Berlin's Unesco heritage sites include the obvious crowd pleasers Museum Island and various palaces, but also a scattered group of less gaudy jewels: the Modernism Housing Estates. Located outside the city center (which spared their destruction in WWII), they're worth the trip, and not just for urban planning buffs. The six subsidized housing estates (Siedlungen) were designed by Bruno

Bruno Taut and Walter Gropius described Kyoto’s Katsura Imperial Villa, built for the emperor in the early 17th century, as a paragon of architecture. A new exhibition at the Berlin Bauhaus Archive reinforces how much the Bauhaus architects were influenced by Japan's clean lines and elegant

Miniloft guests often ask me where they can see Berlin cabaret, in the raucous tradition of the Weimar Republic. Cabaret as Brecht knew it is a thing of the past. (Although Brecht's Dreigroschenoper and Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny are frequently staged at theatres like Berliner Ensemble - Brecht's own theatre - and Deutsches Theater. If you speak German, these theatres are a must.)

Berlin's fashion week kicks off the winter season and draws stylish ones from all over the world to chilly our chilly metropolis, a shiny event to brighten the end of January. There are four non-stop days of shows, with a focus on German and up-and-coming designers. The main runway is at Brandenburg Gate, with shows and parties scattered around the city. Catch Copenhagen's Wood

The aptly named RisOtto serves – what else? – risotto, and nothing else. And such delicious, creamy rice bowls they are! The menu changes daily, usually with five savory choices and a dessert option ranging in price from 4,90-8,90 EUR. You could go simple with peas and lime, a bit more fancy with white beans, ham and thyme, or try the "mother of all risottos": risotto milanese with saffron

Get your glitz on this winter at the Berlinale, a prestigious film festival that's surprisingly accessible to the public. The Berlin International Film Festival shows about 400 films within ten days, mostly international or European premieres. Films of every genre, length and format find their place in the various sections: great international cinema in the Competition, independent and art

transmediale celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2012, and as always it's a fascinating look at the weird and wonderful world of digital art. This year, the arts festival celebrating digital culture wraps their program around the theme "in/compatible." Everything seems to connect in our network culture, but not everything fits or works together. What artistic imaginations arise from this

Head down to Heimathafen Neukölln for Christmas cabaret, Berlin style. The three 'Rixdorf Pearls' break out the tinsel and fill the beautiful old ballroom with festive irreverence. With a healthy sprinkling of kitsch in their holiday cheer, they entertain with classic songs and a certain disregard for political

The Rixdorf Weihnachtsmarkt is one of Berlin's prettiest Christmas markets. Rixdorf was once a little village that got swallowed up by the big city, and the charming tree-lined square, lit by gas lamps, still has an old-fashioned air. The market is on for one weekend only, and it's small and sweet, with great food, a small stage with carolers and children's shows, pony rides, and even the

Most people don't come to Berlin to go golfing, but on a short and gloomy day, it's like going under a sunlamp, just way more fun! If putting is your passion get your fix in Kreuzberg's Gorlitzer Park at Schwarzlicht Minigolf Berlin. Although it gets dark at 15:30 these days, never fear: the course is indoors and lit by black