Berlin's television tower with its height of 368 meters (1,207 ft) is Germany's tallest structure. On a clear day, the viewing platform offers visibility of up to 40 kilometers (24 miles) over the city. There's even a revolving restaurant on the floor above the visitor platform.

An island with five museums, surrounded by the river Spree — the Museumsinsel was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. Here you can admire art treasures from around the world, including a bust of Egyptian queen Nefertiti to the reconstructed Pergamon Altar. Berlin actually boasts around 175 museums and hundreds of art galleries, so deciding which ones to visit is a real challenge.

Every February Berlin rolls out the red carpet as movie stars descend on the city. The Berlin Film Festival, known as the Berlinale, has been one of the world's leading cinematic events since 1951. Movie stars love Berlin, even when there isn't a film festival, including Cate Blanchett (pictured).

You can't leave Berlin without tasting the city's famous currywurst. It enjoys cult status among Berlin's fast food specialties, and every Berliner has their favorite currywurst stand. Although recipes vary, it's the sauce that counts — it has to be nice and spicy.

Cosmopolitan, richly colored and with a zest for life — this is how Berlin presents itself during the annual Carnival of Cultures festival. People from all over the world call the city home, and every May the city celebrates with a giant street party, including parades that highlight cultures from all over the globe.

The Holocaust Memorial, consisting of 2,711 concrete slabs to commemorate the six million European Jews who were killed by Nazi Germany, is the most visited memorial in Berlin. Other memorials include those dedicated to the Allied forces that liberated Berlin at the end of the Second World War and to those who were killed trying to escape over the Berlin Wall.

On November 9th, 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. Berliners still view their reunified city as a gift. The Brandenburg Gate stood in no-man's-land for nearly three decades. Now, it has become a worldwide symbol of the hope that division and separation can ultimately be overcome.

There are more than 2,500 parks in Berlin, and one of the largest is the Tiergarten with 210 hectares (520 acres). It is located in the center of the city next to attractions like the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building. Berliners go for walks, ride bikes or just relax in the sun here, and tourists can take a sightseeing break.

Berlin's nightlife scene, considered to be one of the most exciting in the world, offers something for every taste. Some of the world's best DJs play at famous clubs like Berghain or Watergate, and many tourists head to Berlin simply for the nigthlife experience.

More than 100,000 hounds live here, making Berlin the dog capital of Germany. But when Berliners say they're "all heart with a bark" they are not referring to their dogs but themselves. Berliners are not known for being friendly, but rather for being brusque, a mild form of rudeness known locally as Berliner Schnauze — or Berlin snout. But this verbal bark and growl tends to hide a big heart.

"One of my favorite places is the restaurant Altes Europa. It's a very vibrant, social place. I'm there all the time – I love the familiar atmosphere", raves Mario Lombardo from Atelier Oblique.

Paula Gouveia from Portugal loves taking a boat out onto the Neuen See. In the summer, you can rent boats from the café located directly adjacent to the Berlin Zoo.

"The main branch of the Einstein is a Berlin institution - it’s a coffee house where I can just relax," says hatmaker Fiona Bennett from Britain. "In the evening I like to treat myself to artichokes and a glass of champagne."

Chilean Cecilia Fuentes Ibarburu, owner of the South Embassy, is drawn to a Berlin institution after work: "My favorite place is Clärchens Ballhaus, because I love the diversity. This is where young and old, East and West all come to dance."

Chinese Yanwu Yuan’s favorite place is the Crêperie Le Bretagne which offers specialities such as Breton galettes. She eats breakfast there every morning after taking her son to kindergarten.

Fashion label founder Jade Helene Shimmin from South Africa likes to meet her friends at Neukölln cocktail institution Geist im Glas, which is famous for its unconventional gin and whiskey creations.

Bin Lee-Zauner and José Miranda Morillo of the restaurant Kochu Karu like the restaurant Herz und Niere, where they can enjoy meat with a clear conscience. All the products are local, and the restaurant always uses the entire animal.

"I love the pizzeria I Due Forni in Prenzlauer Berg," Lázsló Baksa, owner of the Hungarian delicatessen, Borsó. "They make the best pizza in Berlin."

Jeniffer Mulinde-Schmid likes to eat at Khwan, where you can watch chefs prepare their Nouvelle Thai dishes in the restaurant’s open kitchen.

Frenchman Romain Dumond enjoys the Bistro Les Valseuses and its French specialities.

Mirza Music-Zander of the Unique Factory enjoys the menu at the Chinese restaurant Long March Canteen.

Ruta Sluskaite-Dittmann likes to frequent the Panke-Bar, a relaxed locale with cocktails and vegetarian meals in her home district of Humboldthain.

Vietnamese Nam Cao Hoai recommends Röststätte, which offers a great selection of fine coffees as well as workshops for up-and-coming baristas.

"Nobelhart & Schmutzig is leading the way in the future of fine dining, with an honest, courageous menu made from local and seasonal products," says Dalad Kambhu. The Thai chef knows what she's talking about, having earned a Michelin Star for her restaurant, Kin Dee.

Menswear designer Albert Haziza likes to go for a drink or two at the bar of the elegant Schlosshotel. Albert Haziza knows the owner, Patrick Hellmann, and his father, Alfred, from back in Morocco.

Stacy Kent often enjoys breakfast at Australian café Silo Coffee, a popular brunch spot in Berlin Friedrichshain.

"My favorite place is Soda Club in the Kulturbrauerei," says John Al Haddad, a Syrian who imports and sells laurel soaps in Schöneberg. "The people are nice, and I love dancing salsa there."

Jazz nightclub owner Sedal Sardan from Turkey likes to head to Turkish restaurant Tadim at Kottbusser Tor for a döner, Berlin’s own fast food specialty that is made from 100% veal.

"Every once in a while, I visit other bars in Berlin. My favorite is the Voima Bar," says Rik Lusing, the Dutchman who recently opened Beavis Bar, adding that Voima "offers classic cocktails mixed with Finnish ingredients."

Kristian Moldskret enjoys the vegan fusion dishes at W – Der Imbiss. The meals combine elements from Indian, Mexican, Californian and Italian traditions.

Sanjay Shihora enjoys the Weinerei wine bar with its understated flair. The bar offers an international selection as well as bottles from its own winery. Shihora has been running the Kookaburra Comedy Club nearby for many years.

"I like to hang out at Biermichel at the corner of Rheinsberger Strasse and Brunnenstrasse," says Dietmar Arnold, founder of the Berliner Unterwelten. "It's a refuge for smokers. I know the people who live around there and sometimes we even make a little music together.