The Norman Foster-designed dome of Berlin's Reichstag

First-time visitors to Berlin may initially consider this ever-changing city in terms of its turbulent past, but – although its history is given due acknowledgement – the German capital is a city that’s looking firmly towards the future. Huge in scale, many of Berlin’s main attractions are clustered around the Brandenburg Gate, buffered as it is by the imposing Reichstag, with its Norman Foster-designed dome, on one side and the recently erected Holocaust Memorial on the other.

Dichotomy and division are themes in evidence throughout the city. As Berliners go about their day-to-day lives tourists throng the city to explore the city’s past. The museum at Checkpoint Charlie remains a popular attraction – despite its confusing and cluttered layout – while tours still explore the skeletal remains of the Berlin Wall and consider the mental and economic barrier still said to exist between east and west.

Indeed, the disparity between east and west is something likely to be noticed by even the most casual of weekend visitors to the city. Beautiful in places despite the decay, East Berlin still retains a number of drab, Communist high-rise apartment blocks, while graffiti is splashed liberally over walls, shops and metro stations. The West, in comparison, is affluent, regal and proud, and remains home to the city’s more established and exclusive boutiques, hotels and restaurants.

These differing perspectives on the city are also expressed through the people who live there. Older generations that were divided by the Wall experienced completely different upbringings despite coming from the same city while public memorials, plaques and museums are all indicative of the rich tapestry of events that have provided Berlin its unique history. The aforementioned Holocaust Memorial, dedicated to the Murdered Jews of Europe is a particularly affecting commemoration. The harshness and understated beauty of the expanse of cold, angular concrete pillars arranged in a disorientating maze acts as a symbol for the Berlin repeatedly torn apart by war and stitched back together with the thread of influence wielded by the multifarious intellects and activists that sought to repair the tattered city.

Travel by Trabi for a vintage take on the sights of Berlin

But there’s also much to celebrate on a visit to Berlin. One of Europe’s cultural capitals, innumerable cultural events and exhibitions take place in the city daily, and it’s renowned for its music and arts scenes. Accessing everything is easy too – Berlin remains a cheap city and an excellent public transport system makes navigating different districts straightforward. For a different way to get your bearings, however, one of the most interesting travel options is to take a tour in a Trabant car. Affectionately known as a Trabi, these little cars were ‘the people’s car’ of the GDR and highly treasured by residents. No wonder when it often took up to ten years to receive one after registering an interest in purchasing one.

Whether your touring interests are more historic or social you’ll have to rest eventually but luckily Berlin also offers accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets. Among the most luxurious is the five-star Hôtel Concorde Berlin located on the Kurfürstendamm, or Ku’damm. Designed by prominent architect Jan Kleihues and featuring original art by German artists Dietrich Klinge, Junior Toscanelli, and Katrin Kampmann, Hôtel it can lay claim to being a design hotel in every respect and its contemporary take on classic comfort attracts a fashionable clientele. Also recommended is the hotel’s French brasserie-style restaurant, Le Faubourg, which serves haute cuisine in a surprisingly unstuffy setting. During our visit we enjoyed both lobster bisque and gratinated rack of lamb and tomato jus with cream cheese olive gnocchi, both of which were exceptional.

Cool, chic and contemporary, the interior of the Concorde Hotel

Cheaper options are, of course, equally widespread. Try EastSeven Berlin Hostel, located close to Alexanderplatz, Museum Island and the TV Tower. Alexanderplatz was previously the centre of East Berlin and although its aesthetic appeal is limited, it remains a central hub for the city and an excellent point of orientation for exploring other attractions throughout the city. Or for having a quick eat nearby. Many of Berlin’s famous doner kebab stalls are located in the area while vendors also serve the city’s signature dish Currywurst (sausages flavoured with curry powder) from the square.

Heartier and more traditional German dining options are found at Florian in upmarket Charlottenburg, while very special occasions might warrant a reservation at the Roof Garden Restaurant at the summit of the Reichstag, where the views across Berlin are a perfect complement to the excellent food being served. A perfect vantage point, in fact, from which to watch the sun set as you reflect on the contradictions and commonalities you’ve experienced on your stay in this fascinating city.

Find out more about breaks in Berlin online here.