Berlin in the Press

WHERE TO GO IN EUROPE?

Twenty years on from the fall of communism, Eastern Europe is now welcoming and affordable. Here’s our guide to the most fashionable, lively and picturesque places to visit…

BERLIN, GERMANY

Even the credit crunch hasn’t halted the rebuilding of once-ravaged Berlin. Since the Berlin Wall fell and Germany was reunited, the capital has been transformed from two ugly, depressing, provincial towns into one vibrant, exciting city.

There are still a few reminders left that 20 years ago, people were shot trying to cross from one side to the other. But the skyscape of cranes, the loving restoration of its classical buildings and the thriving cultural scene make Berlin a bustling city on the move.

GOOD TO KNOW: Wander around the arty Mitte District of what used to be East Berlin. The Borchardt restaurant on Gendarmenmarkt (0049 30 8188 6262, borchardt-catering.de) is a good spot to eat and people-watch.

WHERE TO STAY: The Mandala, a designer hotel in a tower block on Potsdamer Platz, has great views over the city. Double rooms cost from £160 (0049 30 590 05 0000, themandala.de). 

Source: Daily Mail 24.08.2009