Arrive on a Friday evening and wander the streets near Hackescher Markt in search of gallery openings. You might find a few along Auguststrasse. Then put your name in at Monsieur Vuong (Alte Schönhauser Str. 46), one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in Berlin. If it’s over a 30-minute wait, grab a drink at Pony Bar next door.

Next morning, take the S-Bahn to Savigny Platz in Charlottenburg and stop in at Cafe Aedes for cappuccinos and croissants. Stroll around this pretty square, peaking in some of the expensive shops, and if you’re in need of some Pears soap or other fine British products, head to The English Scent (Niebuhrstr. 11).

Walk up the Kurfurstemdamm to Zoologischer Garten where you can visit the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, a startling relic of the ravages of World War II. See gorgeous mosaics in the old church, and hundreds of inspiring blue windows in the new one. If you’ve got kids, they might enjoy a stop at the Berlin Zoo. If the weather is clement, you can have lunch at Schleusenkrug, a lovely outdoor restaurant in the Tiergarten, but since it’s winter now, hop back on the S-Bahn and ride five stops to Hackescher Markt. You can get lunch at one of the pretty restaurants under the train tracks, then head toward the River Spree where you can hop on a Stern and Kreisschiffahrt tour boat.

The hour-long historic city tour is one of my favorite things to do in Berlin. In winter it’s not very crowded, so you can get the best seat on the top of the boat, and buy a hot chocolate on board to keep you warm. Just be sure that the tour will be given in English. Unless you understand Deutsch.

Now you’re in the heart of Berlin. If you feel like visiting a museum, try the Alte Nationalgalerie, the Bode Museum, the Pergamonmuseum, or any of the other cultural houses on Museum Island. But I’ve never been all that impressed with Berlin’s museums, so instead, I’d walk up Unter den Linden to the Brandenburg Gate.

Once you’ve admired the iconic monument, and peered at the horse drawn chariot on top that Napoleon took back to Paris with him in 1806, turn right and make your way to the Reichstag. You can go up to the glass dome on top for free, where there’s a pretty good view of the city and an interesting historical timeline. Just be prepared to wait in line.

Then backtrack back past the Brandenburg Gate to the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Pictures don’t do it justice. You have to see for yourself how moving this memorial is. Look for the little underground museum on the opposite side. Now you’re so close to Potsdamerplatz and the Sony Center, you might as well go take a peek. Film enthusiasts will enjoy the Museum for Film and TV, while beer enthusiasts will appreciate a cold one at Lindenbrau. Yummy pretzels too. But don’t fill up because it’s almost time for dinner. Cafe Obermaier (Erkelenzdamm 17) or Schlesisch Blau (Kopenicker Strasse 1a), both in Kreuzberg are two of my favorites. To get the most out of your visit, make it a late night at Berghain.

Now it’s Sunday. Most of the shops will be closed, plus you did so much site-seeing yesterday, you can use today to really soak up the Berlin atmosphere. Start at the Boxhagener Platz Fleamarket in Friedrichshain. It takes place every Sunday from 10am-6pm and is bursting with all sorts of treasures. Fuel up with a coffee and a cupcake at the adorable Cupcake Cafe (Krossener Str. 12) before heading down Warschauer Strasse to Muhlenstrasse, home to the longest stretch of the Berlin Wall, otherwise known as the East Side Gallery.

Stroll across the historic Oberbaumbrucke, continuing on to Treptower Park where you can spend some time at the impressive Soviet War Memorial. Catch a bus back to Schlesisches Tor, then ride the U-Bahn two stops to Kotbusser Tor. Wander down Admiralstrasse, across Admiralsbrucke, admiring the picturesque setting of the canal. For authentic Italian pizza, no one beats Il Casolare (Grimmstr. 30), but for something a little different – Canadian pizza anyone? Yes, that means maple syrup – Ron Telesky (Dieffenbachstrasse 62) is the place to be. Now you’ll be strong like a lumberjack for your flight back to wherever it is you’re heading. Hope you enjoyed your weekend in Berlin!