The “Grand Old Lady” of Berlin is the rebuilt Hotel Adlon (Unter den Linden 77, tel. 030 2261 0, from €220), centrally located just steps away from the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin’s prime landmark. The Kempinski resort is an authentic replica of the historic Adlon, destroyed in World War II, where the rich and beautiful of the times once resided.

Just around the corner is another exceptional but modern hotel: The posh The Regent Berlin (Charlottenstrasse 49, tel. 030 20 33 8, from €220), the preferred digs for celebrities like Tom Cruise and Jennifer Lopez.

Less expensive but nonetheless fine business hotels are a few steps away on the historic Gendarmenmarkt, one of Europe’s most beautiful piazzas. The best is the modern boutique hotel Dorint Sofitel (Charlottenstrasse 50-52, tel. 030 20 37 50, from €235), with a great view of the square. In the western downtown area, the best choices are the colossal yet first-rate InterContinental (Budapester Strasse 2, tel. 030 2602 0, from €165), favored by many business travelers for its spacious, revamped rooms with great views of the lush Tiergarten; or the ultramodern, minimalist Grand Hyatt (Marlene-Dietrich Platz 2, tel. 030 2553 1234, from €240) on newly developed Potsdamer Platz-definitely one of the Continent’s best hotels.