Berlin's recently renovated Reichstag (German Parliament) building, designed by British architect Norman Foster, testifies to the construction boom currently taking place in the German capital.  Since November 1989 when the Wall came down, nearly 100 streets have been reconnected, disused 'ghost' railway stations have sprung back to life and the watchtowers that once divided the city have virtually disappeared.

After the city was occupied by the four post-war victorious powers, the two halves diverged even more as West Berliners broke away from their past and embraced the idea of a new, intensely western, Americanised city.  At the same time, eastern counterparts chose to retain what remained of the old Berlin instead. This is why the eastern half of the city probably gives a more accurate image of what Berlin was like in the 1920's and 30's.

Alexanderplatz has the 365 m high Television Tower (Fernsehturm); the oldest church in Berlin, the Nikolai Church (13th century) lent its name to the surrounding district, the Nikolaiviertel. At its western end, the Brandenburg Gate (Brandenburger Tor) has been the supreme symbol of the city of Berlin since it was built in 1791. The Wall once partly obscured the view of the Gate from the West, so it became a potent symbol of European division. The Berlin Wall has all but gone and walkers and cyclists now roam along what was once nicknamed 'Todesstreifen' or Death Strip. Quite a few tourists bought their 'own' piece of the Wall - museums also display pieces. There is a Berlin Wall Museum situated at the former Checkpoint Charlie in Friedrichstrasse.

The heart of West Berlin is the Kurfürstendamm, popularly referred to as the 'Ku'damm'.  As with so many features of this once divided city, it is all too easy to attribute symbolic significance to the 'Ku'damm', for, in a sense, it is the embodiment of the glitzy materialistic West, pulsating with traffic and people 24 hours a day and lined with cafes and shops.

• Reichstag ~ The home of German parliament once more.  Visits can be pre-arranged but the lift to the glass cupola doesn't require reservations and is free. 
• Brandenberg Gate ~ Once the boundary between east and west Berlin, a winged Goddess of Victory in a four-horse chariot sits atop the monument.
• Haus am Checkpoint Charlie ~ Commemoration of the Wall's history with countless tales of escape attempts.
• Potsdamerplatz ~ Occupied by the Wall until reunification, now the city's main thoroughfare, with buildings of architectural wonder.
• Jewish Museum ~ Covering 1000 years of Jewish history.
• Ku'damm ~ Expensive and very busy shopping street.
• Furnsehturm ~ This TV tower is one of the city's best-known landmarks, and offers stunning views over the city from the top.
• Olympic Stadium ~ Built by Hitler for the 1936 Olympics, and where the 2006 soccer World Cup Finals took place.

• Pasternak ~ Always busy, this small Russian restaurant has a buzzing atmosphere and serves Russian-influenced staples.  Booking essential. 
• Mao Thai ~ Another busy restaurant, serving typical Thai-inspired dishes.
• Hamlet ~ Fascinating ambience mixed with an imaginitive menu, with European and north African dishes available.