There's a lot going on at night in the new centre of the city. You only have to be mobile enough to get from one place to another. The techno movement really got started in Tresor / Globus in Leipziger Straße, in the cellar of an old department store, Wertheim. International guest DJs are a regular feature here. The sweat simply pours. You can also work up a good lather in wmf, which is supposed to have the loudest dance floor in the city. If you stand near the loudspeakers you're literally deafened.

When it comes to music events Berlin has a lot to offer. Almost everyone knows the Love Parade by now, but there are other events too. Every year at the Carnival of Cultures hundreds of thousands of people marvel at how colourful life can be if we can just let people be as they are. On Christopher Street Day lesbians and gay men parade through the streets, many decked out in fantastic make-up and costumes. Then there's also the Fête de la Musique, where your outfit, sexual preference or nationality aren't so important - what counts is the "fête" and the "musique". There's a more elevated atmosphere at the Classic Open Air concerts at Gendarmenmarkt. This square between the Concert House and the German and French Cathedrals is simply one of the most beautiful places in Berlin. It also attracts lots of street entertainers. And the Berliner Gauklerfest (Jugglers' Festival) conjures up the atmosphere of a medieval fairground. These and other festivals are sure to be held again next year.