Berlin is one of the world's great cultural centers. Capital of a united Germany from 1871 to 1945, and again since 1990, Berlin lies on the flatlands of the North German Plain at the confluence of several rivers and amid many lakes.

The center of the Cold War, Berlin offers several sites that memorialize those days. Among them is the museum that stands where the infamous Checkpoint Charlie post once sat.

A must-see for visitors is Brandenburg Gate. This portal, completed at the turn of the 19th century, leads to the heart of the city.