Berlin

Berlin is a lively capital charged with history and fashion. At its heart stands the Brandenburg Gate, built in 1791, once the symbol of the divided city and, from 1990, of its reunification. Steps away is the Reichstag, whose glass dome can be climbed free of charge with advance registration.

Museum Island on the Spree has been on the UNESCO list since 1999 and holds five museums, among them the Pergamon, home to the Museum of Islamic Art, and the Neues Museum with the bust of Nefertiti. Of the Wall, the East Side Gallery keeps its murals along the river.

For shopping there is the Kurfürstendamm and KaDeWe, the largest department store in continental Europe. The city has large Turkish and Arab communities, so halal restaurants are in almost every district. The best time to visit is May to September.