Berlin, the capital of Germany, is located at the heart of the country and, indeed, Europe. Once divided, the city has reinvented itself since reunification in 1990 and is now a cultural, educational, economic and political hub. With a population of 3.4 million, Berlin is Germany’s largest city and is witnessing a surge in redevelopment.
Following fifty years in the cold, Berlin is bouncing back as the capital of a reunified Germany. After World War II, the city was divided in 1961 by the infamous Berlin Wall. West Germany transferred its capital to Bonn and East Berlin fell into decay. East Berlin was governed by communism and West Berlin by capitalism.
After the iconic events of November 1989, the Berlin Wall was torn down and Berlin is once again the capital of a united Germany. Money is being pumped into the city and cranes can be seen across the skyline and in the great swathe of land that was once the no-man’s land on either side of the Wall. Perhaps the most symbolic development project has been the reconstruction of the Reichstag, led by the British architect, Lord Norman Foster. Government organizations and businesses, along with their employees, are now flooding back to Berlin. Key industries are electronics, manufacturing and information technology. Tourism is also on the rise and Berlin is now the third most visited destination in the European Union.
Amid the modern construction, lies a city of historical charm and magnificent architecture. In East Berlin, particularly, there are many areas which have remained unchanged for half a century.
Culturally, there is plenty to see and do. There are over 170 museums, theatres, galleries and plenty of restaurants. Festivals are held year round and the city has a vibrant nightlife with everything from traditional beer halls to trendy nightclubs. Beautiful parks, lakes and wooded areas are dotted all over the city meaning that green space is never too far away.
There are a number of different districts within the city of Berlin today and each has a distinctive character. For example, Mitte is full of historical attractions, Kreuzberg has a fashionable yet bohemian feel, Prenzlauer Berg is considered ‘alternative’, and Charlottenburg is known for its shops and restaurants. The district of Wedding is a monument to post-war modernism in terms of its architecture and is known for its working-class, multicultural atmosphere. The Tiergarten district is home to many of the government buildings and Friedrichshain is a student area with low-cost accommodation. Schöneberg is considered to be a trendy area known for its Saturday market. At the heart of the former East Berlin is Lichtenberg, which holds one of Germany’s largest zoos, Friedrichsfelde. Steglitz and Zehlendorf are other popular residential areas.
Climate
The climate in Berlin is moderately cool and humid. The winter is generally mild although when the winds blow from Russia temperatures can drop below freezing and snow is not unusual. The coldest months are between December and February. The warmest months are July and August with the temperature usually about 22-23 degrees centigrade but it can reach 30 degrees centigrade. Rain is common in the spring and summer.
Getting There
There are frequent flights to Berlin from many UK and other European airports. Berlin has three airports but most flights arrive at Tegel or Schoenefeld airports. Tegel is located about five miles (eight kilometres) from the city centre itself and Schoenefeld is eleven miles (eighteen kilometres) away. Both airports have good public transport connections to the city. EasyJet, Ryanair, Air Berlin and Germanwings are some of the budget airlines offering direct flights to the city from the UK. British Airways, Transavia, Lufthansa and Swiss International also offer regular flights. Direct flights from and to the UK are just under two hours in duration.
European rail and road links also mean it is possible to access the city by overland routes.
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