Europe Travel Guides

Points of interest

Deutsches Technikmuseum

It's easy to spend an entire day at the giant Deutsches Technikmuseum and the sizable Museumpark. The museum's 14 departments examine technology throughout the ages - from printing and transport to computers - with interactive stations. Demonstrations of historical machines and models take place throughout the museum.

A highlight is the reconstruction of the world's first computer, the Z1 (1938) by Konrad Zuse. Elsewhere there's an entire hall of vintage locomotives and rooms crammed with historic printing presses, early film projectors, old TVs and telephones. A new wing opened in December 2003 holds the museum's stellar collections on aviation and navigation.

Be sure to save some time and energy for the adjacent Spectrum (enter from Möckernstrasse 26; admission included). At this fabulous science centre, you can participate in around 250 experiments that playfully explain the laws of physics and other scientific principles. If you ever wondered why the sky's blue or how a battery works, this is the place to get the low-down.

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Bauhaus Archiv/Museum fur Gestaltung

The Bauhaus Archive/Museum of Design is devoted to the members of the Bauhaus School, who laid the basis for much of contemporary design and architecture. Founded in Weimar by Berlin architect Walter Gropius, it aimed to unite art with everyday functionality, from doorknobs and radiators to the layout of entire districts and apartment blocks.

Walter Gropius himself, the founder of the Bauhaus school (1919-33), designed the avant-garde building housing the Bauhaus Archive/Museum of Design, whose gleaming white shed roofs look a bit like the smokestacks of an ocean liner.

Exhibits behind this striking silhouette document the enormous influence the Bauhaus exerted on all aspects of modern architecture and design. The collection includes everything from study notes to workshop pieces to photographs, models, blueprints and documents by such Bauhaus members as Klee, Kandinsky, Schlemmer and Feininger. Prized collection highlights include the original model of Gropius' 1925 Bauhaus building in Dessau and a reconstruction of Lázló Moholy-Nagy's kinetic sculpture Light-Space-Modulator, a clever kinetic sculpture that combines colour, light and movement.

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Reichstag

Just north of the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag has been the seat of the Bundestag (German parliament), since 1999 following a complete renovation by Lord Norman Foster. The British architect turned the 1894 building by Paul Wallot into a state-of-the-art parliamentary facility, preserving only the historical shell and adding the glistening glass dome.

The view from the top is one of the highlights of visit to Berlin, as much for the 360-degree panorama of the city as for the close-ups of the dome. From the outdoor viewing platform you can climb the spiralling ramp inside the dome itself. At the top, displays document the building's history.

The Reichstag has been the setting of numerous milestones in German history: the proclamation of the German republic, the Reichstag fire in 1933 allowing Hitler to blame the communists and seize power, the Soviet attack a dozen years later which destroyed the building, and the enactment of the reunification of Germany on 2 October 1990.

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Jüdisches Museum

Berlin's Jüdisches Museum, the largest Jewish Museum in Europe, celebrates the achievements of German Jews and their contribution to culture, art, science and other fields. An architectural work of art, the building and its contents are a major destination in Berlin.

Arranged in a chronological fashion, the exhibit also includes one section about the Holocaust, although this is by no means the museum's entire focus. In fact, what makes Berlin's Jewish museum different is that it looks at Jewish history beyond the very narrow context of the 12 years of Nazi rule.

Jews are not exclusively presented as victims but as vital citizens who have played enormously important roles in Germany through the centuries. One part of the exhibit also deals with the resurgence of Berlin's Jewish population since reunification.

The museum building itself is a stunning work of art designed by Daniel Libeskind and an excellent example of crisp modernism. Zinc-clad walls rise skyward in a sharply angled zig-zag ground plan that's an abstract interpretation of a star. The general outline is echoed in the windows: triangular, trapezoidal and irregular gashes in the building's gleaming skin.

The interior is designed as a metaphor for the history of the Jewish people; 'void' spaces represent the loss of humanity, culture and people, and a field of concrete columns symbolises Jewish emigration and exile.

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Brandenburger Tor

The restored landmark Brandenburger Tor (Brandenburg Gate), a symbol of division during the Cold War, now epitomises German reunification. It was against this backdrop in 1987 that then-US president Ronald Reagan uttered the now famous words: 'Mr Gorbachev - tear down this wall.' Two years later, the Wall was history.

The gate's northern wing contains the Raum der Stille (Room of Silence), where the weary and frenzied can sit and contemplate peace.

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Monsieur Vuong

Despite the pepper-red walls, good-looking clientele and beautiful dishware, this bustling eatery only looks expensive. The Vietnamese fare is made to order and is uniformly delicious, as are the fruit cocktails and exotic teas. No reservations, so be prepared to queue or, better yet, come during the afternoon off-hours.

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Mar y Sol

Mar y Sol beautifully captures the sultry mood of Andalusia. On balmy nights, tables on the fountain-studded tiled patio are a hot commodity, while in winter the rustically elegant dining room is popular. Either way, you'll be happy munching on manchego (sheep's milk cheese), bacon-wrapped dates, Serrano ham and garlic prawns.

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Vino e Libri

Two of civilization's greatest treasures - wine and books - form the name, decor and soul of this ristorante run with charm and panache by a Sardinian family. The pizza is excellent but chef Bruno truly shines when it comes to experimental flavour combinations. Strawberry salmon, and tagliatelle with wild boar in a chocolate-based sauce are truly excellent.

Wife Debora, meanwhile, keeps the service running as smoothly as a well-oiled machine.

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Berghain

Those behind the legendary Ostgut have scored another huge hit with this vast post-industrial techno-electro hellhole. The Panoramabar became the coolest spot in the city within days of opening. When the full club's open on Saturday its three levels are packed with the most mixed crowd in Berlin. One warning - no cameras are allowed. Truly, truly essential.

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Oxymoron

By day, the opulent baroque salon in front - complete with plump velvet sofas, gold-leaf mirrors and chandeliers - caters to the cafe crowd. After dark, it morphs into an eats-and-lounge act before turning into a chic club hosting a variety of retro and electro nights with occasional 'extras' such as go-go dancers. Dress on the smarter side of casual.

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E&M Leydicke

Old-fashioned Berlin pubs have their own tradition of hospitality - beer, schnapps and the Berliner humour all served up in rustic, smoke-filled surroundings. This ancient example of the species (first lager poured in 1877) bottles its own flavoured schnapps and fruit wines on the premises.

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Events

Berlin's calendar is loaded with annual fairs, festivals, concerts and parties. The Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival), the second largest in the world, is held in February. Festage (Festival Days) is a high-brow hoe-down of gala concerts and operas held over 10 days in April. Britspotting, a small festival of British and Irish films held in May, is popular with the Berlin arthouse crowd. Christopher Street Day is the city's big gay parade; it hits the streets in June. Step out gracefully in August to the Internationales Tanzfest Berlin, Berlin's premier dance and experimental choreography event. JazzFest Berlin doo-wops in November and Weihnachtsmärkte (Christmas markets) are held throughout the city in the month before the big day.

All shops, banks, government offices and post offices close on public holidays.

official holidays