Germany

Berlin is Germany’s capital and largest city, home to the national government: the Bundestag meets in the glass-domed Reichstag, the chancellor works in the Bundeskanzleramt, and foreign embassies cluster nearby. By contrast, Munich is Bavaria’s state capital, Frankfurt is the finance hub (home to the ECB), and Hamburg is a major port city. Historically, Berlin was the capital of Prussia and the German Empire; after World War II, West Germany used Bonn. Following reunification in 1990 and the 1991 “Hauptstadtbeschluss” (capital decision), Berlin regained its role. Landmarks like the Brandenburg Gate and remains of the Berlin Wall symbolize unity. Memory tip: think “B” for Berlin, Bundestag, Bundesrat—and the Berlin Bear, the city’s emblem.