Hardly any other city reflects European postwar history better than Berlin. Having sung about the wall, David Bowie moved to the divided city in 1976, where he found inspiration for some of his more serious songs. If you intend to visit Berlin today, you’ll need a plan. Every district is different and the possibilities are endless. There’s the nightclub district (Berg-hain), the museum hotspot (Nationalgalerie) or the trendy shopping mile in Mitte with all the hip Berlin-based fashion labels (Sabrina Dehoff, Lala Berlin, Kaviar Gauche) and international brands. Or would you rather relax at the historic Wannsee open-air lido?

© Unsplash

Thanks to the S-Bahn rapid transit railway, which connects the former east and west of the city, you’ll be able to do more in a day than you might imagine. Shopping in Berlin’s Mitte district is better left until the afternoon, as nothing much happens here before eleven o’clock. The multicultural Kreuzberg neighborhood gets going earlier. You’ll find a wide choice of brunch options in and around Bergmannstrasse, or head for the Marheineke indoor market to sample some of the fine regional produce and delicacies. To experience the differences still present within the city, take a walk from Schlesisches Tor in the former Western part of the city, across the Spree River to Warschauer Strasse, previously in East Berlin. This is a good place to see how wide open some parts of Berlin can still be and how much sky you can still see above this constantly changing city. Then take the S-Bahn to Alexanderplatz, or Alex as it’s known to the locals, and the TV tower – a landmark structure visible across most of Berlin’s suburban districts.

© The Green Market Berlin

If you want to delve deeper into the history of East Berlin, stroll along the former Stalinallee (renamed Karl-Marx Allee), where the Soviet-style architecture will make you feel like you’re in Moscow. One of Berlin’s coolest rooftop bars, the House of Weekend, is located on top of the former House of Travel and offers unbeatable panoramic views over the city. Then take the S-Bahn directly to the Zoo station. Walk past the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church to the famous KaDeWe department store. Should you feel hungry, you’re never far away from a quick currywurst sausage. Casual fine dining, on the other hand, is available at the legendary Nobelhart & Schmutzig and the Ernst restaurants. Berlin simply has it all!

Where to stay

Telegraphenamt

© Florian Groehn

With its intelligent mix of industrial chic and contemporary elegance, this stylish hotel embodies the spirit of Berlin. Stay in one of the 97 unique rooms, maisonettes or suites in this historic building – the perfect base from which to explore the city. Its location directly on Museum Island, which links historic Berlin to the city’s trendy neighborhoods, puts you right at the heart of the action. A particular highlight is the ROOT in-house restaurant.

Telegraphenamt
Monbijoustrasse 11
Tel.: +49 30 9940590
Web: telegraphenamt.com
Price: Doubles from €230

SO/ Berlin Das Stue

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This lifestyle hotel in the heart of Berlin’s embassy district combines urban cool with contemporary luxury. The décor is bold and elegant, just like the uniforms of the employees – which is not surprising considering they were designed by the haute couture greats Viktor and Rolf. The spa uses products from the acclaimed Susanne Kaufmann range, and the all-day restaurant offers modern cuisine with a Mediterranean touch. 

SO/ Berlin Das Stue
Drakestraße 1
Tel.: +49 30 3117220
Web: so-berlin-das-stue.com
Price: doubles from €400

Provocateur

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As the name suggests, this glamorous hotel exudes an air of decadence reminiscent of the Weimar Republic in its heyday. Its Golden Phoenix restaurant serves Franco-Chinese dishes, and the Tempting Bar is irresistible. 

Provocateur
Brandenburgische Str. 21
Tel.: +49 30 22056060
Web: provocateur-hotel.com
Price: doubles from €99

Where to eat

ROOT

© Florian Groehn

The Telegraphenamt hotel’s in-house restaurant impresses guests not only with its stylish interior but also with its varied international menu and emphasis on locally sourced ingredients. The bar serves superb, freshly made cocktails.

ROOT
Monbijoustrasse 11
Tel.: +49 30 994059150
Web: root-restaurant.com

CODA

© Claudia Goedke

Complex flavors await diners at Germany’s first and only two-star dessert restaurant, where chef René Frank turns patisserie into an art form for gourmets.

CODA
Friedelstrasse 47
Tel.: +49 30 91496396
Web: coda-berlin.com