Berlin
Berlin is the capital of Germany as well as its largest city by both area and population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the highest population within its city limits of any city in the European Union. The city is also one of the states of Germany, being the third-smallest state in the country by area. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, bordering Brandenburg's capital Potsdam to the southwest. The urban area of Berlin has a population of over 5 million, making it the most populous in Germany. The Berlin-Brandenburg capital region has around 6 million inhabitants and is Germany's second-largest metropolitan region after the Rhine-Ruhr region, as well as the fifth-biggest metropolitan region by GDP in the European Union.
Typical weather
1981–presentCity Rhythm
measuredOpening hours, by kind of place
median across mapped venuesVital absurdities
measured · the Anti-AwardsSame time system
by rhythmWhat to do each season
2winter
cold with frequent frost; mean −1.0 to 13.9 °C across the range; January mean min −3.5 °C; snow moderate; Berlin's built-up area creates a microclimate with heat storage
- indoor cultural season: Museumsinsel, the Berlin Philharmonic, the three opera houses, the Berlinale (February)
- Christmas markets (Alexanderplatz, Gendarmenmarkt, Spandau) activate
- the club economy continues year-round — Berlin's nightlife is not seasonal
summer
warm, sometimes humid; mean 15.0-20.0 °C, July mean max 25.3 °C, average high 22-25 °C, average low 12-14 °C
- the city's lake-and-canal network activates — Wannsee, Müggelsee, the Spree
- open-air clubbing and the Hofgarten, Tempelhofer Feld (former airport) become usable as parks
- the Karneval der Kulturen (June), Fête de la Musique (June), Berlin Pride (CSD, late July)
- the 1/3 of the city that is green or blue (forests, parks, gardens, rivers, canals, lakes) becomes usable
What it is known for
Important moments in a year
Berlinale
- one of the world's leading film festivals
- international crowds
- red-carpet Potsdamer Platz
Karneval der Kulturen
- multicultural street parade in Kreuzberg
Berlin Pride Csd
- Christopher Street Day parade down the Siegessäule
Fete de la Musique
- citywide free music in the streets
Long Night of Museums
- museums open until 2am across the city
Walpurgisnacht
- May Eve events, especially in the Goth / alternative scene
On the record
source-trackedAbout 1/3 of the city's area is composed of forests, parks and gardens, rivers, canals, and lakes.
In 2005, Berlin was named "City of Design" by UNESCO and has been part of the Creative Cities Network ever since.
Berlin is known for its numerous cultural institutions, many of which enjoy international reputation. The diversity and vivacity of the metropolis led to a trendsetting atmosphere.
Young people, international artists and entrepreneurs continued to settle in the city and made Berlin a popular entertainment center in the world.
Berlin has an oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfb) bordering on a humid continental climate (Dfb).
Summers are warm and sometimes humid with average high temperatures of 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) and lows of 12–14 °C (54–57 °F).
Winters are cold with average high temperatures of 3 °C (37 °F) and lows of −2 to 0 °C (28 to 32 °F).
Berlin's built-up area creates a microclimate, with heat sto[red in the building mass].
West Berlin, unlike East Berlin, had its tram network dismantled and you will find no trams here.
Before the reunification of Germany, Mitte was a district of East Berlin and the place where the Berlin Wall was most prominent, running right through the historic fabric of the city.
The method behind this atlas — 196 pp. Not published yet.