Berlin

Berlin is best explored around Museum Island, where the Berliner Dom and its dome stand alongside the Neues Museum, surrounded by gardens not far from Gendarmenmarkt square. Nearby, Alexanderplatz and its television tower mark the heart of the eastern city, while the Holocaust Memorial, the remnants of the Berlin Wall at the East Side Gallery and the former Checkpoint Charlie border crossing recall the capital's divided past. The espionage museum and the DDR Museum add further depth to this twentieth-century history. To the west, Charlottenburg Palace and its gardens, the Brandenburg Gate, the Siegessäule column and the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, whose bombed ruins contrast with its modern reconstruction, punctuate a stroll often done on foot or by scooter. The zoo and aquarium draw families and curious visitors alike, while numerous vintage shops and fashion boutiques enliven certain districts, complemented by a well-known club scene after dark. For a bite to eat, Witty's vegetarian curry wurst or a classic döner kebab are firm favourites, best rounded off with an ice cream from Sweet2go after a day of walking.