David Bowie described Berlin as the greatest cultural extravaganza that one could possibly imagine, and he wasn’t far off the mark. As apt today as it was in the 1970s, Bowie’s statement is about as close as one can get to describing such a diverse city, which has been shaped as much by its political conflicts, as it has by its residents.

With over 3.4 million people currently residing there – up 12,000 from 2006 – it has grown from its modest beginnings to become not only Germany’s capital, but also its largest city.

Cited as the third most visited tourist destination in Europe, millions of people flock to Berlin every year. Alongside the city’s rich and diverse culture and the rise in flights to Berlin, affordable accommodation is thought to be a key factor in attracting so many visitors – the city has 90,000 rooms, which is roughly 20,000 more than in New York!

Today, the city is home to three major opera houses, over 150 theatres and more than 170 museums. And, if this were not enough, its cultural calendar is said to boast nearly 1,500 events every day. With so much to see and do, without even taking into consideration the shopping, sightseeing and nightlife on offer, it is safe to say that Berlin has achieved a lot to overcome its former hardships.

Following WWII, which saw much of Berlin’s infrastructure and buildings destroyed by bombing, coupled with the devastation created by the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989, the city has undergone radical alteration, thus creating a medley of medieval architecture combined with 1960s styled buildings and modern, sleek structures. The effect is striking, and not many can fail to be enthralled by its sprawling layout and impressive skyline.

The Fernsehturm (television tower) in Alexanderplatz is the European Union’s second highest building, and at 368 metres, it is Berlin’s tallest attraction. The Brandenburger Tor, a former city gate of Berlin and a major symbol for Germany, is also a must see, as is Unter den Linden, a boulevard in Berlin’s centre, which is lined with lime (linden) trees.

Extremely popular with the younger generations, Berlin has become synonymous with the party scene, with a plethora of bars, nightclubs, open-air cinemas and impromptu club nights to take advantage of. Presently, Kreuzberg and Prenzlauerberg house numerous places to immerse oneself in its extraordinary social life.

For those interested in the historical side of the city, there are also some must see attractions, including Checkpoint Charlie, a crossing point between East and West Berlin during the Cold War; the Berlin Wall Trail and the Reichstag – the German Parliament.

There is more to this city than can ever be written about it and justice cannot be done in any attempt to explain its magnificence. The advice would be to book flights to Berlin to experience for yourself what it has to offer. It is inspiring, beautiful and bucks the trend of what a capital city is historically all about!