photograph courtesy of billpeterson

Who says Germans can’t dance? Hordes of tango enthusiasts in Berlin do, with a dramatic snap of the head and a turn to the right.

Berlin is widely known as Europe’s tango capital. On any given night, you can tango to your heart’s content, as singles or in pairs, at close to 30 different venues. Check out the slick tango kultur Web site for current offerings and a monthly overview that’s handy to have in your pocket in case of an urge-to-tango emergency. Want to know exactly how big each venue is? This site, which is in English, will let you know.

Looking to tango-hop? Both Kreuzberg and Prenzlauer Berg are particular hotspots.

Popularity: 2% [?]

photograph courtesy of mitue

This month’s Travel and Leisure has a perfectly serviceable (har) round-up of Berlin, with one hotel recommendation stand-out in particular. The Hotel Riehmers Hofgarten takes up space in an unassuming 19th century building in a leafy part of Kreuzberg. Rooms are airy, with big windows overlooking the street, and there’s even a (very tiny) parking garage for guests. It’s a little business-like—and, frankly, beyond the Cheapo budget—but worth keeping in mind as a splurge.

Kreuzberg is positioning itself as a nice alternative to Mitte—itself closing in on “over” status thanks to the recent purchase of a flat there by none other than Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Stick with Kreuzberg and places like the Riehmers Hofgarten, which stakes out some comfortable middle ground between Cheapo and luxe.

Popularity: 2% [?]