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Berlin International Film Festival - Held annually in the city in February, the Berlinale sees films in competition compete for the coveted Golden Bear. The Berlinale Palast is the venue for the competition premieres. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 2.0)

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Capital visitor attractions - The capital and largest city of Germany, Berlin is one of the most vibrant, cosmopolitan, and multicultural cities in Europe.

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Reichstag - A potent symbol of war and reunification, the historic Reichstag building is the seat of the German parliament, the Bundestag.

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Reichstag - A stunning piece of architecture, the glass dome at the very top of the Reichstag has a 360-degree view of the surrounding Berlin cityscape. It's open to visitors by prior registration.

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Gendarmenmarkt - Site of an attractive architectural ensemble, including the Konzerthaus (concert hall) and the French and German Churches, this monumental square is also the location of Berlin's annual Christmas Market.

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Tiergarten - Berlin's premier green space, this inner-city park provides a haven of tranquility for tourists and residents alike.

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Victory Column - Centerpiece of the Tiergarten is the 220-ft (67-m) tall Victory Column. The public viewing platform offers a jaw-dropping perspective of the German capital.

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Berlin skyline and Tiergarten - The breathtaking panorama from the top of the landmark Victory Column.

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Museum Island - The northern part of an island in the River Spree, so named for the cluster of internationally-renowned museums occupying the area.

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Pergamon Museum - Situated on Museum Island, this is where to browse a priceless collection of Middle Eastern and Islamic art.

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Potsdamer Platz - The city's famous public square and traffic intersection is now a byword for modernity and high-tech design.

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Spree River - A leisurely way to admire Berlin is to take a sightseeing cruise along the Spree River.

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East Side Gallery - If you're a fan of street art, head for this open-air gallery—a series of murals painted directly on a 4,317-ft (1,316- m) long remnant of the Berlin Wall. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Checkpoint Charlie - The best-known Berlin Wall crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War, Checkpoint Charlie is now a top tourist attraction, although the guardhouse is, in fact, a reproduction. It stands near the Checkpoint Charlie Museum.

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DDR Museum - Find out what oppression was like in the former DDR (Deutsche Demokratische Republik). Exhibition highlights include a surveillance room and a prison cell. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Unter den Linden - One of the most famous boulevards in Europe is named for the linden (lime) trees that line the avenue. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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AquaDom - This extraordinary eye-opener is a cylindrical acrylic glass aquarium with a built-in transparent elevator. It's located inside the Radisson Blu Hotel. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

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Olympiastadion - Originally built for the 1936 Summer Olympic Games, today's multipurpose arena hosts football and athletics tournaments, among other sporting and entertainment events. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

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Alexanderplatz - Named after the Russian Tsar Alexander I, this major commercial area houses numerous shopping malls and department stores, and is the location of the iconic Fernsehturm, or TV Tower.

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Charlottenburg Palace - Dating back to the late 17th century, this picture perfect palace offers an ideal retreat from the city. Make sure to look inside: the interior features lavish baroque and rococo-style decoration.

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Berlin Cathedral - The original cathedral was consecrated in 1454. What you see today was completed in 1905 during the period of the German Empire.

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Berlin Zoological Garden - This is the most-visited zoo in Europe and deserves its reputation as one of the finest in the world. It has one of the most comprehensive collection of species found anywhere.

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Liquidrom - Looking for some down time? Why not float in a pool of salt water while chilling out to some seriously good music at this futuristic spa. (Photo: Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0)

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Spandau Citadel - Today a museum and favorite tourist spot, this Renaissance fortification also serves as an open air concert venue in the summertime. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Brandenburg Gate - This 18th-century neoclassical monument is one of the most recognized landmarks in Germany.

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Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe - The city's compelling memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust is located south of the Brandenburg Gate.

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Jewish Museum Berlin - The largest Jewish museum in Europe, this outstanding cultural facility has several interesting exhibitions. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY 3.0)

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Topography of Terror - This ominous-sounding visitor attraction stands on the site of Berlin's former SS and Gestapo headquarters. A Documentation Center and three permanent exhibitions showcase Nazi tyranny.

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Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - Berlin's most visible reminder of the destruction met by the city during WWII, the church ruins stand next to a separate belfry, completed in 1963.

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