Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany. Simultaneously, the city is one of the States of Germany. Berlin is surrounded by the state of Brandenburg, and Brandenburg’s capital Potsdam is nearby. Berlin was built along the banks of the Spree river. After World War II and following Berlin’s occupation, the city was split into West Berlin and East Berlin, divided by the Berlin Wall. Following German reunification in 1990, Berlin once again became the capital of all of Germany.

Below is a selection of photos taken during a visit to Berlin on December 23 and 24, 2016. Click on a small photo for a larger view, then select the next one with the cursor keys or the arrows on either side of the photo.