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Berlin is Germany's largest city with nearly 3.4 million inhabitants. For the most part the population is generally politically liberal, well educated and traveled with a good grasp on the English language. The city is remarkably well designed, with an amazingly efficient infrastructure of public transportation, environmentally friendly recycling programs and expansive sidewalks lined by bike paths. In fact, bicycles are one of the most popular modes of transportation to navigate the city, so when crossing the street it is customary to look not only for passing cars, but speeding bikers.
Berliners define themselves by district, and the contrast amongst the population can be felt walking from one neighborhood to the next - from bourgeois Charlottenburg to the wealthy Friedrichstrasse to student-filled Mitte. Berlin is an extremely multi-cultural city with large immigrant populations, one of the largest being a strong Turkish community among the other groups of Italians, Greeks and Poles. Berlin has always had a thriving café culture, well before the advent of Starbucks, and so students might find themselves reading their assignments while sipping Milchkaffee in one of the hip spots in the former eastern neighborhood of Prenzlauerberg. They might discover a favorite cafe in the former factory that has been transformed into a cultural space, the Kulturbrauerei. After packing up their books, they might grab a quick meal of delicious German bratwurst and catch a film in the trendy courtyard theater at Hackescher Markt, after browsing the fantastic architecture bookstore next door. If they've still got energy, Berlin's nightlife is well-known, with an unrivaled club culture.
Contemporary art is so prevalent and vibrant in Berlin, a visitor is likely to stumble across an installation just about anywhere - like the Black Light Gallery in the U-bahn subway station at Potsdamer Platz. Slick shops and ultra-cool galleries line the streets around Oranienburger Strasse, the center of much of Berlin's thriving cultural scene. Wander over to see Tacheles, the crumbling former department store, now missing its back wall, which was taken over by artists and turned into a bizarre and fascinating multi-story art space.
People usually think of Berlin as contemporary and hip, filled with artists and known for its youth culture. It is also a city with a crucial place in modern European history, its path leading from the defining cultural avant-garde of the Weimar Republic to the devastation of World War II, from a divided city symbolizing the Cold War to today's reunified and renewed capital.
Climate
Berlin has a moderately variable climate, with cold, frosty winters due to the city's location along the north German plain. This is a low-lying gently undulating area, which is a western extension of the great North European Plain. From the Dutch border to Poland there is no great difference in climate or weather except that winters become colder eastwards and the summers more settled and slightly warmer. Winter temperatures generally hover above freezing in the coldest months, and summer sees temperate days in the 70's. Summers are generally more settled than in the coastal regions to the north. Although summer is the wettest season, the rain is often thundery and shortlived, so that summer sunshine amounts are moderately high.
Customs and Culture
Being on time for appointments, even casual social ones, is very important. Germans are more formal in addressing each other than Americans. Always address acquaintances as Herr (Mr.) or Frau (Mrs.) plus their last name; do not call them by their first name unless invited to do so. The German language has an informal and formal pronoun for "you": Formal is "Sie," informal is "du." Even if adults are on a first-name basis with one another, they may still keep the Sie form between them. A handshake is expected upon meeting someone for the first time and is often customary when simply greeting acquaintances.
Although it is a close neighbor of France, Germany has a vastly different notion of cuisine. While French food is meant to be savored and enjoyed in a long, lingering meal, German food is like Germans themselves: It's more about food as fuel. A platter of German sausages and sauerkraut can be eaten quickly and is a hearty meal. Although most prices officially include service, tipping is recommended if you are happy with the service. Something like 10 to 15 percent will usually suffice. And most waiters prefer to do the bill and tipping right at the table. So be ready when the bill comes to make a quick calculation.
In restaurants, shops, and department stores, you are unlikely to be offered help unless you ask for it. The presumption is that you would prefer to be alone unless you indicate otherwise. Germans are less formal when it comes to nudity: a sign that reads "Freikörper" or "FKK" indicates a park or beach allows nude sunbathing. In the sunnier months it not uncommon to see locals enjoying the sun, on all parts of their bodies, in public parks within city limits. This open, liberal way of living extends to other areas of German life and can be seen in the enthusiasm for nocturnal life and alternative lifestyles.