Festival

Berlin Love Parade

It is the world's largest dance and music festival and continues throughout the day, usually in mid-July when the weather is warm. During the festival, participants dance in the street on trucks. The event is held annually on Strasse des 17. Juni in the Tiergarten district. It has faced opposition in the past because of widespread dislike of rising commercial prices during the festival. Nevertheless, the festival continues despite the emergence of a group opposing it.

City guide

Overview & visitor information

Website: http://www.loveparade.net/

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Christopher Street Day

Activity

Germany’s answer to the worldwide Mardi Gras festival, it is a political demonstration for Gay rights. It takes place in most big cities on the 19th-21st of June.

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Lange Nacht der Museen

Activity

The ‘Long Night of Museums’ festival is run for one day every January and August and has many museums open till 2AM. Special exhibitions are staged and other cultural events are held around the city as part of it. It is an excellent night out for any appreciator of art. This year’s (2010) festival was held on the 30th of January and featured events all around the city. Telephone 90 26 99 444

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The Berlin International Film Festival

Activity

is renowned all around Europe as a premier festival for independent and mainstream movies; and is called the ‘Berlinale’. It takes place at the end of February and is surprisingly accessible for an event so large. Tickets are relatively easy to obtain and some of the screenings of films not in the competition are free. It is a delightful addition to a movie buff’s itinerary, but of course, tickets must be booked in advance. Telephone: 259 200

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Staatsoper Unter den Linden festival

Activity

25th March-6th April, 10 high profile days of opera in Berlin. Also called the Festtage, it showcases some of the world’s leading opera singers in beautiful concerts and star-studded after parties, all at the majestic Berlin opera house. Perfect holiday gift for the opera aficionado. Telephone: 20 35 40.

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ITB

Activity

The International Tourism Exchange in Berlin is an annual trade fair in the middle of March, generally at the Messe Berlin fairgrounds. It attracts thousands of visitors as well as tour companies, hotels, insurance companies and publishing organizations. It is also a travel convention and its scale has been steadily increasing in the past few years. It is a good opportunity to research some travel locations or fix up that business holiday.

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Karneval der Kulturen

Activity

this is the Carnival of Cultures, a dizzying weekend of celebrating the cultural and ethnic diversity in Berlin. It takes place in late May or early June, generally on Pentecost weekend or Whit Sunday. There are parades, market stalls, outlandish food, and the streets come alive with people in their national garb. 1 in every 7 Berliners has emigrated from a different country so there is plenty of diversity to rejoice. Telephone: 6097700.

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Oktoberfest

Activity

for a whole month, the city is running with beer of all sorts, and this is a good time to try the different types from all the different regions of Germany. The festival originated in Munich and is held in a much larger scale there but Berlin still attracts thousands of visitors during this time.

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Festival of Lights

Activity

for two weeks every October, the historic and modern buildings and monuments in Berlin are lit up with spectacular illuminations. The landmarks you’ve come to know in the daytime, such as the Brandenburg gate and the Berliner Dom will show a whole new character to themselves in the night. A lovely time to be in the city, the fireworks and lightshows will take your breath away.

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Christmas markets

Activity

most cities in Germany hold Christmas markets which are pretty much the same as they have been for the last few hundred years. Stroll through narrow corridors flanked by quaint stalls selling beautiful handmade antiquities while the warm smell of roasting sausages and mulled wine assails your nostrils. It’s an experience to be treasured. The markets are held during the whole of December but check exact dates and times on the website as they change regularly.

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What to do with Children in Tow

Park

Berlin is a fairly child-friendly city with many things to occupy the kids. When going sightseeing, remember to watch for your children as it is easy to lose them in the crowds, particularly if their attention is easily caught by interesting sights. It is very common to go out in Berlin for breakfast or brunch and many restaurants can have indoor playgrounds or other supervised activities for children.

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Checkpoint Charlie

road

the most famous of the gates between former East and West Berlin. The attached museum (Friedrichstrasse 43-45) gives some background with stories of successful and failed attempts to cross the checkpoint. Website: http://www.mauer-museum.com/. Telephone: 2537250

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Museum Island (Museuminsel)

island

the river Spree divides Mitte into North and South sections and in the middle of it is the grandiose Museum Island, holding about 20 galleries and museums that will definitely leave you reeling. Do some research before going and decide which ones you want to see most. Each has admission fees (except for special days such as Lange Nacht der Museen and the first Sunday of every month, when entry is free) so plan how much you want to spend. Highlights are the Pergamonmuseum, the Altes Museum (Old Museum) and the Museum of photography.

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The Spandau citadel

Castles

is a beautiful building made as a castle in the 16th century. Entry is €2.50. Telephone: 354 94 42 00.

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Alexanderplatz

Building

the largest, and arguably one of the most famous squares in Berlin. It historically had markets so was an important square for many centuries. In World War II, almost all of the area was bombed but it has been beautifully restored. All public transport lines now have stops here and the TV tower rises up from the center. The Fernsehturm (or TV asparagus, as the Berliners call it) is 368m tall and has a revolving café at the top. If it is a clear day, it is worth paying the €6 admission to see Berlin from up there.

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Tiergarten

Park

the large central park in Berlin is a beautiful escape from the busy life of the city. The principal road through it is Strasse des 17 Juni which runs East to West. It was originally a hunting reserve and has several lakes in it. The garden was divided by the Berlin Wall in the late 20th century.

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Unter den Liden

Town

is the main boulevard, which includes the Freidrichstrasse shopping area. It turns into Strasse des 17 Juni at the Brandenburg Gate.

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Brandenburg Gate

Sight

the symbol of Berlin and definitely the most photographed monument in the city. Designed by Carl Gotthard Langhans in 1791, it was a symbol of power and prestige (note its similarity to Grecian architecture) but was used as a division between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. Now however, it is seen as a triumphant icon of reunification.

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The Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom)

Churches

is the burial place of many of the kings of the Prussian empire and the largest church in the city. The beautiful church is worth visiting just for the scale and the age of it. Admission is around €5 and free guided tours are available. Telephone: 2026 91 36.

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Reichstag

Building

the seat of government in Berlin. Built in 1894, this building has had several political scuffles and has been on the world stage so many times. Most notably, the reunification of Germany was enacted here in October 1990. The tourist crowds can be annoying so visit early or late if you wish to avoid them. Guided tours can be arranged. Telephone: 22732152

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Hartmann’s Restaurant

this is a charming restaurant that is owned by Stefan Hartmann, specializing in homemade German delicacies. The setting is romantic with excellent décor, tasteful art and a fireplace. The convenient location near the Templehof airport is also a plus. Telephone: 6120 1003. Address: Fichtestrasse 31, Eastern Kreuzberg

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The KaDeWe (Kaufhaus Des Westens)

It is a large department store full of brand name shops in Kurfurstendamm (Ku’Damm for short) and has an astonishing food court on the 6th floor. They all serve gourmet food of every thinkable cuisine. Telephone: 21210, 21-24 10789. Website: http://www.kadewe.de/en/ Address: Tauentzienstr.

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La Petit France

As the name suggests, this a French restaurant. It specializes in delicacies from

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Kushinoya

This upmarket Japanese restaurant delivers everything it boasts of. The tastes are understated, as in all good Japanese cooking and the atmosphere is cool and serene. The specialization is in unconventional Japanese dishes (no sushi or ramen here!) that the chef will make right in front of you and is called ‘Kushi’. Good for a quiet chat with a few friends or a business lunch/dinner. You’ll find the staff extremely polite and respectful.

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Buddah lounge

A small but exceptional Asian restaurant with a bar. It serves all kinds of Asian food and is popular with the locals. A good place to meet or watch people as it tends to get pretty crowded. The weekend buffet is recommended, displaying dishes such as Thai risotto and vegetarian sushi. Address: Stargarderstrasse 60, Prenzlauer berg. Telephone: 44716024

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Aotearoa

A quaint family-run New Zealand restaurant, with a large kiwi on its roof outside- you can’t miss it! The food is good and the friendly service makes you feel like you’re at the kitchen of a close companion. The fact that you can watch your kiwi food (including some traditional Maori dishes) being prepared adds to this vibe. A home away from home for New Zealanders, and of course, a great restaurant to visit for anyone else. Address: Weichselstrasse 26a, Freidrichshain. Telephone: 20687314.

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La Rustica

This Italian restaurant serves impeccable pizzas and pastas and is reasonably priced. The outdoor tables can be a bit noisy as they are close to the train line but the waiters are unconventional and will always give you a great Mediterranean experience. Great for a sumptuous lunch. Tel: 218 9179 Address: 4, 10178 Berlin – Mitte. Kleine Präsidentenstr

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Manngo

Mulackstr. 29, Mitte. Authentic Vietnamese cuisine at very good value for money. Central location makes it easy to find as well. Telephone: 280 40 558. Website: http://www.manngo.de/72

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Babel

This busy Lebanese/middle eastern eatery is good for quick meals on the go. It serves all kinds of Arabic food, including the staples; shawarma, falafel and kebabs with voracity. Unfortunately it is slightly difficult to get to as it does not have any public transport stops nearby, but well worth the extra walk, cycle or ride. Address: Kastanienallee 33, Prenzlauer.

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Café Bravo

Beautifully designed with glass and mirrors, this café is in the centre of Mitte and boasts a killer New York Cheesecake. Address: Auguststrasse, 69, Telephone 2838744 40,