Fodor's To Europe!
Days 1-3
Split between the Russians and the Americans, British, and French after World War II and reunited after the fall of the wall in 1989, modern Germany and the Germany of old abut one another in today's Berlin. There's something exciting in every direction—from hypermodern skyscrapers in the west to the east's thumping nightclubs in crumbling buildings.
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- Nightlife
- Architecture
Experiences
- The symbol of Berlin's mash-up of old and new, the Reichstag anchors central Berlin with a Sir Norman Foster-designed glass dome atop a 116-year-old structure. The view from the top can't be beat.
- Brandenburg Gate, built in the late 1700s, was where east met west during the Cold War. Now the refurbished site unites the two sides of the city.
- Party 'til the wee hours at one of hundreds of bars and clubs. East Berlin neighborhoods like Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg are choice spots to bar hop.
Festivals
- Berlin's Festival Weeks start in late August and go until October, with concerts, opera, and ballet.
Side Trips
- Potsdam's parks and palaces are an easy day trip from Berlin.
- For a more rugged experience, explore the Spreewald Forest, 60 mi/97 km southeast of the city.
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