Berlin is the capital of Germany and a city-state where 20th-century history and cutting-edge culture meet. The Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, and surviving stretches of the Berlin Wall trace the city’s divided past, while UNESCO-listed Museum Island gathers five outstanding collections.
Neighbourhoods such as Prenzlauer Berg and the Mauerpark flea market show off Berlin’s creative, youthful energy. The city is famously walkable and served by an excellent U-Bahn and S-Bahn network.
The best time to visit is May through September for warm weather and festivals; winter is quieter and cheaper, with Christmas markets at Alexanderplatz and the Humboldt Forum from late November.