Berlin is the capital of Germany and the country's largest city. It is divided into 12 boroughs further divided into 95 localities. Berlin is the center of education for Europe with many major institutions of higher learning and research establishments. While home to an active tourism department Berlin's main economy centers around its technological and scientific communities.

History

The earliest known settlements in the area of Berlin are in 1192. The area has a long history of turmoil and was the center of the Nazi regime in the 1933 until the end of World War II. At the end of that war the control of the region was shared by the four major allies until tensions between the Soviet Union and the west grew during the cold war era. A giant wall was erected to divide Germany between the Soviet Union, and the Western Allies. Upon the fall of the Soviet Union the community outcry for a reunification of Germany brought about the destruction of the wall in November of 1989 and the country became the Federation of Germany, with Berlin as its capital city.

Art & Museums

Berlin puts great store in the art and history of its culture and has many museums dedicated to the arts, as well as science and technology for which it is so well-known. It has not turned its back on its darker heritage either and is home to the Jewish Museum that details the complete German/Jewish history of the area. Berlin is a great supporter of the arts and is home to three major opera houses, seven symphony halls, and fifty cinema theaters.

Nightlife

Germany as a whole is popular for its beer and hearty appetite. Nightlife in Berlin, therefore, is both festive and exciting. Berlin has a history of counter-culture involvement and many of Europe's most enlightened have met and gathered in the clubs and coffee houses of the area throughout the centuries. Nightclubs and dance clubs featuring a wide variety of genres heavily populate the streets of Berlin and the German Film Academy hosts the Berlin Film Festival every February.

How to get there

Berlin has a very well supported transportation system. There is plenty of space and roadway for personal automotive transportation but public transportation is also easily accessible. Trains linking all of the major European cities make travel between all of the European countries fast and easy and the autobahn of Germany is legendary. Inside the city buses are the most commonly used public transport and there is a highly developed bike lane system making environmentally friendly transportation safe and reliable.