Berlin is a large city (the highest population of cities in the European Union). You can cover a lot by walking, but using the public transport system is easy. With a day ticket ($11, try the BVG app) you can use trains, underground, trams, buses, and also take two ferries to see the city from the water. Germany’s capital is flat and has a network of good cycle paths. You can rent a bike or go on a guided bike tour, for example on the Mauerweg (Berlin Wall cycling path).

While you will most likely visit Mitte where many of the famous sights are located, make sure to do the research on the remaining neighborhoods called Kieze to avoid traveling back and forth. Google Maps is great as a planning tool, but many Germans speak English well so don’t be afraid to ask for advice and help. Berlin has many parks; include a green stop between the sightseeing to exhale.

We’re not saying you can’t follow your normal diet but be open-minded to alternative eating trends. Whether you want to eat burgers, steaks, sausages or desserts – you can find everything vegan and vegetarian here. Most of the restaurants are sustainable and use local products, and some grow their own vegetables and herbs. If you’re looking for unusual places to eat, try Germany’s first Michelin-starred dessert fine dining restaurant Coda. To mingle with the locals, head to a brewery in winter or a beer garden in summer.

It’s impossible to visit Berlin and not drop into at least one museum (hello there, Nefertiti). You can find history and art, world heritage and historical museums, but also entertaining places like illusion, computer games, sugar, lipstick, or even a museum dedicated to a much-loved German snack, the Currywurst. With the MuseumPass (day pass $26) you can exhaust yourself at all the major museums, and entry is free on the first Sunday of every month.

Fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, and delicacies from all over the world, plus a little chat: Berlin's weekly markets are not just for shopping but also a popular meeting place. The large market halls with their sumptuous offerings are particularly popular. Alternatively, you can, of course, go to the biggest and most famous department store KaDeWe or shop till you drop in local designer and vintage shops or at a flea market like a true Berliner. And during advent, you should definitely visit one of the many Christmas markets.