In the west, the crumbling, bombed Memorial Church still stands tall. Eastwards, the shimmering TV Tower pierces the skyline like an upturned stiletto. Cobbled streets and groves of lime trees lead to the centre's honey-hued Brandenburg Gate and glass-domed Reichstag parliament.

The city has more than its fair share of sightseeing, and with a vast building programme in flow since the reunification of the two Germanys, more and more is being added each year to this rapidly developing place.

The legacy of the Berlin Wall, which divided the city, is no more apparent than at the East Side Gallery where a stretch of the edifice is left as a memorial to the many who died trying to escape from the east to the west. There is also a museum telling the story of what the wall meant to Berliners. Checkpoint Charlie, which was once one of the crossing points, is now no more than a tourist trap, although the museum there does have interesting stories of inventive escape attempts.

Buy a ticket and visit the rebuilt Parliament building where you can view the goings-on of the German government from high above the chamber. The area is also close to Museum Mile, with a selection of world-class museums with a range of art and artefacts on show as well as blockbuster exhibitions from around the world

The Tiergarten in the centre of the city is a vast park with wide avenues, often used to host events. The locals use it as their recreational hub with sunbathing in the summer and impromptu games of football and cycling along the car-free roads and paths. At one end is Berlin's zoo with a world-class selection of animals.

For those wanting to find out more about the war-time Holocaust, you can easily visit the nearby Sachsenhausen concentration camp with its moving exhibits or attend the Jewish Museum and Holocaust Memorial back in the city.

Shopping can be found in various areas of the city, with many heading to the department stores and big names around the iconic Berlin KaDeWe shop or the funkier streets of Mitte with specialist shops and outlets.  

If you are planning a trip to the city this year and need some help, read on for more information and use TravelSupermarket's search tool to find short breaks in Berlin.

Summers are usually warm and dry, with temperatures reaching the mid to high 20s at times. Winters can see the mercury dipping below zero as well as frequent snow, although the city can easily cope with these extremes.

Spring and autumn make for the most comfortable times to visit Berlin, with good temperatures for sightseeing. 

Long Night of Museums; May: Each May the city opens its museums for the night, allowing you to view both the permanent and temporary exhibitions from dusk till dawn.

Lesbian and Gay City Festival; June: The city hosts one of the largest celebrations in the world with the annual street party around Nollendorfplatz. It's certainly colourful.

Christmas Markets; Late November to December: In the run up to Christmas, the city hosts several markets with traditional stalls selling gluhwein, decorations and food, as well as interesting gifts.

Romance: Fancy sailing off into the sunset together? For lazy escapades, cruise along the Spree river and drift dreamily past picturesque palaces and pretty shaded parks. 

Shopping: Plunder Berlin's cheap-as-chips flea markets to unearth treasure troves of affordable trinkets and bargain deals on Communist memorabilia.

Nightlife: Berlin city breaks are fuelled by frothy pints of German beer in dimly lit bars so drink up! Even Berlin's bog-standard, weeknight parties last till dawn, whether the venue's a deserted warehouse, sweat-soaked bunker or stylish club.