from the People's Representation, here in Berlin you can see them from above during their discussions. You will be also surprised how many prominent people you can meet nearby in restaurants or cafes. And that is only in a city like Berlin imaginable: People are first of all perceived as human beings. Whether how prominent someone is that is only secondary. "Life and let live life" - that is the most important motto.

Reichstagsgebaeude
Since the parliament was built in 1884-94, renovated in the mid-1990s and got its glass dome the construction got into the top seesights of Berlin. Visiting times: 8am-12am visit daily, last admission 10pm, Tiergarten, Platz der Republik, bus 100, busstop: Reichstag

KaDeWe
The food department alone is worth a visit. On 7000 sq meters, there is from oysters to lemongrass everything that makes a gourmet happy. Even the selection of fashion labels in the fashion floors is overwhelming. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm Schoeneberg, Tauentzienstr. 21 to 24, U 1, 2 and 15, Wittenbergplatz

Unter den Linden
Since 18 Century including the Kronprinzenpalais, the Zeughaus and the Staatsoper and the current Humboldt University. In the end of the 19th Century the Berliner Dom was built. Mitte, S 1 und 25, Unter den Linden

HUGO BOSS Store
The dressing rooms can be open and close with a push button, a relief from the streets of Berlin at the side wall is lit by a color scanner. And finally, a bamboo wood makes the view to the courtyard beautiful. By the way: Here is sold the young line of the label Hugo Boss. Mon to Sat 11am-8pm Mitte, Rosenthaler Str. 49, U 8, Weinmeisterstrasse

Gendarmenmarkt
With its buildings from the 18th and 19 Century it is the most beautiful place in the city. The Deutsche Dom houses an exhibition of german history, the franzoesische Dom a museum of Hugenotten. Beautiful view from the tower Mitte, U 2 and 6, Stadtmitte

Potsdamer Platz
On the western part of the Potsdamer Platz, whose original buildings were destroyed in the war, were since 1995 a shopping center, cinema complexes, musical theater, casino, hotels and a movie museum built. Impressive is the tent-like roof of the Sony Center. Mitte, U-/S-Bahn Potsdamer Platz

Brandenburger Tor
is the city symbol, which never had the function as a gateway outlet. Since 1791 adorns the 20-meter-high monument adorns the Pariser Platz. The goddess of victory, driving the four horses, is regarded as bringing peace. Mitte, Pariser Platz, S 1 and 25, Unter den Linden

Fernsehturm
As the second highest television tower in Europe the "tele asparagus" is together with the Brandenburg Gate a symbol of the city. With 365 meters of height, the tower was built in 1966-69. With his ball almost made of glass it can be seen from nearly each district of the downtown. The lift takes you in just 40 seconds to the top. The Telecafe on the viewing platform rotates twice per hour around its own axis. With good visibility you can see up to 40 kilometers. daily 9am-1am price: 7,50 Euros Mitte, Panoramastr. 1a, U-/S-Bahn Alexanderplatz

Markt am Maybachufer
Also known as "Tuerkenmarkt" here everything is available, what the extended family from Anatolia needs for life. hundreds of kilos of vegetables and fruits change the owner. Tue, Fri 12pm-6.30pm Kreuzberg, Maybachufer, U 8, Schoenleinstrasse

Intershop 2000
In a transportable, in the DDR called area expansion hall is today sold as cult what was an everyday belonging in the DDR. Mitropa-dishes, egg cups, FDJ pennants and much more. Ideal for looking for design of the socialistic time. Wed-Fri 2pm-6pm, Sat 12am-6pm, Sun 12.30pm-6pm Friedrichshain, Ehrenbergstr. 3-7, U-/S-Bahn Warschauer Strasse

Karl-Marx-Allee
As Germany's longest monument, the avenue is not only architecturally built in the direction of Moscow. Socialist Realis, frames the 90 m wide boulevard, which was built in 1952-60. After the war were from the former Frankfurter Strasse only ruins left. Seesights of this impressive avenue with many up to 300 m long and up to nine storeys high residential blocks are the two towers at Frankfurt Gate, they were built lookalike the towers at the Gendarmen Markt. Mitte, Friedrichshain, U 5, Frankfurter Tor

Stasigefaengnis Hohenschoenhausen
Gray buildings and high walls provide an idea of how political prisoners must have felt when they were without contact with the outside world. Witnesses lead through the prison building and make you clear how people in the DDR times were mentally tortured. Guided tours Mon-Fri 11am and 1pm, Sat/Sun every hour 10am-4pm Hohenschoenhausen, Genslerstr. 66, Tram 5, 6, Genslerstrasse
shopping Department stores on Friedrichstrasse in Mitte include the Galeries Lafayette (Franzoesische Strasse 23), which sells only French products. Those with a serious fashion habit, should head to the boutiques and eccentric small shops around Hackesche Höfe and Alte Schoenhauser Strasse.

 
where to stay
Radisson SAS
The five-star hotel is situated on the river Spree, opposite of the Berliner Dom. In the lobby is the largest cylindrical aquarium in the world with one million liters of water. An elevator takes you through the water world until the 6th floor. 427 rooms, Mitte, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 3 S-Bahn Hackescher Markt
Hotel Hackescher Markt
Nice house hotel on the Hackeschen Markt. The interior in the British country house style provides a relaxed atmosphere, the nightlife pulsates with many clubs and bars nearby 28 rooms, 3 suites, Mitte, Grosse Praesidentenstr. 8 S-Bahn Hackescher Markt
Kunsthotel Luise
Creative atmosphere for guests. Each room is individually designed from Berlin artists. They are very comfortable. Apart from artists here are also "normal" Berlin visitors staying overnight. 49 rooms, Mitte, Luisenstr. 19 U-/S-Bahn Friedrichstrasse
Q
The curved lounge design of the reception counter let it looks like a trendy cocktail bar. International award-winning and much respected. 72 Zi., 4 Studios, 1 Penthouse, Charlottenburg, Knesebeckstr. 67 U 15, Uhlandstrasse                                                Askanischer Hof The eccentrically retro Askanischer Hof (Kurfürstendamm 53, €107-€145) is one of Berlin’s best- kept secrets.       The Propeller Island City Lodge The Propeller Island City Lodge (Albrecht-Achilles-Strasse 58, €90-€200) offers some of the world’s wackiest lodgings, including the Upside Down Room, in which all the furniture is on the ceiling.

food
Telecafe im Fernsehturm
Twice per hour, the cafe turns around its own axis. With coffee and cake you can enjoy the magnificent view over the city in 207 m height. Tip: If you have a reserved table in the cafe, you dont have to wait with the people outside. daily 10am-12am. Mitte, Panoramastr. 1a U-/S-Bahn Alexanderplatz

Trains
The easiest way to travel is by train. Each hour there are leaving highspeedtrains the train stations throughout Europe from Berlin-Spandau, the central station and eastern station. The new central station is regarded as Europe's largest train station and opened in 2006. Bus From all major German cities and mainland Europe buses often travel abroad several times a week to Berlin. The advantage: no annoying changes! However, the trips usually last longer than the train because the buses usually drive to many cities. Berlin's central bus station (FCA) is located in Charlottenburg.

Plane
Two airports are currently open to visitors. Most planes, start land at the airport Tegel in the northwest of the city. Its 15 minutes with the express bus to the Kurfuerstendamm. Schoenefeld there are landing and starting charter planes and planes from out of Europe.

Money
More and more banks have also Saturdays open until 2pm. Usual opening times on weekdays are now in almost all branches of 10am-5pm.

subway
Fridays and Saturdays, all subways nearly drive around the clock, even in the middle of the night. Where no subway goes, night buses take you back to the guest bed. The S-Bahn rides usually until about 1am at night. Public transport in Berlin is divided into three tarif zones. A and B cover the entire city. C also binds the surrounding areas including Potsdam. Currently the cost of a single ticket (A) 2.10, concessions 1.40 euros, the day ticket costs 6 Euros. The tariffs have been changed frequentlyin the recent years, that it is important to inform yourself before. Cheap is for example the Welcome-Card which you can get in the Berlin Tourismus Marketing. Berlin visitors can travel 3 days for 22 Euro in Berlin and Potsdam, with free rides on all buses and trains..