Summer weather in Berlin is pleasant and sunny, when days are long and temperatures can sometimes exceed 86°F (30°C), particularly in July and August. However the summer months are also unpredictable, and odd days can rapidly change from sunshine to cloud. Winter weather in Berlin, by contrast, is bitterly cold and damp, with plentiful snow and frosty days when temperatures hover at or just below freezing. Rain can fall all year round, but the wettest months are June and August, and the driest on average October and February.

A melting pot of cultures and culinary delights, restaurants Berlin stir together some of the most exotic flavours from the four corners of the globe.

The city's flagship dish is the simple, yet satisfying 'boulette', a combination of fried meatball and hamburger, which is often accompanied by 'Berliner Weiße', a traditional mix of beer and juice and is well-known even beyond the city's boundaries. The highly popular Doner Kebab, originally developed in Berlin but made famous by the Turkish, is one the most popular fast food dishes.

Berlin's culinary traditions have been immensely influenced over the years by its vibrant immigrant community and worldwide favourites such as spaghetti and pizza now have a firm place on the city's restaurant menus. Indian, Chinese, Greek and Thai cuisine are becoming increasingly popular with new eateries springing up at a rapid rate.

Brimming with a wide variety of restaurants, Oranienburger Street is the place to dine where some of Berlin's most popular restaurants can be found and visitors can relax and enjoy their favourite fare.

The Berlin public transport system is efficient, if expensive, and the combination of buses, trams, ferries, the U-Bahn (underground) and S-Bahn (commuter rail) reaches every part of the sprawling city and its surrounds. The U-Bahn and S-Bahn are the best ways of getting around; buses cover the parts of the city that cannot be reached by train, and East Berlin has a network of modernised, pre-war trams. One type of ticket is valid on all forms of transport and fares are divided into three colour-coded tariff zones. A number of passes are available, including daily, weekly or monthly tickets. The Berlin Welcome Cardis valid for 48 or 72 hours and gives unlimited travel for an adult and three children over three zones, plus discounts at many museums, theatres and tourist attractions. A 48 hour ticket costs EUR18 and a 72 hour tickets costs EUR24.50. Driving in Berlin is easier than in most big cities, but in general is still not recommended, as traffic is heavy and parking difficult. Taxis are plentiful, but it is cheaper to hail one in the street than to call ahead at one of the many call stands around the city. Cycling is also recommended, especially in West Berlin, which is well-equipped with cycle paths and trains have special cars where bicycles can be carried.

Possibly one of the finest cities in Europe for children to explore, Berlin offers children on holiday a multitude of activities and attractions to explore, from the world's largest inner-city park to LEGOLAND and everything else in between. Active families will enjoy heading out to Grosse Muggelsee for a spot of swimming, boating or hiking, while places like Wannsee is another great place to escape to the great outdoors. Animal lovers and children will go wild for the Berlin Zoo-Aquarium as well as the Berlin Botanical Gardens, which offers plenty of space for children to run around. When the weather turns bad and kids activities out of doors are few and far between, head to one of Berlin's indoor playgrounds or one of the many museums the city has to offer, such as the Museum fuer Naturkunde (Nature Museum), it'll take up most of the day exploring the hundreds of exhibitions, but children will be beside themselves with the amount there is to see.

German is the official language. English is also widely spoken and understood.

The unit of currency is the Euro (EUR), divided into 100 cents. ATMs and exchange bureaux are widely available. The major credit cards are becoming more widely accepted in many large shops, hotels and restaurants, although Germans themselves prefer to carry cash. Travellers cheques are best cashed at exchange bureaux, as banks often won't change them. The quickest and most convenient way to change money is to obtain cash from one of the ATM machines that are ubiquitous features on all German streets. Banks are closed on weekends, but exchange bureaux at airports and main railway stations are open daily from 6am to 10pm.

Famed for its nightlife and close on Amsterdam's heels for the title of Europe's most liberal city, Berlin offers visitors just about everything from avant-garde and trendy to seriously sexy underground clubs, hip local hangouts and theatre and everything in between!

The Mitte district is a hip and happening spot and boasts some of Berlin's top clubs and bars, but it can be quite touristy. New clubs are springing up in Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain, while Kreuzberg is fast becoming a popular hangout with locals and immigrants alike and is distinguished by its edgy atmosphere. Schoneburg offers some superb cafes, clubs and saunas and is quite popular with Berlin's gay community, as is Nollendorfplatz and its 'pink village'.

Berlin offers plenty of Kneipes, which is the equivalent of a Briton's local pub, where the local brews and old favourites can be sampled. Cabaret is a popular pastime in Berlin and there are many cabaret clubs dotted around this vibrant city offering satirical shows that make fun of the political and social scene.

Live music clubs dominate a lot of the city where well-known and amateur acts are showcased in just about every type of atmosphere, from small and intimate clubs to downright dirty and grungy music halls. Or for a quieter option take a night stroll around the city and enjoy the romance of Savignyplatz in Charlottenburg, stopping in at one of the local pubs for a glass of wine.

Public transport is cheap and easily accessible making a night out on the town a pleasure to navigate. With all this and so much more on offer, visitors in Berlin will have a tough time narrowing down how and where to spend their evenings.

Berlin may not be known as a shopper's paradise, but don't be fooled; it can give even the most seasoned of power-shoppers a run for their money. There are plenty of opportunities for shopping sprees, ranging from the overly expensive to the humble wares of the city's flea markets, antique markets, cheap bargain stores and everything in between.

Luxury designer boutiques can be found lining the streets at the west end of Kurfürstendamm and in Friedrichstrasse. All the different shopping precincts have their own distinctive style and the best boutiques are often tucked away in backstreets or quiet courtyards.

The main shopping districts are the Kurfürstendamm, Breitscheidplatz and for some bargains, a quick stroll in the Budapestststrasse and Tauenzienstrasse could prove worthwhile. One of the trendiest shopping streets is the Schönhauser Allee with countless independent shops dotted along its thoroughfare offering the latest fashion and young independent designer labels which can be snatched up for a song.

A sales tax (VAT) of 16% is levied on most goods and services in Germany. Most major stores are open from 9.30am to 8pm daily and between 9am and 4pm on Saturdays. All stores are closed on Sundays, except for small stores in the main train stations.

Berlin is teeming with history and its key attractions bare testimony to that. But there is something to interest just about anyone of any age in this intriguing city. The sobering Checkpoint Charlie and Jewish Museum are two just examples of the many sights that serve as a stark reminder of Germany's turbulent past and history buffs will enjoy exploring all the museums and memorials this great city has to offer.

Younger visitors will enjoy a visit to the Legoland Discovery Centre where the children and the young at heart can marvel at the wonder that is Lego. The remains of the infamous Berlin Wall are now the Eastside Gallery, the largest open-air gallery in the world displaying graffiti from over 118 artists from around the world. It has become a major landmark in the city and a wonderful tourist attraction not to be missed.

The historic Hamburger Bahnhof, one of the most popular art galleries, is a must for culture lovers while the Postdamer Platz is a wonderful place to explore. The square, boasting a fantastic mix of restaurants, shopping centres, hotels, a casino, theatres and cinemas, draws both Berliners and tourists seeking good food and recreation. The Kollhoff building located in the square features a panorama platform, which can be reached by Europe's fastest express elevator, and offers breathtaking views of the city.

The Berlin Welcome Card offers discounts on most of Berlin's major attractions, as well as free travel on public transport within the city for one adult and up to three children aged 6-13. It ranges from EUR16.90 for 48 hours to EUR29.90 for five days. Culture vultures are also advised to buy the SchauLUST Museen Berlin ticket, which costs EUR19 (EUR9.50 with a student ID), is valid for three consecutive days and allows free entry to over 50 museums. Both cards can be bought from railway stations and tourist information centres.

GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October).