Consider Unter den Linden a symbol of the city. Named for the linden trees that lined its broad and elegant paths, this grand, centuries-old boulevard in Mitte, the heart of historic Berlin, had, by the end of World War II, lost its lindens and its grandeur. In 1961, it became imprisoned for another 28 years behind the Berlin Wall. By the time the wall came down, it bore little of the elegance it once had.

On the day of my first visit to Berlin, standing on a corner at Unter den Linden, I counted 13 cranes in one direction, 10 in the other. At ground level, a new subway entrance was being added. On the broad sidewalks, cafés were buzzing. With much of Berlin’s business world centered near or radiating out from the boulevard, I passed businesspeople chatting in a patchwork of German and English. Unter den Linden bore a new 21st-century prominence.

So does the rest of this reunified city. Nov. 9 will mark the 25th anniversary of the fall of the wall, and in those years Berlin emerged from its 20th-century dark age to become a vibrant, exciting city. Those cranes are sending new buildings skyward. Tourism booms. The city represents a thriving mecca for artists, musicians, new restaurants and nightlife.

And it is a center of many commercial possibilities. Berlin’s economy thrives on new ideas that emerge from a melding of business, science and research, from its three major universities and 36 other centers of higher education and the medical research of its hospitals. It welcomes startup business ideas, especially in the computer and software fields and media and communications. Companies as different from each other as Google and Etsy opened here. In fact, about one-third of the world’s 50 largest corporations now have offices in Berlin.

Where to stay in Berlin? The 5-star Hotel Adlon Kempinski, long considered one of Berlin’s finest, offers conference facilities, reception spaces, three executive lounges and a business center, as well as express check-out and complimentary WiFi. An early-bird breakfast beginning at 6.30 a.m. accommodates business travelers who start their day early.

Among its amenities for the business traveler, the 5-star Ritz-Carlton lists a club lounge on the 10th floor. Located two short blocks from Unter den Linden, the well-priced, 4-star Maritim proArte Hotel Berlin has a business center on its conference floor.

For a breakfast meeting, Café Einstein is a popular old-world choice; it begins service at 8 a.m. The newer Grosz Coffee House, which calls itself “more than a café,” serves breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon.

In a city where the midday meal is often part of the work day, business luncheons are popular. A particularly good place for such lunches is The Grand. Housed in an 1842 building, the two-story dining room features a menu essentially German. Spaces on an upper floor are available for business meetings. The Grand also serves dinner, and those who want to continue entertaining colleagues into the evening can go upstairs for music, dancing and drinks.

In a different style, Restaurant Tim Raue offers fine dining at lunch and dinner with laid-back fun. Tim Raue builds his menu around the bright flavors of China, Thailand and Vietnam and gets raves for his innovative cooking.

To entertain a client for dinner in grand style, make a reservation at the Lorenz Adlon Esszimmer. A formal restaurant within the Hotel Adlon Kempinski, it is famous for its old-world décor, impeccable service and fine food.

Brunnenstrasse in Kreuzberg © Eddygaleotti | Dreamstime.com

For after-work drinks, Berliners suggest the interesting bars in Hackescher Markt near Alexanderplatz, and Potsdamer Platz for musical theater and other entertainment. Or head to Kreuzberg for a more counterculture vibe.

A taxi from Tegel Airport to my hotel, with tip, was about $33. Buses run to and from the airport for less than $5 each way. Both the Adlon Kempinski and The Ritz-Carlton will arrange private limousine service to and from the airport.

Most of Berlin’s Mitte section is easily walkable. Otherwise, your hotel can call a taxi or you can use the BVG public transportation system which includes buses, subways and streetcars. Buy a Berlin Welcome Card, which offers transportation and other discounts.

If you have time alone — or some downtime with colleagues — Berlin has 400 art galleries, 180 museums, three opera houses and 50 theaters. Among those museums are five on Museum Island that contain the city’s greatest riches. One, the Neues Museum, houses the famed bust of Egyptian queen Nefertiti. The beautifully preserved limestone sculpture was made in the 1300s B.C., yet she looks vividly alive and ready to take her place again in the world. Just as Berlin has.

Read about Nefertiti at Berlin’s Neues Museum.