The Berlin Wall, the Iron Curtain between West and East, fell down in 1989 year. The modern Berlin is famous for itâs Berlin International Film Festival - Berlinale, diverse architecture in Potsdamer Platz, nightlife, contemporary arts and world- known museums.
The modern east Berlin is the part of town most visited by tourists mainly for its buzzing cultural and night life. Cheap hotels in Berlin are mainly in the East Berlin. A popular destination on Rüdersdorfer Str. 70 is Berghain, formerly a power plant in the Jewish quarter of Berlin that was turned into a modern art center, night club by a group of artists.
The Berghain has colorful graffiti-style murals are painted on the exterior walls, and modern art sculptures are featured inside. But to go away from the tourist crowds and enjoy the real East Berlin experience, visit Prenzlauer Berg with its Schönhauser Allee is full of fashion boutiques, cafes and bars and some Berlin hostels and budget Berlin hotels. Once there, go for a stroll down lively Kastanienallee that is full of beergardens. ( U-Bahn: Eberswalder Str.) The largest synagogue in Germany is on RykestraÃe. Prenzlauer Berg, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg it is also a popular neighbourhood with the student population.
Another upcoming and trendy area in former East Berlin is Wedding and Kreuzberg , also known as "Little Istanbul". Edgy and exciting, the area is popular for its alternative culture, punks, anarchists and the best kebabs in town. For a crazy night out go to S036 on Oranienstr. 190 (Nearest Tube: Kottbusser Tor). Gesundbrunnen Center in the district of Wedding is one of Berlin's large shopping malls it is home to Europe's big fashion chains including H&M, C&A and New Yorker (sbahn Gesundbrunnen, ubahn Gesundbrunnen).
East Berlin offers plenty of accomodation at reasonable rates. For example good area to stay is Reinickendorf with plenty cheap hotels Berlin. It is area between Tegel airport and the new Central Railway station Hauptbahnhof (taxi approx.10 ⬠from TXL. This area is very safety. Reinickendorf cheap hotels in Berlin city centre is easy to get by ubahn U8.
The West is traditionally considered to be more reach than the East and slightly less exciting, but still full of charm. Walk down the Kurfurstendamm, lovingly called, Ku'damm: it is well known for its elegant shops and restaurants. It offers many luxury Berlin hotels, Berlin shoping, Berlin theatres, Berlin restaurants and other attractions. The main shopping attraction is luxurious KaDeWe, an impressive eight-floor department store with a choice of 3 million products. At Europa center one of Berlin stores there is The Clock of Flowing Time. The above 10m high clock stretched across three whole floors, giving as face to time with the help of liquid in 12 large and 30 oblate small glass spheres. It is one of unusual things to see in Berlin.
Near the Europa center Berlin mall you can see one of the must see things in Berlin Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtnis Kirche. The church was almost fully destroyed by the bombings during the war. Only the tower and a golden statue of Christ survived. The ruins of the tower, called by locals the "hollow tooth", serve as a memorial to the victims of WW II. (U bahn: Kurfurstendamm)
And Berlin center is the Unter den Linden. Lined with linden trees, the lovely boulevard is the most distinctive street in East Berlin. It stretches all the way from the Brandenburger Tor or Berlin Brandenburg Gate, Branderburger Tor is the Kennedy Museum Berlin, then crosses the river Spree and ends on the former site of the imperial palace Berliner Stadtschloss. Brandenburg Gate, the former entrance to the city built over 200 years ago.The linden trees were planted back in the 16th century so that the Prussian Duke Frederick William could have a pleasant ride when going hunting. During the 2nd World War, most of the trees were cut down and later replanted. Humboldt University which boasts 20 Nobel Prize winners (including Einstein) is also in the Unter den Linden.
Modem Berlin offers an incredibly exciting mix of architecture. From the neoclassical buildings of the National Opera House to the Postdamer Platz with its Sony Centre. Potsdamer Platz is European headquarters of the Sony company but also is a popular spot equipped with shopping i Berlin, Berlin cafes and a 17-screen Berlin cinema and Lego Center Berlin.
