The perfect mix of past and present, glamour and grit
Berlin, Germany
Germany’s capital has seen war, division and unification, all in a single century. On top of these layers of history, Berlin also offers impressive architecture, gorgeous green spaces and exciting nightlife. Every season brings something different: come in summer for quirky rooftop bars; in autumn for its exhibitions; in winter for twinkling Christmas markets; and in spring for parks and gardens. Whenever you visit, Cosa can bring out the best of Berlin, a vibrant metropolis that looks and feels unlike anywhere else in Germany.
Go behind the Wall
For 28 years, Berlin was divided by a concrete barrier that separated the Soviet-occupied east from the free west. While much of the Wall was torn down in 1989 – a symbol of the beginning of the end of the Cold War – some original segments remain. And Cosa can show you the best surviving sections, while recounting fascinating stories about Berlin’s dark past.
Climb the Reichstag
The metal-and-glass Reichstag, home of the Bundestag (or parliament), is one of Berlin’s must-see monuments. As such, it can be difficult to get a ticket but not with Cosa. We can arrange for you to ascend the 47-metre high glittering glass dome of the building, which was completely reconstructed after German reunification by British architect Sir Norman Foster.
Get a culture fix
Five of Berlin’s many museums – the Altes Museum, Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, Pergamon Museum and Bode Museum – are in stately grand Prussian buildings on Museum Island. The crowds and the island’s sheer size can seem overwhelming unless you’re with Cosa. Take advantage of our VIP after-hours access to discover the stunning bust of Nefertiti, and other ancient treasures.
Relax like royalty
Think of Schloss Charlottenburg as Berlin’s pocket Versailles. This Baroque beauty is the best place in Berlin to get an insight into the Hohenzollern dynasty that ruled Prussia until 1918. Skip the queues to discover opulent chambers (designed in 1746 by Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorff, aka the star architect of the time) and extravagant gardens.
Essential Berlin
German art critic, Karl Scheffler, famously described Berlin as a city ‘condemned forever to becoming […].’ And it’s true that change is the only constant. A grandiose imperial capital in the late 19th century, Berlin lay in ruins by the end of the Second World War. The city was then divided, both literally and figuratively, during the Cold War before knitting itself back together after the fall of the Wall. Today Berlin is buzzing once again and has rightly earned a reputation for being Europe’s coolest city.
Where it is
Western Europe
When to go
All year
Why go there
Rich history
Vibrant nightlife
Art and culture
What to see
The Reichstag
Berlin Wall
Charlottenburg
