· Depending on the time of the year, one of the best ways to see Berlin is by boat (Dampfer). Either take a trip up the Spree river, which goes through the former West and East sides and shows everything from the back. Or take the Wannsee and go to Potsdam, where you can hop off and visit Sanssouci castle, see the renovated town centre and then continue your trip and see the seven lakes. There's also the Glienicker Bruecke (bridge), where they used to set free people arrested in the former East. Another thing to do is follow the path of the old wall from Checkpoint Charlie to the Potsdamer Platz/ Brandenburg Gate/ Reichstag (take bus number 210, I think). I am a Berliner but not a doughnut.
Katja Wittkowsky

· While there's always loads going on in Berlin at New Year, most people turn out onto Unter den Linden for the firework displays and televised events around the Brandenburg Gate. You'll need to get there early to get anywhere near the gate itself, but there are stages, stalls etc spread right the way up the street. If you're a nightclub person, most local venues hold special all-nighters (the legendary Tresor techno club had a 5 day party for the millennium), and the ones around Unter den Linden will even let you leave to see the festivities around midnight and then come back in again. If you fancy something more civilised, the historical suburb of Potsdam is a good place to start.
Tom Parkinson