The new capital is booming, The place, where modern architecture is redefining the skyline has a magical appeal. Berlin is the current high light for tourists not only as a place for hip events like the Love Parade, but also as a first-grade cultural metropolis like the Philharmonics, the Berlin Film Festival "Berlinale" or the musical "Cats". The number of sights is unrivalled and the offers for tourists are chameleonic as the city's mentality.

Dortmund has changed. Microchips have taken over from coal mining, shopping boulevards have replaced rolling mills and the focus now is on the concert hall, not the coking plant. Dortmund is the Ruhr area's biggest city and has everything it takes to make a city break a truly memorable experience: fascinating industrial heritage, a variety of museums, plenty of theatres and cabaret venues, a wide choice of restaurants, quality events at the fabulous Westphalia Halls and much more besides. Local people enjoy sharing their city with visitors, including what is for many their favourite activity: a Borussia Dortmund match at the Westphalia Stadium.

For many, Frankfurt is primarily "Mainhattan", city of finance and skyscrapers, but a closer look reveals a city of many charms: The picturesque houses of the beautifully restored Römerberg in the city centre and the unique "Museum Mile" along the banks of the Main river. Traditional cider pubs in Sachsenhausen, shops galore in the elegant Goethestrasse and the "Fressgass" - and a truly world-class cultural and arts scene.

A lot of people probably think "football" when they hear the word "Gelsenkirchen". For the people of Gelsenkirchen, home of Schalke 04, that's just as it should be, especially now that their newly built Arena AufSchalke is redefining the meaning of "entertainment" as applied to the beautiful game. This is a milestone for what used to be the "city of a thousand fires", a major coal-producing centre that has succeeded in transforming itself into a vibrant, multifaceted city. In addition to the Arena, Gelsenkirchen has many other attractions that are well worth a visit.

The "Free and Hanseatic City" of Hamburg is Germany's second-largest metropolis with one of Europe's biggest ports. Elegant and cosmopolitan, Hamburg is now a city of palatial office buildings, magnificent promenades, international musicals, extravagant shopping malls - and the famous Reeperbahn and St. Pauli. The magical aura of faraway places is still alive in the old warehouse quarter and the little canals. Hamburg is also Germany's greenest city, with many spacious lawns and lovely parks.

In addition to being one of Germany's top venues for international trade fairs and conferences Hannover recently played host to the nations of the world at the EXPO 2000 World Exposition. Its rich past lives on in many beautiful historical buildings and other sights, many of them connected by a red line marked on the pavement for tourists. In the city centre striking modern architecture has been successfully integrated with the lovely Old Town. Hannover has a rich arts scene that gives the city a lively, creative atmosphere, and there are many interesting destinations for excursions in the immediate vicinity.

Kaiserslautern owes its name to the Hohenstaufen Emperor (Kaiser) Barbarossa, who had an imperial palace built at "Lautern" 850 years ago, after being so impressed by the beauty of the local countryside. Today, Kaiserslautern combines being a lively student town full of quaint bars, the footballing capital of southwest Germany and the cultural heart of the Palatinate. You don't need to venture far outside the town to enjoy nature at its best in the Palatinate Forest biosphere reserve, Germany's largest contiguous area of forest.

Cologne (Köln) is one of Germany's most original cities, with its own dialect, its own style of beerbrewing and an inimitably witty and fun-loving character that is particularly boisterous during the city's famous Carnival. Cologne is world-famous for its twin-spired cathedral, its romantic Rhine panorama and the Eau de Cologne to which it gave its name. Today the city's character is a rich combination of modern lifestyle with 2,000 years of historical and cultural heritage, from Roman and medieval to the present day. And there is never a shortage of things to do and see, including countless events, live music, theatre, busy shopping streets and modern glass shopping centres and malls.

The proud city of Leipzig is livelier today than ever before - a vibrant venue for trade shows, congresses and commerce and an entertainment metropolis with a rich cultural, arts and night life scene and shopping opportunities for every taste and budget. The lovely old Renaissance and Baroque buildings, historical trading centres and malls are now fully restored and modernised, providing a stylish paradise for shoppers and sight-seers. High-class entertainment is assured - attractions for arts-lovers include the Gewandhaus concert hall, the Opera House, the St Thomas Choir, cabarets, theatres and jazz cellars. We look forward to seeing you in Leipzig!

Big-city style and rural charm, Alpine character and Mediterranean verve, art treasures and the Oktoberfest, traditional customs and high technology, beer gardens and haute cuisine, operas and in bars - these are all ingredients of the special "Munich mix" that makes Bavaria's state capital so endlessly fascinating, and so popular with visitors from all over the world.

Nuremberg combines the excitement of a modern metropolis of half a million inhabitants with the old-world charm of a lovely medieval city centre. In the Old Town beautiful Gothic churches, romantic rows of half-timbered buildings and sleepy cobblestoned squares create an unforgettable atmosphere. Albrecht Dürer, Adam Kraft and Veit Stoss all created famous works of art in Nuremberg. The Old Town provides a fitting setting for events like the International Bards Meeting in July, the biggest Old Town Festival in September and the world-famous Christkindlesmarkt Christmas Market in December.

Stuttgart arguably has one of the most beautiful settings in all Europe, surrounded by a wonderful panorama of rolling green hills, forests and vineyards. The many interesting sights in Stuttgart include two city chateaux (Stadtschlösser), the Staatsgalerie art gallery and the unique Wilhelma zoo and botanical gardens. Baden-Württemberg's state capital is also a top venue for hit musicals like Dance of the Vampires and Phantom of the Opera.