Berlin is surrounded by the State of Brandenburg and contiguous with Potsdam, Brandenburg's capital. Berlin, the capital city of Germany, is renowned for its exceptional range of landmarks, vibrant cultural scene and way of life that's somehow all go yet relaxed. In fact, the city is best known for its striking contrasts. Historical buildings stand alongside modern architecture as the past and present intermingle. The sights Berlin has to offer, from the Brandenburg Gate to the Chancellor's Office, bear witness to the history of an entire nation. Germany's capital is home to all the main government buildings, including the historical Reichstag building as the seat of the German parliament. Berlin is cosmopolitan, Berlin is hospitable and Berlin is safe – especially in the areas where visitors to Berlin usually go. Nonetheless, you can never completely rule out crime. Should you witness a crime, or become the victim of crime yourself, call the police immediately.

How to reach Germany
Reaching Germany by Air
Germany's main hubs in terms of international flights are Frankfurt, Berlin and Munich. Important airports: Frankfurt (IATA: FRA), Munich (IATA: MUC), Dôsseldorf (IATA: DUS), Berlin-Tegel (IATA: TXL), Cologne (IATA: CGN), Hamburg (IATA: HAM) and Stuttgart (IATA: STR). All these serve at least some international flights. Major airlines that connect other countries to Germany: Lufthansa, Germany's largest airline and a member of the Star Alliance; and Air Berlin, Germany's second largest airline and a member of the Oneworld airline alliance.
Reaching Germany by Bus
Different companies offer different tickets and prices depending on one's destination within Germany. 'Touring', the German partner of Eurolines, a well-known cooperation of European bus companies, sells tickets to and from almost any other European country and can be accessed to buy tickets to Germany.
Reaching Germany by Rail
An extensive and regular railway network connects Germany with all of its neighboring countries. Most trains on this network are operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB). Some countries that fall on these routes include Switzerland, Poland, Denmark, Czech Republic and Austria as well as some not-so-immediate neighbors like Italy. These destinations are also well connected by "EuroCity" (EC} trains.Other European high speed trains operating in and out of Germany include: The ICE brings running from Frankfurt, Cologne and Dosseldorf to Amsterdam. The ICE is so fast that a train from Frankfurt to Paris will take only four hours. The Thalys is also an alternative which takes one from Cologne (K_ln) to Paris in approx 4 hours

10 popular places to visit Berlin, Germany

• The Reichstag Building
• Brandenburg Gate
• The Berlin Wall
• Museum Island
• Pergamon Museum
• Holocaust Memorial
• Charlottenburg Palace

Social Innovation Community and Leadership Organisations in Berlin, Germany:

• Berlin School of Creative Leadership
• German Institute for Community Organizing (DICO)
• Factory Berlin - The Community of Innovators and Creators
• Deutsches Institut für Community Organizing
• Berlin School of Creative Leadership