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Reichstag: The seat of the German parliament is one of Berlin’s most historic buildings. Constructed in 1884-1889 as a symbol of the strength of the German Reich, it sustained a great deal of damage and was completely reconstructed in 1994-1999 by the British architect Sir Norman Foster, only the exterior shell being retained of the original building. Its most impressive feature is the imposing glass dome of the observation deck, which offers amazing views of the city. Address: Platz der Republik 1, 11011 Berlin, www.bundestag.de

Brandenburg Gate: This is Berlin’s most emblematic landmark, a symbol of the reunification of the city after the fall of the Berlin Wall and witness to many important events in the city’s turbulent history. It was built in 1789-1791 by Carl Gotthard Langhans; crowned by the triumphant sculpture of the Quadriga, the Brandenburg Gate is one of the finest examples of German classicism. Address: Pariser Platz, 10117 Berlin

Schloss Charlottenburg: The elegant summer palace of Charlottenburg (1695-1699) is a superb example of French Baroque and Prussian splendour. Its historic rooms still resonate with the bygone majesty of the royal house of Hohenzollern, and the beautiful Baroque gardens are a delightful place to stroll or sunbathe. Address: Spandauer Damm 10-22, 14059 Berlin, www.spsg.de

East Side Gallery: This is the largest (1.3km long) open-air gallery in the world, located by the River Spree, originally part of the Berlin Wall. In 1990, 118 artists from 21 countries decorated the grey blocks of the wall with vibrant images commenting on the political events of the period 1989-1990, transforming the wall into a unique work or art and monument to freedom. The most famous image is by the Russian Dmitri Vrubel and represents Brezhnev and Honecker exchanging a comradely socialist kiss. Address: Mühlenstrasse, 10243 Berlin, www.eastsidegallery-berlin.de

Jewish Museum: In this spectacular zinc construction (2001), resembling a bolt of lightning (an abstract representation of the Star of David), by the architect Daniel Libeskind, visitors can follow the history of the German-speaking Jews from the Middle Ages to the present day. The focus is on the role of the Hebrew community in the cultural life of the city, its persecution and extermination, and finally the return of the Jews to Germany after reunification. Address: Lindenstraße 9-14, 10969 Berlin, www.jmberlin.de

Museum Island (Museumsinsel): A complex of five very important museums, located on a little island in the River Spree. The collections include priceless treasures from the prehistoric era and ancient times to the 19th century, and the five museums are a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. You can visit the world-class Pergamon Museum (Greek and Babylonian antiquities), and the amazing Altes Museum (ancient Greek and Roman), the Alte Nationalgalerie (Germany’s biggest collection of 19th century painting and sculpture), the Neues Museum (prehistoric items and Egyptian art, including the bust of Nefertiti) and the Bode Museum (sculptures, coins and paintings). Address: Am Lustgarten 1, 10117 Berlin, www.smb.spk-berlin.de

Mauermuseum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie: On the site of the former allied checkpoint there now stands a replica of an American guardhouse. Just next to it you will find the museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, with documents relating to the history of the Berlin wall and the incredible means (from hot-air balloons to ladders) used by people seeking to escape from East to West Berlin. Address: Friedrichstrasse 43-45, 10969 Berlin, www.mauermuseum.de

Gemäldegalerie: Berlin’s largest art museum is located in the amazing arts complex known as the Kulturforum, and focuses on European painting of the 13th to 18th centuries. The amazing collection includes works by Rubens, Rembrandt, Durer, Holbein, Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Goya, Velazquez and Bosch. Address: Matthäikirchplatz, 10785 Berlin, www.smb.museum

Potsdamer Platz: This vast and historic square, a symbol of the new Berlin, was for many years after the fall of the Berlin Wall the largest building site in Europe, where a global dream team of architects were engaged in creating an impressive city of futuristic constructions, focused on two points: the Daimler City and the Sony Centre. The square is now the heart of the city’s leisure and entertainment activities.

Tiergarten: Laid out in 1833-40 as a royal hunting park for the Electors, the most famous park in Berlin was converted in the mid-19th century into a pleasure ground for the people of the city. Today its huge expanse of meadows attracts a host of people who come here to cycle, sunbathe, jog or hold barbecues.

Like any big European city, Berlin offers innumerable shopping opportunities. The shopping scene is geographically dispersed, each area of Berlin offers its own shopping experience reflecting the local community and its identity. The most popular shopping street in Charlottenburg is the Kurfürstendamm, where all the world’s major brands can be found side by side. Tauentzienstrasse is home to the amazing KaDeWe, more than a century old and still the biggest department store in mainland Europe. In the Mitte district Friedrichstrasse is remarkable for its architecture and for its elegant department stores, such as the Galeries Lafayette and the ultra-expensive Quartier 206, with numerous haute couture shops. For fine vintage clothes and second-hand goods you should head to the alternative, multicultural quarter of Kreuzberg (Oranienstrasse and Bergmannstrasse), while in the up-and-coming Prenzlauer Berg you will find sophisticated fashion boutiques (Kastanienallee), modern art galleries and superb designer shops with household items. Hakescher Hof, with its antique shops and other little stores, laid out in an amazing complex of internal courtyards, is a sight worth seeing in itself. And of course, the visitor should not overlook the dozens of markets in Berlin, with their hidden treasures of unique souvenirs, antiques, way-out clothes and bizarre Berlin artefacts – all at incredibly reasonable prices. The Sunday Strasse des 17 market is a favourite with tourists, and you should also take a look at Boxhagener Platz (very cheap, and with all sorts of mementoes of the DDR) and Mauerpark (lots of bargains and interesting food). Foodies should also take a stroll through the covered food market Markthalle IX in Kreuzfeld, and head to Winterfeldt, the appealing and fashionable food and clothes market in Schöneberg, held on Saturday mornings.

Thanks to its cosmopolitan character and large immigrant population, Berlin has developed a multicultural gastronomic scene which offers a huge variety of international delicacies and local specialties. Berliners are fond of ethnic cuisine, with Turkish, Indian, Arab, Greek, Chinese, Italian and Thai food available at the many local snack bars, canteens and fast food stalls dotted all over the city. German specialties tend to dominate the menus in the traditional pubs and are both delicious and filling. Characteristic dishes include Bouletten (meat balls), Currywurst (chicken with curry), Eisbein mit Sauerkraut und Erbsenpuree (pork with cabbage and pureed beans) and Schusterjungen (rolls of rye bread), all accompanied by local beer, like the popular Berliner Weisse. Compared with other European capitals, Berlin offers quality food at very reasonable prices, whether it’s a big breakfast in a café or a smart dinner in a chic restaurant. Berliners enjoy a good morning meal, and breakfasts are served all through the day in many of the city’s cafes, with a huge choice of high-quality ingredients. Whether you’re looking for a fashionable bar, techno club, cabaret, atmospheric jazz club, gay bar, live music or cocktail beach bar on the banks of the Spree – Berlin nightlife is as legendary as ever, world-class, uninhibited and available all through till morning. From the expensive bars in Charlottenburg (Savigny Platz) and the tourist Mitte district (Auguststrasse, Hackesche Höfe, Oranienburger Strasse) to the alternative grunge of Kreuzberg and the experimental Prenzlauer Berg (Kollwitzplatz, Schoenhauser-allee), the city never sleeps. The most original clubbing scene is to be found in the Friedrichchain district, along Simon Dach Strasse and Muhlenstrasse (the main street for clubs).

• Carnival of Cultures: For four days in May the Carnival of Cultures brings together all the nations of the world in a crazy street party, held in the multicultural Kreuzberg district. Four stages for live music, more than 400 food and crafts stalls, dancers and acrobats from 80 countries – this is the backdrop for a festival which culminates in a huge fancy-dress parade.
• Berlinale International Film Festival: The second largest film festival in the world, second only to Cannes, is held over 12 days every February. More than 400,000 movie fans attend an event which has everything: glamour, parties, Hollywood stars and the elite of global art cinema, all under the same roof.
• Musikfest Berlin: A highly regarded festival of symphonic and chamber music, held every September (1/9 – 21/9) at the famous Berliner Philharmonie and featuring eminent classical musicians from all over the world (international orchestras, choirs, musical ensembles and soloists).
• Jazzfest Berlin: Berlin’s top jazz festival is held every November over four days and features live music on stages around the city, offering the public an eclectic mix of traditional jazz bands and more progressive groups.

Getting to and from the airport

Aegean Airlines flights land at Tegel Airport, 8km north-west of the city centre. There are plenty of duty free shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, banks, ATMs, bureaus de change, a post office, pharmacies, a hairdresser’s, lounges, VIP services, hotels and WiFi (for a charge). The fastest and most economical way into the city centre is to take the TXL JetExpressBus or the X9 JetExpressBus. The former links the eastern part of the city centre (S+U Alexanderplatz – Flughafen Tegel) with the airport in around 40 minutes. The latter, the X9 JetExpressBus, connects the western city centre (S+U Zoologischer Garden – Flughafen Tegel) with the airport in about 20 minutes. Buses leave every 5-10 minutes, between 5am and midnight.