Berlin Holiday: Style and Efficiency

A well-kept secret perched on the edge of Western Europe, Berlin provides a wealth of experiences for travellers. With a rich history and its recent turbulent past, there are museums and monuments galore, from the imposing facade of the Brandenburg Gate to the unofficial shrine that marks out the notorious Checkpoint Charlie.

The transport system is typically efficient and the buses, underground system and taxis all operate smoothly. However, Berlin is also a delightful city to walk round, with wide boulevards and parks criss-crossing both East and West.

The German capital bustles day and night with life and the city's rich cultural heritage is on show in its galleries, theatres and opera houses. With almost three-and-a-half million inhabitants across a wide area, Berlin feels less crowded than many other European capitals and offers a winning combination of European park and cafe culture combined with German efficiency.

Berlin's East offers better value for money, though the more functional buildings may put off some. It also houses a wealth of small but excellent eateries, serving everything from Indian cuisine to ice cream. The East is the more bohemian side of the city, with many of Berlin's artists and writers, and provides a great day's shopping in its boutiques and flea markets.

A boat trip along the River Spree is one of its Berlin's delights, particularly in the summer. Tourists float gently along in the summer sun with a drink, as the city's sights drift by, from the historic Berliner Dom of the city's cathedral to the challenging modern architecture that has sprung up since reunification.

Visitors to Berlin will undoubtedly wish to sample the hearty German cuisine and try the country's excellent beer and there are no end of bars and restaurants in which to sample bratwurst, schnitzel and rich German cakes.

Two of Berlin's landmark buildings, the Reichstag and the 365-metre high television tower. Depending on how energetic visitors are feeling, they can opt for the staircase that curls up to the top of the Reichstag's striking glass dome or travel by lift to the top of the tower.

The television tower houses a revolving restaurant and a cake and coffee are the perfect accompaniment to the 360 degree view of the city. From the top of either building, the difference in the ornate architecture of Western Germany and the functional angles of the East is particularly stark.

Simply wandering around the city is the best way to see the stark divisions that once existed between East and West Berlin. However, the largest open air gallery in the world, which stretches from Ostbahnhof station to the Oberbaumbrücke, displays works by 118 artists from 21 countries on a 1,316 meter long section of the Berlin Wall.

Berlin became an independent state on the day of the German reunification, October 3rd 1990 and offers a unique insight into both East and West German life in a relaxed setting, full of vigour and diversity.