By land area or population, Berlin is Germany’s largest city. Today, approximately four million residents live within the historic capital city and the surrounding metropolitan area. Berlin has been the regional capital since the 1200 when the city was the capital of Prussia. The city remained a capital throughout WWII and the subsequent takeover by the Soviet forces that controlled the region known as East Germany. The Berlin Wall is one of the most iconic and historically significant landmarks in the city. This physical barrier separated East Berlin and West Berlin for nearly three decades until it was demolished in 1989 and Germany reunited in 1990.
Today, the remaining cross sections of the Berlin Wall and artifacts displayed at the Checkpoint Charlie Museum are a few of the remaining fragments of the city’s WWII history. Vast areas of manicured forests, parks, formal gardens and water bodies cover approximately 30 percent of the city’s total land area. Hundreds of cafes, ethic food vendors, nightclubs, opera houses, theaters, and museums dot the city. As a bonus, Berlin’s extensive public transportation systems make the city’s best attractions accessible to all. The impressive copper-domed Berlin Cathedral, the Brandenburg Gate and the German government headquarters at the Reichstag are among the requisite destinations for travelers in Berlin. Visitors flock to the top of the Reichstag everyday to see the cityscape from the glass dome mounted on the roof. Early morning and late at night are the best times to visit this attraction while missing the crowds. A trip to the Hamburger Banhhoff, a train station converted into a contemporary art museum, is another must-see attraction.
Twice a year, Berlin’s museums team up for the famous “Lange Nach der Museen” where close to 100 museums stay open until midnight or later. This popular event is held on the final Saturday in January and again in August. Scenic cruises on the River Spree, which winds its way through the city, are one of the most popular and romantic ways to see the city by day or at night. In fact, the Spree Valley serves to separate East Germany from Central Germany and other parts of the country. Germany’s border with Poland is roughly 40 miles from Berlin. The city’s proximity to Poland and Russia influences the regional climate.
Berlin averages one week of rainy days per month for an annual precipitation total of 22 inches. Temperatures hover just above freezing in the minter months and temperatures average in the mid 70s during the summer. Berlin Germany is known for its mild, temperate climate, which makes the city a wonderful place to visit any time of year.
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