Germany
Deep in the heart of Europe, Germany has always had a big impact on history, and continues to be one of the most important cultural and economic forces in the European Union.
Berlin has been slowly adjusting to life after reunification, and feels like a city that has finally found its feet again. It has a young, ambitious population, so the city's ever-developing cultural scene is creative and vibrant. Germany's capital is a particularly fascinating, inspiring place to be.If culture is on your agenda, Berlin has everything you could want. The city has hundreds of world-class museums, many clustered on 'Museum Island', a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are thousands of art galleries, and the city hosts the famous annual Art Forum International Art Fair. Berlin is also home to a multitude of theatres, opera companies and world-class orchestras – you can see a different cultural event every night of the week and still not see everything.
Berlin's nightlife scene is also famed, with nightclubs, bars and cabaret and keeping the city alive after dark.Fast Facts
Did you know? Only 12% of the Berlin population own property compared to 40% in the rest of Germany and 75% in the UK – rental yields are therefore good and consistent.
Country capital: BerlinGovernment: Federal Republic
Religion: 34% Protestant, 34% Catholic, 4% Muslim, 28% UnaffiliatedPopulation: 82.4m
Language: GermanClimate: Germany is temperate, without extremes of temperature. Summer and Autumn months are the most pleasant in Berlin.
Currency: Euro (€)Healthcare: State healthcare is generally adequate; private care is excellent.
Electricity: 220 V 50 HzTime zone: GMT +1 hour
Dialling code: +49Airports: Although Berlin has two airports, direct international flights are few – most are routed through Frankfurt or Amsterdam. There are, however, direct flights from New York and London.
Getting Around: There is excellent public transportation here, although driving is also relatively straightforward and safe.