Berlin Brandenburg region
The Berlin Brandenburg region consists of 5 independent cities and 14 districys, of which the city of Berlin and Potsdam, the capital of the state of Brandenburg, account for 80% of the population. Potsdam was a residence of the Prussian kings and the German Kaiser until 1918 and is known for its contribution to the Age of Enlightenment with the careful balance of architecture and landscape, reminding residents of their relationship with nature and reason. Famous and definitely worth a visit are the parks and palaces of Sanssouci, Germany's largest World Heritage Site.
But the most famous district of the Berlin Brandenburg region is the city of Berlin, which consists of numerous boroughs called “Kieze” that are like small cities themselves and which all have their own history. Many Berliners never leave their Kiez unless they really have to.
The Kieze in the centre of the city are Mitte, Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Neukölln and Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf, of which only Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf belonged to the former West Berlin. The other three are vibrant cultural hotspots that went through astonishing transformations since the fall of the wall.
The west of Berlin is a mix of clear rivers and lakes, vast green landscapes and lively city life. Best to discover on its endless bike lanes through Spandau und Steglitz-Zehlendorf and walking through the shopping streets in Tempelhof-Schöneberg.
The Kieze in the east of the city stand out by being all different to each other. You can visit imperial palaces in Pankow or be awed by the “echte Platte" in Marzahn, a memory of living in pre-fabricated concrete apartment blocks that has astonishingly started to become trendy. The east will also offer you Europe’s largest zoo in Lichtenberg.
