Introducing Berlin

Divided for decades by its notorious Cold Wall wall, Berlin’s cultural index has soared since the new millennium. From the shimmering steel of Norman Foster’s Reichstag (government building) to the sleek verticality of Potsdamer Platz, or the ribald cabaret shows of Friedrichstrasse, Berlin has more than a few surprises in store for tourists focused on box ticking the totems of 20th-century communism.

For purposes of orientation, most Berliners still divide the city according to its east and west districts. In the eastern sectors of Mitte and Prenzlauer, Berlin’s historical monuments and world-class cultural institutions invite attention. Everywhere you walk in Berlin, there are tales of resurrection. The Baroque Berliner Dom, pulverized by Allied bombs during World War II has been restored to its former glory. A modern 1960s chapel rises from the war-ravaged remains of the Kaiser-Wilhelm Memorial Church; the sepulchral shell was left as testament to the devastation of World War II.

The stunning Jewish Museum, designed by Daniel Libeskind, is as jaw dropping on the outside as it is gut wrenching on the inside. Berlin’s answer to the Smithsonian—the state-owned museums and galleries of the Museumsinsel (Museum Island)—is where Berlin flaunts its cultural cachet. Then, there’s Brandenburg Gate, the 18th-century Neoclassical arch that marks the ceremonial gateway to Berlin’s main avenue, Unter den Linden, which formerly lead to the palace of Prussia’s kings.

21st-century Berlin is all about regeneration. Berlin is united in its pursuit of avant-garde art, soul stirring music, and trailblazing design. From Neoclassical Staatsoper Unter den Linden (Berlin State Opera) to the canal-side bars that pulsate to the frenetic beats of industrial techno, Berliners today have finally put paid to their turbulent past and celebrate their city’s dynamic future.

Airports within a 25-mile radius of Berlin:

  • Tempelhof Airport (THF)
    • Tegel Airport (TXL)
    • Schoenefeld Airport (SXF)
    • Werneuchen Airport (EDBW)
    • Strausberg Airport (EDAY)

Popular aircraft charters* in the Berlin area include:

  • Citation Excel (super light)
  • Learjet 45 XR (super light)
  • Citation CJ3 (light)
  • Learjet 31ER 400A (light)
  • Learjet 60 XR (midsize)
  • Citation III (midsize)
  • Gulfstream G200 (super midsize)
  • Citation Sovereign (super midsize)

*This is just a sample. Zephyr provides access to aircraft at every end of the spectrum, from luxurious VIP airliners, to ultra long range business jet, helicopters, and economical turboprops.