City Breaks – Berlin in February
Equal parts grit and glamour, Berlin is intensely popular with travellers seeking an exhilarating and versatile cosmopolitan break. With a thriving history and rich artistic culture, you’ll find numerous museums and art galleries documenting Germany’s fascinating and turbulent past.
Must see
Must-visit sites in Berlin include the famous Pergamon museum, a labyrinthine system of artefacts from the Ancient world and the ultra-cool contemporary art gallery Hamburger Bahnhof, situated in a former railway station.
Berlin is home to incredible markets and concept stores and shopping is as much of a cultural event as visiting galleries. Touted as Europe’s coolest and most affordable place to shop you’ll find plenty of stylish pop-up shops and kitsch boutiques run by designers and artists. Once you’ve scoured the streets for designer bargains, head to one of the many lively restaurants, bars and nightclubs to experience Berlin’s unique nightlife.
When to go
As a prime tourist location, the city is particularly busy in summer, which makes February a perfect time to visit if you wish to avoid the crowds. Cold air and foggy weather create a dramatic and compelling atmosphere whilst the city’s most exciting events take place. Berlin is the perfect location for an edgy urban getaway.
International film festival
February in Berlin sees the arrival of the city’s prestigious cultural event; Berlinale. This international film festival is one of the most important and well-attended on the industry calendar. The festival is a celebration of the finest international cinema and is attended by over 400,000 people every year. Film-makers, journalists and A-list celebrities take to the red carpets for two weeks of glamorous film-screening, press events and parties. The Berlinale public programme features hundreds of film screenings across a range of genres and styles. Unlike Cannes Film Festival many of the events during Berlinale are open to the public and tickets are relatively inexpensive.
Written by Leigh Cooke
The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin is the symbol of the city: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickz/313418721/
