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Prenzlauer Berg - Berlin Hotels .com

Looking for trendy shopping, a thriving nightlife, and a lively artistic vibe? Head to Prenzlauer Berg. Once part of East Berlin, this neighborhood was home to revolutionary punks and intellectual artists. It was also home to early twentieth-century artist Käthe Kollwitz, for whom a section of the neighborhood (Kollwitzplatz) is named.

Today, gentrification has transformed Prenzlauer Berg into a trendy neighborhood populated by urbanites, but it still maintains a decidedly funky spirit. Bustling cafes, restaurants, and bars abound. Plenty of lovely biergartens (beer gardens) can be found here, including Prater (7-9 Kastanienallee), Berlin's iconic, oldest biergarten. It dates to 1837 and features towering old chestnut trees and a surprisingly varied menu.

Shopaholics will delight in the neighborhood's funky, alternative boutiques, many of which feature clothes from local, up-and-coming designers. After hours, plenty of nightlife can be found, with a vast variety of types of music, from hip-hop to electronica to international sounds. The KulturBrauerei (Schönhauser Allee 36-39) -- a former brewery -- offers music concerts of all genres, literary readings, theater shows for kids, cinema festivals, and more.

Prenzlauer Berg's tourist information center is inside the Kulturbrauerei; they're open noon to 6 p.m. Sunday - Wednesday and noon to 8 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, and offer information about area events, tours, and more.