Berlin’s City West down the years

For this tour, plan in a full day. Start your day the baroque way – with a trip back in time to the beautiful Charlottenburg Palace, the largest surviving residence of the Prussian kings in Berlin. Give yourself time to take in the impressive architecture – and don’t forget to explore the lovely riverside palace gardens and grounds, ideal for a relaxing stroll. Directly opposite, the Bröhan-Museum showcases art nouveau arts and crafts, while the Scharf-Gerstenberg Museum presents a fascinating selection of surrealist art. Head towards Zoologischer Garten on the 109 bus and do as the Berliners do – take a gentle stroll past the stores lining the famous Kurfürstendamm boulevard, the heart of western Berlin. You’ll also enjoy exploring the side-streets, such as Fasanenstraße and Bleibtreustraße, where you’ll find a shoppers’ paradise with an elegant mix of independent shops, cafés and restaurants.

At Breitscheidplatz, the ruins of the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church and the new church from 1961 commemorate the horrors of World War II. The legendary KaDeWe department store is just a short walk away. Here, there are treasures on each floor – and the stunning food hall in particular is always worth a visit, a place where culinary dreams come true! With its glass dome, the restaurant area on the seventh floor above Berlin’s rooftops is an ideal place to enjoy a break. To round off the day, indulge in an entertaining show at the Wintergarten Varieté theatre with rousing dance acts, breath-taking acrobatics, live music and sketches. Incidentally, the afternoon ShowCafé is something for the entire family, with tea, coffee and cakes served with selected highlights from the evening programme.