Like any great city, Berlin defies definition. It doesn’t have one defining characteristic, but many different faces. There is the visibly older Berlin, seen in the architecture of the Reichstag parliament building and at the Brandenburg Gate. Just south of the Gate there is a reminder of a dark past, the Holocaust Memorial on Cora-Berliner-Straße. A previous era is symbolized by the remains of the demolished Berlin wall.
But the city is also a birthplace of cutting-edge art and culture, with its wealth of contemporary art galleries. The Urban Spree is notable for its large and ever-evolving art exhibitions, concert hall and Biergarten. A traveler wandering through town will come across street markets of all shapes and sizes, trendy bars and performance art. A traditional Königsberger Klopse, a dish of meatballs and potatoes, and a humble currywurst, the favorite local street food, are both equally emblematic of Berlin food culture.