Overview

Although the river Spree penetrates the city, Berliners still orient themselves using the former Wall. First on the east is Mitte, where it’s all happening, northeast is trendy family ’hood Prenzlauer Berg, southeast is grungy Friedrichshain, hugging the Spree with Little Istanbul Kreuzberg down south. The west begins where Mitte ends, starting with gleaming Potsdamer Platz rising from the ruins, central park Tiergarten and Charlottenburg (C’burg), with its balconies and pearls.