A Tale of Two Cities: Three Nights in Berlin and Two Nights in Amsterdam For Two With Flights, 4* Accommodation and Breakfast for £499pp from Viva Holidays (Up to 58% Off)

A city of grit and glamour emerging from a crumbled palimpsest of 20th century history, Berlin was once described as 'the greatest cultural extravaganza that one could imagine'. The city's fabric is marked with competing architectural styles, and its raw history rubs ragged shoulders with a thudding cultural scene. From the Wall and the Reichstag to Baroque palaces and some of the best museums in the world, Berlin offers an abundant array of attractions during the day. The nightlife is an unrivalled display of hedonistic delight, and the tolerant and experimental atmosphere is reminiscent of New York in the 80s.



Tolerance has also come to characterise Amsterdam, although the packed-out cafes and throbbing nightclubs should not obscure the deeper cultural beauty of the place. Threaded with a network of concentric canals, the city's roads undulate over hundreds of tiny bridges, rattling through cobbled streets and past the tall and gorgeous windows of gabled houses. The evening sunlight catches on the IJ bay and runs honey-coloured across the city's brickwork, catching in the canals like soft fire and glowing in the frothy half-litres of Dutch beer drunk in a hundred bars.

Escape to Berlin and Amsterdam with today's Groupon from Viva Holidays:

The Hotels
Hotel Berlin, Berlin
Blending authentic architecture with inspiring design and a modern ambience, Hotel Berlin, Berlin encapsulates the multifaceted nature of the city. Centrally located near the greenery of the Tiergarten, the hotel is moments from some of the city's most popular attractions and a short hop on the S-Bahn or underground from the buzzing centre. Guests can revel in the four star luxury and spacious, brightly lit interiors before stepping out into the thriving capital. Each of the en suite rooms is bathed in natural light and comes equipped with air-conditioning, desk, HD TV and entertainment system, tea and coffee making facilities, a fax connection, voicemail, and a large safe.

Die Port van Cleve
Behind the Royal Palace on Dam Square, the Die Port van Cleve is composed of three 18th century buildings, offering guests the chance to sample Amsterdam's illustrious history within, and the bustling metropolis just outside the door. With a softly lit wood finish, the rooms are all equipped with a wide flatscreen TV, a direct dial telephone, free WiFi, safe, coffee and tea facilities as well as a desk to work on and a comfortable sitting corner.



Groupon Recommends
Berlin visitors may wish to take a visit to the Schloss Charlottenburg, a palace bedecked in all the grandeur of the Prussian royalty, before taking a blustery autumnal stroll through the sculpted parks and gardens. Shop for boutique kitsch on the Scheunenviertel, or head to the Gemäldegalerie for a comprehensive look at the artistic arc from the 13th to 18th centuries. Picnic in the Tiergarten, delve into Jewish history at the Jewish Museum, or soak up the epic grandeur of the Reichstag, but save some energy for the evening, for Berlin's many glowing restaurants and some of the coolest bars in Europe.

Landing in Amsterdam, visitors can assemble a swift itinerary that could take in the brilliance of the Van Gogh Museum and the steep wooden staircases, high windows and tiny beds of Rembrandt's House. Having studied the light in a Vermeer at the Rijksmuseum, visitors may wish to explore the Jewish quarter and the Anne Frank museum, although be prepared for long queues. Amsterdam's streets ting with the gentle ring of bicycle bells, as one of the best ways to see the city is by sliding effortlessly around it on a rented bike.



Local Amenities
Both cities are famous for their restaurants, bars and clubs, and both hotels are located centrally. Markets and independent food shops are plentiful, and there are some supermarkets within the cities. In Amsterdam and Berlin, the hospitals are close by and the police presence in both cities is exceptional.

Weather and Climate
Amsterdam: Oct-Feb
11-3°C. Mild winters, bright skies and blustery days.
Berlin: Oct-Feb
10-1°C. Spring and autumn are general chilly to mild.

Transport
Flights: All flights depart every Sundays, starting from 6 November from Luton and Gatwick, and 13 November from Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow until 26 February 2012. Flights depart at the following times:

Gatwick
Dep: London Gatwick 7.30am, Arr: Berlin 10.25am
Dep: Berlin 5pm, Arr: Amsterdam 6.40pm
Dep: Amsterdam 9.30pm, Arr: London Gatwick 9.40pm

Luton
Dep: Luton 12:55pm, Arr: Berlin 3.45pm
Dep: Berlin 5pm, Arr: Amsterdam 6.40pm
Dep: Amsterdam 9.15pm, Arr: Luton 9.30pm

Liverpool
Dep: Liverpool 12:55pm, Arr: Berlin 3.55pm
Dep: Berlin 5pm, Arr: Amsterdam 6.40pm
Dep: Amsterdam 5.20pm, Arr: Liverpool 5.45pm

Manchester
Dep: Manchester 6.05pm, Arr: Berlin 9.05pm
Dep: Berlin 5pm, Arr Amsterdam 6.40pm
Dep: Amsterdam 9.50pm, Arr: Manchester 10.15pm

Glasgow
Dep: Glasgow 1.55pm, Arr: Berlin 5.05pm
Dep: Berlin 5pm, Arr: Amsterdam 6.40pm
Dep: Amsterdam 5.05pm, Arr: Glasgow 5.40pm

Bristol
Dep: Bristol 6.20pm, Arr: Berlin 9.20pm
Dep: Berlin 5pm, Arr: Amsterdam 6.40pm
Dep: Amsterdam 9.10pm, Arr: Bristol 9.30pm

Car hire: A number of operators are available at the airports, although public transport in both cities is the most efficient way to get around.

Groupon Top Tip
Both cities offer tourist cards for museum or travel; buy a Museumkaart in Amsterdam for free and discounted entry into museums and galleries; and in Berlin a WelcomeCard provides a public transport pass and discounts at certain attractions.