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Berlin
Berlin
Location
Country	Germany
Latitude	50° 31' N
Longitude	13° 25' E
Time Zone	GMT/UTC +1 (CET)
Statistics
Population	3.405.000 (2006)
Area	892 km² (approximate)
Currency	Euro (EUR)
Electricity	220V
Language	German

Overview

BERLIN on Google Maps

Berlin is the capital city as well as one of the sixteen states of Germany. It is the largest city of the country and the second largest in the European Union (behind London). Founded in the 13th century Berlin became the capital of the precedessors of Germany following the 16th century. After World War II the city had been divided into four sectors by the allied forces, resulting in Berlin West (French, British and American sectors, politically an exclave of West Germany) and Berlin East (Soviet sector, capital of the GDR). The reunification of Germany brought these two parts back together and after the decision to make Berlin the capital city experienced a massive boom. Today Berlin is a political and cultural hub attracting a large number of foreign companies.

The Airport(s)

• Berlin-Tegel International Airport (IATA: TXL, ICAO: EDDT): Scheduled to be closed around 2012, currently the busiest airport of Berlin in terms of scheduled flights. Air Berlin hat a hub here, and it is a focus city for Lufthansa, Condor, LTU and TUIfly.
• Berlin-Tempelhof International Airport (IATA: THF, ICAO: EDDI): A "city airport" for commuter flights and general aviation. Tempelhof was the first airport in Berlin and played a crucial role during the Berlin Airlift. Scheduled to be closed in 2008, although some airlines serving THF heavily oppose.
• Berlin-Schönefeld International Airport (IATA: SXF, ICAO: EDDB): Located south of the city SXF is slated to become Berlin Brandenburg International Airport, the major (and only) airport serving Berlin. Currently it is used mainly by charter operators and low-cost carriers. Expansion and remodelling of the airport has started in 2007.

Hotels

Berlin Marriott Hotels

Fusing contemporary chic with classic luxury, the Berlin Marriott Hotel, ideally located in Potsdamer Platz, Berlin business district and walking distance from this vibrant core of the historic Brandenburg Gate, the Philharmonic and Check Point Charlie offers a quintessentially American Lifestyle experience.

Courtyard Berlin City Center

Located in the heart of Berlin, the Courtyard Berlin City Center is just a two-minute walk to the subway and situated close to Berlin highlights like the Alexanderplatz, Checkpoint Charlie, the Axel-Springer building, the Gendarmenmarkt and the ancient place of the Berlin Wall.

Courtyard Berlin Teltow

With easy access to three airports, Courtyard Berlin Teltow offers the perfect location for corporate and leisure travel.

Getting Around

Public transport in Berlin is provided by S-Bahn (suburban rail connecting the suburbs with the city centre) and the U-Bahn (subway). Furthermore there are tram lines and an extensive network of bus services. Public transport usually runs around the clock, with a reduced service at night. Taxis are widely available but can be quite expensive, depending on the distance travelled.

Things to See and Do

• Reichstag: German parliament building
• Brandenburg Gate
• Tiergarten: The "green lung" of Berlin with some landmarks (the Berlin Zoo is located here, for example)
• Potsdamer Platz: Post-Modern development with a large number of high-rises and shops
• Museum Island
• Berlin Wall: Although almost completely destroyed some pieces of it remain (near Potsdamer Platz, at Bernauer Str. and along the river Spree.

Shopping

Berlin has several major shopping districts.

• Kurfürstendamm: The old city centre of Berlin West
• Potsdamer Platz: New downtown district on former wastelands in the prohibited zone
• Alexanderplatz: Centre of Berlin East

Clubs, Bars, Nightlife

Berlin has quite a vibrant nightlife. Notable nightclubs include Tresor (electronic), WMF, Ufo, Berghain and the infamous Kitkatclub. Smaller clubs can be found all over the city, there is in fact no specific centre for nightlife. Advertising flyers for clubnights are widely spread.

Safety Advisories

Berlin is a very safe city, but there are some areas (especially in the east of the city) where you might want to be careful. Occasionally demontrations turn into small-scale riots but these are dealt with very effectively by the police forces.

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