Five ideas for guided tours in Berlin

• Brandenburg Gate

  The Brandenburg Gate is one of the oldest gateways to the city and a true symbol of the German capital. It is located at one end of the Unter den Linden Avenue, which runs through the centre of Berlin. It was inaugurated in 1791 and its style is reminiscent of the acropolis of Athens. The bronze quadriga at the top was brought back to Paris by Napoleon and returned triumphantly after the defeat of Waterloo. It was destroyed during the war, but it was rebuilt from its original mould. And today it is the emblem of the German reunification.

• Strolling through Prenzlauer Berg

  Don’t miss the bohemian district of Berlin in the north of the city. Here the area is quieter and the buildings are less imposing. This area was restored and rehabilitated after the reunification and remains today one of the most pleasant districts of the capital, especially around Kollwitzplatz, with its pretty pavements full of flowers. There are many small shops, designer boutiques, pretty terraces and cafés where you can have a drink. A Berlin Local Guide takes you to the Berlin Wall Memorial, where the history of the separation of the two countries, the FRG and the GDR, is told over a distance of 1.5 kilometres.

• Hackescher Markt

  You will find at Hackescher Markt one of the most famous and pleasant shopping spots. It is a picturesque little square where all around there are many trendy clothing shops and local designers. This area is very close to the Museum Island and the Monbijou Park. It is also in this area that you will discover small inner courtyards called the Hackesche Höfe.

• Alternative scene from the Kater Blau.

  The trendy place of Kater Blau has replaced the old club of Kater Holzig. This is where the Berlin alternative scene meets the small open-air markets, biergarten (the typical German breweries) and clubs where you can dance to the music of the best DJs of the moment. Offbeat decoration and a wide variety of audiences. Everything is done to make it THE place to have fun and party, from Friday night until Monday night sometimes.

• Charlottenburg Palace.

  Visit Berlin’s largest and most beautiful palace: the Schloss Charlottenburg. It was the Queen Sophie-Charlotte, wife of King Frederick I of Prussia, who commanded this palace at the end of the 17th century. The place was completely renovated after the bombings of the Second World War. You will be seduced by the magical world of rococo art which abounds through the sculptures, tapestries and furniture coming from China. The former tea house has been converted into the museum of the Royal Porcelain Manufactory in Berlin. In the former theatre, a museum of prehistory and protohistory has been installed.