Orientation
Berlin Orientation
Geographically, Berlin is huge – 38 km (23 miles) from north to south, and 45 km (27 miles) east to west. The city is about nine times the size of Paris. However, tourist Berlin is much smaller and easily manageable on foot or with public transportation. Berlin can be enjoyed in all seasons, although winters can be a bit cold and bleak. The most popular seasons are spring and autumn. Summer can be hot and slightly humid. July and August are excellent months to visit the city – as Germans prefer to head to the coasts or countryside for summer vacations, the hotel prices drop dramatically and sights can be enjoyed, with a bit of luck, in glorious sunshine and without entrance lines.
Touring Berlin
Touring Berlin
Berlin emerged from the shadows of the Cold War with a lot to offer the visitor. Half a century of division left the city with an overabundance of museums, galleries, entertainment, and general visitors’ facilities. Although this contributes to the city’s current state of near-bankruptcy, it is a source of undiluted joy for visitors to the German capital.
Berlin is also easy to enjoy, and is not all museums, galleries, and history. It is a great city to stroll in and enjoy the monuments and monumental structures. It is also a city that caters for all tastes in culture. There are three opera houses and 135 theaters. Its nightlife is recouping some of the fame of the twenties and thirties. Everything, from Mahler to underground heavy metal, is available in this city. It also plays host to the annual Love Parade – the world’s largest technotronic music festival.
1990s Revival of Berlin
1990s Revival of Berlin
The return of the federal government to Berlin in the 1990s led to several grandiose building projects, such as the huge, modern Chancellery and the very popular, domed Reichstag that houses the German parliament. While many modern buildings sprang up in the former no-man’s land, several historic buildings are finally being restored. Most of the fabulous Museum Island is either just restored or will be over the next couple of years. The luxury Adlon Hotel was rebuilt to resemble its pre-War appearance. Unter den Linden, Friedrichstraße, and the Gendarmenmarkt are again vying for the heart and soul of the city.