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The Travel’s Five
Italy, where each bite of pasta is a celebration of culinary genius and every cobblestone street whispers stories of bygone eras. Italy, a country of contrasts where the dynamic energy of modern life blends with the timeless grandeur of Renaissance architecture, is tucked away in the heart of Europe. Italy is home to more than 60 million people and is a colorful tapestry of different customs and ways of life.
Italy is the 5th most visited nation in the world, drawing millions of tourists to its recognizable cities and magnificent scenery annually. Since its unification in 1861, Italy has come to be associated with classic beauty, Renaissance works of art, and internationally recognized food.
Italy’s varied landscapes provide a feast for the senses at every turn, from the sun-kissed Amalfi Coast beaches to the snow-capped Alps summits. Italy never fails to enchant and inspire, whether you’re strolling through the historic alleys of Rome, indulging in gelato in Florence, or taking a leisurely cruise along the lovely canals of Venice.
Visit Rome’s Colosseum and Roman Forum
Take a trip back in time and admire the magnificent buildings of ancient Rome. Stroll around the ruins of the Roman Forum, the site of the political and social life of the city, and imagine the gladiatorial fights that once took place inside its walls.
Take a Wine Tour in Tuscany:
Take a tour of Tuscany’s scenic vineyards while tasting well-known wines like Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Savor the aromas of Italy’s most adored wine region, visit quaint wineries tucked away in the undulating hills, and interact with passionate winemakers.
Take a Ride Along Venice’s Canals:
Take a traditional gondola ride across Venice’s complicated network of canals to truly appreciate its breathtaking splendor. While your gondolier serenades you with Italian tunes, take in the elaborate palaces, ancient bridges, and undiscovered areas of this remarkable city.
Walk the Coastal Trail of the Cinque Terre:
Put on your hiking boots and set out on an amazing journey around the Cinque Terre’s untamed coastline. Hike among terraced vineyards, through pastel-colored villages perched on cliffs, and take in breathtaking views of the Ligurian Sea’s turquoise seas.
Admire Florence’s Architecture and Art:
Take in Florence’s Renaissance beauty, which is home to some of the most recognizable artwork and buildings in the entire world. See works of art by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli in the Uffizi Gallery. A trip to the top of the Duomo will provide you with sweeping views of the city below.
Berlin coaxes with its charming mix of verifiable love and social renaissance. Over thirty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the city honours 20th century past through powerful commemorations and historical centres while additionally commending its dynamic present areas. This extraordinary combination makes Berlin a compelling objective for tourists looking for both strong reflections of the human soul and blissful submersion in lively metropolitan encounters.
First-time visitors aiming to stay central with iconic ambiance can’t go wrong at Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin. Conveniently located by the Brandenburg Gate and close to top attractions, this glamorous grande dame has hosted royalty and celebrities over its century-plus tenure. Those seeking something more intimate and design-driven could try The Mandala Hotel, an ultra-cool property with an eco-conscious, wellness-focused vibe in Berlin’s sought-after Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood. For travellers requiring extra space for families or small groups, check out places like Sophie Suite Berlin, which offers full apartments with multiple bedrooms and sleek modern design.
Hotel de Rome
History: Originally built in 1889 as the Berliner Bank head office, this grand neoclassical building has been thoughtfully transformed into a luxury hotel showcasing both 19th century elegance and contemporary style.
Guest Rooms: The 146 plush yet minimalist rooms and suites feature an inviting mix of bright accent colours, sleek modern furnishings, and historic architectural details with impressive high ceilings.
Highlights: The spectacular heated indoor pool is elegantly nestled amidst original marble columns and glittering chandeliers in the building’s former jewel vault. The chic lobby cocktail bar overlooking Bebelplatz makes an atmospheric spot for an evening aperitif.
Waldorf Astoria Berlin
Location: Situated near the Zoo Garden in lively City West, the Waldorf Astoria offers a prestigious address right in the heart of the action.
Luxury Details: Elegant rooms start at a spacious 452 square feet with dazzling marble bathrooms, personal lounge areas, and luxurious linens. The tower’s upper floor suites provide breathtaking city panoramas.
Presidential Splendour: No attention to detail is spared in the opulent three-bedroom Presidential Suite, an exclusive world of grand pianos, personal fitness rooms and extravagant skyline views.
Schlosshotel im Grunewald
History: This heritage boutique hotel resides within a storied 1914 French country palace, formerly home to aristocrats, diplomats and even a secret WWII radio station.
Restored Grandeur: Sensitively redesigned under renowned Berlin designer Patrick Hellmann, historical architectural details harmonize with modern interior elegance.
One-of-a-Kind Stays: Each stately guestroom possesses its own distinct character, like the Old Masters décor of the Renaissance Suite or aristocratic flair of the Royal Suite’s private terrace nook.
KPM Berlin Hotel and Residences
Setting: Situated on the former 18th century Royal Porcelain Manufactory near lively Alexanderplatz, this contemporary design hotel gives a fresh perspective on history.
Sleek Style: Minimalist yet inviting guest rooms offer a harmonious balance of comfort, elegance and the latest technology through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Urban Panoramas: An atmosphere of relaxed urban sophistication prevails at the rooftop lounge with its cocktail bar and breathtaking views over Berlin’s dynamic cityscape.
Sir Savigny Hotel
Neighbourhood Charm: Set amidst Berlin’s galleries, indie boutiques and cafes, this boutique hotel captures the creative spirit of Berlin’s Charlottenburg district.
Social Hub: The communal table functioning as check-in desk, breakfast bar and co-working space promotes lively guest interactions.
Retro-Chic: Vintage mid-century furnishings, Victorian floor tiles and elegant hammocks bring low-key flair to compact yet cleverly designed guest rooms.
1. The Brandenburg Gate
This regal 18th-century neoclassical triumphal arch has endured as Berlin’s most iconic landmark. Inspired by Athens’ Acropolis entrance, the sandstone structure symbolizes Berlin’s unity and resilience at the former flashpoint of the Cold War era.
2. Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe
The striking “Field of Stelae” art installation features 2,711 concrete slabs filling 4.7 acres near the Brandenburg Gate. Designed by Peter Eisenman, the abstract monument provides a sobering visual commemoration of lives tragically lost in the Holocaust.
3. Topography of Terror
Chilling exhibits at the site of the former Gestapo and SS headquarters document the planning and implementation of Nazi “security” forces’ murderous campaigns before and during WWII. Outdoors, a remnant stretch of the Berlin Wall stands testament to the tyranny once at work daily behind these walls.
4. East Side Gallery
This 1.3-kilometre remnant of the Berlin Wall deserves its acclaim as the world’s largest open-air mural collection. Just after the wall fell in 1989, 118 international artists unleashed their joyful outpourings of optimism and liberation across this former hated border. Three decades later, their creative triumph remains.
5. Tempelhofer Feld
Closed in 2008 after a century of aviation service, including hosting the Berlin Airlift in 1948-49, Tempelhofer Feld today delights Berliners as one of the city’s most beloved parks and recreation venues. The fair-weather months see locals flocking here for BBQs, urban gardening, skating, cycling, kiteboarding, and unstructured fun across the sprawling former airfield.
6. Badeschiff
By transforming a cargo container into an open-air swimming pool complex on the Spree River, the founders of Badeschiff created Berlin’s quintessential urban “beach” oasis. Come summer, the cafe/bar deck morphs into a vibrant watering hole, while swimming and volleyball stay popular in the pool below.
7. Summer in the Garden 2022
Between May and September, Berliners indulge in this epic city-wide garden party stretching across parks, lakesides, and outdoor venues citywide. “STIG” offers alfresco dance parties, open-air cinema, theatre performances, culinary pop-ups, and family-friendly programming nearly every summer weekend evening.
Cosmopolitan Berlin provides a booming culinary playground spanning traditional German flavours, alongside the international diversity flowing into the city from around the globe. Hearty rib-stickers can get their authentic bratwurst, schnitzel, or pork knuckle fix in old-school German institutions like Zur Letzte Instanz. But more contemporary kitchens like vegetarian-focused Cookies Cream or Asian-German fusion expert Cóndor fuse international influences into something uniquely Berliner.
Vibrant multicultural melting pots like the Turkish Market and Dong Xuan Center also showcase the city’s diversity through shops and eateries offering tastes of the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. And regularly appearing street food fairs deliver immediate immersion into Berlin’s dynamic food scene. Visitors wanting a stylish side helping of culture with their cuisine can check events at spaces like the Jewish Museum’s Michelin-starred Mogg for memorable dining fusing food, architecture, and history.
Osmans Töchter
Ethnic Infusion: Dishes celebrate multicultural cuisine through a seasonally changing menu of interpretations on Turkish classics from a rotating collective of female international chefs.
Dining Hideaway: Nestled away in a 19th century Prenzlauer Berg courtyard, this understated eatery charms guests with flea market bistro furnishings and chilled vibes.
Local Flavors: Smoky paprika and pomegranate notes tickle tastebuds in the roasted lamb shank while the fava bean ceviche intrigues with distinctly Turkish funky fermented tang.
Kin Dee
Culinary Storytelling: Discreetly tucked away behind the Gemäldegalerie Art Museum, this tranquil urban oasis transports diners to northern Thailand through flavour and ambiance.
Regional Journey: Vegan takes on classics like red curry with jackfruit and tapioca pudding with mango represent distinct Thai provinces in Chef Dalad Kambhu’s masterful seasonal tasting menus.
Masterful Preparation: Each small plate performs an intricate dance of tastes, textures, aromas and colours – as delightfully demonstrated in the green papaya salad with pomelo and dried shrimp.
Bar Normal
Improvisational Kitchen: Like jazz riffing off a standard, Bar Normal’s experimental kitchen playfully reinvents bistro favourites from fresh seasonal produce and responsible sourcing.
Convivial Atmosphere: Unfussy candlelit wooden tables encourage guests to relax into the camaraderie of shared small plates and natural wines in an intimate, cave-like setting.
Seasonal Selections: Tart North Sea mussels steamed in vegan beurre blanc sauce or sweet bell peppers roasted with young garlic bulbs change regularly, keeping return visits fresh.
893 Ryōtei
Hidden Gem: Set in a discrete underground location behind an unmarked black door, this 14-seat destination fuses intimate yet theatrical Japanese dining traditions with contemporary inspirations.
Artful Innovation: Whimsical dishes like “The Black Truffle” – a delicate truffle flavoured cream panna cotta – or sashimi atop smoldering binchotan charcoal delightfully subvert expectations.
Vanguard Mixology: Rare Japanese spirits form the base for avant garde cocktails like the Yuzu Mojito with mascarpone and shiso or the popcorn-infused Black Margarita prepared tableside.
Mrs Robinson’s
Warehouse Dining: This industrial-chic hot spot animates a former factory space with an open kitchen surrounded by wooden tables showcasing market-driven dishes inspired by Asian flavours.
Theatrical Experience: Tables outfitted with secret compartments for silverware add an element of drama and discovery to a menu continually evolving with the seasons.
Market Driven: Daily selections centred on pristine proteins and produce like sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna or fresh morels with English peas spotlight top seasonal ingredients playfully reimagined.
When to Visit
For weather reflecting Berlin’s energetic optimism, plan your visit between May and September, when average highs range from a sunny 63°F to 76°F. Café-hopping, park lounging, and walking tours are all ideal during these months. Intrepid off-season travellers willing to brave chillier temperatures are rewarded with fewer crowds and steep airfare/hotel discounts. Over 60 festive Christmas markets also spread holiday cheer from late November through December.
Navigating Berlin
Berlin brags one of the Europe’s generally broad and rider-friendly public travel systems. Both the underground U-Bahn trains and raised S-Bahn trains give effective access across the city’s top destinations. Prior to onboarding, make sure to approve tickets by date-stamping them at platform machines to stay away from potential fines of 60 euros. Having a couple of helpful German expressions additionally smooths connections, so look for any way to improve on “bitte schön” (you are welcome) and “Entschuldigung” (excuse me).
Berlin’s quite abhorred Tegel Air terminal (TXL) at last shut in 2020 with the hotly anticipated Brandenburg Air terminal (BER) having its spot. However, yet dealing with certain issues, BER offers rail transport to Alexanderplatz in a mere 30 minutes. Driving in Berlin is obstructed by restrictive parking and being crowded, yet advantageous choices exist through copious taxicabs, rideshares, bicycle rentals, or even peddle power from local people for whom cycling is less of a game than standard travel mode.
Saving Money
Cost-conscious travellers have abundant options to experience Berlin without overspending. Visiting in winter secures dramatically lower airfares and hotel rates. Seeking out Berlin’s more affordable nightlife venues east of the city centre is another savvy move for partygoers on a budget. Multi-day transit/attraction passes like the Berlin WelcomeCard lift the burden of calculating single purchase discounts. And thanks to the city’s generous green spaces, packing a picnic lunch saves euros while still offering postcard backdrops.
Insider’s Travel Guide
As a city saturated with history, Berlin offers guests powerful investigates its mind boggling past close by unique articulations of its flourishing present-day culture. Famous destinations like the dignified Brandenburg Gate and avant-garde East Side Gallery portraying the city’s advancement as the decades progressed. This insider’s aide covers Berlin’s quintessential secret gems and historical sights.
Nightlife
As capital of Germany’s “poor but sexy” creative culture, Berlin offers seemingly limitless energy once the sun goes down across its vibrant bars, clubs, performance spaces, and more. Always buzzing areas like Simon-Dach-Straße mix bar-lined streets with pockets of late-night dance spots keeping the party pumping into the wee hours. In scrappy but cool Neukölln, unconventional venues like the Egyptian-esque dance club An Oasis satisfy those seeking genuine local flavour rather than standard tourist traps.
For imbibing with history or soaking in old-world ambiance, expertly crafted cocktails at iconic venues like the 1930s-era Victoria Bar or Doctor Pong’s 1920s-style Ping Pong Club transport guests back through Berlin’s evolution with drinks infused with nostalgia. Whenever late-night munchies strike, kabob shops like Mustafa’s Gemüsedöner recharge revellers with Berlin fast-food specialty döner kebab pitas — the ideal 3AM snack during marathon nightlife crawls.
The Edge
Visitors can honour Germany’s profound 20th-century history through memorials and museums while also revelling in the dynamic energy and optimism emerging in reunified Berlin’s cafés, gardens, and late-night dance parties. It is precisely this poignant contrast that makes this city such a rich cultural experience for history buffs and modern urbanites alike giving an edge.