Despite its reputation for edgy nightlife and turbulent history, there’s far more to Germany’s capital than Berghain and the Brandenburg Gate. In a city constantly at the cutting edge yet inescapably defined by its past, you’ll need to explore the big-ticket attractions in order to really understand the lesser-known edges.

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You can’t visit Berlin without making a stop at Checkpoint Charlie, so start your day here. One of the city’s most-visited Cold War remnants, the crossing point linked East and West Berlin when the metropolis was divided by the Berlin Wall – another spot you’ll want to cross off your list with a visit to the East Side Gallery, a graffiti project by 118 artists which covers an old part of the infamous structure.

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Next, head west to bustling Potsdamer Platz – a public square that’s considered the beating heart of Berlin – then north, past the spectacular golden Berliner Philharmonie concert hall and onwards, through the city’s largest and oldest park, the Tiergarten. 

If you have children in tow, make a stop at Zoo Berlin, which sits at the western end of the park and is home to more than 20,200 animals – though if that’s not enough to satisfy miniature zoologists, you’ll find another 7,250 at Tierpark Berlin in the east of the city. Why two zoos, you might ask? In a city that was once divided, you’ll find lots of things twice.

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To the east of the park is the Brandenburg Gate, a towering 18th-century archway complete with Doric columns and classical statues – another must for culture vultures and history buffs. By now you’ll have worked up an appetite, so follow the banks of the city’s majestic river, the Spree, to pedestrianised Alexanderplatz for a hearty lunch, a spot of retail therapy and views of the city’s iconic TV Tower.

Of course, you can’t visit Berlin without delving into its Jewish history, so finish your day at the Jewish Museum, where you’ll find fascinating exhibits exploring German Judaism through time, as well as a poignant Holocaust memorial.

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