The new Berlin, host of the the Joint Meeting of the Society for Heart Valve Disease and Heart Valve Society of America, presents itself to visitors as a cosmopolitan city.

The Brandenburg Gate, once a symbol of the divided Germany, has become the emblem of the German capital. Nearly all traces of the wall which divided Berlin for almost 30 years have now disappeared. Today, Berlin is situated in the heart of a continent moving towards unification, and plays an important role in the European integration process. Because of its geographical position and its favorable transport routes making it the gateway to Central and Eastern Europe, Berlin has a stimulating influence on the enlargement of the European Union to the east.

In an area of about 891 qkm, Berlin unites a large number of urban districts, which are completely different in character. Of the 3.4 million inhabitants of Berlin, more than 434,000 people are not of German origin. They come from more than 180 different nations and provide Berlin with a large variety of lifestyles and cultures.
 

Berlin is one of the prime locations for science or research facilities and the media. The private service sector has become the motor of the city‘s economy. As a Competence Centre, Berlin has relied on the fields of technology, biotechnology, medical and environmental technology. Globally operating firms draw benefit from the large number of institutions resident in Berlin and the knowledge available here.

Furthermore, with about 140,000 students and about 40,000 people working at universities, Berlin is Germany‘s largest university city.

Berlin‘s cultural scene offers unlimited opportunities for leisure activities: three opera houses, four large musical theaters, over 150 theaters and numerous cabaret-theaters, 170 museums and collections as well as 300 art galleries and 130 cinemas. The Museumsinsel (Museum Island) with its world-famous museums was inscribed on UNESCO‘s World Heritage list in 1999. Furthermore, a large number of fairs, exhibitions and congresses attract visitors. Especially the Kurfürstendamm, Friedrichstrasse and Potsdamer Platz are ideal places for extensive shopping trips. And one should not forget the countless cafés, pubs and restaurants having both local and international specialties ready for their guests.

But Berlin is also a green city. Numerous woods, lakes, parks and gardens offer recreation for everyone. In addition, the historical city of Potsdam in the neighbouring Land of Brandenburg, with its historic palaces and gardens and numerous highlights of historical and modern municipal architecture, invites visitors to stay for a while.

Another popular destination is the Spreewald, a marshy woodland area along the river Spree in the Mark Brandenburg, with its delightful waterways which visitors can explore onboard a barge, by bicylce or simply by foot.

In 2007, around 6.5 million visitors spent more than 14.5 million nights in Berlin.
What makes all the people come to Berlin? Let´s find some highlights!

• ... Berlin has 1,700 bridges beating even Venice by far.

• ... the East Side Gallery is the world's longest open air gallery and with 1,316 m also the longest remaining part of the Berlin Wall.

• ... Berlin is Germany's greenest city? More than 30% of the city area is covered by parks, forests, rivers, lakes or waterways.

• ... the world's largest 'universal museum' is being created in the heart of Berlin? The restoration and re-design of Museum Island with its five monumental buildings is Germany's most ambitious cultural project. By 2010 the Museum Island, will shine in new splendour.

• ... Berlin's Television Tower (Fernsehturm) is, with a height of 368 m, Germany's tallest building.

• ... Berlin is, with an area of 891 qkm, nine times bigger than Paris.

• ... Berlin's Kaufhaus des Westens, better known as KaDeWe, with its 60,000 qm is Europe's largest department store.

• ... Berlin is the city with the most zoo animals worldwide.

• ... Berlin has no 'last call' since 1949, so you can visit cafes, restaurants and bars  round-the-clock.