Hip, energetic Berlin has grabbed the world’s attention with its exuberant urban life and vibrant arts scene. Gone are the days of drab Cold War Germany and a city divided by the Wall. In this cosmopolitan and affordable capital, neighborhoods like Mitte, Friedrichshain, Prenzlauer Berg, and Kreuzberg bustle with restaurants, cafés, and nightlife. Museums and sights such as the Pergamon on Museum Island, the Brandenburg Gate, and the Jewish Museum provide a window into Berlin’s rich history. Today the stitched-together heart of Germany beats fast.
- Affordability High culture and low prices—the city is “poor but sexy,” said the mayor.
- Nightlife Art installations, festivals, and parties vie to keep you up all night.
- Art Museums and galleries hold treasures both ancient and utterly contemporary.
- Shopping High-end design boutiques and secondhand shops make a stimulating mix.
- History Cobblestone markers are evidence of the Wall that once divided the city.
- Palaces Berlin’s Schloss Charlottenburg, Potsdam’s Schloss Sanssouci, and more.
