alongalongunPhoto: JFL Photography / Fotolia

GERMANY: Cycling is the perfect way to explore Berlin's multitude of tourist sites and the absolute best option if you're on a mission to uncover unexpected little treasures along the way.  And lucky for you, if you're staying at one of the city's three Adina Apartment Hotels, you're only a stone's throw away from the action and attractions.

Berlin city is nice and flat, and tailor made for cycling, and their extensive network of bike paths plays beautifully to that strength. Here, it doesn’t matter if you just want to get from A to B, explore specific areas and tourist attractions, or experience the city's soul, on a bike you’ll be doing it right.

If you're visiting the city for a short time, keep an eye out for the Call a Bike or nextbike stations - they're great if you want to be spontaneous and rent a bike. And, once on two wheels, you'll find bike routes are signposted and easy to follow as you meander through quiet side streets, across green spaces and along scenic riverbanks. There are also designated safe bike paths on the busier main streets if you're a little jittery around traffic.

Insider Tip: If you're a planner, bbbike.de can help you can map out the perfect bike route for every destination in Berlin and Potsdam right down to the minute choices between main streets, side roads, bike paths or green belts.

Berlin's online portal Berlin.de also provides very detailed information on everything you'll need to know when visiting including bike rental and repair, taking bikes on public transport, bike courses and much more. You’ll also find info on a number of different tours you can take by bike – from the two-hour “City Bike Tour” along well-known places of interest through Berlin’s Mitte district or “Kreuzberg and the Spree Riverbank”, right up to themed tours such as “Big City Oasis”, “Street Art Berlin” or “Poor, but Sexy”. The soccer route “Just Follow the Ball” retraces the tracks of German soccer history and shows, for example, where Sepp Herberger used to live and where the German football team stayed during the 2006 World Cup.

Plus, anyone looking to forge their own way through Berlin can book a “Private Bike Tour” with a guide, and tailor make their tour.

Pedal Your Way Back in Time

One standout experience for visitors is the Mauerweg, which follows the former Berlin Wall. This historic bike-and-hike path is a 160km-long reminder of the city’s former division and includes remains of the former border defences and important memorial sites - in stark contrast to the charming suburban border of Brandenburg to the west and south. The route is divided into 14 individual stretches that vary between seven and 21kms in length. (Information on the division of Germany as well as the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall can be obtained at 40 stations in town).

And, after a long day adventuring, there's nothing better than coming back to an Adina Hotel which you can stretch out in the spacious living areas, pop on a load of laundry and enjoy a relaxing night in.  All three Adina Hotels - Adina Apartment Hotel Checkpoint Charlie, Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Mitte or Adina Hackersher Markt  - are superbly situated in the German capital, whether you’re travelling by bike, by public transport or by car.