The number and variety of cultural events on offer at any given moment in Berlin, Germany, is staggering.
Even with a good guidebook, it is almost impossible to get more than a passing glimpse of its ever-evolving scene.
Here are 10 places that can help newcomers get a feel for what is happening in a city that refuses to stand still.
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Klunkerkranich
Walking past Neukolln Arcaden, a shopping mall in southeast Berlin, you would never guess that the roof of this unremarkable grey building hides a cool bar and a 2,500-square-metre garden.
Once a concrete parking deck, Klunkerkranich has been reimagined as a vibrant space for live music, film screenings and readings.
In summer it is the perfect spot to grab a drink, catch a set by a local artist and watch the sun go down over the city.
Finding it, however, is no easy task.
From Rathaus Neukolln metro station, head in through the Postbank/Bibliothek entrance and take the lift to the 5th floor. Step out and walk toward the parking ramp up to the 6th floor.
Kulnkerkranich, 66 Karl-Marx Strasse
Sammlung Boros
From pieces by world-renowned artists Ai Weiwei and Olafur Eliasson to Wolfgang Tillmans and Thomas Scheibitz, Sammlung Boros is a striking collection of contemporary art housed in an unconventional space.
Namely, a massive former World War II bunker in the very heart of Berlin.
Because of safety rules, Sammlung Boros admits groups of no more than 12 people at a time, so booking ahead is a good idea, as tours fill up fast.
Sammlung Boros, Reinhardtstrasse 20, 10117 Berlin-Mitte; +49 30 24 08 33 300
Piano Salon Christophori
Tucked away in the northwest of Berlin is an old workshop space filled with antique piano fittings and chandeliers hanging overhead.
Several evenings a week, musicians from around the world take to the stage of this intimate concert hall, where anything can happen, from piano recitals to jazz sessions.
The online ticket-booking system may feel a little dated at first, but the fact that the organisers take the time to write out names in full on sheets of paper and place them at reserved seats makes it all worthwhile.
One more thing worth knowing: guests do not pay for tickets in advance; instead, donations are collected at the end of the show.
Piano Salon Christophori, Uferstrasse 8; +49 176 39 00 77 53
Markthalle IX Street Food Market
Every week in the lively Kreuzberg district, one of Berlin's few well-preserved historic market halls transforms into a street food market.
On Thursday evenings, the spacious Kreuzberg market hall, which first opened its doors in 1891, fills up with crowds of locals and a maze of mouth-watering food stalls.
Far from the more ordinary German fast-food fare, these small, local food vendors serve up everything from handmade Chinese noodles to vegan burgers and artisan cheeses.
Markthalle IX, every Thursday from 17:00 to 22:00; Eisenbahnstrasse 42/43
Haus am Waldsee
Set in southwest Berlin, Haus am Waldsee looks like something out of a fairy tale.
In reality, the villa is an exhibition space for contemporary art and a platform for artists living and working in Berlin.
Since 1946 it has shown work by a number of renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso, Hannah Hoch, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Joan Miro and Georges Braque.
Haus am Waldsee regularly hosts artist talks and classical concerts, and offers an architectural audio guide to the surrounding area.
There is also a 10,000-square-metre sculpture garden.
Haus am Waldsee, 30 Argentinische Allee +49 30 801 89 35
Mobile Kino
In summer, open-air cinema is a popular pastime in Berlin, but Mobile Kino puts a fresh spin on the concept by showing different films in different locations.
The aim of this cinema, which travels around the city by bicycle? To bring film lovers together in unique spots all across the German capital.
For screening information: http://www.mobilekino.de/screenings/
me Collectors Room
Recognised as one of the most comprehensive private collections in Europe, me Collectors Room is a private residence turned exhibition space in the very centre of Berlin.
Opened in 2010 by German art collector Thomas Olbricht, the extensive collection of artworks spans pieces from the early 16th century to the present day.
me Collectors Room, Auguststrasse 68; +49 30 86 00 85 10
Kunstquartier Bethanien
The Bethanien building was commissioned by King Frederick William IV and opened in 1847 as an institution for training nurses and caregivers.
After a turbulent run of events in the years that followed, including bombing and closure, the complex reopened as a cultural and social hub in 1973.
Today, Kunstquartier Bethanien is home to art studios, exhibitions, open-air cinemas, print workshops, a garden, music classes and much more.
Kunstquartier Bethanien, 2, Mariannenplatz +49 30 493 06 3 37
Deutsches Architektur Zentrum (DAZ)
Unlike traditional museums, the German Architecture Centre (DAZ) describes itself as a "think tank" that fosters discussion and debate about architecture, urban life and spatial culture.
DAZ puts on a range of exhibitions, talks and presentations designed to bring together everyone, from citizens and architects to urban planners and artists, with an interest in discussing and exchanging fresh ideas.
DAZ, 48/49, Kopenicker Strasse; +49 30 278 799 29
KW Institute for Contemporary Art
Founded in the early 1990s in a former margarine factory, KW Institute for Contemporary Art is a place where up-and-coming international artists create and show their work.
Each month, KW rolls out a new programme featuring performances, lectures and film screenings.
Located in Berlin's Mitte district, it has several exhibition halls, studios, offices and a glass cafe designed by American artist Dan Graham.
The first Berlin Biennale, held in 1998, took place at KW.
KW Institute for Contemporary Art, 69, Augustrasse; +49 30 2434 590
