STAYING IN BERLIN

There's no getting around it - Berlin is just plain cool. Effortlessly so. Germany's capital is a diverse melting pot with an endless parade of subcultures, scenes, eating establishments, bars, galleries and live events all year-round. Whether it's dining out all hours of the night, wandering the hallowed halls of the Neues Museum and viewing Rodin's 'The Thinker' in the Alte Nationalgalerie on Museum Island, or joining Berliners for an afternoon beverage in James-Simon-Park, there's a wealth of things to see and do.

Berliners have their own style, and that style is eclectic. The people are relaxed and friendly - catching up with friends is just as important as getting things done. There's a real sense of fun as you wander the streets, emphasised by the random streetside sculptures, graphic street art and the way people hang out along the road just talking. They're relaxed, and you'll start to relax too. For such a sprawling city, Berlin manages to convey a real community feel. There's always something happening just around the corner - a new art exhibition or an impromptu concert in a park. No matter what your interests, you'll find plenty of like minds in Berlin.

BERLIN'S HISTORY AND ARTS ALL IN ONE PLACE

Only a short walk from your serviced apartment-style hotel on Museum Island, you'll find Berlin's best museums and art galleries. A full day out on their own, the Neues Museum, Alte Nationalgalerie, and the Pergamonmuseum house some of the most important historical and artistic collections in Germany, Europe and the world.

In the Neues Museum, see an impressive collection of Egyptian and Nubian archaeological artefacts in the Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlun. In contrast, in the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte features a vast collection of finds from across the entirety of Europe and parts of Asia. In the nearby Alte Nationalgalerie, view Romantic and Impressionist works totalling over 1800 paintings and 1500 sculptures. In the Pergamonmuseum, view collections devoted to classical antiques (most notably the Pergamon Altar), ancient Eastern treasures and Islamic art.

Getting to the State museums from your Berlin accommodation couldn't be easier. Turn left onto Breite Straße and go straight, veering left at Berlin Palace. The museums are on the other side of the palace. The entry is easily identifiable along Am Lustgarten.

SANSSOUCI PALACE AND SURROUNDS

Sanssouci Palace and surrounds is closely tied to the larger-than-life memory of Prussian king, Frederick the Great. As much at home with artists as with armies, Frederick the Great commissioned the palace as a summer escape where he could relax away from the intrigue and pomp of the royal court in Berlin. The name, 'Sanssouci ', is a play on words which in French means 'without concerns', and wandering the palace's extensive gardens, halls and terrace vineyard, it's easy - for royalty at least - to see why.

The easiest way to get from your serviced apartments in the Berlin CBD to Sanssouci Palace is to take the Berlin Hauptbahnhof to Potsdam from Hauptbahnhof Station. The train leaves every 30 minutes throughout the day, so there's no rush to beat the clock.