This top Northern European hotspot is simply bristling with sights to see such as the Brandenburg Gate, Potsdamer Platz, the Berlin Wall, Check Point Charlie and the Reichstag. When you add in the myriad of night life venues, cafe culture and restaurant scene - your holiday will cover all bases for a memorable city break.

At the end of World War II, both Germany and Berlin were divided into four zones of occupation under the control of the United States, Britain, France and the Soviet Union. In 1949 the country Germany formally split into two independent nations: the Federal Republic of Germany (FDR or West Germany) and the German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany). In 1952, the East German government closed the border with West Germany, but the border between East and West Berlin (located in East Germany) remained open. East Germans could still escape through the city to the less oppressive and more affluent West.

On the night of 12-13 August 1961 crossing points between the Western and Soviet sectors were closed and a wire barrier was constructed around West Berlin, dividing neighbourhoods and separating families overnight. From this barbed wire barricade, the Wall eventually developed into a fortified concrete structure encircling West Berlin and isolating it from the surrounding East German territory.

Checkpoint Charlie was the name given by the Western Allies to the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East Berlin and West Berlin during the Cold War. It became a symbol of the Cold War, representing the separation of East and West where Soviet and American tanks briefly faced each other during the Berlin Crisis of 1961.

Potsdamer Platz is an important public square in the centre of Berlin, lying about 1 km south of the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. It marks the point where the old road from Potsdam passed through the city wall of Berlin at the Potsdam Gate. This was one of the busiest traffic intersection in Europe and was totally destroyed during World War II and then left in ruins during the Cold War era. Since German reunification, Potsdamer Platz has been the site of major redevelopment projects.

The NH Berlin Alexanderplatz hotel is in a peaceful corner of the city called Friedrichshain – Berlin’s hip, artists’ district. Just next door there’s a pretty park, and down the road, a handful of coffee shops and beer gardens. The hotel is situated just three tram stops from Alexanderplatz square, in the North eastern side of the city which was once part of the USSR section pre 1990. The hotel is full of quirky details – like the 50,000 bees kept on the roof, which happily produce honey for your breakfast. In the 1970s, Alexanderplatz became an experiment in socialist urban aesthetics. The square is the home to the World Time Clock, a continually rotating installation that shows the time around the globe and Hermann Henselmann’s Haus des Lehrers. pop across the Rriver Spree on the tram to the South Eastern Corner of the city once controlled by the USA , UK and France for the top named sights mentioned above.

Pedal around Berlin like a local on this half-day highlights tour. Perfect for cycling enthusiasts who are short on time, this tour introduces you to the must-see attractions in Berlin, including the Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate, and others. No worries about navigation; you'll follow your guides on a carefully curated route while listening to engaging narration on Berlin's culture and history.

Experience the dramatic final days of the World War II in Berlin during this half-day walking excursion. Visit some of the most important historical sites in Berlin with your guide, discovering the series of events that culminated in the final German surrender. View the site of Hitler's former bunker and learn about daily life for residents during the war, particularly those who opposed the Third Reich.