Berlin

Berlin’s unique charm

For many decades after World War II, Berlin symbolised Germany’s division: a city divided between East and West. After reunification, Berlin once again became the German capital and the seat of the country’s parliament and government.

Old and new Berliners

Döner kebabs, Berlin’s typical “Currywurst” sausage, sushi and tofu burgers: Germany’s largest city boasts a plethora of international restaurants – and its population is just as cosmopolitan. People from all over Germany and from over 190 different countries live in the capital. More than a third of all Berliners were not born in the city. A vast range of different backgrounds and lifestyles is represented in Berlin, probably more so than anywhere else in Germany.

This unique atmosphere attracts visitors from all over the world. Today the German capital ranks as the third most visited city in Europe.

Bright sparks and service providers

Berlin is a service-sector metropolis, although the manufacturing sector has also begun to expand again over the last few years.

Germany’s most modern train station

Tourism and culture are among the key pillars of the economy. More than 80 per cent of all firms, accounting for circa 40 per cent of all employees, are in the service sector. This is also reflected in the numerous associations and organisations that have opened new headquarters close to the government district.

Actors, musicians, designers - creating fashion, graphic work or stunning objects - all work in this city, along with people from a range of other creative disciplines. Tapping into this energy, media companies, agencies and music labels have opened their company headquarters or new branches in Berlin.

Looking to the future, the city’s economic strength will be rooted in the creative industry, health/ biotechnology, transport systems technology, optics and energy technology. Berlin already boasts numerous research centres in all these fields. Complementing this, there are also four universities and a wide range of specialised technical colleges.

Blending tradition and the avant-garde

A cultural highlight: the Berlinale

The five museums on Berlin’s Museum Island form one of the most important exhibition ensembles in the world. The Hamburger Bahnhof and the New National Gallery have strong reputations in the realm of modern and contemporary art. In addition to the city’s other numerous museums, Berlin boasts a countless string of galleries, particularly in the trendy Mitte district.

The city is also home to famous theatres, such as the Berliner Ensemble and the Volksbühne, the State Opera and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Berlin-based productions, whether in mainstream or alternative venues, can be relied on to stir up lively media debate. The same goes for the Berlin International Film Festival (the Berlinale), the Jazz Festival and the Berlin Biennale.

Berlin’s renowned and eccentric nightlife has certainly earned its legendary status. Discos, hip clubs and jazz bars are open until dawn. By day, a trip to the numerous gardens or the lakes in idyllic settings around Berlin offers a great opportunity to enjoy a relaxing break without going far. Set on the Spree and Havel, the city is also criss-crossed by canals, notching up 1,700 bridges across these waterways: even more than Venice.

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