Berlin

An East German Trabant car, which appears to be breaking through the concrete. Honecker and Breschnew locked in a kiss of brotherly, socialist love. With the East Side Gallery, a segment of the Berlin Wall has been turned into the longest open air gallery in the world. The open-air East Side Gallery is located along the banks of the river Spree in Friedrichshain. At 1,316 metres, it's also the longest segment of the Berlin Wall that is still standing. Right after the fall of the Wall, this stretch was painted by 118 artists from 21 different countries. Using various techniques, the artists commented on the political events that took place in 1989 and 1990 in over 100 works of art found on the eastern side of the wall.

Once the heart of the former East Berlin, Alexanderplatz is today the largest inner-city square in Germany and has developed into a popular shopping attraction. The view from the Television Tower, its height of 368 metres making it the tallest tower in Germany, is absolutely fantastic. A perfect 360° all-round view is provided by the revolving restaurant Sphere and Bar 203, making a full turn twice an hour.

The DDR Museum is an interactive museum that takes you on a journey into the socialist past. You'll see countless iconic objects from the former East Germany, will take a simulated ride in a Trabi, dance the Lipsi and rummage around in an authentic apartment. It's an essential Berlin history trip.

Experience Berlin like a local and cover all the must-see attractions in just half a day with this highlights tour on a bicycle — ideal for cycling enthusiasts with limited time in the city. You'll be introduced to iconic landmarks such as the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and the Brandenburg Gate, among others. You don't have to worry about navigation, as your knowledgeable guides will lead you through a carefully planned route while sharing engaging stories about Berlin's culture and history.

Berlin is a vast city with not one, but several centres that come in their distinct and varied flavours of cool. The fastest and most time efficient way to hit all the main attractions is to get on one of those hop-on hop-off buses. You can get a 24- or 48-hour ticket, as well as an option to upgrade to a river cruise boat. Buses run every 10–15 minutes. Of course, you get audio commentary in multiple languages, plus a kids' channel.

The Reichstag, with its iconic glass dome, is home to the Bundestag, Germany's lower house of parliament. In the 1990s, British architect Sir Norman Foster reimagined the building, blending its historical grandeur with a modern, spacious design. The accessible glass cupola offers stunning views of the city and a unique perspective on German politics. While entry to the cupola and roof terrace is free, advance booking is crucial because of the Reichstag's popularity. To learn more about German political system and the daily life of the Parliament, you can book a 90-minute guided tour. Guided tours of the Reichstag Building are held in the weeks when Parliament is not sitting.

Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin, often referred to as Palast Berlin, is a stunning architectural marvel that hosts Europe's most spectacular entertainment. With over 500 bold and lavish costumes designed by Jean Paul Gaultier, the dazzling performances evoke a range of emotions from hope to happiness, celebrating the joy of life. The New York Times hails it as a 'Must-See in Berlin.' The shows are also accessible to international visitors, with no German language skills required.

Back in the 1970s, Berlin was the home of the legendary David Bowie. Together with a specialist guide, you'll navigate the city on foot and by public transport, discovering the Berlin that inspired David Bowie's seminal Berlin Trilogy. You'll see Hansa Studios, where 'Heroes' and 'Low' were recorded. Stop by 155 Hauptstrasse, where Bowie and Iggy Pop lived and created together in 1977. This tour is an absolute must for all the fans of Ziggy Stardust.

The protestant Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a beacon of peace and reconciliation. It stands for the will of the Berliners to rebuild their city during the period after the war. Most of the original structure was destroyed by a British bombing raid in World War II — all that remained was its gaping, ruined tower. The first plans to rebuild the church would have removed the crumbling tower completely. However, Berliners protested the demolition of the 70-metre belfry and the new modernist church buildings are centred around this piece of history.

The Jewish Museum Berlin is housed in the impressive building designed by Daniel Libeskind. The zinc-coated zig-zag building is one of Berlin’s major landmarks. The permanent exhibition traces the high and low points of German-Jewish history from the end of the Roman Age to the present day. The museum is a must for architecture nerds, history buffs and anyone who wants to understand the enormous intellectual, economic and cultural contribution made by the Jewish citizens of Berlin.

Checkpoint Charlie, the most famous of the inner-German border crossing points and a name known the world over, was where Allied border guards would register members of the American, English and French Armed Forces (and their families) before they visited East Berlin. The "Wall Museum – Museum House at Checkpoint Charlie” is right next to this major tourist spot. The museum displays an incredible number of the original means and tools that people used in their escape out of the GDR: from the hot-air balloon to a mini-submarine, plus plenty of real and fake travel documents.

Looking at the vast pavilion roof of the Sony Center and the many high-rise buildings around it, it’s difficult to imagine that Potsdamer Platz for a long time was in the death strip of the Berlin Wall and was nothing but a desolate wasteland. These days, Potsdamer Platz is a major public transportation hub, as well as a centre for business, entertainment, culture and shopping. Here you'll also find an IMAX cinema and the German Film Archive — Museum of Film and Television in Berlin. Perfect destination after taking a mandatory pic next to the Brandenburg Gate.

After Museum Island, the Kulturforum is the second centre of art in Berlin. It is the home not only of the Neue Nationalgalerie (New National Gallery), the Gemäldegalerie (Picture Gallery), the Kunstgewerbemuseum (Museum of Decorative Arts) and other museums, but also houses the Philharmonie (Philharmonic Hall) and the Staatsbibliothek (National Library). The New National Gallery was designed by a star architect Mies van der Rohe.

Berlin boasts the world's first computer games museum, which opened its doors in 1997. Since January 2011, the museum has been showcasing its new permanent exhibition in the fashionable Friedrichshain district. The exhibition has ingeniously converted the historic interior of the former East Berlin café, Warsaw, into a pixelated gaming landscape. It's the perfect spot to unwind, play some beloved video games, and delve into the history of the gaming industry. The Computer Games Museum is conveniently located on the Karl-Marx-Allee, the largest European cultural monument.

The smell of candied apples and toasted almonds drives Berliners out of doors during the cold season into their city's Christmas markets. With more than 400 stalls at the weekends, the Christmas markets offer sensual concerts, unique handicrafts, and culinary delights from top chefs — the winter magic is in the air at the Gendarmenmarkt. A romantic Christmas market is held in Charlottenburg. The illumination of the castle and the castle park create an enchanting backdrop. Winter sports enthusiasts head to Winter World in Potsdamer Platz. At the Christmas market, you can go ice skating and sledding on the largest mobile toboggan run in Europe. If you feel a bit intimidated by the abundance of choice and want to have the smoothest introduction to Berlin's Christmas Markets — book a guided tour with several snacks and mulled wine included!