Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

The earliest evidence of settlements in today's Berlin central areas is a wooden beam dated from approximately 1192. The first written mention of towns in the area of present-day Berlin dates from the late twelfth century.

There is always something going on here, and not only because there are no closing times in Berlin. With in this city of unified Germany you will find two distinctly different cultures. The West bright and modern - the East more redolent of pre-war Berlin.

After Athens, Florence and Amsterdam, Berlin is now the focal point of the European cultural scene. Culturally the city has been a driving force in Germany for a long time. The city played a decisive role in the development of the European modern age. Artists from all over Europe will not only present the public of this centre with their new works they also stay and create and develop their works here.

In the West the main thoroughfare is the Kurfurstendamm, a glitzy street of chic shops and restaurants. In the East the Brandenburg Gate is what was once Berlin's grandest avenue. Life in the so-called 'underground' with its anti-festivals, off.cinemas, experimental theatres and progressive musicals forms an alternative way-of life.

Shopping is focused around the Europa-Center. There is something for everyone in its 100 shops, cafes, restaurants and in the Berlin Casino. From the nouveau-ritzy consumer Quarters of Friedrichstrasse, Potsdamer Platz, or Ku'Damm, to the boutique neighborhoods of hipster Mitte, chic Charlottenburg or the more affluent establishment of Schöneberg, Berlin can almost say it has it all, just not in one place.

In spite of the enormous amount of restaurants and the resulting competition there is not one Berlin restaurant who has managed to archive more than one star. but although the crème de la crème is lacking here, there are nevertheless good dining facilities. If Berlin way of life your choice is for traditional, plain cooking. There are no genuine typical Berlin Fountain at the Gedächtniskirche specialities, because the city was always too cosmopolitan. There is however a large variety of international restaurants. Berlin can compete with other world cities in this respect.

As Berlin is such a diverse city, you have the chance of visiting a selection of totally different places, depending on which part of the city you decide to explore. The only trouble is that there are so many areas of the city to socialise in that you won't know where to start.

The light never go out in Berlin. Things often only start livening up after midnight.

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