Schuetz

There is no city in the World that is quite like Berlin. Fifteen years since its infamous wall came crashing down, Germanys biggest city has re-discovered itself to become one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan places you can visit.

With its spectacular architecture, charming cafs, restaurants, movie houses, a film museum and a shopping mall, Berlin is once again a major attraction for tourists.

The end of the Cold War, and the subsequent fall of the Wall, has given Berlin the rare opportunity to redesign its city centre. Fully destroyed in World War II, the wasteland of Potsdamer and Leipziger Platz remained untouched during the Cold War as part of the 'no-man's land' in the middle of the city.

The Potsdamer Platz was one of the busiest squares in the whole of Europe and when the Berlin Wall was built a platform was erected that allowed Westerners to look over the wall and into the eastern part of the city. After many years of neglect, recent restoration and renovation have created a wonderful new, thriving area, full of shops, bars, cafs, restaurants and many other venues for entertainment. Once again it is a lively square and is rapidly becoming the hub of the city.

One place not to be missed is the Brandenburg Gate, which has become one of Berlin's most recognisable and photographed landmarks. Originally built as a customs post, the gate was an integral part of the Berlin Wall and remained locked for the duration of the Communist rule. When the wall that was once the boundary between East and West Berlin was knocked down, the gate became an important symbol of German reunification and it is the only one out of 18 such gates that now remains.

For spectacular panoramic views of the city, the Fernsehturm television tower, at 1200 feet, is the tallest structure in the whole of the city and features both an observation platform and a restaurant, which revolves slowly as you take in the stunning cityscape.

Nightlife in Berlin oozes uber-cool, and with its array of bars and clubs, it has become legendary. Whether its live music, up to the minute club sounds or a more relaxed cocktail lounge and restaurant, Berlin has it all. Check out Kastanienallee, an avenue in Prenzlauer Berg, where the young and trendy hang out.

With so much to see and do Berlin has rapidly become one of the top destinations for tourists and there is a good selection of hotels, which range in price depending mainly in which quarter the accommodation is located. Luxury Berlin hotels are widespread throughout the city, but there are plenty of hotels offering good budget accommodation for those who wish to seek out a bargain for their stay.

Whatever you think you know about Berlin, you will still be taken aback by its beauty, its contrasts and the surprises it presents at every turn. It is a city with a past, undeniably a city with a future, but most importantly, it is a city that is now.